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 VOD: BEAUTIFUL THINGS

New to VOD this week:
BEAUTIFUL THINGS

Director:
Giorgio Ferrero, Federico Biasin

World Premiere:
Venice 2017

Select Festivals:
CPH:DOX, Taipei, SF DocFest, Edinburgh, Sydney, Hot Docs, New Horizons, RIDM, True/False, Dokufest, DMZ Docs, In-Edit, Melbourne, Dok Leipzig, Docville

About:
Four men from around the world present a meditation about the means of production of material goods and consumerism in our society.

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Filed under Documentary, Film, Releases

On TV: CHINATOWN RISING

Coming to The WORLD Channel’s America ReFramed series tomorrow, Thursday, May 26:
CHINATOWN RISING

Director:
Harry Chuck, Josh Chuck

World Premiere:
CAAMFest 2019

Select Festivals:
Disorient, Guam, Asian/Asian American fests in Philadelphia, Boston and San Diego

About:
This deeply personal chronicle weaves together never-before-seen archival footage and photographs of a San Francisco neighborhood in transition.

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Docaviv 2022 Overview

Festival:
The 24th Docaviv: Tel Aviv International Documentary Film Festival

Dates:
May 26-June 5

About:
This notable Israeli nonfiction event returns to its regular May berth with approximately 100 new and recent documentary features.

Continue reading →

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Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Overviews, Recommendations

On VOD: SINCE I BEEN DOWN

Coming to VOD today, Tuesday, May 24:
SINCE I BEEN DOWN

Director:
Gilda Sheppard

World Premiere:
Cleveland 2020

Select Festivals:
DOC NYC, Big Sky, Freep, Sebastopol Doc, Portland, Thin Line, Montreal Black

About:
Despite serving life without parole, a man works to improve others’ lives. 

I previously wrote about the doc here.

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On DVD/VOD: ¡VIVA MAESTRO!

Coming to DVD/VOD today, Tuesday, May 24:
¡VIVA MAESTRO!

Director:
Ted Braun

World Premiere:
US theatrical release (April 2022)

About:
A portrait of world-renowned conductor Gustavo Dudamel as he responds to the unexpected and daunting obstacles of social unrest in his homeland of Venezuela with powerful music-making and an innovative and triumphant concert that celebrates the power of art to renew and unite.

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Streaming: MARINER OF THE MOUNTAINS

Coming to MUBI today, Monday, May 23:
MARINER OF THE MOUNTAINS

Director:
Karim Aïnouz

World Premiere:
Cannes 2021

Select Festivals:
IDFA, CPH:DOX, Sao Paulo, Karlovy Vary, Busan, Hamburg, Vienna

About:
In January 2019, the filmmaker decides to take a boat, cross the Mediterranean, and embark on his first journey to Algeria, his father’s homeland.

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On TV: PLAGUE AT THE GOLDEN GATE

Coming to PBS’s American Experience tomorrow, Tuesday, May 24:
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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Special Screening: BITTERBRUSH

Coming to NYC’s Pure Nonfiction tomorrow, Tuesday, May 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: THE FRENCH

Coming to NYC’s Metrograph today, Friday, May 20:
THE FRENCH

Director:
William Klein

World Premiere:
Perspectives du Cinéma Français 1982

About:
An unprecedented all-access, behind-the-scenes look at the 1981 French Open.

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Streaming: OUR TIMES

Coming to Film Movement Plus today, Friday, May 20:
OUR TIMES

Director:
Rakshan Bani-Etemad

World Premiere:
Locarno 2002

Select Festivals:
Thessaloniki Doc, Tribeca, Gent

About:
Focused on the Iranian elections of 2002, a group of women run for office, including one who attempts a heroic but unsuccessful run for the presidency.

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Filed under Documentary, Film, Releases