Opening this Friday, August 14, the Sarajevo Film Festival celebrates its 21st edition through Saturday, August 22, while also commemorating the 20th anniversary of the end of the Bosnian War in which it began. Just over 100 features will unspool during the proceedings, with approximately 40 documentaries among their number, including the following: Continue reading
Category Archives: Documentary
Sarajevo 2015: Documentary Overview
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Overviews, Recommendations
In Theatres: WE COME AS FRIENDS
Coming to theatres this Friday, August 14: WE COME AS FRIENDS
Hubert Sauper’s investigation into modern day colonialism in Africa had its world premiere at Sundance last year, where it won a special jury award. It went on to screen at Berlin, New Directors/New Films, BAFICI, Istanbul, San Francisco, Durban, Dokufest, Rio, Busan, London, Jihlava, CPH:DOX, IDFA, and Traverse City, among many others.
My pre-Sundance profile of the doc may be found here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Releases, Sundance
On VOD: JOURNEY TO THE SAFEST PLACE ON EARTH
Coming to VOD today, Tuesday, August 11: JOURNEY TO THE SAFEST PLACE ON EARTH
Edgar Hagen’s search for a proper resting ground for nuclear waste premiered at DOK Leipzig in 2013. It has gone on to screen at CPH:DOX, DOXA, Planete+ Doc, Dokufest Kosovo, and DC’s Environmental fest, among others. FilmBuff now makes the doc available on various VOD platforms.
Hagen’s guide on his quest is Charles McCombie, an expert in the nuclear industry for the better part of four decades. Recognizing that humanity has already generated a staggering amount of waste in the short time that nuclear energy has been employed, various nations have invested decades of time and money researching viable options for disposal – locations which are geologically stable enough to permit long-term burial on the scale of hundreds of thousands of years. The unhurried McCombie leads Hagen – who offers a too-wry, occasionally irksome narration – around the globe to assess various sites, from China’s Gobi Desert to Nevada’s Yucca Mountain – some already deemed bad ideas, others which might hold promise, but are in need of further research. Along the way, questions of community cooperation emerge, as when nuclear nations wrongheadedly propose that remote, and notoriously anti-nuclear, Australia take one for the team as their disposal site; while in other locations, like Carlsbad NM, the economic benefits of welcoming such endeavors outweigh future concerns – for now.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Releases
On VOD: THE LIFE AND CRIMES OF DORIS PAYNE
Coming to VOD today, Tuesday, August 11: THE LIFE AND CRIMES OF DORIS PAYNE
Matthew Pond and Kirk Marcolina’s profile of a notorious jewel thief debuted at Hot Docs in 2013. Its fest circuit also included IDFA, Woodstock, Tallgrass, Antenna, Hot Springs, Cleveland, Docaviv, and ArcLight Hollywood Doc, among others.
I previously included the film in my Hot Docs coverage here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
On DVD: I AM BIG BIRD
Coming to DVD tomorrow, Tuesday, August 11: I AM BIG BIRD
Dave LaMattina and Chad Walker’s look at one of SESAME STREET’s beloved muppeteers had its world premiere at Hot Docs last year. Other fest engagements included DOC NYC, AFI Docs, Los Angeles, Cleveland, Philadelphia, Seattle, Montclair, and Melbourne, among others.
I previously wrote about the doc here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
On Cable & DVD/VOD: I AM CHRIS FARLEY
Coming to the Spike network today, Monday, August 10 and to DVD/VOD tomorrow, Tuesday, August 11: I AM CHRIS FARLEY
Brent Hodge and Derik Murray’s look back the life and career of the late comedian debuted in theatres last month. It now makes its broadcast debut just prior to its home video release.
I previously wrote about the doc here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Releases
On VOD: DON’T THINK I’VE FORGOTTEN: CAMBODIA’S LOST ROCK AND ROLL
New to VOD this week: DON’T THINK I’VE FORGOTTEN: CAMBODIA’S LOST ROCK AND ROLL
John Pirozzi’s exhumation of Cambodia’s forgotten pop music debuted in Phnom Penh last year. It went on to screen at DOC NYC, Big Sky, Rotterdam, Reel Asian, CAMFest, DOXA, and Seattle, among others. The doc was released on iTunes, Google Play, Amazon Instant, VUDU, Vimeo, and CinemaNow earlier this week.
I previously wrote about the film here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
Special Screening: DIVINE LOCATION
Coming to NYC’s Rooftop Films tomorrow, Saturday, August 8: DIVINE LOCATION
Ulrike Franke and Michael Loeken’s subtle study of urban planning made its debut at DOK.fest Munich last year. Other screenings included Berlin, DocPoint Helsinki, Kassel Doc, and Duisburg Film Week.
Dortmund, the largest city in the Ruhr Area, has long been the seat of German industry, known for its coal mines and steel mills. In 2001, after Phoenix-East, one of the largest steelworks, shut down, plans began for the redevelopment of its site into luxury housing, centered around the construction of the new, man-made Phoenix Lake. Franke and Loeken chronicle this transformation over several years, while also witnessing the impact of this ambitious development on the working class neighborhood upon which it borders – an area which struggles to survive without the presence of its industrial base. While the real estate developers sit through marketing brainstorming sessions to best sell their future units to the right kind of clientele, current residents recognize the gentrification that’s coming their way. Through all this, the filmmakers maintain a tone of wry bemusement, managing to find moments of sheer absurdity, such as a heated battle over a massive remnant of the steelworks; an elaborate kick-off event presided over by Larry Hagman; and a meeting addressing the problem of geese attracted to the newly formed lake.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations
In Theatres: HOMME LESS
Coming to theatres tomorrow, Friday, August 7: HOMME LESS
Thomas Wirthensohn’s portrait of unexpected homelessness debuted at last year’s Film Festival Kitzbuehel, where it won the best doc award. It has gone on to screen at DOC NYC (where it won the Metropolis competition), DocAviv, Sarasota, and Hof.
I previously wrote about the film for DOC NYC’s program, saying:
From all outside appearances, Mark seems to have the glamorous New York City life that many would envy. Handsome and always impeccably dressed, the charismatic former male model works as a fashion photographer, appears in movies, and attends the best parties. When he leaves those events, however, he heads to the East Village – not to an overpriced loft, but to a hidden corner of a rooftop to sleep each night. Thomas Wirthensohn exposes the dark underbelly of the American Dream in an often-merciless city.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
In Theatres: CALL ME LUCKY
Coming to theatres tomorrow, Friday, August 7: CALL ME LUCKY
Bobcat Goldthwait’s portrait of a comic turned unlikely activist debuted at Sundance earlier this year. It has gone on to screen at IFF Boston, Boulder, Montclair, and Cleveland, among others.
My pre-Sundance profile of the doc may be found here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Releases, Sundance
