Coming to theatres tomorrow, Friday, December 6: LENNY COOKE
Joshua and Benny Safdie’s exploration of unrealized athletic dreams made its world premiere at Tribeca this Spring. It went on to screen at Venice, Poland’s American Film Festival, Vienna, and Geneva, among others.
I included the doc in my Tribeca coverage here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Releases
The Dubai International Film Festival celebrates its first decade this month, with its tenth edition starting this Friday, December 6 and running through Saturday, December 14. The eldest of several high-profile Gulf State fests that began last decade, the Emirati event showcases work from the region, while also shining a spotlight on Asian and African work, and annually awards more than half a million dollars in prize money to competition winners. This year’s lineup consists of 174 films representing 57 countries. Among their number are 25 documentary features, a mix of new titles noted below and a number of familiar festival favorites that are just making their regional bows at the event.
Six films compete in the Muhr Arab Documentary Competition, including: Mohamed Amine Boukhris’ WAR REPORTER (pictured), following journalists of the Arab Spring; Ahmed Nour’s WAVES, a personal exploration of the young generation of Egyptians that enabled the revolution to take place; Sarah Francis’ BIRDS OF SEPTEMBER, in which a roving van serves as a confessional for the people of Beirut; and Philippe Aractingi’s HERITAGES, a meditation on the Lebanese director’s ancestral roots.
An additional eight titles are part of the Muhr Asia Africa Documentary Competition, including: Hafiz Rancajale’s BEHIND THE FLICKERING LIGHT (THE ARCHIVE), on Indonesia’s first film archivist; Surabhi Sharma’s BIDESIA IN BAMBAI, a celebration of the underrepresented migrant workforce in Mumbai; and Kazuhiro Sôda’s CAMPAIGN 2 (pictured), about a Fukushima-inspired anti-nuclear political campaign in Japan.
The fest’s non-competitive Arabian Nights section also features several new documentaries, among them Darin Al Baw’s OUR HOME WE CAN NOT WALK TO, about sisters caught in a war in a Lebanese Palestinian refugee camp; Mahmoud Kaabour’s CHAMP OF THE CAMP (pictured), on a Bollywood competition among migrant laborers in Dubai; and Nasredine Ben Maati’s A DOOMED GENERATION, a look at cyber-resistance to Tunisian repression prior to the revolution.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Overviews
Here’s a quick pointer to the initial lineup announcement for the 2014 Sundance Film Festival. The US and World Cinema Dramatic and Documentary Competitions, plus the NEXT section, are here. Announcements for other sections will follow later this week and next.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Sundance
Coming to NYC’s Maysles Cinema as part of a Marc Levin Masterclass series this Saturday, December 7: MR UNTOUCHABLE
Marc Levin’s portrait of the most notorious drug kingpin of NYC had its world premiere at CineVegas in 2007. The film went on to screen at Urbanworld, Docville, and other fests before being released theatrically and on VOD by Magnolia Pictures.
The legendary Leroy “Nicky” Barnes ruled Harlem for the first half of the 1970s, rising from a common drug dealer to the leader of a criminal empire dubbed the Council, trading largely in heroin and cocaine, brokered through close ties with the Mafia. As ironically suggested by his nickname, borrowed for the film’s title, his hubris ultimately led to his fall from power. When evidence was finally collected against Barnes, he turned on his former associates, securing his freedom through the FBI’s Witness Protection Program, and, as revealed in Levin’s film, seems to have made out like a bandit. Interviewed in silhouette, the remorseless Barnes-in-hiding flashes conspicuous symbols of success – a natty suit, expensive jewelry, and even champagne – trying too hard to project the kind of power he hasn’t wielded in decades. Levin’s overly slick but engaging portrait recaptures 1970s Harlem, managing to dance a fine line between nostalgic criminal glamorization and begrudging satisfaction in Barnes’ comeuppance.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations
Coming to NYC’s Lincoln Plaza Cinema this Friday, December 6: TIM’S VERMEER
Teller’s look at one man’s quest to uncover the Dutch master’s secrets made its debut at Telluride. It went on to screen at Toronto and the New York Film Festival. The doc will open in LA next week, and then goes nationwide at the end of January. It was just announced as one of the fifteen films shortlisted for the Best Documentary Feature Oscar.
I included the doc in my Toronto coverage here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
Coming to NYC’s Anthology Film Archives as part of the To Look Awry series this Thursday, December 5 and Sunday, December 8: PABLO’S WINTER
Chico Pereira’s portrait of a septuagenarian curmudgeon had its debut at DOK Leipzig last year. It went on to screen at IDFA, MoMA’s Documentary Fortnight, Glasgow, ZagrebDox, Full Frame, Documenta, Munich Dok.Fest, DocsBarcelona, Dokufest, Camden, and DMZ Docs, among others.
I previously wrote about the doc upon its theatrical release here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations
Coming to NYC’s Pivot TV tomorrow, Wednesday, December 4: AMERICAN TEACHER
Vanessa Roth and Brian McGinn’s teacher-focused look at the US education system debuted at San Francisco in 2011. It went on to screen at Austin, Denver, United Nations, Napa Valley, and at various community screenings across the country.
I previously wrote about the doc here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Releases
The Best Documentary Feature Oscar shortlist was just announced, narrowing the nearly 150 qualifiers to just fifteen contenders. Congratulations go to all the filmmakers for making it on to this list, especially the eleven Sundance alums and the nine DOC NYC Short List alums!
It’s now a waiting game until the five final nominees are revealed on Thursday, January 16. In the meantime, here is the official shortlist, with links to my previous coverage for each of the films:
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Sundance
Available on DVD today, Tuesday, December 3: THE STONE ROSES: MADE OF STONE
Shane Meadows’ love letter to the eponymous band debuted in their hometown of Manchester this past Spring. It went on to screen theatrically in the UK, Ireland, the US, and Canada, and to screen at fests in Sydney, Athens, Karlovy Vary, and Tokyo.
I previously wrote about the doc upon its theatrical release here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
Available on DVD today, Tuesday, December 3: BUYING SEX
Kent Nason and Teresa MacInnes’ expansive consideration of sex work had its debut at Hot Docs this past Spring. It went on to screen at additional Canadian fests, including Atlantic, Victoria, and the St John’s International Women’s Film Festival.
I previously wrote about the film out of Hot Docs here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Releases
