New to DVD this week: FOR THE LOVE OF SPOCK
Adam Nimoy’s personal reflection on his famed father had its premiere at Tribeca this Spring. Screenings also included Fantasia, Sedona, Sitges, and at the San Francisco and San Diego Jewish fests.
I previously wrote about the doc here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Releases
This post is a pointer to the fourth lineup announcement for the 2017 Sundance Film Festival, revealing the 2017 Shorts program. The lineup may be found here.
Earlier lineup announcements include the US and World Cinema Documentary and Dramatic Competitions, plus NEXT; New Frontier; and Premieres, Documentary Premieres, Midnight, Spotlight, Kids, and Special Events.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Overviews, Recommendations
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences announced the Best Documentary Feature shortlist today. Congratulations to all the filmmakers – in particular all of the Sundance and DOC NYC alumni represented.
I’ve previously written about most of these and hope to cover the remainder before the final nominees are announced on January 24. For now, here is the official shortlist, with links to my previous coverage, where applicable:
I AM NOT YOUR NEGRO (pictured)
THE IVORY GAME
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Sundance
Coming to VOD today, Tuesday, December 6: ALL EYES AND EARS
Vanessa Hope’s look at US/China relations debuted at San Francisco’s CAAMFest last year. Other festival screenings include Tribeca, Vancouver, Global Peace, Mill Valley, Bahamas, Karlovy Vary, and Galway. The doc now comes to VOD platforms including iTunes, Amazon Video, Google Play, Vudu, and Microsoft Movies & TV in the US, as well as on Blueshare in China.
Hope centers her film on former US Ambassador to China Jon Huntsman, who served in the post from 2009-2011. Following him and some of his accompanying family members around China, including his daughter Gracie, who was adopted from China as an infant, Hope is granted prime access and the authorization to shoot a high-level official diplomat as he tours around different areas in the country, but at the same time subject to Chinese interference, staging interactions with the ambassador and people on the street while also surreptitiously monitoring their movements. While the affable Huntsman demonstrates the careful balancing act that is his job, a more personal view comes via Gracie, whose bicultural background lends a symbolic weight to the Huntsmen family’s presence in China, which Hope seizes upon, making her the film’s sometime narrator. Though not quite afforded enough space in the thought-provoking film, a third figure emerges in Chen Guangchen, a noted attorney whose activism highlights human rights issues which complicate Huntsman’s position and the financial stakes at the core of the present-day US/Chinese relationship.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Releases
Coming to DVD today, Tuesday, December 6: HEART OF A DOG
Laurie Anderson’s essay film on mortality and love premiered at Telluride last year. It went on to screen at Venice, Toronto, San Sebastian, New York, Adelaide, Dublin, Rotterdam, San Francisco, Leeds, and Chicago. The film was shortlisted by the Academy Award for the Best Documentary Feature of 2015. It now comes to DVD via the Criterion Collection.
I previously wrote about the doc here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
Coming to DVD today, Tuesday, December 6: LOVE BETWEEN THE COVERS
Laurie Kahn’s exploration of the dismissed romance literary genre had its world premiere at Hot Docs last year. It went on to screen at DOC NYC, Los Angeles, Provincetown, Woods Hole, Sidewalk, Hot Springs Doc, Mill Valley, and St Louis, as well as at several book events.
I previously wrote about the doc here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
Coming to VOD today, Tuesday, December 6: THE ANTHROPOLOGIST
Seth Kramer, Daniel A Miller, and Jeremy Newberger’s anthropological look at climate change made its bow at DOC NYC last year. The doc went on to screen at Cleveland, Dallas, RiverRun, Minneapolis, IFF Boston, Cucalorus, and San Francisco Green, among other events. It now comes to VOD via iTunes.
I previously wrote about the film here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
Coming to DVD today, Tuesday, December 6: AUTHOR: THE JT LEROY STORY
Jeff Feuerzeig’s behind-the-scenes exploration of the literary wunderkind debuted at Sundance this year. It went on to screen at Nantucket, True/False, Full Frame, San Francisco, DocAviv, Seattle, Sheffield, Sundance London, Provincetown, New Zealand, Sidewalk, and BAMcinemaFest, among other events.
My pre-Sundance profile of the film may be found here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Releases, Sundance
This post is a pointer to the third lineup announcement for the 2017 Sundance Film Festival. This year’s selections in the Premieres, Documentary Premieres, Midnight, Spotlight, Kids, and Special Events sections may be found here.
Still to be revealed in further announcements are 2017’s Shorts and From the Collection selections.
Earlier lineup announcements include the US and World Cinema Documentary and Dramatic Competitions, plus NEXT and New Frontier.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Overviews, Recommendations, Sundance
Coming to DVD tomorrow, Tuesday, December 6: BECOMING MIKE NICHOLS
Douglas McGrath’s indepth look at the acclaimed filmmaker’s early work debuted at Sundance earlier this year. Other screenings included Martha’s Vineyard and the Berkshires, as well as HBO broadcasts.
I profiled the doc before Sundance here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Releases, Sundance
what (not) to doc 