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: THE SEVENTH FIRE

seventh fireComing to DVD today, Tuesday, September 27: THE SEVENTH FIRE

Jack Pettibone Riccobono’s exploration of Native gang life had its world premiere at Berlin last year. Other screenings include New Orleans, Palm Springs, Documenta Madrid, Mar del Plata, Stockholm, Minneapolis-St Paul, Big Sky, Hawaii, Iran’s Cinema Vérité, Ashland, and Hot Springs Doc.

I previously wrote about the doc here.

Leave a comment

Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases

On DVD: EAT THAT QUESTION

eat that question zappaComing to DVD today, Tuesday, September 27: EAT THAT QUESTION: FRANK ZAPPA IN HIS OWN WORDS

Thorsten Schütte’s profile of the outspoken, media-savvy musician premiered at Sundance earlier this year. It went on to screen at Berlin, Montclair, New Zealand, Traverse City, Sarajevo, and Asbury Park.

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

Leave a comment

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

On TV: IN THE GAME

inthegame-magnumComing to PBS’s America ReFramed tonight, Tuesday, September 27: IN THE GAME

Maria Finitzo’s look at a Latina high school soccer team premiered at Madrid last year. Screenings followed at Ashland, Documentary Edge, SXSWedu, Minneapolis-St Paul, Hollywood, St Louis, Oaxaca Sports, and the Chicago and Seattle Latino fests.

I previously wrote about the doc here.

Leave a comment

Filed under Documentary, Film, Releases

On VOD: SERENA

2016_01_27 Serena_0173.tifComing to VOD Today, Monday, September 26: SERENA

Ryan White’s profile of the tennis icon had its premiere at Sheffield earlier this year. It went on to screen at Nantucket, was broadcast on EPIX, and now comes to Hulu and Amazon.

I previously wrote about the doc here.

Leave a comment

Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases

On VOD: BREAKING A MONSTER

breakingComing to VOD tomorrow, Tuesday, September 27: BREAKING A MONSTER

Luke Meyer’s look at the grooming of a new music band debuted at SXSW last year. The doc went on to screen at Hot Docs, Sheffield, BAMcinemaFest, Sydney, Traverse City, Melbourne, Camden, Mill Valley, CPH:DOX, RIDM, Big Sky Doc, IndieLisboa, and Durban. It now comes to VOD via iTunes.

I previously wrote about the film here.

Leave a comment

Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases

On DVD: CITY OF GOLD

city of goldComing to DVD tomorrow, Tuesday, September 27: CITY OF GOLD

Laura Gabbert’s look at Jonathan Gold’s love of culinary Los Angeles premiered at Sundance last year. Its fest circuit also included DOC NYC, SXSW, Melbourne, Napa Valley, Vancouver, Traverse City, deadCENTER, Provincetown, Newport Beach, AFI Docs, New Zealand, and Montclair, among others.

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

Leave a comment

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

On DVD: HOW TO DANCE IN OHIO

how to dance in ohioComing to DVD tomorrow, Tuesday, September 27: HOW TO DANCE IN OHIO

Alexandra Shiva’s look at a rite of passage experienced by youth on the autism spectrum debuted at Sundance last year. Screenings followed at Nantucket, AFI Docs, Melbourne, Margaret Mead, Nashville, deadCENTER, and Full Frame, among other events.

My pre-Sundance doc profile may be found here.

Leave a comment

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

On TV: TOCANDO LA LUZ

TOCANDOLALUZ-KEYComing to PBS’s Doc World on the World Channel this Sunday, September 25: TOCANDO LA LUZ

Jennifer Redfearn’s portrait of three blind Cuban women debuted at Full Frame last year. It went on to screen at DOC NYC, Galway, Miami, and Bath, among other events.

I previously wrote about the film for DOC NYC, saying:
Havana, Cuba. An up-and-coming singer searches for confidence, a young woman in love longs for motherhood, and a veteran of the Revolution comes to terms with the death of her husband. Three women, united by blindness and a desire for independence, guide us through Cuba’s current economic and social landscape while pursuing their dreams and breaking through personal and societal limitations.

Leave a comment

Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases

In Theatres: SEED: THE UNTOLD STORY

seed_1_720_405_80Coming to theatres today, Friday, September 23: SEED: THE UNTOLD STORY

Taggart Siegel and Jon Betz’s look at the battle to save seed diversity debuted at Washington DC’s Environmental Film Festival. Screenings followed at Nashville, Rhode Island, Princeton Environmental, Sheffield, Florida, DOXA, and Woods Hole, among other events.

Recognizing the rapid disappearance of agricultural biodiversity over the past century, seed keepers are on a mission to protect what little we have left. Siegel and Betz survey the range of stakeholders – from independent farmers and community seed bank organizers to indigenous practitioners and food scientists – as they face off against biotech companies for the future of the world’s food sources. While covering similar territory as other recent films about seeds and biodiversity, and spending a bit too much screen time on repetitious proclamations on the sacredness of seeds, the film succeeds in conveying an urgency around the issue.

Leave a comment

Filed under Documentary, Film, Releases

In Theatres & On VOD: AUDRIE & DAISY

audrieComing to theatres and to Netflix today, Friday, September 23: AUDRIE & DAISY

Bonni Cohen and Jon Shenk’s examination of the impact of online bullying on teenage sexual assault victims premiered at Sundance this year. Screenings followed at San Francisco, Hot Docs, Traverse City, Melbourne, and Montclair, among others. In addition to its theatrical and Netflix release, free community and university screenings have been set up across the country.

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

Leave a comment

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