Festival:
The 27th Hot Docs
Dates:
May 28-June 6 (some selections until June 24) (online)
About:
North America’s largest documentary event goes online this year, presenting nearly 100 new features to Ontario audiences, including the world premieres noted below. Continue reading
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Overviews, Recommendations
New to DVD this week:
ONCE WERE BROTHERS: ROBBIE ROBERTSON AND THE BAND
Director:
Daniel Roher
World Premiere:
Toronto 2019
Select Festivals:
DOC NYC, IDFA, Boulder, Miami Jewish, Calgary
About:
A candid recounting of the history of the legendary music group.
I previously wrote about the doc here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
photo by Martyna Starosta
Director:
Kirby Dick and Amy Ziering
World Premiere:
Sundance 2020
About:
A groundbreaking investigation of sexual assault in the music industry.
My pre-Sundance doc profile may be found here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Releases, Sundance
Coming to DVD today, Tuesday, May 26:
THE PANAMA PAPERS
Director:
Alex Winter
Premiere:
Hamptons 2018
Select Festivals:
IDFA, Double Exposure
About:
The behind-the-scenes story of the largest data leak in history, which exposed economic corruption on a global scale.
I previously wrote about the doc here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Releases
Coming to DVD today, Tuesday, May 26:
MIDNIGHT FAMILY
Director:
Luke Lorentzen
World Premiere:
Sundance 2019
Select Festivals:
DOC NYC, Nantucket, Hot Docs, AFI Docs, New Directors/New Films, Sheffield DocFest, CPH:DOX, Hong Kong, Cartagena, Ambulante, Guadalajara, Docville, Full Frame, San Francisco, Freep, Doc10, Sydney, Krakow
Notable Recognition:
The doc was shortlisted for the Academy Awards.
About:
A Mexico City family struggles to make a living as ragtag private paramedics, facing cut-throat competition to respond to patients in need of urgent help.
I profiled the doc before Sundance here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Sundance
Coming to PBS tonight, Tuesday, May 26:
VIRAL: ANTISEMITISM IN FOUR MUTATIONS
Director:
Andrew Goldberg
World Premiere:
Theatrical release (February 2020)
About:
An investigation of the growth of antisemitism around the world.
I previously wrote about the doc here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Releases
Season Two | photo by Ross McDonnell
Director:
Matthew Heineman
World Premiere:
Sundance 2018 (Season One) and Sundance 2020 (Season Two)
About:
A gripping docuseries examining complex illegal activities – America’s opioid epidemic (Season One) and human trafficking (Season Two).
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Releases, Sundance
Coming to PBS’s Independent Lens tonight, Monday, May 25:
EATING UP EASTER
Director:
Sergio Mata’u Rapu
World Premiere:
Hawai’i 2018
Select Festivals:
Los Angeles Asian Pacific, NY Asian American, CAAMFest, Martha’s Vineyard, Global Peace, Margaret Mead, St Louis, Wild & Scenic, Minneapolis-St Paul, Washington DC Environmental,
About:
A personal examination of the deleterious impact of globalization and tourism on Easter Island.
I previously wrote about the doc here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Releases
Coming to The WORLD Channel’s Reel South tonight, Monday, May 25:
MOSSVILLE: WHEN GREAT TREES FALL
Director:
Alexander John Glustrom
World Premiere:
Full Frame 2019
Select Festivals:
DOC NYC, New Orleans, Hot Springs Doc, Washington DC Environmental, BendFilm, Raindance, Durban, Indie Grits, Montclair, Wild & Scenic, Planet in Focus
About:
An intimate profile of one man’s struggle against environmental racism.
I previously wrote about the doc here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
Coming to virtual theatrical this Sunday, May 24:
THE RABBI GOES WEST
Directors:
Gerald Peary and Amy Geller
World Premiere:
San Francisco Jewish 2019
Select Festivals:
DOC NYC, Vancouver, Jewish fests in Boston, Birmingham, Jerusalem, and Miami
About:
A Brooklyn transplant to Montana attempts to evangelize his strand of Hasidic Judaism.
I previously wrote about the doc here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
what (not) to doc 