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.

Special Screenings: CITY OF JOEL

Coming to NYC’s JCC Manhattan for several screenings beginning tomorrow, Friday, January 3:
CITY OF JOEL

Director:
Jesse Sweet

World Premiere:
Hamptons 2018

Select Festivals:
DOC NYC, Palm Springs, Jewish fests in San Francisco, Atlanta, Moscow, Rutgers, Boca Raton, Washington DC, and Phoenix

About:
An expansion plan by a Hasidic community leads to a turf war in a small New York town.

I previously wrote about the film for DOC NYC’s program, saying:
Located in the town of Monroe, NY, just over 50 miles north of New York City, the village of Kiryas Joel claims one of the fastest-growing Hasidic communities in the US. When the secular residents of the larger township – already wary of their insular neighbors – learn of Kiryas Joel’s desire to annex adjacent land to address its population growth, this sets off a turf war with political, economic, and religious implications, echoing the divide within our nation as a whole.

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2020 Sundance Docs in Focus: FEELS GOOD MAN

FEELS GOOD MAN | Courtesy of Sundance Institute | photo by Kurt Keppeler and Christian Bruno

FEELS GOOD MAN
Arthur Jones traces the unpredictable development of an influential Internet meme.

Festival Section:
US Documentary Competition
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2020 Sundance Docs in Focus: DICK JOHNSON IS DEAD

DICK JOHNSON IS DEAD | Courtesy of Sundance Institute | photo by John Wakayama Carey

DICK JOHNSON IS DEAD
Kirsten Johnson approaches her father’s mortality with inventiveness and dark humor.

Festival Section:
US Documentary Competition
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2020 Sundance Docs in Focus: CRIP CAMP

CRIP CAMP | Courtesy of Sundance Institute | photo by Steve Honigsbaum

CRIP CAMP
Nicole Newnham and Jim LeBrecht chronicle the origins of America’s disability rights movement.

Festival Section:
US Documentary Competition
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2020 Sundance Docs in Focus: THE COST OF SILENCE

THE COST OF SILENCE | Courtesy of Sundance Institute | photo by John Wathan

THE COST OF SILENCE
Mark Manning exposes a nearly decade-long cover up of a public health disaster in the wake of Deepwater Horizon.

Festival Section:
US Documentary Competition
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2020 Sundance Docs in Focus: CODED BIAS

CODED BIAS | Courtesy of Sundance Institute

CODED BIAS
Shalini Kantayya explores disturbing gender and racial bias prevalent in artificial intelligence and machine learning.

Festival Section:
US Documentary Competition
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2020 Sundance Docs in Focus: BOYS STATE

BOYS STATE | Courtesy of Sundance Institute | photo by Thorsten Thielow

BOYS STATE
Jesse Moss and Amanda McBaine offer an eye-opening look at divisive modern-day American politics through the long-running titular high school leadership program.

Festival Section:
US Documentary Competition
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On TV: LINDA RONSTADT: THE SOUND OF MY VOICE

Coming to CNN tomorrow, Wednesday, January 1:
LINDA RONSTADT: THE SOUND OF MY VOICE

Directors:
Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman

World Premiere:
Tribeca 2019

Select Festivals:
Provincetown, AFI Docs, Atlantic

About:
A look back at the celebrated pop artist’s career.

I previously wrote about the doc here.

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2020 Sundance Docs in Focus: BLOODY NOSE, EMPTY POCKETS

BLOODY NOSE, EMPTY POCKETS | Courtesy of Sundance Institute

BLOODY NOSE, EMPTY POCKETS
Bill Ross and Turner Ross chronicle the patrons and staff of a dive bar on its final day.

Festival Section:
US Documentary Competition
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2019 Top Ten

As 2019 comes to a close, I’ve compiled below my list of top titles for the year.

I’ve restricted my list exclusively to nonfiction as usual, in contrast to virtually every other best of the year list out there which generally ignores documentary filmmaking. My selections are also limited to official releases in 2019.

Below are pointers to what I’ve written about my top ten feature nonfiction of 2019 on what (not) to doc previously. These are unranked and in alphabetical order, followed by a list of additional notable film and episodic titles.

Top Ten:

AMERICAN FACTORY

APOLLO 11

THE BIGGEST LITTLE FARM

FOR SAMA

HAIL SATAN?

HONEYLAND

LOS REYES

MAIDEN

MIDNIGHT FAMILY

ONE CHILD NATION

+ Ten More:

17 BLOCKS

AMÉRICA

COLLEGE BEHIND BARS

COMMUNION

FOR THE BIRDS

JAY MYSELF

THE RAFT

SEA OF SHADOWS

WALKING ON WATER

WOODSTOCK: THREE DAYS THAT DEFINED A GENERATION

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