Author Archives: basiltsiokos

Coming to theatres tomorrow, Friday, September 23: THE JAZZ LOFT ACCORDING TO W EUGENE SMITH

Sara Fishko’s look at legendary jazz history debuted at the New Orleans Film Festival last year. Its fest circuit also included DOC NYC, Rotterdam, Full Frame, Cleveland, Florida, BAFICI, and the Copenhagen Jazz Film Festival, among other events.

I previously wrote about the film for DOC NYC’s program, saying:
Between 1957 and 1965, former LIFE Magazine photojournalist W Eugene Smith obsessively photographed and taped the goings-on at the dilapidated Sixth Avenue loft he called home. As revealed in this astonishing WNYC-produced time capsule, what he captured is a treasure trove of NYC jazz of that period, including a three-week rehearsal by the legendary Thelonious Monk and jazz and classical music lessons given by the Juilliard-trained Hall Overton.

Coming to theatres tomorrow, Friday, September 23: GENERATION STARTUP

Cynthia Wade and Cheryl Miller Houser’s look at young entrepreneurs in Detroit debuted at Traverse City earlier this year. In addition to its limited theatrical release, the film will screen at the upcoming Milwaukee Film Festival and at other special events.

With American entrepreneurship at its nadir, and industry still seeking cheaper labor overseas, the prospects for a lasting economic upswing are uncertain. While Wade and Houser’s film celebrates some of the forward-thinking risk-takers who are trying to launch businesses, it refreshingly doesn’t sugarcoat the obstacles they face. Working in the particularly economically-depressed city of Detroit, the six subjects exploit the advantages of their location while trying to be part of the community that helps to build it back up, but acknowledge that they have an uphill battle to climb. Notably, they also address issues of diversity and the barriers traditionally faced by women and people of color, who often find themselves woefully under-represented relative to white men in startup enterprises. Nevertheless, the film’s cautious optimism gives hope, and potential inspiration, to other would-be innovators.

New to DVD this week: THEY WILL HAVE TO KILL US FIRST

Johanna Schwartz’s profile of musicians exiled over religion debuted at SXSW last year. Screenings followed at London, Göteborg, the Film Society of Lincoln Center’s Sound + Vision, Hot Docs, Singapore, RIDM, and Durban, among other events.

I previously wrote about the doc here.

Coming to Discovery Impact tomorrow, Thursday, September 22: HUNTWATCH

Brant Backlund’s look at a crusade against seal hunting debuted at DOC NYC last year. Other screenings have included Santa Barbara, Sedona, Boulder, and Newport Beach.

I previously wrote about the film for DOC NYC’s program, saying:
In Canada, seal hunting was historically considered to be a respectable job until people witnessed the graphic images of the practice for themselves on television. Angry and committed to save the seals, Brian Davies, a charismatic young activist, sets out on a crusade that becomes his life’s mission. Using the power of cinematography, celebrity, and science, Davies exposes the cruelty of the hunt while making audiences fall in love with these graceful, vulnerable creatures, as explored in Brant Backlund’s rousing film.

Coming to DVD today, Tuesday, September 20: THE WITNESS

James Solomon’s exploration of the story of Kitty Genovese murder premiered at the New York Film Festival last year. Its fest circuit also included Palm Springs, Big Sky, Boulder, Hong Kong, Sarasota, and Atlanta, among others.

I previously wrote about the doc here.