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.

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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On VOD: BITTERBRUSH

Coming to VOD tomorrow, Friday, June 24:
BITTERBRUSH

Director:
Emelie Mahdavian

World Premiere:
Telluride 2021

Select Festivals:
Visions du Réel, San Francisco, Sydney

About:
Two women set up camp at a tiny cabin and begin their season of work, to feed their dreams: to own their own livestock, to have true independence, and to start a family. 

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In Theatres/Virtual Release: THE HUMAN TRIAL

Coming to theatres and virtual cinemas tomorrow, Friday, June 24:
THE HUMAN TRIAL

Director:
Lisa Hepner, Guy Mossman

World Premiere:
Theatrical release (June 2022)

About:
An intimate, unprecedented profile of the patients and scientists participating in a groundbreaking clinical trial to seek a cure for diabetes.

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Streaming: PORTRAIT OF JASON

Coming to OVID tomorrow, Friday, June 24:
PORTRAIT OF JASON

Director:
Shirley Clarke

World Premiere:
New York Film Festival 1967

About:
In this seminal exploration of Black gay male identity, a hustler and aspiring performer relates his life to the camera.

I previously wrote about the doc here.

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Streaming: FIFI HOWLS FROM HAPPINESS

Coming to OVID this Friday, June 24:
FIFI HOWLS FROM HAPPINESS

Director:
Mitra Farahani

World Premiere:
Berlin 2013

Select Festivals:
New York, Telluride, BAFICI, Cinema du Reel, Warsaw, Seattle

About:
The filmmaker tracks down a long-forgotten, censored pre-Revolution Iranian artist.

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