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.
December 21, 2021 · 1:43 PM

94th Oscars: Best Documentary Shortlist Announced

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences announced the Best Documentary Feature and Best Documentary Short Subject shortlists today. In addition, a documentary feature is included on the International Feature Film shortlist. Congratulations to all the filmmakers – especially the Sundance, DOC NYC, and Nantucket Film Festival alumni represented.

The official lists are below. The final nominees will be announced on February 8.

Documentary Feature:

ASCENSION
ATTICA
BILLIE EILISH: THE WORLD’S A LITTLE BLURRY
FAYA DAYI
THE FIRST WAVE
FLEE
IN THE SAME BREATH
JULIA
PRESIDENT
PROCESSION
THE RESCUE
SIMPLE AS WATER
SUMMER OF SOUL (…OR, WHEN THE REVOLUTION COULD NOT BE TELEVISED)
THE VELVET UNDERGROUND
WRITING WITH FIRE

Documentary Short Subject:
Águilas
Audible
A Broken House
Camp Confidential: America’s Secret Nazis
Coded: The Hidden Love of JC Leyendecker
Day of Rage
The Facility
Lead Me Home
Lynching Postcards: Token of a Great Day
The Queen of Basketball
Sophie & the Baron
Takeover
Terror Contagion
Three Songs for Benazir
When We Were Bullies

International Feature Film:
FLEE was also shortlisted in this category.

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

December 21, 2021 · 12:01 PM

In Theatres: THE VELVET QUEEN

Coming to theatres tomorrow, Wednesday, December 22:
THE VELVET QUEEN

Director:
Marie Amiguet

World Premiere:
Cannes 2021

Select Festivals:
IDFA, Camden, Zurich, Vancouver

About:
In the heart of the Tibetan highlands, photographer Vincent Munier brings writer Sylvain Tesson on his quest to find the snow leopard.

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Filed under Documentary, Film, Releases

December 20, 2021 · 12:01 PM

On DVD: AMY TAN: UNINTENDED MEMOIR

Coming to DVD tomorrow, Tuesday, December 21:
AMY TAN: UNINTENDED MEMOIR

Director:
James Redford

World Premiere:
Sundance 2021

Select Festivals:
Cleveland, CAAMFest, DocLands, Seattle

About:
A profile of the life and career of the noted author.

I profiled the doc before Sundance here.

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

December 17, 2021 · 12:01 PM

In Theatres: PRESIDENT

Coming to theatres today, Friday, December 17:
PRESIDENT

Director:
Camilla Nielsson

World Premiere:
Sundance 2021

Select Festivals:
CPH:DOX, AFI Docs, Docaviv, Thessaloniki Doc, Dokufest, Encounters, DMZ Docs, Melbourne, Docville, Zurich, Montclair, Philadelphia

About:
The leader of Zimbabwe’s opposition party seeks a free and fair election.

I previously wrote about the doc before Sundance here.

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

December 16, 2021 · 1:31 PM

On DVD: NEVER TOO LATE: THE DOC SEVERINSEN STORY

New to DVD this week:
NEVER TOO LATE: THE DOC SEVERINSEN STORY

Director:
Kevin S Bright, Jeff Consiglio

World Premiere:
Cleveland 2020 (unscreened)

Select Festivals:
Full Frame, Nashville, Milwaukee, Virginia, Guanajuato, Mill Valley, BendFilm, Tallgrass, Portland, Sound Unseen

About:
A portrait of the legendary TONIGHT SHOW bandleader.

I previously wrote about the doc here.

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Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases

December 16, 2021 · 12:01 PM

On TV & Streaming: JUICE WRLD: INTO THE ABYSS

Coming to HBO & HBO Max today, Thursday, December 16:
JUICE WRLD: INTO THE ABYSS

Director:
Tommy Oliver

World Premiere:
AFI Fest 2021

About:
An exploration of the life and legacy of the wunderkind rapper, following his quick rise to success and untimely passing soon after.

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Filed under Documentary, Film, Releases

December 15, 2021 · 12:01 PM

Streaming: A FIERCE GREEN FIRE

fierce green fire

New to OVID.tv this week:
A FIERCE GREEN FIRE

Director:
Mark Kitchell

World Premiere:
Sundance 2012

Select Festivals:
Sheffield, Palm Springs, Wild & Scenic, Margaret Mead, Washington DC’s Environmental, San Francisco Green, Boulder

About:
A look back at pivotal episodes in environmental activism.

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

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

December 14, 2021 · 1:31 PM

On DVD/VOD: MAKING SWEET TEA

Coming to DVD/VOD today, Tuesday, December 14:
MAKING SWEET TEA

Director:
John L Jackson Jr, Nora Gross

World Premiere:
Chicago Reeling 2019

Select Festivals:
BlackStar, NewFest, Out on Film, San Diego Black, Kansas City

About:
Southern-born, Black gay researcher and performer E Patrick Johnson comes to terms with his past.

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Filed under Documentary, Film, Releases

December 14, 2021 · 12:01 PM

On TV: BROOKLYN INSHALLAH

Coming to The WORLD Channel’s America ReFramed today, Tuesday, December 14:
BROOKLYN INSHALLAH

Director:
Ahmed Mansour

World Premiere:
Telluride Mountainfilm 2019

Select Festivals:
DOC NYC, Chicago Palestine, Toronto Palestine

About:
A Palestinian American Lutheran pastor campaigns for political office in NYC.

The film previously screened at DOC NYC, for which our program notes read:
Khader El-Yateem is a Palestinian American, a practicing Lutheran pastor and, he hopes, the first Arab American on the New York City Council. Having grown up amidst conflict before emigrating to the US, Father K works to alleviate the mounting fears of the diverse but marginalized Arab-American community of Bay Ridge following the 2016 presidential election. With the support of political activist Linda Sarsour, he mounts the campaign of a lifetime, taking viewers into the heart of identity politics.

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Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases

December 13, 2021 · 12:01 PM

On TV/Streaming: STREET GANG: HOW WE GOT TO SESAME STREET

Coming to HBO and HBO Max today, Monday, December 13:
STREET GANG: HOW WE GOT TO SESAME STREET

Director:
Marilyn Agrelo

World Premiere:
Sundance 2021

Select Festivals:
Hot Docs, Seattle, San Francisco

About:
A look back at the origins of the pioneering children’s television powerhouse.

I profiled the doc before Sundance here.

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