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.
April 25, 2019 · 2:12 PM

In Theatres: IF THE DANCER DANCES

Coming to theatres tomorrow, Friday, April 26:
IF THE DANCER DANCES

Director:
Maia Wechsler

Premiere:
Dance on Camera 2018

Select Festivals:
Ashland, Raindance

About:
A leading choreographer restages one of Merce Cunningham’s iconic works.

The legendary modern dancer and choreographer Merce Cunningham died in 2009, at the age of 90. Determined not to let Cunningham’s work fade away, Stephen Petronio sets out to reintroduce his 1968 piece, RainForest, to new audiences. To that end, Petronio gathers together three members of Cunningham’s company to assist his dancers in restaging the work, and, in so doing, keeping Cunningham’s legacy alive. Wechsler’s film, produced with Lise Friedman, herself a former member of the Merce Cunningham Dance Company, excels when it focuses on the dance itself rather than on reflections on Cunningham, and is better suited to observe the artistic process and its impact on the dancers, past and present, than on the intentions of its late originator.

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Filed under Documentary, Film, Releases

April 25, 2019 · 1:31 PM

On DVD: LIGHT IN THE WATER

New to DVD this week:
LIGHT IN THE WATER

Director:
Lis Bartlett

Premiere:
Logo TV (July 2018)

About:
The story of a pioneering LGBT swim team.

I previously wrote about the doc here.

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April 25, 2019 · 12:01 PM

On DVD: TICKLED

tickledNew to DVD this week:
TICKLED

Directors:
David Farrier and Dylan Reeve

Premiere:
Sundance 2016

Select Festivals:
Nantucket, True/False, Cleveland, Sarasota, San Francisco, Hot Docs, Montclair, Seattle, Sydney, Auckland

About:
Journalists embark on a wild investigation into an online fetish subculture.

I profiled the doc before Sundance here.

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

April 24, 2019 · 3:02 PM

On DVD: THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ANDRÉ

New to DVD this week:
THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ANDRÉ

Director:
Kate Novack

Premiere:
Toronto 2017

Select Festivals:
IDFA, Tribeca, Palm Springs, CPH:DOX, RiverRun, Montclair, IFF Boston, Seattle, Melbourne Queer,

About:
A portrait of influential fashion editor André Leon Talley.

I previously wrote about the doc here.

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April 24, 2019 · 1:31 PM

Hot Docs 2019 Overview

Festival:
The 26th Hot Docs

Dates:
April 25-May 5

About:
Approximately 150 new features, in addition to several retrospective presentations, make up the lineup of North America’s largest documentary festival. Continue reading →

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April 24, 2019 · 12:01 PM

Special Screening: A THOUSAND THOUGHTS

Coming to NYC’s Town Hall tomorrow, Thursday, April 25:
A THOUSAND THOUGHTS

Directors:
Sam Green and Joe Bini

Premiere:
Sundance 2018

Select Festivals:
San Francisco

About:
A live documentary telling the story of acclaimed contemporary classical music ensemble Kronos Quartet.

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

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

April 23, 2019 · 3:02 PM

On DVD: HAL

Coming to DVD today, Tuesday, April 23:
HAL

Director:
Amy Scott

Premiere:
Sundance 2018

Select Festivals:
Telluride, AFI Docs, Full Frame, San Francisco, Seattle, Traverse City, Edinburgh, Jerusalem, Lunenberg, Revelation, deadCenter, Nashville, Cleveland, Montclair

About:
A celebration of maverick director Hal Ashby.

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

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

April 23, 2019 · 2:12 PM

On VOD: PATRIMONIO

Coming to VOD today, Tuesday, April 23:
PATRIMONIO

Directors:
Lisa F Jackson and Sarah Teale

Premiere:
Berlin 2018

Select Festivals:
DOC NYC, Full Frame, Hot Springs Doc, Tallgrass, SF Green, St Louis

About:
Mexican fishermen fight back against development plans that will destroy their way of life.

The film screened as part of DOC NYC, for which our program notes read:
In Baja, Mexico, a multinational developer plans to build an extensive wellness oasis, which will include nearly 4500 homes and create a footprint that will engulf the local fishing community of Todos Santos. Faced with the encroachment of their natural resources, depletion of the local ecology, and severe pollution, the fishermen band together to fight the developer and government agencies that enable these extreme resorts. Led by an inspiring young attorney, can this humble group succeed in stopping this unsustainable development and preserve their way of life?

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April 23, 2019 · 1:31 PM

On DVD: MARGARET: THE REBEL PRINCESS

Photo by Popperfoto/Getty Images

Coming to DVD today, Tuesday, April 23:
MARGARET: THE REBEL PRINCESS

Director:
Hannah Berryman

Premiere:
BBC (September 2018)

About:
A two-part docuseries exploring the rebellious life of Queen Elizabeth’s younger sister, Princess Margaret.

I previously wrote about the series here.

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April 23, 2019 · 12:01 PM

Tribeca 2019: Documentary Overview

Festival:
The 18th Tribeca Film Festival

Dates:
April 24-May 5

About:
Approximately 65 feature-length documentary films or docuseries – nearly half the festival’s lineup – are included in this popular NYC event, spread out in various sections noted below. Included are two of its three Galas: Opening night presentation THE APOLLO, Roger Ross Williams’ exploration of the history and cultural significance of the legendary Harlem performance space; and THE GOOD, THE BAD, THE HUNGRY, Nicole Lucas Haimes’ look at the fierce rivalry between the frontrunners of Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest, which kicks off the sidebar Tribeca Sports Film Festival. Continue reading →

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