Art and Craft

When one of the most prolific art forgers in US history is finally exposed, he must confront the legacy of his 30-year con.

Mark Landis has been called one of the most prolific art forgers in US history. His impressive body of work spans thirty years, covering a wide range of painting styles and periods that includes 15th Century Icons, Picasso, and even Walt Disney. And while the copies could fetch impressive sums on the open market, Landis isn’t in it for money. Posing as a philanthropic donor, a grieving executor of a family member’s will, a Jesuit priest, among others, Landis has given away hundreds of works over the years to a staggering list of institutions across the United States. But after duping Matthew Leininger, a tenacious registrar who ultimately discovers the decades-long ruse and sets out to expose his philanthropic escapades to the art world, Landis must confront his own legacy and a chorus of museum professionals clamoring for him to stop. Rooted in questions of authorship and authenticity, ART AND CRAFT starts out as a cat-and-mouse art caper, and what emerges is an intimate story of obsession and the universal need for community, appreciation, and purpose.

Trailer

Press

“Spectacular. An engrossing cat-and-mouse story.”

Carolina Miranda, Los Angeles Times

“Perversely satisfying. The art world deserves him.”

Stephen Holden, The New York Times

“In the tradition of Crumb and the early films of Errol Morris.”

Peter Debruge, Variety

“Tells a too-good-to-be-true story with humor and empathy.”

Jason Bailey, Flavorwire

“Falls somewhere between Catch Me If You Can and Grey Gardens.”

Alison Willmore, Buzzfeed

Premieres & Awards

Winner Top 5 Documentaries

National Board of Review 2014

Audience Award Winner

2014 Indie Memphis Film Festival

Best Documentary

Shanghai TV Festival 2015

World Premiere

2014 Tribeca Film Festival

Official Selection

2014 San Francisco International Film Festival 2014 Hot Docs 2014 Berkshire International Film Festival 2014 AFI Docs 2014 Montclair Film Festival 2014 Maryland Film Festival 2014 Nantucket Film Festival 2014 MARFA Film Festival 2014 Woods Hole Film Festival 2014 Milwaukee Film Festival 2014 Camden International Film Festival 2014 International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam