Coming to NYC’s Rooftop Films screening this Saturday, August 21:
BOB ROSS: HAPPY ACCIDENTS, BETRAYAL, & GREED
Director:
Joshua Rofé
World Premiere:
Rooftop Films (August 2021)
About:
Bob Ross brought joy to millions as the world’s most famous art instructor, but a battle for his business empire cast a shadow over his happy trees.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Releases
Coming to theatres tomorrow, Friday, August 20:
THE OUTSIDER
Director:
Pamela Yoder, Steven Rosenbaum
World Premiere:
online global premiere (August 2021)
About:
An exploration of the internal conflicts at the National 9/11 Museum at Ground Zero, centered on its creative director, Michael Shulan.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Releases
Coming to theatres and VOD tomorrow, Friday, August 20:
BARBARA LEE: SPEAKING TRUTH TO POWER
Director:
Abby Ginzberg
World Premiere:
San Francisco 2020 (unscreened)
Select Festivals:
DOC NYC, San Francisco Jewish, Pan African, Cleveland
About:
A portrait of the outspoken US Congresswoman.
The film screened as part of DOC NYC, for which our program notes read:
An intimate, inspiring, and timely portrait of Congresswoman Barbara Lee, a true pioneer of American civil rights who was the lone voice in opposition to the authorization of military force after the September 11th attacks. A unique selection of political commentators, activists, politicians, and family members add depth to the story of the highest-ranking Black woman in the US Congress. Uncompromising and conscientious to the core, she is its most steadfast voice for peace, and for economic and racial justice.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
Coming to theatres this Friday, August 20:
MOMENTS LIKE THIS NEVER LAST
Director:
Cheryl Dunn
World Premiere:
DOC NYC 2020
Select Festivals:
Docaviv, Melbourne
About:
A compelling, immersive portrait of the late artist Dash Snow.
I previously wrote about the film for DOC NYC’s program, saying:
Dash Snow rejected a life of privilege to make his own way as an artist on the streets of downtown New York City in the late 1990s. Developing from a notorious graffiti tagger into an international art star, he documented his drug- and alcohol-fueled nights with the surrogate family he formed with friends and fellow artists Ryan McGinley and Dan Colen before his death by heroin overdose in 2009. Drawing from Snow’s unforgettable body of work and involving archival footage, Cheryl Dunn’s exceptional portrait captures his all-too-brief life of reckless excess and creativity.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
Coming to NYC’s Rooftop Films tonight, Wednesday, August 18 and to HBO/HBO Max this Sunday, August 22:
NYC EPICENTERS 9/11➔2021½
Director:
Spike Lee
World Premiere:
Rooftop Films (August 2021)
About:
A rich tapestry of New York City in the 21st century, weaving together the stories, memories, and insights of those who were eyewitnesses to New York’s greatest challenges.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Releases
Coming to Netflix today, Wednesday, August 18:
MEMORIES OF A MURDERER: THE NILSEN TAPES
Director:
Michael Harte
World Premiere:
Netflix (August 2021)
About:
Serial killer Dennis Nilsen narrates his life and horrific crimes via a series of chilling audiotapes recorded from his jail cell.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Releases
Coming to Paramount+ this Friday, August 20:
BRING YOUR OWN BRIGADE
Director:
Lucy Walker
World Premiere:
Sundance 2021
About:
A compelling and comprehensive essay exploring the history and causes of wildfires.
I profiled the doc before Sundance here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Releases, Sundance
Coming to Ovid.tv this Thursday, August 19:
MRS B, A NORTH KOREAN WOMAN
Director:
Jero Yun
World Premiere:
Jeonju 2016
Select Festivals:
Cannes ACID, IDFA, Zurich, Göteborg, New York Asian, Moscow
About:
A woman runs a business smuggling people out of North Korea.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Releases
Coming to NYC’s Rooftop Films this Thursday, August 19:
BLOOD BROTHERS: MALCOLM X & MUHAMMAD ALI
Director:
Marcus A Clarke
World Premiere:
Rooftop Films (August 2021)
About:
From a chance meeting to a tragic fallout, Malcolm X and Muhammad Ali’s extraordinary bond cracks under the weight of distrust and shifting ideals.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Releases
Coming to VOD today, Tuesday, August 17:
THE SEER AND THE UNSEEN
Director:
Sara Dosa
World Premiere:
San Francisco 2019
Select Festivals:
DOC NYC, Hot Docs, New Horizons, Reykjavík, Melbourne, Camden, RIDM, Leeds, Palm Springs, Available Light, Big Sky Doc, Seattle, Ashland, Thessaloniki Doc
About:
An eccentric Icelandic environmentalist is on a mission to protect the natural habitat of elves from development.
The film screened as part of DOC NYC, for which our program notes read:
Iceland, famed for lush landscapes and stunning scenery, is a mystic country where many believe in magic, trolls, and elves. Among them is Ragga, a colorful environmentalist and respected seer, who whispers with elves, providing a conduit to these otherworldly neighbors. When economic development threatens sacred volcanic rocks where many elves live, Ragga and her friends unite to protect the sacred land. This delightful film invites viewers to appreciate the possibilities of our wondrous world.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
what (not) to doc 