Author Archives: basiltsiokos

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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.

2016 Sundance Docs in Focus: A FLAG WITHOUT A COUNTRY

flag without a countryTuesday’s Sundance doc preview closes out: From Iraq, A FLAG WITHOUT A COUNTRY, Bahman Ghobadi’s dual, hopeful portrait of modern day Kurdistan.

Festival Section:
World Cinema Documentary Competition
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On DVD: AMERICAN COMANDANTE

american comandanteComing to DVD today, Tuesday, January 5: AMERICAN COMANDANTE

Adriana Bosch’s profile of an American embroiled in the Cuban Revolution premiered on PBS as part of American Experience this past Fall.

I previously wrote about the doc here.

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2016 Sundance Docs in Focus: ALL THESE SLEEPLESS NIGHTS

all these sleeplessMoving over to the World Cinema competition: From Poland, ALL THESE SLEEPLESS NIGHTS, Michał Marczak’s snapshot of twentysomethings living life to the fullest.

Festival Section:
World Cinema Documentary Competition
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On DVD: A BRAVE HEART

brave heartComing to DVD today, Tuesday, January 5: A BRAVE HEART: THE LIZZIE VELASQUEZ STORY

Sara Hirsch Bordo’s profile of an unexpected activist bowed at SXSW last year, where it won an audience award. The film’s fest circuit has included Traverse City, Newport Beach, Rhode Island, Lower East Side, and Bentonville, among others.

I previously wrote about the doc here.

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2016 Sundance Docs in Focus: WEINER

weinerBringing this year’s Sundance US Documentary Competition preview to a close: WEINER, Josh Kriegman and Elyse Steinberg’s in-the-moment chronicle of a politician’s ill-fated return.

Festival Section:
US Documentary Competition
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On VOD: GOOD PEOPLE GO TO HELL, SAVED PEOPLE GO TO HEAVEN

good people go to hellNew to VOD: GOOD PEOPLE GO TO HELL, SAVED PEOPLE GO TO HEAVEN

Holly Hardman’s exploration of Christian evangelicalism and the apocalypse had its world premiere at the 2012 IDFA. Screenings followed at St Louis, Knoxville, and Berkshire, among other fests and special events. The film was released on VOD just before the New Year on iTunes, Google Play, and Amazon Instant.

I previously wrote about the film out of IDFA here.

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2016 Sundance Docs in Focus: UNCLE HOWARD

uncle howardToday’s Sundance preview wraps with the penultimate film of the US Documentary Competition: Aaron Brookner’s UNCLE HOWARD, a nephew’s revival of his filmmaking inspiration.

Festival Section:
US Documentary Competition
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On TV: CHUCK NORRIS VS COMMUNISM

chuck norrisComing to PBS’s Independent Lens tonight, Monday, January 4: CHUCK NORRIS VS COMMUNISM

Ilinca Calugareanu’s exploration of the subversive role played by VCRs in the Cold War made its debut at Sundance last year. Screenings followed at Nantucket, Hot Docs, Edinburgh, Los Angeles, Denver, Stockholm, Leeds, Hamptons, and Seattle, among other fests.

I profiled the doc before Sundance here.

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2016 Sundance Docs in Focus: TRAPPED

trappedContinuing my look at this year’s Sundance doc features: TRAPPED, Dawn Porter’s investigation of the war against reproductive health clinics.

Festival Section:
US Documentary Competition
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On TV: CARTEL LAND

cartel landComing to A&E tonight, Monday, January 4: CARTEL LAND

Matthew Heineman’s visceral exploration of Mexican cartel violence had its world premiere at Sundance last year, where it won two awards. It went on to screen at Nantucket, DOC NYC, True/False, Full Frame, Dallas, Sarasota, Tribeca, IFF Boston, Documenta, Docville, Seattle, Sydney, Human Rights Watch, AFI Docs, and Sheffield, among others. The film has been shortlisted for the Documentary Feature Academy Award.

My pre-Sundance doc profile may be found here.

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