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.

In Theatres: LFG

Coming to theatres today, Friday, June 18:
LFG

Director:
Andrea Nix Fine, Sean Fine

World Premiere:
Tribeca 2021

About:
An inside look at the US women’s national soccer league and their continuing fight for equal pay in an effort to create real change in women’s sports.

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In Virtual Release: THE AMERICAN SECTOR

Coming to virtual cinemas today, Friday, June 18:
THE AMERICAN SECTOR

Director:
Courtney Stephens, Pacho Velez

World Premiere:
Berlin 2020

Select Festivals:
Art of the Real, Docaviv, Camden, AFI Fest, RIDM, Maryland

About:
A road trip tracking several of the remnants of the Berlin Wall now held by American collectors and institutions.

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In Virtual Release: THE FRENCH

Coming to the Metrograph’s virtual cinema tomorrow, Friday, June 18:
THE FRENCH

Director:
William Klein

World Premiere:
Perspectives du Cinéma Français 1982

About:
An unprecedented all-access, behind-the-scenes look at the 1981 French Open.

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In Theatres: RITA MORENO: JUST A GIRL WHO DECIDED TO GO FOR IT

Coming to theatres tomorrow, Friday, June 18:
RITA MORENO: JUST A GIRL WHO DECIDED TO GO FOR IT

Director:
Mariem Pérez Riera

World Premiere:
Sundance 2021

Select Festivals:
Miami, San Francisco, Seattle, Cleveland, Atlanta, Sarasota, Tribeca, Provincetown

About:
A profile of the pioneering, EGOT-winning star of stage and screen.

I profiled the doc before Sundance here.

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

On TV/VOD: RISE AGAIN: TULSA AND THE RED SUMMER

Coming to National Geographic and Hulu tomorrow, Friday, June 18:
RISE AGAIN: TULSA AND THE RED SUMMER

Director:
Dawn Porter

World Premiere:
National Geographic/Hulu release (June 2021)

About:
A focus on the two-day Tulsa Massacre in 1921 that led to the murder of hundreds of Black people and left thousands homeless and displaced.

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In Theatres/Virtual Release: TRUMAN & TENNESSEE: AN INTIMATE CONVERSATION

Coming to theatres and to virtual cinemas tomorrow, Friday, June 18:
TRUMAN & TENNESSEE: AN INTIMATE CONVERSATION

Director:
Lisa Immordino Vreeland

World Premiere:
Telluride 2020 (unscreened)

Select Festivals:
Hamptons, Full Frame, NewFest, Seattle, Glasgow

About:
The work, lives, and personal journeys of two iconic American artists coalesce with creative combustion in this innovative dual-portrait.

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On VOD: MY NAME IS BULGER

Coming to Discovery+ tomorrow, Thursday, June 17:
MY NAME IS BULGER

Director:
Brendan J Byrne

World Premiere:
Discovery+ (June 2021)

About:
The story of Massachusetts’ legendary family, focused on politician Bill Bulger and his notorious gangster brother James “Whitey” Bulger.

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On VOD: CIVIL WAR (OR, WHO DO WE THINK WE ARE)

Coming to Peacock tomorrow, Thursday, June 17:
CIVIL WAR (OR, WHO DO WE THINK WE ARE)

Director:
Rachel Boynton

World Premiere:
Peacock release (June 2021)

About:
An exploration of how America remembers the Civil War and what the stories we tell reveal about who we are, from President Obama’s final year in office through the present.

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In Virtual Release: FATA MORGANA

Coming to the Metrograph’s virtual cinema tomorrow, Thursday, June 17:
FATA MORGANA

Director:
Werner Herzog

World Premiere:
Cannes 1971

Select Festivals:
New York, One World, Thessaloniki Doc, IDFA, Planete Doc

About:
A semi-experimental portrait of the Sahara and Sahel deserts, focused largely on capturing mirages.

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On VOD: FTA

Coming to Netflix today, Tuesday, June 15:
FTA

Director:
Francine Parker

World Premiere:
Theatrical release (July 1972)

About:
A chronicle of the controversial anti-Vietnam War political vaudeville tour of American military bases, fronted by Jane Fonda and Donald Sutherland.

I previously wrote about the doc here.

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Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases