Category Archives: Documentary

July 7, 2021 · 12:01 PM

In Virtual Release: THE METAMORPHOSIS OF BIRDS

Coming to virtual cinemas via Projectr Movie Club tomorrow, Thursday, July 8:
THE METAMORPHOSIS OF BIRDS

Director:
Catarina Vasconcelos

World Premiere:
Berlin 2020

Select Festivals:
True/False, Cartegena, Vilnius, Thessaloniki Doc, Jeonju, DokuFest, Beijing, Melbourne, Indielisboa, Beldocs, San Sebastian, Vancouver, Camden, Vienna, Jihlava, RIDM, Sheffield DocFest, IDFA, New Directors/New Films, DocPoint

About:
A highly unorthodox, impressionistic, and emotionally rich generational saga which finds the Portuguese filmmaker sifting through the memories and dreams of her ancestors.

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July 6, 2021 · 1:31 PM

On DVD: PICTURE A SCIENTIST

Coming to DVD today, Tuesday, July 6:
PICTURE A SCIENTIST

Director:
Sharon Shattuck, Ian Cheney

World Premiere:
Tribeca 2020 (unscreened)

Select Festivals:
Athena, InScience, Science on Screen

About:
An exploration of systemic discrimination and bias against women and especially women of color in STEM fields.

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July 6, 2021 · 12:01 PM

On DVD: STREET GANG: HOW WE GOT TO SESAME STREET

Coming to DVD today, Tuesday, July 6:
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

July 5, 2021 · 1:31 PM

Cannes 2021: Documentary Overview

Festival:
The 74th Cannes Film Festival

Dates:
July 6-17

About:
After postponing and then cancelling its 2020 edition, the most influential cinema event in the world returns with a robust slate of nearly 100 new features, counting two dozen docs among that number – although none in either Competition or Un Certain Regard. Its parallel sidebars, meanwhile, offer just three nonfiction works among their combined 37 slots.

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July 5, 2021 · 12:01 PM

On TV: THE NEUTRAL GROUND

Coming to PBS’s POV tonight, Monday, July 5:
THE NEUTRAL GROUND

Director:
CJ Hunt

World Premiere:
Tribeca 2021

Select Festivals:
AFI Docs

About:
Comedian and satirist CJ Hunt asks difficult questions about this country’s Confederate monuments, hoping to discover some clarity by diving into history.

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July 2, 2021 · 1:31 PM

In Theatres & On VOD: SUMMER OF SOUL (…OR, WHEN THE REVOLUTION COULD NOT BE TELEVISED)

Expanding to theatres nationwide and coming to Hulu today, Friday, July 2:
SUMMER OF SOUL (…OR, WHEN THE REVOLUTION COULD NOT BE TELEVISED)

Director:
Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson

World Premiere:
Sundance 2021

Select Festivals:
Nantucket, Hot Docs, True/False, AFI Docs, Provincetown, DocLands, Minneapolis/St Paul, San Francisco Doc

About:
A joyous and thoughtful revisitation of a long overlooked part of Black music history.

I profiled the doc before Sundance here.

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

July 2, 2021 · 12:01 PM

On TV: THE ONE AND ONLY DICK GREGORY

Coming to Showtime this Sunday, July 4:
THE ONE AND ONLY DICK GREGORY

Director:
Andre Gaines

World Premiere:
Tribeca 2021

Select Festivals:
AFI Docs

About:
A revealing portrait of comedian/activist Dick Gregory, focusing on his many personal reinventions throughout the decades, from celebrity to civil rights hero and beyond, and how he has inspired others.

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July 1, 2021 · 3:02 PM

In Theatres: BEING A HUMAN PERSON

Coming to Film Forum tomorrow, Friday, July 2:
BEING A HUMAN PERSON

Director:
Fred Scott

World Premiere:
CPH:DOX 2020

Select Festivals:
Helsinki

About:
Behind the scenes of Roy Andersson’s ABOUT ENDLESSNESS, meant to be the idiosyncratic Swedish auteur’s final film.

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July 1, 2021 · 1:31 PM

In Theatres/VOD: THE PHANTOM

Coming to theatres and VOD tomorrow, Friday, July 2:
THE PHANTOM

Director:
Patrick Forbes

World Premiere:
Tribeca 2021

About:
A searching examination of a Texas murder to determine whether or not an innocent man was put to death, exploring the prejudice and discrimination that persists today in America’s Hispanic community.