Author Archives: basiltsiokos

Coming to DVD next Tuesday, April 2: MEET THE FOKKENS

Rob Schröder and Gabriëlle Provaas’ profile of aging twin sexworkers premiered at IDFA in 2011. It went on to screen at Planete Doc, Hot Docs, Silverdocs, and Tallgrass, among others.

I included the film in my Hot Docs coverage here.

Coming to DVD next Tuesday, April 2: HOW TO MAKE A BOOK WITH STEIDL

Gereon Wetzel and Jörg Adolph’s behind-the-scenes look at the renowned German printer/publisher made its debut at DOK Leipzig in 2010, where it won Best German Documentary. Other stops on the fest circuit have included Hot Docs and Planete Doc Review, among others.

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

Coming to NYC’s Cinema Village this Friday, March 29: THE REVOLUTIONARY OPTIMISTS

Maren R Monsen and Nicole Newnham’s exploration of the impact of empowering India’s children made its world premiere at the International Film Festival of India in Goa. It previously won a special sustainability award through the Sundance Institute and screened earlier this month at the Film Society of Lincoln Center’s Art of the Real series. After its NYC theatrical release this week, the film will expand to Los Angeles’ Laemmle Santa Monica theatre next month.

In the slums of Kolkata, India, Amlan Ganguly’s NGO, Prayasam, tackles myriad poverty-related issues through its army of empowered youth. Believing that the secret to making things happen is to get to the children before they are forced by circumstance to repeat the cycle of poverty that their parents have been stuck in, Prayasam seeds the potential for actual change through them to affect their communities. Over several years, Monsen and Newnham profile a number of Amlan’s child leaders, working as agents of change, including Salim and Sikha, who spearhead a polio vaccination awareness campaign, as well as a mapping project to get attention and better water access for their community; Kajal, a pre-teen forced to work full-time as a brickmaker until Prayasam helps her secure an education through some savvy dealmaking with her employer; and Priyanka, an aspiring dancer and dance instructor at Prayasam whose parents threaten to marry her off, which could end her dreams. The film shifts from character to character nicely, providing a panoramic, and hopeful, view of the possibility of social change through education and the investment in children’s development.

Coming to Brooklyn NY’s reRun Gastropub Theater this Friday, March 29: CODE OF THE WEST

Rebecca Richman Cohen’s look at the medical marijuana debate had its world premiere at last year’s SXSW. Its festival run has included Camden, DOC NYC, Traverse City, and the IFF Boston, among others.

I included the doc in my SXSW coverage here.

Coming to DVD today, Tuesday, March 26: GLOW: THE STORY OF THE GORGEOUS LADIES OF WRESTLING

Brett Whitcomb’s appreciative look back at the classic women’s wrestling program made its world premiere at Hot Docs last year. It went on to screen at Sidewalk, DMZ Docs, Austin, Hot Springs, and Big Sky, among other fests, and was recently broadcast on Logo TV.

I included the doc in my Hot Docs coverage here.

Coming to VOD tomorrow, Tuesday, September 26: ROMAN POLANSKI: ODD MAN OUT

Marina Zenovich’s follow up to her previous, influential Polanski film made its debut at Toronto last Fall. It went on to screen at the New York and Zurich Film Festivals, and to be picked up for cable broadcast later this year by Showtime.

I included the film in my Toronto roundup here.

Coming to DVD tomorrow, Tuesday, September 26: STEP UP TO THE PLATE

Paul Lacoste’s look at the relationship between a father and son pair of chefs premiered at last year’s Berlin. Other screenings included Seattle, Silverdocs, and San Francisco, among others, followed by a limited theatrical release this past Fall.

I wrote about the doc out of Silverdocs here.