Festival:
The 21st Urbanworld Film Festival
Dates:
September 20-24
About:
This NYC event, which showcases film and episodic content by African American and multicultural filmmakers, presents approximately two dozen feature-length presentations, with documentaries consisting of less than half that number.
The fest’s Spotlights section includes THE WIRE actor Sonja Sohn’s directorial debut, BALTIMORE RISING (pictured), which looks at the impact of Freddie Gray’s death; and Keayr Braxton’s docuseries RELEASED, which follows former prison inmates immediately after their release.
Other nonfiction includes Collins Harris’ BEHIND THE CURTAIN: ECLIPSED, on the Broadway play created by women of African descent; Ian Phillips’ COACH JAKE, on NYC’s winningest high school soccer coach; Sonia Lowman’s TEACH US ALL (pictured), which explores educational inequality in America today; and Keith McQuirter’s MILWAUKEE 53206, a look at the impact of mass incarceration.
what (not) to doc 