Author Archives: basiltsiokos

basiltsiokos's avatar

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.

On DVD: KADDISH

Coming to DVD today, Tuesday, November 15:
KADDISH

Director:
Steve Brand

World Premiere:
New Directors/New Films 1984

Select Festivals:
Sundance, New York Jewish

About:
A candid portrait of Yossi Klein Halevi, a young Jewish man who would go on to become a noted writer and activist, as he comes to terms with his father’s traumatic history as a Holocaust survivor.

Leave a comment

Filed under Documentary, Film, Releases

On DVD/VOD: MOONAGE DAYDREAM

Coming to DVD and VOD tomorrow, Tuesday, November 15:
MOONAGE DAYDREAM

Director:
Brett Morgen

World Premiere:
Cannes 2022

Select Festivals:
Toronto, Karlovy Vary, Deauville, Jerusalem

About:
An artful and life-affirming journey through David Bowie’s creative life, grappling with spirituality, transience, isolation, creativity, and time to reveal the celebrated icon in his own voice.

Leave a comment

Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases

Streaming: STUTZ

Courtesy of Netflix

Coming to Netflix today, Monday, November 14:
STUTZ

Director:
Jonah Hill

World Premiere:
Theatrical release (November 2022)

About:
In candid conversations with actor Jonah Hill, leading psychiatrist Phil Stutz explores his early life experiences and unique, visual model of therapy.

Leave a comment

Filed under Documentary, Film, Releases

On TV: TAKEN HOSTAGE

Coming to PBS’s American Experience today, Monday, November 14 and tomorrow, Tuesday, November 15:
TAKEN HOSTAGE

Director:
Robert Stone

World Premiere:
PBS broadcast (November 2022)

About:
Unfolding like a political thriller, the story of the Iran hostage crisis, when 52 American diplomats, Marines and civilians were held hostage at the American Embassy in Tehran on November 4, 1979.

Leave a comment

Filed under Documentary, Film, Releases

Streaming: FIRE OF LOVE

Coming to Disney+ today, Friday, November 11:
FIRE OF LOVE

Director:
Sara Dosa

World Premiere:
Sundance 2022

Select Festivals:
CPH:DOX, Hot Docs, True/False, SXSW, New Directors/New Films, Docaviv, Visions du Reel, Docville, Sydney, Seattle, San Francisco, Cleveland, Ashland, RiverRun, Sun Valley, Provincetown

About:
This story of the doomed love triangle between intrepid scientists and lovers Katia and Maurice Krafft and the volcanoes they captured in their explosive archival footage.

Leave a comment

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

Streaming: SANTA CAMP

Coming to HBO Max tomorrow, Saturday, November 12:
SANTA CAMP

Director:
Nick Sweeney

World Premiere:
DOC NYC 2022

About:
With Christmas looming, three unconventional new recruits join the jolly white, bearded, ranks of Santa Camp and shake up the image of Kris Kringle.

Leave a comment

Filed under Documentary, Film, Releases

In Theatres: NOTHING LASTS FOREVER

Coming to theatres this Friday, November 4:
NOTHING LASTS FOREVER

Director:
Jason Kohn

World Premiere:
Berlin 2022

Select Festivals:
IDFA, SXSW, CPH:DOX, Docs Against Gravity, Camden, Bergen, Philadelphia, BAMcinemaFest

About:
This thriller-like investigation into the disruptive infiltration of synthetic diamonds into the jewelry market turns into an inquiry of the universal themes of value, the real, and the symbolic.

Leave a comment

Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases

On VOD: THE HUMAN TRIAL

Coming to VOD today, Friday, November 11:
THE HUMAN TRIAL

Director:
Lisa Hepner, Guy Mossman

World Premiere:
Theatrical release (June 2022)

About:
An intimate, unprecedented profile of the patients and scientists participating in a groundbreaking clinical trial to seek a cure for diabetes.

Leave a comment

Filed under Documentary, Film, Releases

Streaming: IS THAT BLACK ENOUGH FOR YOU?!?

Coming to Netflix tomorrow, Friday, November 11:
IS THAT BLACK ENOUGH FOR YOU?!?

Director:
Elvis Mitchell

World Premiere:
New York Film Festival 2022

Select Festivals:
Montclair, AFI Fest, Indie Memphis

About:
A definitive narrative of the Black revolution in 1970s cinema, from genre films to social realism.

Leave a comment

Filed under Documentary, Film, Releases

In Theatres: RETROGRADE

Coming to theatres tomorrow, Friday, November 11:
RETROGRADE

Director:
Matthew Heineman

World Premiere:
Telluride 2022

Select Festivals:
DOC NYC, Busan, Hamptons, Vancouver, Antenna Doc, Heartland, Bergen, Philadelphia, Montclair, Cork, Denver

About:
The story of the last months of the 20-year war in Afghanistan through the intimate relationship between American Green Berets and the Afghan officers they trained.

Leave a comment

Filed under Documentary, Film, Releases