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.

2013 Sundance Docs in Focus: INTERIOR. LEATHER BAR.

interior leather barMy 2013 Sundance profiles reach their conclusion with the second of two projects from the boundary-pushing New Frontier section: Travis Mathews and James Franco’s INTERIOR. LEATHER BAR., a re-imagining of, and confrontation with, the “lost” explicit scenes from CRUISING.

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2013 Sundance Docs in Focus: CHARLIE VICTOR ROMEO

charlie victor romeoThe final two documentary profiles from this year’s Sundance come from the festival’s form- and genre-busting New Frontier section, so neither are exactly straightforward documentaries. First up: Robert Berger and Karlyn Michelson’s CHARLIE VICTOR ROMEO, a mix of film, theatre, and documentary that brings airline emergencies to life.

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2013 Sundance Docs in Focus: KINK

kinkMy 2013 Sundance profiles come to an end later today. The first of the final three is the only documentary in the Park City at Midnight section: Christina Voros’ KINK, an inside look at one of the world’s most popular fetish porn websites.

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On TV & DVD: BEAUTY IS EMBARRASSING

Coming to PBS’ Independent Lens next Monday, January 21 and to DVD next Tuesday, January 22: BEAUTY IS EMBARRASSING

Neil Berkeley premiered his film about artist Wayne White at SXSW last year. Its fest circuit has included Full Frame, Cleveland, Hot Docs, Boston, Nashville, and Silverdocs, among many others.

I wrote about the film out of Silverdocs here.

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On DVD: SEARCHING FOR SUGAR MAN

Coming to DVD next Tuesday, January 22: SEARCHING FOR SUGAR MAN

Malik Bendjelloul’s investigation into an obscure musician with an unusual legacy premiered at Sundance last year, claiming two awards. It went on to screen extensively, including SXSW, Tribeca, Karlovy Vary, and IDFA, among others. Earlier this month, the doc was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature, and also picked up a Cinema Eye.

I wrote about the film pre-Sundance here.

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On VOD: THE IMPOSTER

Coming to VOD next Tuesday, January 22: THE IMPOSTER

Bart Layton’s masterful portrait of a stranger than fiction impersonation premiered last year at Sundance. Its festival circuit included Seattle, BAMcinemafest, Edinburgh, and Miami, among many others. The doc was shortlisted for the Academy Award and picked up a Cinema Eye for Best Production earlier this month. FilmBuff releases the film on iTunes, Amazon, YouTube, and Vudu next week.

I wrote about the film before Sundance here.

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2013 Sundance Docs in Focus: STORIES WE TELL

stories we tellToday’s Sundance profiles close out with the second of two docs in the Spotlight section: Sarah Polley’s STORIES WE TELL, a personal investigation into family secrets.

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2013 Sundance Docs in Focus: THE GATEKEEPERS

gatekeepersHeading into the final stretch of the Sundance lineup, these profiles look at the first of two documentaries in the Spotlight section: Dror Moreh’s THE GATEKEEPERS, an eye-opening look at Israeli’s national security.

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2013 Sundance Docs in Focus: THE WORLD ACCORDING TO DICK CHENEY

world according to dick cheneyThis year’s Documentary Premieres comes to a close: RJ Cutler and Greg Finton’s THE WORLD ACCORDING TO DICK CHENEY, a portrait of the former US vice president.

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On DVD: PINA

Coming to DVD via the Criterion Collection next Tuesday, January 22: PINA

Wim Wenders’ tribute to choreographer Pina Bausch made its premiere in Berlin in 2011. Its festival circuit included slots at Telluride, Toronto, and the New York Film Festival, among many others. It was shortlisted for the foreign Oscar and nominated for the documentary Oscar last year.

I previously wrote about the film here.

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