JUSTICE
Exploring the epic battle to confirm Brett Kavanaugh.
Director:
Doug Liman
Producer:
Amy Herdy
Festival Section:
Special Screenings
More Info:
Check out the Sundance website for more details, including screening info, by clicking on the film title above.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Sundance
With the 2023 Sundance Film Festival kicking off tomorrow, in-person in Park City and Salt Lake City, UT, for the first time since 2020, and keeping me busy in my role as Senior Programmer, this is typically the time of the year when w(n)td goes on hiatus for the duration of the Festival.
This year, it also makes for a fitting time to bring this site to a close, more or less. I’ve been posting about all things documentary since the summer of 2010, usually multiple times daily during the work week. While my writing has been less in-depth in recent years, making the site function more like a nonfiction release listing, it’s still been a time commitment. With others providing similar information – I recommend interested readers sign up for DOC NYC’s Weekend Watch newsletter – I feel like it’s time for me to step away from regular posting for the foreseeable future. I may pop in with an occasional post, such as notable Sundance announcements or listings of Sundance alumni releases, but, after 12.5 years and more than 8000 posts, my daily contributions to w(n)td have now wrapped.
Thanks to everyone who has checked out this site over the years, which I’ll continue to maintain as an archive. If you’re headed to Sundance, I hope to see you in person there.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Sundance
Coming to VOD next Friday, January 27:
THE MISSION
Director:
Tania Anderson
World Premiere:
Sundance 2022
Select Festivals:
Göteborg, Thessaloniki Doc, Zurich, Beldocs, Docs Against Gravity
About:
A revelation of the inner lives of young Mormon missionaries, as they leave their homes for the first time and embark upon the most emotionally, physically, and psychologically challenging period of their life.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Releases, Sundance
WILLIE NELSON & FAMILY
The first authorized work exploring the extraordinary life of Willie Nelson traverses the personal and career ups, downs, and in-betweens of one of the world’s most beloved musicians, by turns spiritual, dramatic, and playful.
Directors:
Thom Zimny, Oren Moverman
Executive Producers:
Thom Zimny, Oren Moverman, Keith Wortman, Mark Rothbaum, Eddie Vaisman, Julia Lebedev, Sean Stuart, Leonid Lebedev, Annie Nelson, Mark Ankner
Festival Section:
Indie Episodic
More Info:
Check out the Sundance website for more details, including screening info, by clicking on the film title above.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Sundance
Coming to DVD this coming Tuesday, January 24:
BRAINWASHED: SEX-CAMERA-POWER
Director:
Nina Menkes
World Premiere:
Sundance 2022
Select Festivals:
Berlin, CPH:DOX, IDFA, Karlovy Vary, Thessaloniki Doc, BFI London, Jeonju, Istanbul, Beldocs, Docaviv, Frameline, Encounters, Bergen, Ambulante
About:
Based on Nina Menkes’ acclaimed talk “Sex & Power: The Visual Language of Cinema,” this is a mesmerizing journey into how shot design intersects with the twin epidemics of sexual abuse/assault and employment discrimination against women.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Releases, Sundance
SUMMER OF SOUL (…OR, WHEN THE REVOLUTION COULD NOT BE TELEVISED)
An epic event that celebrated Black history, culture, and fashion shines a light on the importance of history and the healing power of music during times of unrest. World Premiered in the 2021 Sundance Film Festival’s US Documentary Competition section, where it won the US Grand Jury Prize: Documentary and Audience Award: US Documentary.
Director:
Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson
Producers:
David Dinerstein, Robert Fyvolent, Joseph Patel
Festival Section:
Encore Special Screenings
More Info:
Check out the Sundance website for more details, including screening info, by clicking on the film title above.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Sundance
Coming to DVD in re-release this Friday, January 20:
ANVIL! THE STORY OF ANVIL
Director:
Sacha Gervasi
World Premiere:
Sundance 2008
Select Festivals:
CPH:DOX, Chicago, Bergen, Biografilm, Docville, Göteborg, Helsinki, San Francisco Jewish
About:
An influential but obscure Canadian 1980s metal band attempts to mount a comeback and finally get their long-deserved due.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Releases, Sundance
NAVALNY
Anti-authoritarian Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny recovers in Berlin after nearly being poisoned to death with the nerve agent Novichok. He makes shocking discoveries about his assassination attempt and bravely decides to return home – whatever the consequences. World Premiered in the 2022 Sundance Film Festival’s US Documentary Competition section, where it won Festival Favorite and the Audience Award: US Documentary.
Director:
Daniel Roher
Producers:
Odessa Rae, Diane Becker, Melanie Miller, Shane Boris
Festival Section:
Encore Special Screenings
More Info:
Check out the Sundance website for more details, including screening info, by clicking on the film title above.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Sundance
Coming to OVID this Thursday, January 19:
THE WOBBLIES
Director:
Stewart Bird, Deborah Shaffer
World Premiere:
New York Film Festival 1979
About:
The story of radical labor union the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW), better known as the Wobblies, which championed the formation of “one big union” for all unskilled laborers, regardless of their race and gender.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Releases
Coming to DVD today,Tuesday, January 17:
LOUDMOUTH
Director:
Josh Alexander
World Premiere:
Tribeca 2022
About:
A disruptive spotlight on Reverend Al Sharpton – the pastoral prodigy turned political firebrand turned media establishment figure.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Releases
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