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.

In Theatres & On VOD: RONNIE’S

Coming to theatres and to VOD today, Friday, February 11:
RONNIE’S

Director:
Oliver Murray

World Premiere:
UK theatrical release (October 2020)

Select Festivals:
DOC NYC, RiverRun

About:
The story of the legendary London night club and the musician for whom it was named.

The film screened as part of DOC NYC, for which our program notes read:
A chronicle of the life of saxophonist Ronnie Scott, from poor, Jewish kid growing up in 1940s East End, London to the owner of the legendary night club, Ronnie’s. Glorious clips from performances by jazz greats spanning decades—Dizzy Gillespie, Sarah Vaughn, Ella Fitzgerald, Jimi Hendrix, Nina Simone, Van Morrison, Chet Baker, and more—bring to life this story of a charming, talented man who secretly wrestled with his own inner demons.

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In Theatres: A NIGHT OF KNOWING NOTHING

Coming to theatres today, Friday, February 11:
A NIGHT OF KNOWING NOTHING

Director:
Payal Kapadia

World Premiere:
Cannes (Directors’ Fortnight) 2021

Select Festivals:
DOC NYC, Toronto, IDFA, New York, Busan, Camden, Marseilles, Jihlava, AFI Fest, San Diego Asian, DOK Leipzig

About:
A stack of love letters lay out the map to a brave, new world emerging from the dying embers of the world we know.

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In Theatres: JEEN-YUHS: A KANYE TRILOGY

Courtesy of Sundance Institute | photo by Netflix

Act one coming to theatres today, Thursday, February 10:
JEEN-YUHS: A KANYE TRILOGY

Director:
Clarence “Coodie” Simmons, Chike Ozah

World Premiere:
Sundance 2022

About:
Kanye West in three acts. The story beyond the iconic music, and an intimate and empathetic chronicle featuring never-before-seen footage from 21 years in the life of a captivating figure.

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Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Releases, Sundance

Berlin 2022: Documentary Overview

Festival:
The 72nd Berlinale

Dates:
February 10-20

About:
This A-list international cinema event returns its public event to the winter after shifting last year’s festival to the summer, and presents approximately 40 documentaries among its more than 130 new feature films.

Continue reading

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On DVD: THE BEATLES: GET BACK

New to DVD this week:
THE BEATLES: GET BACK

Director:
Peter Jackson

World Premiere:
Disney+ (November 2021)

About:
This three-part docuseries covers the making of the Beatles’ 1970 album LET IT BE, drawing from never-released footage shot in-studio for the album’s accompanying documentary feature.

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On VOD: SO LATE SO SOON

Coming to VOD today, Tuesday, February 8:
SO LATE SO SOON

Director:
Daniel Hymanson

World Premiere:
True/False 2020

Select Festivals:
DOC NYC, Cleveland, Big Sky Doc, Indie Memphis

About:
An exploration of the artistic process and life of a long-married couple.

I previously wrote about the doc here.

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94th Oscars: Best Documentary Nominees

Oscar nominations were announced this morning, including the documentaries listed below. Congratulations to all the nominees – particular Sundance winner FLEE, nominated in three categories – and good luck on Sunday, March 27.

Documentary Feature:

ASCENSION
ATTICA
FLEE

SUMMER OF SOUL (…OR, WHEN THE REVOLUTION COULD NOT BE TELEVISED)
WRITING WITH FIRE

Documentary Short Subject:
Audible
Lead Me Home
The Queen of Basketball
Three Songs for Benazir
When We Were Bullies

International Feature Film:

FLEE


Japan, DRIVE MY CAR
Denmark, FLEE (the sole documentary)
Italy, THE HAND OF GOD
Bhutan, LUNANA, A YAK IN THE CLASSROOM
Norway, THE WORST PERSON IN THE WORLD

Animated Feature Film:

FLEE

ENCANTO
FLEE (the sole documentary)
LUCA
THE MITCHELLS VS THE MACHINE
RAYA AND THE LAST DRAGON

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On TV: MARIAN ANDERSON: THE WHOLE WORLD IN HER HANDS

Coming to PBS’s American Masters tomorrow, Tuesday, February 8:
MARIAN ANDERSON: THE WHOLE WORLD IN HER HANDS

Director:
Rita Coburn

World Premiere:
American Masters broadcast (February 2022)

About:
A focus on the life, career, art, and legacy of the African American contralto and civil rights pioneer, in her own words.

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On TV: RIVETED: THE HISTORY OF JEANS

Coming to PBS’s American Experience today, Monday, February 7:
RIVETED: THE HISTORY OF JEANS

Director:
Anna Lee Strachan, Michael Bicks

World Premiere:
American Experience broadcast (February 2022)

About:
An exploration of the rich history of the iconic garment, the fabric on which the history of American culture and politics are writ large.

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On TV: OWNED: A TALE OF TWO AMERICAS

Coming to PBS’s Independent Lens this coming Monday, February 7:
OWNED: A TALE OF TWO AMERICAS

Director:
Giorgio Angelini

World Premiere:
Full Frame 2018

Select Festivals:
DOC NYC, St Louis, SF DocFest

About:
An investigation of how the American dream of homeownership has been corrupted.

I previously wrote about the doc here.

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