Coming to NYC’s Stranger Than Fiction tomorrow, Tuesday, April 25:
TOKYO IDOLS
Director:
Kyoko Miyake
Premiere:
Sundance 2017
Select Festivals:
CPH:DOX, Nashville, Docville, Hot Docs, DOXA, Documentary Edge
About:
An examination of sexuality and social media popularity via a distinctly Japanese popular culture phenomenon.
My pre-Sundance profile of the doc may be found here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Sundance
Now on Netflix:
HOT GIRLS WANTED: TURNED ON
Directors:
Rashida Jones, Jill Bauer, Ronna Gradus, Peter LoGreco, Sandra C Alvarez
Premiere:
Sundance 2017
About:
The online world of porn and its impact on real life is explored in this new Netflix docuseries.
I previously profiled the series before Sundance here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Releases, Sundance
Coming to VOD today, Friday, April 21:
WATER & POWER: A CALIFORNIA HEIST
Director:
Marina Zenovich
Premiere:
Sundance 2017
Select Festivals:
Washington DC Environmental
About:
An investigation into the long-standing battle that’s being waged for control of the most precious of natural resources.
I profiled the doc before Sundance here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Releases, Sundance
Coming to theatres and to VOD tomorrow, Friday, April 21:
CITIZEN JANE: BATTLE FOR THE CITY
Director:
Matt Tyrnauer
Premiere:
Toronto 2016
Select Festivals:
DOC NYC, Miami, CPH:DOX, Sarasota, Hong Kong
About:
In the 1960s, writer and activist Jane Jacobs faces off against NYC’s ruthless urban planner, Robert Moses.
With her acclaimed 1961 book, THE DEATH AND LIFE OF GREAT AMERICAN CITIES, Jane Jacobs challenged conventional wisdom about urban planning by foregrounding the diversity and complexity of the use of city spaces by the actual individuals and communities that resided within them. She took particular exception to the concept of urban renewal, seeing it as a destructive force which unnaturally segregated spaces, ignoring the organic manner in which these urban ecosystems had developed over generations. When Jacobs’ beloved NYC was threatened by Robert Moses with a widespread redevelopment plan which would see whole neighborhoods destroyed in order to install a highway through lower Manhattan, the activist showed the power of communities to rally together to save their homes, as detailed in Tyrnauer’s vibrant and topical chronicle, which doubles as a love letter to the city.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
Festival:
The 22nd annual It’s All True
Dates:
April 20-30 (Rio de Janeiro), April 21-30 (Sao Paulo)
About:
The Brazilian documentary showcase includes more than 30 new and recent docs, including the following: Continue reading
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Overviews, Recommendations
Festival:
The 4th annual Art of the Real
Dates:
April 20-May 2
About:
The Film Society of Lincoln Center’s showcase of nonfiction and hybrid presents just over 20 new works: Continue reading
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Overviews, Recommendations
New to DVD this week:
JOHN LEWIS: GET IN THE WAY
Director:
Kathleen Dowdey
Premiere:
DGA, Los Angeles (October 2015)
Select Festivals:
St Louis, Woodstock, Nashville International Black Festival, International Family Film Festival, numerous university and museum screenings
About:
A portrait of the civil rights pioneer and Georgia congressman.
I previously wrote about the doc here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Releases
Festival:
The 16th annual Tribeca Film Festival
Dates:
April 19-30
About:
Slimmed down slightly since last year’s edition, the NYC event includes just over 50 recent and new documentary features: Continue reading
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Overviews, Recommendations
Coming to DVD today, Tuesday, April 18:
BEFORE THE FLOOD
Director:
Fisher Stevens
Premiere:
Toronto 2016
Select Festivals:
BFI London, Hamptons
About:
Leonardo DiCaprio reflects on his environmental activism.
I previously wrote about the doc here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Releases
Coming to DVD tomorrow, Tuesday, April 18: DON’T BLINK – ROBERT FRANK
Director:
Laura Israel
Premiere:
New York Film Festival 2015
Select Festivals:
IDFA, Palm Springs, Berlin, Portland, Hong Kong, Full Frame, IndieLisboa, Munich Dokfest, Provincetown, Jerusalem, Melbourne, London
About:
An impressionistic portrait of the pioneering documentary photographer and filmmaker.
I previously wrote about the doc here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Releases
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