For 24 years, the Human Rights Watch Film Festival has presented a selection of films that explore various human rights issues around the world. Taking place in several cities between January and March each year, including Washington DC, Toronto, London, San Francisco, and Zurich, as well as a traveling event, the festival’s signature event has been its annual June NYC series at the Film Society of Lincoln Center. This year’s event opens this Thursday, June 13 and runs through Sunday, June 23, showcasing more than 20 films – all but two documentaries – that highlight key themes, including Journalism, explored in the opening night film, WHICH WAY IS THE FRONT LINE FROM HERE? Other themes include: Continue reading
Category Archives: Documentary
Human Rights Watch Film Festival 2013: Documentary Overview
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Overviews, Recommendations
In Theatres: PANDORA’S PROMISE
Coming to theatres this Wednesday, June 12: PANDORA’S PROMISE
Robert Stone’s re-examination of the risks and rewards of nuclear energy debuted earlier this year at Sundance. It has gone on to screen at True/False, Full Frame, Stranger Than Fiction, and at several universities.
I profiled the doc pre-Sundance here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Releases, Sundance
In the Works: FINDERS KEEPERS
The strange case of two men whose lives intersect over a severed human foot and a barbecue, from the producer of THE KING OF KONG and UNDEFEATED and directed by his protege.
When Shannon Whisnant bought a barbecue smoker at an auction in rural North Carolina in 2007, he was surprised to find a severed human foot within it. Looking to capitalize on the media attention generated by this improbable discovery, Shannon tried to turn it into a tourist attraction, only to subsequently find himself involved in a lawsuit for its possession against John Wood, an amputee who lost the leg in a plane crash that claimed his father’s life. Producer Ed Cunningham began documenting the story only to come up against financing stone walls. When his assistant Bryan Carberry learned of the project, he convinced Cunningham to let him take over as director to try to complete the story, which took on even more bizarre – and apparently even inspiring – twists as time passed. Continue reading
Filed under Documentary, Film, In the Works
On VOD: THE IRAN JOB
Coming to VOD today, Friday, June 7: THE IRAN JOB
Till Schauder’s look at culture clash and Iranian basketball had its world premiere at the Los Angeles Film Festival last year. It went on to screen at Vancouver, Hawaii, New Orleans, Philadelphia, Denver, and Documentary Edge. The film has also enjoyed a theatrical run throughout the US and Europe. It now comes to cable VOD, iTunes, and Amazon Instant Video.
I previously wrote about the doc upon its theatrical release here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
On TV & Online: GARBAGE DREAMS
Coming to WORLD Channel’s Global Voices series this Sunday, June 9: GARBAGE DREAMS
Mai Iskander’s portrait of an embattled Egyptian recycling community had its debut at SXSW in 2009. It had an extensive run on the festival circuit, including IDFA, Dubai, Lone Star, Ashland, and Nashville, among others, picking up numerous awards. It went on to win at the IDA Awards, and was nominated for a DGA Award and shortlisted for the Best Feature Documentary Oscar. After its broadcast, the doc will be available for a limited time on WORLD’s website.
Historically, Cairo has not had a conventional sanitation system. The city’s garbage instead has been tended to by the minority Zaballeen, a community of Coptic Christians subsisting on the trash they collect and recycle, creating an efficient system that has lasted for generations. In 2003, all that changes as Cairo privatizes these traditional services to a multinational sanitation service that recycles only a fraction of the garbage they collect, disposing of the rest in growing landfills, and, in the process, threatening the future of the Zaballeen and their only real income stream. Iskander follows three teenage Zaballeen over several years as they contend with the changes to their trade and deal with the transition to adulthood. Well shot, and impressively balancing multiple subjects – including the fascinating garbage village the community has constructed for themselves on the outskirts of the city – the film offers insight about a unique group of people, their ingenuity to take others’ trash and turn it into treasure, and the local consequences of modernization and globalization.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
Sheffield Doc/Fest 2013 Overview
Sheffield Doc/Fest celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, opening next Wednesday, June 12, and running through Sunday, June 16. While I’ve never been able to make it out to the event, I’ve always looked forward to seeing their lineup and have been envious of the stories I’ve heard from attendees of the well-loved fest. As usual, I’ll highlight a number of this year’s offerings below, going by programming strand, and focusing more on newer titles than on those that I’ve already covered at other fests. Continue reading
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Overviews, Recommendations
On DVD: ¡VIVAN LAS ANTIPODAS!
Coming to DVD next Tuesday, June 11: ¡VIVAN LAS ANTIPODAS!
Victor Kossakovsky’s breathtaking study of polar pairs had its world premiere at Venice in 2011, when it opened the festival. Its festival circuit has included a wide range of events, including IDFA, Message to Man, DOK Leipzig, Docpoint, Ambulante, Documentary Fortnight, True/False, It’s All True, San Francisco, and Hot Docs. The doc recently enjoyed a US theatrical release via Cinedigm’s Docurama festival.
I included the film in my Hot Docs coverage here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
On Cable: PUSSY RIOT – A PUNK PRAYER
Coming to HBO as the opener to its annual Docs Summer Series next Monday, June 10: PUSSY RIOT – A PUNK PRAYER
Mike Lerner and Maxim Pozdorovkin’s exploration of the embattled Russian activists premiered in January at Sundance, winning a special jury prize. Its extensive fest circuit has included True/False, SXSW, Hot Docs, Sydney, and Full Frame. The doc just had a limited theatrical opening in NYC last week prior to its cable debut.
I profiled the film pre-Sundance here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Releases, Sundance
On VOD: WE STEAL SECRETS
Coming to VOD tomorrow, Friday, June 7: WE STEAL SECRETS: THE STORY OF WIKILEAKS
Alex Gibney’s look at the controversial site, its founder, and whistleblower Bradley Manning debuted at Sundance back in January. The doc went on to screen at Sydney, Seattle, and the upcoming Edinburgh. It had a limited theatrical release starting last week. It now comes to VOD, available on iTunes, Amazon, Google Play, YouTube, Playstation, XBOX, Vudu, Time Warner, Dish Network, Blockbuster on Demand, and Cablevision.
I profiled the doc before Sundance here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Releases, Sundance
Indiewire @ Hulu Docs: HBO Docs Flashback
In honor of the launch of the new season of HBO’s always acclaimed Summer Docs series next week, my latest curated selections for Hulu’s Documentaries page look at some past films produced or presented by HBO Documentaries. Watch these docs now for free!
For more information about the selections, see my Indiewire article.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Indiewire @ Hulu Docs
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