Author Archives: basiltsiokos

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About basiltsiokos

Basil Tsiokos is a Senior Programmer for the Sundance Film Festival, focusing on nonfiction features. He was most recently with DOC NYC for nearly a decade, where he served as Director of Programming since 2014, and with the Nantucket Film Festival as its Film Program Director. Prior to those positions, Basil was the longtime Artistic and Executive Director of NewFest. He has been affiliated with Sundance since 2005 as a Programming Associate. Basil serves on the feature nominating committees for the International Documentary Association Awards and Cinema Eye Honors. He has written about documentaries daily since 2010 on what (not) to doc. Basil holds a Masters degree from New York University and two undergraduate degrees from Stanford University.

Special Screening: TAMING THE GARDEN

Coming to Rooftop Films tomorrow, Friday, July 9:
TAMING THE GARDEN

Director:
Salomé Jashi

World Premiere:
Sundance 2021

Select Festivals:
Berlin, CPH:DOX, New Directors/New Films, Shanghai, Cinéma du Réel

About:
An artful look at the unusual disruption caused by the removal and transport of several massive trees from small Georgian villages.

I profiled the doc before Sundance here.

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Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Releases, Sundance

In Theatres: THE PRICE OF FREEDOM

Coming to theatres today, Wednesday, July 7:
THE PRICE OF FREEDOM

Director:
Judd Ehrlich

World Premiere:
Tribeca 2021

About:
A deep dive into American gun culture and the increasing force of political influence played by the NRA to challenge gun control legislation.

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On VOD: OVER THE LIMIT

Coming to VOD via Film Movement+ this Friday, July 9:
OVER THE LIMIT

Director:
Marta Prus

Premiere:
IDFA 2017

Select Festivals:
Hot Docs, Moscow Doc, Visions du Reél, DOK.fest Munich, DocsBarcelona, Zagreb Dox, Krakow, Docpoint, Göteborg, Thessaloniki Doc, One World, Ambulante

About:
A brutally candid look at a rhythmic gymnast’s Olympic training.

I previously wrote about the doc here.

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In Virtual Release: THE METAMORPHOSIS OF BIRDS

Coming to virtual cinemas via Projectr Movie Club tomorrow, Thursday, July 8:
THE METAMORPHOSIS OF BIRDS

Director:
Catarina Vasconcelos

World Premiere:
Berlin 2020

Select Festivals:
True/False, Cartegena, Vilnius, Thessaloniki Doc, Jeonju, DokuFest, Beijing, Melbourne, Indielisboa, Beldocs, San Sebastian, Vancouver, Camden, Vienna, Jihlava, RIDM, Sheffield DocFest, IDFA, New Directors/New Films, DocPoint

About:
A highly unorthodox, impressionistic, and emotionally rich generational saga which finds the Portuguese filmmaker sifting through the memories and dreams of her ancestors.

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On DVD: PICTURE A SCIENTIST

Coming to DVD today, Tuesday, July 6:
PICTURE A SCIENTIST

Director:
Sharon Shattuck, Ian Cheney

World Premiere:
Tribeca 2020 (unscreened)

Select Festivals:
Athena, InScience, Science on Screen

About:
An exploration of systemic discrimination and bias against women and especially women of color in STEM fields.

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On DVD: STREET GANG: HOW WE GOT TO SESAME STREET

Coming to DVD today, Tuesday, July 6:
STREET GANG: HOW WE GOT TO SESAME STREET

Director:
Marilyn Agrelo

World Premiere:
Sundance 2021

Select Festivals:
Hot Docs, Seattle, San Francisco

About:
A look back at the origins of the pioneering children’s television powerhouse.

I profiled the doc before Sundance here.

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Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Releases, Sundance

Cannes 2021: Documentary Overview

Festival:
The 74th Cannes Film Festival

Dates:
July 6-17

About:
After postponing and then cancelling its 2020 edition, the most influential cinema event in the world returns with a robust slate of nearly 100 new features, counting two dozen docs among that number – although none in either Competition or Un Certain Regard. Its parallel sidebars, meanwhile, offer just three nonfiction works among their combined 37 slots.

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Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Overviews, Recommendations

On TV: THE NEUTRAL GROUND

Coming to PBS’s POV tonight, Monday, July 5:
THE NEUTRAL GROUND

Director:
CJ Hunt

World Premiere:
Tribeca 2021

Select Festivals:
AFI Docs

About:
Comedian and satirist CJ Hunt asks difficult questions about this country’s Confederate monuments, hoping to discover some clarity by diving into history.

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In Theatres & On VOD: SUMMER OF SOUL (…OR, WHEN THE REVOLUTION COULD NOT BE TELEVISED)

Expanding to theatres nationwide and coming to Hulu today, Friday, July 2:
SUMMER OF SOUL (…OR, WHEN THE REVOLUTION COULD NOT BE TELEVISED)

Director:
Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson

World Premiere:
Sundance 2021

Select Festivals:
Nantucket, Hot Docs, True/False, AFI Docs, Provincetown, DocLands, Minneapolis/St Paul, San Francisco Doc

About:
A joyous and thoughtful revisitation of a long overlooked part of Black music history.

I profiled the doc before Sundance here.

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Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Releases, Sundance

On TV: THE ONE AND ONLY DICK GREGORY

Coming to Showtime this Sunday, July 4:
THE ONE AND ONLY DICK GREGORY

Director:
Andre Gaines

World Premiere:
Tribeca 2021

Select Festivals:
AFI Docs

About:
A revealing portrait of comedian/activist Dick Gregory, focusing on his many personal reinventions throughout the decades, from celebrity to civil rights hero and beyond, and how he has inspired others.

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Filed under Documentary, Film, Releases