My Indiewire article on IDFA’s international co-production financing market, the Forum, is now up here, spotlighting several promising projects in development.
Author Archives: basiltsiokos
IDFA 2012: The Forum in Brief
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, In Brief, In the Works
In Theatres: BEWARE OF MR BAKER
Coming to NYC’s Film Forum next Wednesday, November 28: BEWARE OF MR BAKER
Jay Bulger’s portrait of a rock drumming legend premiered at SXSW earlier this year, claiming the Best Documentary Award. Its fest circuit has included Hot Docs, IFF Boston, Seattle, Silverdocs, and London.
I included the film in my SXSW coverage here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Releases
IDFA 2012: Docs in Brief, Part One
Straight off of a hectic DOC NYC schedule, I’m in Amsterdam. My first dispatch for Indiewire was published on Monday, highlighting ten films that have been generating buzz in the first few days of the festival. The full article may be found here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, In Brief, Recommendations
In Theatres: THE CENTRAL PARK FIVE
Coming to theatres this Friday, November 23: THE CENTRAL PARK FIVE
Sarah Burns, David McMahon, and Ken Burns’ exploration of the infamous 1989 jogger rape case made its world premiere at Cannes. It went on to screen at Telluride, Toronto, London, Mill Valley, AFI Fest, and Chicago, and closed out DOC NYC last week. IFC opens the film at the IFC Center, Maysles Cinema, and Lincoln Plaza Cinema, expanding it next week to Los Angeles, Chicago, and Montclair before going wider in mid-December.
I included the film in my Toronto coverage here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
Special Screening: WALK AWAY RENEE
Coming to Stranger Than Fiction tomorrow, Tuesday, November 20: WALK AWAY RENEE
Jonathan Caouette’s sequel-of-sorts to his acclaimed TARNATION premiered at Cannes in 2011. its festival run, in both its original cut and a reworked version, has included Moscow, New Horizons, BAMcinemaFest, and Outfest.
I previously wrote about the film here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations
2012 DOC NYC Awards
The 3rd annual DOC NYC came to a close last night with enthusiastically received screenings of THE CENTRAL PARK FIVE, preceded by an awards ceremony. Despite some not-so-minor setbacks – chiefly Superstorm Sandy shutting down half of Manhattan, including DOC NYC’s ability to sell tickets, for a week – this year continued the young event’s growth, with an increase in audiences, filmmaker attendance, and sold out shows. I was happy to come on board as the festival’s Shorts Programmer and Panel Producer, though my Twitter followers will probably be relieved that with DOC NYC’s wrap up, my daily panel live-tweeting marathon has come to an end. To put a pin in it, here is the list of films honored last evening:
Viewfinders Competition:
Grand Jury Prize:
INFORMANT by Jamie Meltzer (pictured)
Special Jury Prize:
RAFEA: SOLAR MAMA by Jehane Noujaim and Mona Eldaief
Metropolis Competition:
Grand Jury Prize:
RADIOMAN by Mary Kerr (pictured)
Special Jury Prize:
ZIPPER by Amy Nicholson
SundanceNOW Audience Award:
RAFEA: SOLAR MAMA by Jehane Noujaim and Mona Eldaief (pictured)
Shorts Competition:
Grand Jury Prize:
FLO by Riley Hooper (pictured)
Special Jury Prizes:
THE CHILDREN NEXT DOOR by Doug Block
JULIAN by Bao Nguyen
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals
In Theatres: HITLER’S CHILDREN
Coming to NYC’s Quad Cinema this Friday, November 16: HITLER’S CHILDREN
Chanoch Ze’evi’s look at the offspring of the Nazi leadership premiered at IDFA last year. Its festival circuit has included Thessaloniki Doc, DOK.Munich, One World Prague, Documentary Edge, Tallgrass, and Moscow, among others.
I included the film in my Thessaloniki coverage here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
In Theatres: MEA MAXIMA CULPA
Coming to theatres this Friday, November 16: MEA MAXIMA CULPA: SILENCE IN THE HOUSE OF GOD
Alex Gibney’s indictment of pedophilia in the Catholic Church premiered this Fall at Toronto. It’s gone on to screen at DOC NYC, London, Chicago, Milwaukee, Woodstock, and the Hamptons picking up a number of awards along the way.
I included the film in my Toronto coverage here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
On DVD: THE ISLAND PRESIDENT
Coming to DVD today, Tuesday, November 13: THE ISLAND PRESIDENT
Jon Shenk’s portrait of the Maldives’ climate change activist politician made its premiere at last year’s Telluride and Toronto, picking up TIFF’s People’s Choice Award. Its festival circuit included DOC NYC, Thessaloniki Doc, Santa Barbara, RiverRun, Planete Doc, and Biografilm, among others. It enjoyed a limited theatrical release via Samuel Goldwyn Films this Spring.
I wrote about the film upon its theatrical release here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
2012 DOC NYC in Focus: PORTRAITS
The sixth and final of this year’s DOC NYC shorts program also proved to be one of the first programs to sell out, even after we moved it to a larger theatre. As noted by its straightforward title, I programmed this collection as a spotlight on compelling documentary subjects – from a blind photographer to a lightbulb fanatic to an underground Puerto Rican Botox purveyor.
DOC NYC Program Description:
PORTRAITS:
Thursday, November 15 at 9:45pm
Profiles of unique individuals. New Yorker FLO (10 min, Riley Hooper) hasn’t let multiple sclerosis, lung cancer, or even blindness stop her from taking photos. BLACK CHEROKEE (22 min, Sam Cullman, Benjamin Rosen) performs his singular art for commuters on the FDR, even as he must care for his ailing father. THE GLOBE COLLECTOR (7 min, Summer DeRoche) is an electronics savant whose passion for lightbulbs is infectious.CROOKED LINES (19 min, Lucy Walker) reunites part of the team behind WASTE LAND to tell the story of a young man who might have been Brazil’s best hope for Olympic gold in rowing. A gay Puerto Rican man dispenses advice and injections from his clandestine home clinic in THE NEEDLE (40 min, Carmen Oquendo-Villar, Jose Correa Vigier).
Why You Should Attend:
A strong character can make a documentary indelible – this collection introduces you to five such non-fiction subjects. It’s also notable that this program features new work by two Oscar nominees – Lucy Walker (WASTE LAND and THE TSUNAMI AND THE CHERRY BLOSSOM) and Sam Cullman (IF A TREE FALLS).
More Info:
While this program is sold out, a limited number of tickets may be released 15 minutes before showtime on a first come, first served basis. Get to the IFC Center early if you want to take a chance.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations
