This year’s DOC NYC preview concludes with the Short LIst, our re-presentation of some of this year’s most notable nonfiction, fifteen films likely to receive serious consideration during Awards Season.
Short List
AMY
Director: Asif Kapadia
Featuring previously unreleased footage and music, this portrait of Amy Winehouse rewrites her reputation.
Expected to attend: Director Asif Kapadia (11/12 only)
BEST OF ENEMIES
Directors: Morgan Neville & Robert Gordon
In 1968, TV was transformed by the debates between political opposites William F Buckley Jr and Gore Vidal.
Expected to attend: Directors Morgan Neville (11/14 only) and Robert Gordon (11/14 only)I previously profiled the film here.
THE BLACK PANTHERS: VANGUARD OF THE REVOLUTION
Director: Stanley Nelson
This complex history of the black militant group tells the story of movements around the country.
Expected to attend: Director Stanley Nelson (11/15 only)I previously profiled the film here.
CARTEL LAND
Director: Matthew Heineman
A gripping look at vigilantes fighting Mexico’s drug cartels on both sides of the US border.
Expected to attend: Director Matthew HeinemanI previously profiled the film here.
DREAMCATCHER
Director: Kim Longinotto
A candid portrait of a woman’s redemptive fight against sexual exploitation.
Expected to attend: Director Kim Longinotto (11/13 only)I previously profiled the film here.
GOING CLEAR: SCIENTOLOGY AND THE PRISON OF BELIEF
Director: Alex Gibney
Based on Lawrence Wright’s book, this provocative exposé reveals the inner workings of Scientology.
Expected to attend: Director Alex Gibney (11/18 only)I previously profiled the film here.
HE NAMED ME MALALA
Director: Davis Guggenheim
Pakistani teenager Malala Yousafzai survived Taliban assassins to become an outspoken advocate for girls’ rights.
Expected to attend: Director Davis Guggenheim
THE HUNTING GROUND
Director: Kirby Dick
A wide-ranging investigation into campus sexual assaults and institutional cover-ups.
Expected to attend: Director Kirby Dick (11/13 only)I previously profiled the film here.
KURT COBAIN: MONTAGE OF HECK
Director: Brett Morgen
Years in the making, this in-depth portrait of the Nirvana singer reveals more than any previous account.
Expected to attend: Director Brett Morgen (11/13 only)I previously profiled the film here.
THE LOOK OF SILENCE
Director: Joshua Oppenheimer
This exploration of Indonesia’s legacy of violence is a companion to the Oscar-nominated The Act of Killing.
Expected to attend: Director Joshua Oppenheimer (11/13 only)I previously profiled the film here.
SEYMOUR: AN INTRODUCTION
Director: Ethan Hawke
Seymour Bernstein gave up a promising career as a concert pianist to leave an indelible influence on his students.
Expected to attend: Director Ethan Hawke (11/14th only), Subject Seymour Bernstein (11/14 only)
WHAT HAPPENED, MISS SIMONE?
Director: Liz Garbus
Known as the “high priestess of soul,” iconic performer Nina Simone struggled with personal demons.
Expected to attend: Director Liz Garbus (11/17 only)I previously profiled the film here.
WHERE TO INVADE NEXT
Director: Michael Moore
Michael Moore hilariously goes abroad as a one-man army to secure other countries’ best ideas for America.
Expected to attend: Director Michael Moore
WINTER ON FIRE: UKRAINE’S FIGHT FOR FREEDOM
Director: Evgeny Afineevsky
A visceral look at the bloody Ukrainian uprising in 2013-14 that led to the overthrow of President Yanukovych.
Expected to attend: Director Evgeny Afineevsky (11/12 only)I previously profiled the film here.
THE WOLFPACK
Director: Crystal Moselle
Growing up locked inside a Lower East Side apartment, the Angulo brothers devoted their lives to movies.
Expected to attend: Director Crystal Moselle, Subjects the WolfpackI previously profiled the film here.
Why You Should Attend:
For the past few years, DOC NYC’s Short List has successfully predicted the majority of the Academy shortlisted doc features, and DOC NYC has included the eventual winner in its selections thus far. Audiences who missed out on the chance to view these contenders should take the opportunity now, while those who may have already watched these excellent films have a chance to revisit them with their acclaimed filmmakers in attendance.
More Info:
To purchase tickets, click on the individual titles above, and follow links for ticketing, where available. Or consider purchasing one of DOC NYC’s Pass options for access to a variety of programming.
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