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.
April 26, 2013 · 1:31 PM

In the Works: FREEDOM FIGHTERS

The director of INFORMANT profiles the efforts of once wrongly imprisoned men to exonerate other innocent men.

freedom fightersHaving themselves experienced the nightmare of incarceration for crimes they didn’t commit, and the joy of finally being vindicated, the subjects of Jamie Meltzer’s film have banded together to help others in similar straits. Going by the film’s titular name, a group of exonerated African-American men form a detective agency, funneling their hard-fought experiences in the criminal justice system to investigate, and hopefully solve, other cases of wrongful conviction. Beyond the challenge of their first case – overturning a 75-year sentence for a $618 theft – the men have to learn how to do their new jobs and to adjust to life on the outside. Continue reading →

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April 26, 2013 · 12:01 PM

In Theatres: AN OVERSIMPLIFICATION OF HER BEAUTY

oversimplificationComing to NYC’s Cinema Village today, Friday, April 26: AN OVERSIMPLIFICATION OF HER BEAUTY

Terence Nance’s meditation on the relationship between a man and a woman debuted at Sundance last year. The hybrid project – neither strictly fiction nor nonfiction – went on to screen at Rotterdam, New Directors/New Films, Urbanworld, Sundance London, Cleveland, Traverse City, and New Orleans, among many others.

I previously wrote about the film here.

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April 25, 2013 · 3:02 PM

On DVD: TCHOUPITOULAS

tchouComing to DVD (in a double-disc release with ONLY THE YOUNG) next Tuesday, April 30: TCHOUPITOULAS

The Ross Brothers’ exploration of nocturnal New Orleans made its world premiere at SXSW last year. Its fest circuit included Silverdocs, BAMcinemaFest, CPH: DOX, Hot Docs, and Dallas, among others.

I included the doc in my SXSW roundup here.

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April 25, 2013 · 1:31 PM

On DVD: ONLY THE YOUNG

Coming to DVD (in a double-disc release with TCHOUPITOULAS) next Tuesday, April 30: ONLY THE YOUNG

Elizabeth Mims and Jason Tippet’s study of friendship in adolescence debuted at True/False last year. Its festival circuit included stops at San Francisco, Hot Docs, Silverdocs, and AFI Fest, picking up awards at the latter two fests.

I included the doc in my Hot Docs roundup here.

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April 25, 2013 · 12:01 PM

On DVD: HISTORY OF THE EAGLES

history of the eaglesComing to DVD next Tuesday, April 30: HISTORY OF THE EAGLES

Alison Ellwood’s premiered the first part of her chronicle of the seminal American band at Sundance earlier this year, with the second part debuting on Showtime in February. This DVD/Blu-ray release includes both parts plus EAGLES LIVE AT THE CAPITAL CENTER – MARCH 1977, featuring performances from the band’s legendary Hotel California tour.

I wrote about part one before Sundance here.

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April 24, 2013 · 1:31 PM

In Theatres: ¡VIVAN LAS ANTIPODAS!

vivan_las_antipodasComing to theatres via Cinedigm’s Docurama initiative next Tuesday, April 30: ¡VIVAN LAS ANTIPODAS!

Victor Kossakovsky’s stunning exploration of global opposites made its debut as one of the opening night films for Venice in 2011. It has had an extensive festival run, including Message to Man, DOK Leipzig, Doha Tribeca, IDFA, Docpoint, Ambulante, Documentary Fortnight, True/False, It’s All True, San Francisco, and Hot Docs, among many others. The film is part of Cinedigm’s new seven-film program bringing feature documentaries to theatres weekly in up to fifteen US markets, including NYC, LA, Pasadena, Encino, San Diego, Palm Desert, Austin, San Antonio, Phoenix, Cleveland, Columbus, Pittsburgh, Hartford, New Haven, Ithaca, Richmond, and Helena. The films are also available for additional theatrical-on-demand screenings via Tugg. In NYC, the film will screen on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday.

I previously wrote about the doc out of Hot Docs here.

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April 24, 2013 · 12:01 PM

Special Screening: STORIES WE TELL

stories we tellComing to NYC’s Stranger Than Fiction next Tuesday, April 30: STORIES WE TELL

Sarah Polley’s exploration of family secrets made its premiere last year at Venice. It went on to screen at Telluride, Toronto, Sundance, True/False, and New Directors/New Films, among other fests.

My pre-Sundance profile of the film may be found here.

Note: A Q&A is expected following the screening. Check the STF link above for updates about the participant.

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April 23, 2013 · 1:31 PM

Independent Film Festival Boston 2013: Documentary Overview

boston iffb logo2013After a particularly challenging week, some normalcy returns to the Hub city with the start of the Independent Film Festival Boston tomorrow, Wednesday, April 24. Running through next Tuesday, April 30, this year marks the eleventh edition of what has been called the city’s premier film event, and the largest film festival in the whole of New England. Continue reading →

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April 23, 2013 · 12:01 PM

On DVD: THE CENTRAL PARK FIVE

central park 5Coming to DVD today, Tuesday, April 23: THE CENTRAL PARK FIVE

Sarah Burns, David McMahon, and Ken Burns’ exploration of the miscarriage of justice around a horrific crime had its world premiere at Cannes last year. The film’s festival circuit also included Telluride, Toronto, and DOC NYC, among others. In addition to a theatrical and VOD release, the doc was broadcast on PBS last week.

I previously wrote about the film out of Toronto here.

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April 22, 2013 · 1:31 PM

San Francisco International Film Festival 2013: Documentary Overview

sfiff56_logo_horizontal3The longest-running film festival in both North and South America, San Francisco International Film Festival, kicks off its 56th edition this Thursday evening and runs through Thursday, May 9. This is the first festival with new Executive Director Ted Hope at the helm, bringing a welcome and familiar leadership to the organization after the tragic back-to-back deaths of his respected predecessors Graham Leggat and Bingham Ray. He’s brought with him Colin Stanfield as Managing Director, with longtime Director of Programming Rachel Rosen providing continuity and her regular keen curatorial eye. This year’s lineup includes over 150 films, including nearly thirty documentary features. I’ll be in town for the festival’s first weekend and may try to catch a few titles I haven’t already seen, time and schedule permitting. Regardless, here’s a quick look at some of the selections to consider checking out if you’re in the Bay Area: Continue reading →

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