Festival:
The 63rd BFI London Film Festival
Dates:
October 2-13
About:
Nonfiction makes up about a fifth of this notable UK event’s 200+ lineup. Continue reading
Festival:
The 63rd BFI London Film Festival
Dates:
October 2-13
About:
Nonfiction makes up about a fifth of this notable UK event’s 200+ lineup. Continue reading
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Overviews, Recommendations
Coming to DVD and VOD today, Tuesday, October 1:
MAIDEN
Director:
Alex Holmes
World Premiere:
Toronto 2018
Select Festivals:
Sundance, Nantucket, SXSW, IDFA, CPH:DOX, Tribeca, Seattle, Biografilm, DocPoint, Glasgow, Dublin, Sydney
About:
The immersive, against-all-odds story of sailor Tracy Edwards, who skippered the first all-female international crew in the 1989 Whitbread Round the World Yacht Race.
I profiled the doc before Sundance here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Releases, Sundance
Coming to Starz tomorrow, Tuesday, October 1:
SILICONE SOUL
Director:
Melody Gilbert
World Premiere:
Thessaloniki Doc 2018
Select Festivals:
DOC NYC, One World, Fargo, SF DocFest, Minneapolis-St Paul, Sofia, BendFilm, Chagrin Doc, AmDocs, DocuWest
About:
Profiles of individuals who have developed attachments to lifelike dolls.
The film screened as part of DOC NYC, for which our program notes read:
Romance traditionally has been the domain of humans. This film, however, shows it is possible between men and the life-size dolls. Disarmingly candid interviews highlight the bonds formed between synthetic beings and lonely souls who have struggled to find the “one,” while other subjects profiled reveal unexpected attachments to eerily lifelike dolls. Melody Gilbert’s documentary sensitively explores the meaning of and desire for companionship and emotional connection.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
Coming to VOD tomorrow, Tuesday, October 1:
GENERAL MAGIC
Directors:
Matt Maude and Sarah Kerruish
World Premiere:
Tribeca 2018
Select Festival:
Palm Springs, Cleveland, Florida, Doc Edge, Sidewalk, Philadelphia, Hot Springs Doc, Milwaukee, Denver, Hawaii
About:
A look back at an ahead-of-its-time tech company.
I previously wrote about the doc here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
Coming to HBO this coming Tuesday, October 1:
DIEGO MARADONA
Director:
Asif Kapadia
World Premiere:
Cannes 2019
Select Festivals:
Telluride, Sheffield, Karlovy Vary, Biografilm, Jerusalem
About:
An archival portrait of the celebrated but controversial soccer star.
I previously wrote about the doc here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
Coming to PBS’s POV this coming Monday, September 30:
THE SILENCE OF OTHERS
Directors:
Almudena Carracedo and Robert Bahar
Premiere:
Berlin 2018
Select Festivals:
Hot Docs, Sheffield, AFI Docs, Reyjkavik, Docs Against Gravity, Cairo, Hamptons, Mar del Plata, Los Angeles, Moscow
Notable Recognition:
The doc was shortlisted for the Academy Awards.
About:
Victims and survivors of Franco’s brutal regime take to Argentine courts to seek justice.
I previously wrote about the doc here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Releases
Festival:
The 57th New York Film Festival
Dates:
September 27-October 13
About:
Film at Lincoln Center’s beloved Fall fest showcases 19 works of nonfiction in its slate of 50 features. Continue reading
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Overviews, Recommendations
Coming to DVD and digital today, Tuesday, September 24:
8 DAYS: TO THE MOON AND BACK
Director:
Anthony Philipson
World Premiere:
BBC broadcast (July 2019)
About:
An immersive revisitation of the Apollo 11 mission.
I previously wrote about the doc here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Releases

photo by Edward Burtynsky
Directors:
Jennifer Baichwal, Nicholas de Pencier, and Edward Burtynsky
World Premiere:
Toronto 2018
Select Festivals:
Sundance, Berlin, Cleveland, Washington DC Enviro, Calgary, Vancouver, Hong Kong, Doc10, Docs Against Gravity, Sydney, Sheffield, Revelation Perth, Melbourne Doc, DokuFest
About:
A striking visual chronicle of human impact on the planet.
My pre-Sundance profile of the doc may be found here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Releases, Sundance
Coming to HBO this Wednesday, September 25:
BUZZ
Director:
Andrew Shea
World Premiere:
DOC NYC 2018
About:
A revealing portrait of FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS author Buzz Bissinger.
I previously wrote about the doc here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases