Coming to NYC’s IFC Center tomorrow Friday, January 3: LOS ANGELES PLAYS ITSELF
Andersen premiered his essay about the cinematic representation of Los Angeles at Toronto in 2003. It went on to have an extensive festival run, including slots at Sundance, Rotterdam, Marseille, Karlovy Vary, and CPH:DOX, among others. On the occasion of its 10th anniversary, it is being presented in a new, remastered and re-edited version.
I previously wrote about the film here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Releases, Sundance
Resuming my film-by-film look at the docs of Sundance 2014: Jesse Moss’ US Documentary Competition title THE OVERNIGHTERS, in which a smalltown pastor’s desire to help the unfortunate threatens to turn his congregation against him.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Sundance
Coming to DVD next Tuesday, January 7: BIRTH OF THE LIVING DEAD
Rob Kuhns’ chronicle of the making of George A Romero’s seminal zombie film had its premiere at Tallgrass last year. Its fest run also included Florida, Cinequest, Big Sky, Woods Hole, Sitges, Woodstock, and the Southern Circuit, as well as limited theatrical engagements and a VOD release.
I previously wrote about the doc upon its theatrical release here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
w(n)td is welcoming the new year by taking a break from regular posting until tomorrow, when the film-by-film profiles of the 2014 Sundance Film Festival documentary line-up will resume. The US Documentary Competition will wrap up later this week, and the World Cinema Documentary Competition will commence. If you missed any, the series starts here. Happy 2014!
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Sundance
The last of my Sundance doc profiles before the New Year: Jeffrey Radice’s US Documentary Competition title NO NO: A DOCKUMENTARY, a tribute to the infamous baseball pitcher Dock Ellis.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Sundance
Next up in the US Documentary Competition: Mark Grieco’s MARMATO, in which a rural Colombian mining town is threatened with extinction by multinational development.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Sundance
Continuing my spotlight on the second half of the 2014 Sundance US Documentary Competition: Andrew Rossi returns to Sundance with IVORY TOWER, an eye-opening exploration of the high cost of higher education.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Sundance
Coming to NYC’s Film Society of Lincoln Center this Friday, January 3: IN NO GREAT HURRY: 13 LESSONS IN LIFE WITH SAUL LEITER
Tomas Leach’s portrait of the recently departed American photographer has been screening at several photography events and film fests since its debut in 2012, including DOC NYC, Thin Line, Salem, Open City, SANFIC, and Bath, among others. In addition to its NYC release, the film will be screening in Portland and Chicago later this month, and is using Tugg for additional engagements.
I previously wrote about the film for the DOC NYC program guide, saying:
Together with contemporaries Diane Arbus and Robert Frank, Saul Leiter is recognized as one of the founders of The New York School of photography of the 1940s and ‘50s, but he never sought the spotlight. Instead, he’s worked steadily, amassing an archive that threatens to take over the NYC apartment he’s called home since 1946. Though initially reticent, the self-effacing, and occasionally cantankerous, Leiter welcomes director Tomas Leach into his realm, offering a poignant reflection on his life, art and work.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
Today’s look at Sundance 2014’s US Documentary Competition wraps up: Brian Knappenberger’s THE INTERNET’S OWN BOY: THE STORY OF AARON SWARTZ, about the life and tragic early death of the Internet wunderkind and information activist.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Sundance
I’ve reached the halfway point of this year’s US Documentary Competition profiles: Stephanie Soechtig’s FED UP, an investigation into America’s obesity epidemic.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Sundance
what (not) to doc 