Author Archives: basiltsiokos

AP Photo/Ernest K Bennett

Directors:
Frank Dawson and Abby Ginzberg

Premiere:
Pan African LA 2016

Select Festivals:
DOC NYC, St Louis, Toronto Black, March on Washington

About:
A revealing history of the battle for diversity study programs on college campuses.

I previously wrote about the film for DOC NYC’s program, saying:
As students of color began arriving on college campuses in unprecedented numbers in the late 1960s, they found institutions ill-prepared to adapt to diversity. Unwilling to accept the absence of their unique cultures and histories, or to ignore prejudicial treatment, students mobilized for black and ethnic-studies programs, even taking up arms when necessary. Focusing on seminal struggles at San Francisco State and Cornell University, Frank Dawson and Abby Ginzberg’s film powerfully demonstrates this sadly still topical call for inclusivity in education.

Coming to VOD tomorrow, Friday, February 16:
HUMAN FLOW

Director:
Ai Weiwei

Premiere:
Venice 2017

Select Festivals:
Telluride, Hamptons, Mill Valley, Haifa, Atlantic

About:
An overarching view of the global refugee crisis.

I previously wrote about the doc here.

New to DVD and VOD this week:
REBELS ON POINTE

Director:
Bobbi Jo Hart

Premiere:
Santa Barbara 2017

Select Festivals:
DOC NYC, Hot Docs, DocEdge, Raindance, Calgary, Vancouver, Ashland, Hot Springs Doc, Cuculorus, Napa Valley, AmDocs, Frameline, Outfest, Inside Out, QDocs, LGBT fests in Amsterdam, Miami, Denver, Austin, Atlanta, and Rochester

About:
An intimate look at a long-running all-male drag ballet troupe.

I previously wrote about the doc here.

Coming to DVD today, Tuesday, February 13:
THE GUYS NEXT DOOR

Directors:
Amy Geller and Allie Humenuk

Premiere:
Sarasota 2016

Select Festivals:
DOC NYC, IFFBoston, Maryland, Provincetown, Woods Hole, Rhode Island, Big Sky Doc, RiverRun, MIX Milano, SF Jewish, Washington Jewish

About:
A profile of a gay couple and the woman who helped them have their own family.

I previously wrote about the doc for DOC NYC’s program, saying:
Rachel is a married woman in her 40s, with a husband and three children. She is also the surrogate mother for her married gay friends Erik and Sandro. With refreshing candor and humor, Geller and Humenuk’s film explores the unique challenges of this unusual extended family through the course of three years. Erik and Sandro move away from New York City and adjust to small-town life; Sandro travels to his Italian homeland; and Rachel delivers the couple’s second daughter.