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 9, 2021 · 12:05 PM

Sundance 2022: Lineup Announced

The lineup has been announced for the 2022 Sundance Film Festival, taking place in-person in Utah and through seven Satellite Screens across the US, as well as online, January 20-30.

Today’s announcement reveals 80 feature films in the US and World Cinema Documentary and Dramatic Competitions, NEXT, Premieres, Midnight, Spotlight, Kids, Special Screenings, and From the Collection sections, as well as 15 projects in New Frontier and 6 projects in the Indie Episodic Program, and may be found here. Shorts will be announced tomorrow, Friday, December 10.

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

December 9, 2021 · 12:01 PM

On DVD: FILM ABOUT A FATHER WHO

New to DVD this week:
FILM ABOUT A FATHER WHO

Director:
Lynne Sachs

World Premiere:
Slamdance 2020

Select Festivals:
Doc Fortnight, Sheffield, Docaviv, Doclisboa, RIDM, Indie Memphis, Sarasota

About:
The filmmaker attempts to make sense of her wayward father.

I previously wrote about the doc here.

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Filed under Documentary, Film, Releases

December 8, 2021 · 1:31 PM

On TV: DIRTY TRICKS

Coming to Showtime today, Wednesday, December 8:
DIRTY TRICKS

Director:
Daniel Sivan

World Premiere:
Hot Docs 2021

About:
When the best player in the elite competitive level of the card game bridge—a million-dollar cut-throat business—is accused of cheating, the ensuing scandal confounds experts, criminal science, celebrities, and basic belief in this hilarious true-crime thriller.

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Filed under Documentary, Film, Releases

December 8, 2021 · 12:01 PM

In Theatres/Virtual Release: LAST AND FIRST MEN

Coming to theatres and to virtual cinema this Friday, December 10:
LAST AND FIRST MEN

Director:
Jóhann Jóhannsson 

World Premiere:
Berlin 2020

Select Festivals:
Karlovy Vary, Melbourne, Bucheon Fantastic, Beijing, Indielisboa, Fajr

About:
A hybrid docufiction about the final days of humankind.

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Filed under Documentary, Film, Releases

December 7, 2021 · 1:31 PM

On TV & Streaming: MR SATURDAY NIGHT

Coming to HBO & HBO Max this Thursday, December 9:
MR SATURDAY NIGHT

Director:
John Maggio

World Premiere:
DOC NYC 2021

About:
The untold story of Robert Stigwood, the impresario behind SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER and its record-breaking disco soundtrack.

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Filed under Documentary, Film, Releases

December 7, 2021 · 12:01 PM

Streaming: ALL ABOUT MY SISTERS

Coming to OVID.tv today, Tuesday, December 7:
ALL ABOUT MY SISTERS

Director:
Wang Qiong

World Premiere:
Rotterdam 2021

Select Festivals:
New York Film Festival, Hamburg, BFI London, San Diego Asian

About:
An intimate, deeply felt portrait of Jin and her family filmed by her sister.

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Filed under Documentary, Film, Releases

December 6, 2021 · 1:31 PM

On TV & Streaming: THE SLOW HUSTLE

Coming to HBO & HBO Max tomorrow, Tuesday, December 7:
THE SLOW HUSTLE

Director:
Sonja Sohn

World Premiere:
AFI Docs 2021

About:
After Baltimore Police Detective Sean Suiter is shot and found dead while on duty, the tragedy soon becomes enmeshed in a widening corruption scandal that threatens to unravel the public’s already strained relationship with law enforcement.

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Filed under Documentary, Film, Releases

December 6, 2021 · 12:01 PM

On TV & Streaming: THE FOREVER PRISONER

Coming to HBO & HBO Max today, Monday, December 6:
THE FOREVER PRISONER

Director:
Alex Gibney

World Premiere:
HBO/HBO Max (Dec 2021)

About:
The chilling story of Abu Zubaydah, the first high-value detainee subjected to the CIA’s program of Enhanced Interrogation Techniques (EITs), later identified as torture by those outside the agency. 

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Filed under Documentary, Film, Releases

December 3, 2021 · 3:02 PM

Streaming: THE FIRST WAVE

Coming to Hulu this Sunday, December 5:
THE FIRST WAVE

Director:
Matthew Heineman

World Premiere:
Hamptons 2021

Select Festivals:
DOC NYC, BFI London, Busan, Hot Springs Doc, Philadelphia, Montclair, Savannah, AFI Fest

About:
A powerful look at the doctors, nurses, and patients on the frontlines during the “first wave” of COVID-19 in New York City from March to June 2020.

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Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases

December 3, 2021 · 1:31 PM

In Theatres: TORN

Coming to theatres today, Friday, December 3:
TORN

Director:
Max Lowe

World Premiere:
Telluride 2021

Select Festivals:
Camden

About:
Seventeen years after his death, the body of the director’s famed mountain climber father is discovered, and the family sets out to recover it. 

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Filed under Documentary, Film, Releases