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.

On TV & Streaming: LIFE OF CRIME 1984-2020

Coming to HBO and HBO Max tomorrow Tuesday, November 30:
LIFE OF CRIME 1984-2020

Director:
Jon Alpert

World Premiere:
Venice 2021

About:
Over a thirty-six year period, this film follows Rob, Freddie, and Deliris on a relentless ride through the streets and prisons of Newark, New Jersey’s largest city. 

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Filed under Documentary, Film, Releases

On TV: CUSP

Coming to Showtime today, Friday, November 26:
CUSP

Director:
Parker Hill, Isabel Bethencourt

World Premiere:
Sundance 2021

Select Festivals:
DOC NYC, Camden, AFI Docs, Stockholm

About:
An intimate chronicle of the lives of three teenage girls in a Texas military town.

I previously wrote about the doc before Sundance here.

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

Streaming: BURNING

Coming to Amazon Prime Video today, Friday, November 26:
BURNING

Director:
Eva Orner

World Premiere:
Toronto 2021

Select Festivals:
DOC NYC, Sydney, Heartland, Hot Springs Doc

About:
A look at the devastating fires in Australia and the lack of political will to address climate change.

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In Theatres & On VOD: LADY BUDS

Coming to theatres and VOD today, Friday, November 26:
LADY BUDS

Director:
Chris J Russo

World Premiere:
Hot Docs 2021

Select Festivals:
DOC NYC, Outfest, Mill Valley, Seattle Queer, Denver, Docs Mx

About:
From a Latinx LGBTQ activist to a Black Catholic school principal, six small businesswomen hit California’s newly legal cannabis trade, but struggle as aggressive regulations upend the market.

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In Theatres: WRITING WITH FIRE

Coming to theatres today, Friday, November 26:
WRITING WITH FIRE

Director:
Rintu Thomas, Sushmit Ghosh

World Premiere:
Sundance 2021

Select Festivals:
DOC NYC, Nantucket, IDFA, CPH:DOX, Hot Docs, RIDM, BlackStar, Guadalajara, DocsMX, Double Exposure, Sydney, Yamagata Doc, Ambulante, Denver, San Diego Asian, Hawaii, Bergen, San Francisco, Krakow, Seattle, Thessaloniki Doc, One World, Shanghai

About:
A chronicle of the trailblazing work of India’s only news outlet run by Dalit women–once known as “untouchable.”

I previously wrote about the doc before Sundance here.

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

Streaming: THE WITCHES OF THE ORIENT

Coming to MUBI tomorrow, Friday, November 26:
THE WITCHES OF THE ORIENT

Director:
Julien Faraut

World Premiere:
Rotterdam 2021

Select Festivals:
Documentary Fortnight, Jeonju, Midnight Sun

About:
United by their jobs in a textile factory, a Japanese women’s volleyball team chases absolute perfection—and finds international superstardom—representing postwar Japan on the 1964 Olympic stage.

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In Theatres: LIKE A ROLLING STONE: THE LIFE & TIMES OF BEN FONG-TORRES

Coming to theatres tomorrow, Friday, November 26:
LIKE A ROLLING STONE: THE LIFE & TIMES OF BEN FONG-TORRES

Director:
Suzanne Joe Kai

World Premiere:
Tribeca 2021

Select Festivals:
Los Angeles Asian Pacific, San Diego Asian, Heartland

About:
An intimate profile of the Rolling Stone writer and editor, who defined the cultural zeitgeist of the 1960s and ’70s.

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Streaming: ‘TWAS THE FIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS

Coming to Apple TV+ tomorrow, Friday, November 26:
‘TWAS THE FIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS

Director:
Becky Read

World Premiere:
Apple TV+ (November 2021)

About:
The story of a North Idaho neighborhood turned upside down when one man’s obsession with bringing Christmas cheer to all runs afoul of the local home owners’ association.

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On TV & Streaming: DMX: DON’T TRY TO UNDERSTAND

Coming to HBO and HBO Max tomorrow, Thursday, November 25:
DMX: DON’T TRY TO UNDERSTAND

Director:
Christopher Frierson

Co-Director:
Clark Slater

World Premiere:
DOC NYC 2021

About:
Hip-hop icon DMX returns from a recent stint in prison determined to reignite his career, but his comeback proves ill-fated when faced with the mounting pressures of fatherhood, faith, and addiction.

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Streaming: KEEP SWEET

Coming to Discovery+ today, Wednesday, November 24:
KEEP SWEET

Director:
Don Argott

World Premiere:
Discovery+ (November 2021)

About:
A decade after the scandalous downfall of their religious leader, his followers attempt to rebuild their community.

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