My 2015 Sundance US Documentary Competition profiles begin this week with Lyric R Cabral and David Felix Sutcliffe’s (T)ERROR, an inside look at how an FBI counterterrorism informant operates. Continue reading
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2015 Sundance Docs in Focus: (T)ERROR
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Sundance
Special Screening & In Theatres: VESSEL
Coming to the JCC in Manhattan’s CineMatters series tomorrow, Tuesday, January 6 and to theatres this Friday, January 9: VESSEL
Diana Whitten’s profile of an intrepid reproductive rights activist and her nautical mission bowed at SXSW this Spring. It has gone on the screen at Nantucket, DOC NYC, Hot Docs, Sheffield, Jerusalem, Sarasota, and IFF Boston, among others.
I previously wrote about the doc for Nantucket’s program, saying:
Moved by the plight of desperate women in countries with restrictive reproductive rights, Dutch physician Rebecca Gomperts founded Women on Waves, which uses laws governing international waters to bring much-needed abortion and contraceptive services to those with no other recourse. As demonstrated in Diana Whitten’s SXSW audience award and special jury prize winning film, despite a quagmire of legal, religious, political, and logistical obstacles, Gomperts and her impassioned team persevere, coming up with creative workarounds that enable them to educate and empower women around the world to take charge of their own bodies.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
On DVD: DINOSAUR 13
Coming to DVD tomorrow, Tuesday, January 6: DINOSAUR 13
Todd Miller’s recounting of the fight over a dinosaur called Sue made its debut at Sundance this year. It also screened at Traverse City, Sydney, Melbourne, and its local setting of the Black Hills.
My pre-Sundance profile of the doc may be found here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Releases, Sundance
2015 Sundance Docs in Focus: RACING EXTINCTION
Closing out this week’s US Documentary Competition profiles: Louie Psihoyos’ RACING EXTINCTION, a wake-up call to the dangers of mass extinction on our planet. Continue reading
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Sundance
On Cable: LIFE ITSELF
Coming to CNN for its broadcast debut this Sunday, January 4: LIFE ITSELF
Steve James’ portrait of the late film critic Roger Ebert had its world premiere at Sundance last year. Its festival circuit has included Nantucket, DOC NYC, Cannes, Ebertfest, and AFI Docs, among several others. The film has been shortlisted for the Best Documentary Oscar.
I profiled the doc before Sundance here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Releases, Sundance
2015 Sundance Docs in Focus: MERU
Next up in the US Documentary Competition: Jimmy Chin and E Chai Vasarhelyi’s MERU, which tracks multiple attempts to scale a dangerous peak by three determined mountain climbers. Continue reading
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Sundance
2015 Sundance Docs in Focus: LARRY KRAMER IN LOVE & ANGER
Today’s look at the 2015 Sundance US Documentary Competition starts with Jean Carlomusto’s LARRY KRAMER IN LOVE & ANGER, a far-ranging portrait of the controversial activist/author. Continue reading
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Sundance
In Theatres & On VOD: THE SEARCH FOR GENERAL TSO
Coming to theatres and to VOD tomorrow, Friday, January 2: THE SEARCH FOR GENERAL TSO
Ian Cheney’s look at Chinese culinary and immigration history had its premiere at Tribeca this Spring. It went on to screen at Seattle, IFF Boston, AFI Docs, Camden, and Sidewalk, among others.
I previously wrote about the doc here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
2014 Top Ten Docs
Earlier today, Indiewire posted the top ten lists of various film industry respondents, including mine. You can see the full list here and my picks here.
As noted there, I’ve restricted my list to non-fiction and to only those docs that had official releases in 2014. Various festival favorites which have not yet come to theatres/ancillary will likely make it on next year’s list.
Here are pointers to what I’ve written about my top ten docs of 2014 on what (not) to doc previously. The films are unranked and in alphabetical order:
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations
2015 Sundance Docs in Focus: HOW TO DANCE IN OHIO
The second half of my US Documentary Competition profiles begins with Alexandra Shiva’s HOW TO DANCE IN OHIO, which follows young people on the autism spectrum as they prepare for a Spring formal. Continue reading
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Sundance
what (not) to doc 