Coming to theatres tomorrow, Friday, August 9: HERBLOCK: THE BLACK & THE WHITE
Michael Stevens’ tribute to the eponymous editorial cartoonist had its world premiere at Tribeca this Spring. It went on to screen at AFI Docs and Martha’s Vineyard.
I previously wrote about the film out of AFI Docs here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Releases
Coming to WORLD Channel’s Global Voices series this Sunday, August 11: IN THE SHADOW OF THE SUN
Harry Freeland’s exploration of the plight of Tanzanian albinos debuted at IDFA last year. Its festival circuit has included Hot Docs, Cleveland, Human Rights Watch, and Bermuda. After its broadcast, the doc will be available for a limited time on WORLD’s website.
I included the film in my IDFA coverage here.
Filed under Documentary, Film
Coming to NYC’s IFC Center and to VOD tomorrow, Friday, August 9: ZIPPER
Amy Nicholson’s look at the changing face of Coney Island debuted at DOC NYC last year, where it took home a special jury prize. It went to screen at Big Sky, Atlanta, and Montclair, among others. The doc comes to iTunes simultaneous with its NYC theatrical release, and expands to LA theatres at the end of the month.
I included the film in my DOC NYC coverage here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
Among the world’s oldest international film events, the Film Festival Locarno kicks off its 66th edition tonight, running through Saturday, August 17, with a lineup of over 100 features, of which more than forty are documentaries. The Swiss fest, situated just weeks before Venice, Telluride, and Toronto, often showcases an adventurous program, balancing the expected star-driven fare with more challenging discoveries that might normally be relegated to the sidelines at other festivals its size. Its non-fiction offerings appear in virtually every section, from the fest’s signature Piazza Grande massive open-air screenings to its own version of the independently curated Semaine de la critique. The following highlights docs, section-by-section, that have caught my eye: Continue reading
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Overviews, Recommendations
Coming to theatres this Friday, August 9: OFF LABEL
Michel Palmieri and Donal Mosher’s exploration of America’s addiction to prescription psychotropic drugs debuted at Tribeca last year. It went on to screen at Hot Docs, San Francisco, Sheffield, One World, Camden, and RIDM, among others.
I included the doc in my Tribeca coverage here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
Coming to theatres this Friday, August 9: THE MACHINE WHICH MAKES EVERYTHING DISAPPEAR
Tinatin Gurchiani’s intimate exploration of her native Georgia debuted last year at DOK Leipzig. It came stateside at Sundance, where Gurchiani won the World Cinema Documentary Competition Best Director Award. Other festival stops have included IDFA, MoMA’s Documentary Fortnight, True/False, Hong Kong, Thessaloniki Doc, It’s All True, Documentary Edge, Hot Docs, and Planete+ Doc.
My pre-Sundance profile of the doc may be found here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Releases, Sundance
Coming to NYC’s Rooftop Films tomorrow, Thursday, August 8: 12 O’CLOCK BOYS
Lotfy Nathan’s immersive view of a Baltimore urban dirt-bike subculture had its world premiere this Spring at SXSW. It went on to screen at Hot Docs, where it claimed a jury award, as well as Full Frame, Maryland, and the upcoming Sundance Next Weekend, among others.
I included the doc in my SXSW coverage here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations
Now available on VOD: LOW & CLEAR
Kahlil Hudson and Tyler Hughen’s study of male friendship and fly-fishing had its debut last year at SXSW, where it picked up an audience award. Other stops on the fest circuit included True/False, IDFA, Hot Docs, Dallas, Camden, and Mountainfilm in Telluride. The doc came to iTunes yesterday.
I wrote about the film out of SXSW here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
Coming to VOD today, Tuesday, August 6: THE MOTIVATION
Adam Bhala Lough’s look at a high-stakes skateboarding competition had its world premiere at Tribeca this Spring and went on to screen at Newport Beach as well. The doc has held special screenings at skate venues and in theaters, adding NYC screenings later this month on August 24. It comes to iTunes, Amazon, Google Play PlayStation, Cinemanow, Vudu, and other On Demand services today.
Pro skateboarder Rob Dyrdek, noting deficiencies in existing skateboarding competitions, set out to present a corrective by founding Street League Skateboarding. In addition to instituting a fairer scoring system and a professionalized ranked system for its competitors, SLS also offers the largest prize in the sport. The film follows eight of the top contenders over a year’s preparation heading into the 2012 championship, from the defending title holder, Sean Malto, to the celebrated prodigy, 17-year-old Nyjah Huston. While there are a lot of characters to juggle, Lough manages to concisely convey the personalities, strengths, and potential weaknesses each brings to his own game. Skateboarders and fans will appreciate the behind-the-scenes view into their lives, while more casual viewers will find the typical joys of the competition doc form enlivened by the athletes’ brash personalities and gravity-defying tricks.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Releases
Coming to VOD today, Tuesday, August 6: WELCOME TO THE MACHINE
Avi Zev Weider’s exploration of people’s growing dependence on technology debuted at SXSW last year. It went on to screen at Hot Docs, Sarasota, and Woodstock, among other fests. After a limited theatrical run at the beginning of the year, it now comes to VOD on Comcast, Time Warner, Cox, iTunes, Amazon, Xbox, Vudu, and Google Play.
I wrote about the doc upon its theatrical release here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Releases
what (not) to doc 