Category Archives: Documentary

On TV: A PLACE AT THE TABLE

finding north place at the tableComing to Pivot TV for its Stand Up For Justice Month programming today, Monday, January 18: A PLACE AT THE TABLE

Kristi Jacobson and Lori Silverbush’s look at hunger in America made its bow at Sundance in 2012. Further festival play included Seattle, Cleveland, Philadelphia, and Palm Springs, among others.

My pre-Sundance profile of the film may be found here.

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2016 Sundance Docs in Focus: CAMERAPERSON

camerapersonToday’s Sundance doc profiles explore the nonfiction and hybrid feature films of the New Frontier section. First up: Kirsten Johnson’s CAMERAPERSON, the acclaimed cinematographer’s reflections on documentary image making.

Festival Section:
New Frontier
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Special Screening: ROSENWALD

rosenwaldComing to the JCC Manhattan as part of its CineMatters series tonight, Monday, January 18: ROSENWALD

Aviva Kempner’s tribute to the unheralded philanthropist and education advocate debuted at last year’s Washington DC Jewish Film Festival. Its festival circuit has also included Nashville, Sedona, Virginia, and several Jewish fests in Toronto, San Francisco, Cleveland, and Florida, among others.

I previously wrote about the doc upon its theatrical release here.

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On TV: THE INTERNET’S OWN BOY

internet's own boyComing to Pivot TV for its Stand Up For Justice Month programming today, Monday, January 18: THE INTERNET’S OWN BOY: THE STORY OF AARON SWARTZ

Brian Knappenberger’s look at the life and death of the Internet activist had its world premiere at Sundance in 2014. Screenings followed at SXSW, Nantucket, Hot Docs, Atlanta, IFF Boston, and Seattle, among other fests, before it was shortlisted for the Best Documentary Academy Award.

I profiled the doc before Sundance here.

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On VOD: ALL THINGS MUST PASS

allthingsmustpassComing to VOD today, Friday, January 15: ALL THINGS MUST PASS

Colin Hanks’ love letter to a lost record store empire made its debut at SXSW last year. Other fest screenings included Seattle, AFI Docs, Sacramento, and Greenwich. It now comes to VOD on iTunes, Amazon Instant Video, and other platforms.

I previously wrote about the doc upon its theatrical release here.

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On VOD: ASPIE SEEKS LOVE

AspieSeeksLove_1-1442864206Coming to VOD today, Friday, January 15: ASPIE SEEKS LOVE

Julie Sokolow’s look at an outsider’s attempts to find a match debuted at Cinequest last year. Other screenings have included New Orleans, Florida, Fargo, Kansas City, and Northside. The doc now comes to iTunes.

For decades, David has attempted to combat his loneliness by posting quirky personal ads seeking “Dating and/or Friendship” on telephone poles around Pittsburgh, flyers that incorporate pop culture references, staged photos of himself, and other techniques he thinks might catch the eye of the woman of his dreams. As signaled by the title of Sokolow’s affectionate portrait, David has Asperger’s, but he was only diagnosed within the last decade or so. Seeking to make sense of love and dating, the awkwardly charming writer allows the camera to follow him as he seeks out a partner. The result is a sensitive, but often humorous, portrait of modern dating through his unique perspective, one that also sheds light on the challenges of love and loneliness for us all.

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2016 Sundance Docs in Focus: UNLOCKING THE CAGE

unlocking the cageThe final film in the Doc Premieres section brings this week’s Sundance doc profiles to a close: UNLOCKING THE CAGE, Chris Hegedus and DA Pennebaker’s thought-provoking look at a legal team’s efforts to advocate for animals.

Festival Section:
Documentary Premieres
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On Cable: SUNSHINE SUPERMAN

sunshineComing to CNN this Sunday, January 17: SUNSHINE SUPERMAN

Marah Strauch’s story of extreme thrillseeking debuted at Toronto in 2014. Screenings followed at the New York Film Festival, Martha’s Vineyard, Sarasota, Montclair, Cleveland, Vancouver, and Florida, among other fests.

I previously wrote about the doc here.

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2016 Sundance Docs in Focus: UNDER THE GUN

under the gunMy Sundance doc preview reaches the penultimate film in this year’s Doc Premieres section: UNDER THE GUN, Stephanie Soechtig’s investigation of America’s gun control debate.

Festival Section:
Documentary Premieres
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2016 Sundance Docs in Focus: RICHARD LINKLATER: DREAM IS DESTINY

richard linklaterToday’s look at this year’s Sundance docs wraps up: RICHARD LINKLATER: DREAM IS DESTINY, Louis Black and Karen Bernstein’s exploration of the career of the acclaimed Austin-based filmmaker.

Festival Section:
Documentary Premieres
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