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.

Sheffield Doc/Fest 2021 Overview

Festival:
The 28th Sheffield Doc/Fest

Dates:
June 4-13

About:
Nearly 80 new and recent features make up the lineup of this well-respected and popular British event, presented in a hybrid format this year.

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

On DVD: THE BLINDING OF ISAAC WOODARD

New to DVD this week:
THE BLINDING OF ISAAC WOODARD

Director:
Jamila Ephron

World Premiere:
PBS broadcast (March 2021)

About:
A violent instance of white supremacist police brutality serves as a spark to undo Jim Crow.

I previously wrote about the doc here.

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On DVD: AHEAD OF THE CURVE

New to DVD this week:
AHEAD OF THE CURVE

Director:
Jen Rainin

Co-Director:
Rivkah Beth Medow

World Premiere:
Frameline 2020

Select Festivals:
NewFest, Outfest, Image+Nation, Athena, Cleveland

About:
A triumphant chronicle of historic lesbian publication Curve Magazine and its trailblazing founder.

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On VOD: BLACK HOLES: THE EDGE OF ALL WE KNOW

New to VOD via Netflix this week:
BLACK HOLES: THE EDGE OF ALL WE KNOW

Director:
Peter Galison

World Premiere:
CPH:DOX 2020

Select Festivals:
Bergen, Jackson Wild

About:
An international assemblage of scientists work together to capture the first image of a black hole.

I previously wrote about the doc here.

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On VOD: THE PENNY BLACK

New to VOD this week:
THE PENNY BLACK

Director:
Joe Saunders

World Premiere:
Slamdance 2020

Select Festivals:
St Louis, Newport Beach

About:
A man searches for his shady neighbor, who entrusted him with a valuable stamp collection before mysteriously vanishing.

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Rotterdam 2021: Documentary Overview

Festival:
The 50th International Film Festival Rotterdam

Dates:
June 2-6

About:
This year’s edition of this acclaimed Dutch cinema event was split into two parts – an industry-focused February presentation, and this public-facing offering, which presents more than 100 features, with nonfiction and hybrids making up just over a third of the lineup.

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On VOD: THE SOUND OF IDENTITY

Coming to VOD today, Tuesday, June 1:
THE SOUND OF IDENTITY

Director:
James Kicklighter

World Premiere:
Macon 2020

Select Festivals:
OutShine, Desperado

About:
A profile of Lucia Lucas at the Tulsa Opera, which marked the first time an openly trans woman performed in a principal role.

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Full Frame 2021 Overview

Festival:
The 24th Full Frame Documentary Film Festival

Dates:
June 2-6

About:
After cancelling its 2020 edition, this Durham NC doc event returns with an online presentation that includes just over 20 new and recent nonfiction features.

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On VOD: JULIA SCOTTI: FUNNY THAT WAY

Coming to VOD today, Tuesday, June 1:
JULIA SCOTTI: FUNNY THAT WAY

Director:
Susan Sandler

World Premiere:
Nantucket 2020

Select Festivals:
NewFest, Athena, Sebastopol Doc, Austin LGBT

About:
Decades after appearing on bills with Jerry Seinfeld and Chris Rock, trans stand-up comic Julia Scotti returns to the stage.

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On TV: THE LEGACY OF BLACK WALL STREET

Coming to Discovery+ and OWN in two parts, tonight, Tuesday, June 1 and next Tuesday, June 8:
THE LEGACY OF BLACK WALL STREET

Director:
Deborah Riley Draper

World Premiere:
Discovery+/OWN broadcast (June 2021)

About:
A commemoration of the legacy of Tulsa OK’s Greenwood District which focuses on celebrating the Black pioneers who built Black Wall Street and who have inspired the present-day Black community.

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Filed under Documentary, Film, Releases