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: ASCENSION

New to DVD this week:
ASCENSION

Director:
Jessica Kingdon

World Premiere:
Tribeca 2021

Select Festivals:
Docaviv, DMZ Docs, Camden, Zurich, Warsaw, Hamptons

Notable Recognition:
The doc was nominated for the Academy Awards.

About:
An absorbing exploration of the pursuit of the “Chinese Dream,” which prioritizes productivity and innovation above all.

Leave a comment

Filed under Documentary, Film, Releases

In Theatres: THE ART OF MAKING IT

Coming to theatres tomorrow, Wednesday, June 29:
THE ART OF MAKING IT

Director:
Kelcey Edwards

World Premiere:
Hamptons 2021

Select Festivals:
DOC NYC, SXSW, Miami, Big Sky Doc, Napa Valley, Sonoma, Sebastopol Doc, Cleveland, Freep, Maryland, Minneapolis-St Paul

About:
Against the backdrop of a culture in crisis, a profile of young artists at defining moments in their careers, and of the systems intended to nurture these up-and-coming creative talents but which ultimately may be failing them instead.

Leave a comment

Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases

On TV: RIGHT TO OFFEND: THE BLACK COMEDY REVOLUTION

Coming to A&E beginning tomorrow, Wednesday, June 29:
RIGHT TO OFFEND: THE BLACK COMEDY REVOLUTION

Director:
Mario Diaz, Jessica Sherif

World Premiere:
Tribeca 2022

About:
An exploration of the progression of Black comedy and the comedians who have used pointed humor to expose, challenge, and ridicule society’s injustices, as well as to articulate the Black experience in America.

Leave a comment

Filed under Documentary, Film, Releases

On DVD: FIDDLER’S JOURNEY TO THE BIG SCREEN

Coming to DVD tomorrow, Tuesday, June 28:
FIDDLER’S JOURNEY TO THE BIG SCREEN

Director:
Daniel Raim

World Premiere:
Palm Springs 2022 (cancelled)

Select Festivals:
Miami Jewish, Toronto Jewish, Atlanta Jewish, Seattle Jewish, Rehoboth Beach

About:
The story behind director Norman Jewison’s quest to recreate the lost world of Jewish life in Tsarist Russia and re-envision the beloved stage hit FIDDLER ON THE ROOF as a wide-screen epic.

Leave a comment

Filed under Documentary, Film, Releases

On TV & Streaming: ENDANGERED

Coming to HBO and HBO Max tomorrow, Tuesday, June 28:
ENDANGERED

Director:
Heidi Ewing, Rachel Grady

World Premiere:
Tribeca 2022

Select Festivals:
Nantucket

About:
A sobering look at the erosion of democracy and freedom of the press in the United States and abroad.

Leave a comment

Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases

On DVD: PLAGUE AT THE GOLDEN GATE

Coming to DVD tomorrow, Tuesday, June 28:
PLAGUE AT THE GOLDEN GATE

Director:
Li-Shin Yu

World Premiere:
American Experience broadcast (May 2022)

About:
In San Francisco’s Chinatown in 1900, a deadly outbreak of bubonic plague, and the hunt to identify its source, leads to an all-too-familiar spate of violent anti-Asian sentiment.

Leave a comment

Filed under Documentary, Film, Releases

On TV: CITIZEN ASHE

Coming to CNN this Sunday, June 26:
CITIZEN ASHE

Director:
Sam Pollard, Rex Miller

World Premiere:
Telluride 2021

Select Festivals:
DOC NYC, Camden, Hot Springs Doc, BFI London, AFI Fest, Chicago, Virginia

About:
A portrait of the trailblazing tennis player, the first and only Black man to win Wimbledon and the US and Australian Opens, and the first Black player on the US Davis Cup team.

Leave a comment

Filed under Documentary, Film, Releases

Special Screening: LET THE LITTLE LIGHT SHINE

Coming to NYC’s Rooftop Films tomorrow, Saturday, June 25:
LET THE LITTLE LIGHT SHINE

Director:
Kevin Shaw

World Premiere:
True/False 2022

Select Festivals:
Black Star, Full Frame, Doc 10, Minneapolis-St Paul, Doclands, Freep, Milwaukee, Ashland

About:
A high-achieving elementary school near downtown Chicago is a lifeline for Black children – until gentrification threatens its closure.

Leave a comment

Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases

In Theatres: VEDETTE

Coming to theatres today, Friday, June 24:
VEDETTE

Director:
Claudine Bories, Patrice Chagnard

World Premiere:
Cannes ACID 2021

Select Festivals:
IDFA, Thessaloniki Doc

About:
A year in the life of a cow with a feisty personality who has to face the agonizing truth that she’s no longer Queen of the Swiss Alps.

Leave a comment

Filed under Documentary, Film, Releases

In Theatres: BEBA

Coming to theatres today, Friday, June 24:
BEBA

Director:
Rebeca Huntt

World Premiere:
Toronto 2021

Select Festivals:
Berlin, CPH:DOX, Docaviv, Miami, Tribeca, Provincetown, Minneapolis-St Paul

About:
A raw, poetic self-portrait in which a young, NYC-born Afro-Latina filmmaker stares down historical, societal, and generational trauma.

Leave a comment

Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases