Author Archives: basiltsiokos

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.

January 22, 2020 · 11:15 AM

On TV: THE CAVE

Coming to TV on NatGeo this Saturday, January 25:
THE CAVE

Director:
Feras Fayyad

World Premiere:
Toronto 2019

Select Festivals:
DOC NYC, London, Hamptons, Camden, Double Exposure, Mill Valley, Heartland, Tallgrass, Virginia

Notable Recognition:
The doc has been nominated for the Academy Awards.

About:
A female doctor defies patriarchal expectations to lead an underground hospital in Syria.

I previously wrote about the doc here.

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Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases

January 22, 2020 · 10:30 AM

2020 Sundance Docs in Focus: MCMILLION$

MCMILLION$ | Courtesy of Sundance Institute | photo by Jeff Dolen

MCMILLION$
James Lee Hernandez and Brian Lazarte revisit the stranger-than-fiction true crime tale of fast food and fraud.

Festival Section:
Special Events
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Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Sundance

January 21, 2020 · 3:47 PM

Slamdance 2020: Documentary Overview

Festival:
The 26th Slamdance Film Festival

Dates:
January 24-30

About:
This scrappy Park City event includes 14 docs among its 27 features, an increase over last year’s edition. Continue reading →

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

January 21, 2020 · 3:02 PM

2020 Sundance Docs in Focus: MAX RICHTER’S SLEEP

MAX RICHTER’S SLEEP | Courtesy of Sundance Institute | photo by Rahi Rezvani

MAX RICHTER’S SLEEP
Natalie Johns immerses the viewer in the making of an eight-hour piece to be experienced during sleep.

Festival Section:
Special Events
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Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Sundance

January 21, 2020 · 2:12 PM

On DVD: ANTHROPOCENE: THE HUMAN EPOCH

photo by Edward Burtynsky

Coming to DVD today, Tuesday, January 21:
ANTHROPOCENE: THE HUMAN EPOCH

Directors:
Jennifer Baichwal, Nicholas de Pencier, and Edward Burtynsky

World Premiere:
Toronto 2018

Select Festivals:
Sundance, Berlin, Cleveland, Washington DC Enviro, Calgary, Vancouver, Hong Kong, Doc10, Docs Against Gravity, Sydney, Sheffield, Revelation Perth, Melbourne Doc, DokuFest

About:
A striking visual chronicle of human impact on the planet.

My pre-Sundance profile of the doc may be found here.

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

January 21, 2020 · 1:31 PM

2020 Sundance Docs in Focus: LOVE FRAUD

LOVE FRAUD | Courtesy of Sundance Institute | photo by Alex Takats

LOVE FRAUD
Rachel Grady and Heidi Ewing investigate a notorious serial fraudster through the women he’s seduced, robbed, and abandoned.

Festival Section:
Special Events
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Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Sundance

January 21, 2020 · 12:46 PM

On DVD: THE FREEDOM TO MARRY

Coming to DVD today, Tuesday, January 21:
THE FREEDOM TO MARRY

Director:
Eddie Rosenstein

Premiere:
Frameline 2016

Select Festivals:
DOC NYC, Hawaii, Savannah, Big Sky Doc, Sebastopol Doc, Jewish fests in SF, Boston, Denver, and Philadelphia, LGBT fests in Houston, Austin, Durham, Atlanta, Melbourne, Seoul

About:
A behind-the-scenes look at the fight to legalize same-sex unions in America.

I previously wrote about the doc here.

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Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases

January 21, 2020 · 12:01 PM

2020 Sundance Docs in Focus: LEAP OF FAITH: WILLIAM FRIEDKIN ON THE EXORCIST

LEAP OF FAITH: WILLIAM FRIEDKIN ON THE EXORCIST | Courtesy of Sundance Institute

LEAP OF FAITH: WILLIAM FRIEDKIN ON THE EXORCIST
Alexandre O Philippe dissects the 1973 horror classic through an extensive conversation with its director.

Festival Section:
Special Events
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