Category Archives: Documentary

February 8, 2022 · 6:06 AM

94th Oscars: Best Documentary Nominees

Oscar nominations were announced this morning, including the documentaries listed below. Congratulations to all the nominees – particular Sundance winner FLEE, nominated in three categories – and good luck on Sunday, March 27.

Documentary Feature:

ASCENSION
ATTICA
FLEE

SUMMER OF SOUL (…OR, WHEN THE REVOLUTION COULD NOT BE TELEVISED)
WRITING WITH FIRE

Documentary Short Subject:
Audible
Lead Me Home
The Queen of Basketball
Three Songs for Benazir
When We Were Bullies

International Feature Film:

FLEE


Japan, DRIVE MY CAR
Denmark, FLEE (the sole documentary)
Italy, THE HAND OF GOD
Bhutan, LUNANA, A YAK IN THE CLASSROOM
Norway, THE WORST PERSON IN THE WORLD

Animated Feature Film:

FLEE

ENCANTO
FLEE (the sole documentary)
LUCA
THE MITCHELLS VS THE MACHINE
RAYA AND THE LAST DRAGON

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Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Sundance

February 7, 2022 · 1:31 PM

On TV: MARIAN ANDERSON: THE WHOLE WORLD IN HER HANDS

Coming to PBS’s American Masters tomorrow, Tuesday, February 8:
MARIAN ANDERSON: THE WHOLE WORLD IN HER HANDS

Director:
Rita Coburn

World Premiere:
American Masters broadcast (February 2022)

About:
A focus on the life, career, art, and legacy of the African American contralto and civil rights pioneer, in her own words.

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February 7, 2022 · 12:01 PM

On TV: RIVETED: THE HISTORY OF JEANS

Coming to PBS’s American Experience today, Monday, February 7:
RIVETED: THE HISTORY OF JEANS

Director:
Anna Lee Strachan, Michael Bicks

World Premiere:
American Experience broadcast (February 2022)

About:
An exploration of the rich history of the iconic garment, the fabric on which the history of American culture and politics are writ large.

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February 4, 2022 · 3:01 PM

On TV: OWNED: A TALE OF TWO AMERICAS

Coming to PBS’s Independent Lens this coming Monday, February 7:
OWNED: A TALE OF TWO AMERICAS

Director:
Giorgio Angelini

World Premiere:
Full Frame 2018

Select Festivals:
DOC NYC, St Louis, SF DocFest

About:
An investigation of how the American dream of homeownership has been corrupted.

I previously wrote about the doc here.

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Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases

February 4, 2022 · 1:31 PM

Streaming: TORN

New to Disney+ this week:
TORN

Director:
Max Lowe

World Premiere:
Telluride 2021

Select Festivals:
Camden

About:
Seventeen years after his death, the body of the director’s famed mountain climber father is discovered, and the family sets out to recover it. 

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February 4, 2022 · 12:01 PM

On VOD: A TINY RIPPLE OF HOPE

New to VOD this week:
A TINY RIPPLE OF HOPE

Director:
Jason Polevoi

World Premiere:
Slamdance 2021

Select Festivals:
Riverrun

About:
A charismatic activist works to build a better Chicago for the teens in his neglected community even if it comes at the cost of his home, his family, and his safety.

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February 3, 2022 · 1:31 PM

Streaming: THE MONOPOLY OF VIOLENCE

New to Mubi this week:
THE MONOPOLY OF VIOLENCE

Director:
David Dufresne

World Premiere:
Cannes Directors’ Fortnight 2020 (unscreened)

Select Festivals:
New York, Sheffield, Brussels, Toronto, Melbourne

About:
This exploration of police violence in contemporary France examines the ways in which a government justifies brutal acts against its own citizens, enacting totalitarian methods to keep the populace under its control.

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February 3, 2022 · 12:01 PM

On DVD: DETAINEE 001

New to DVD this week:
DETAINEE 001

Director:
Greg Barker

World Premiere:
Showtime broadcast (September 2021)

About:
A harrowing exploration of how American grappled with justice in the fog of war following the 9/11 attacks, through the sensationalized capture of John Walker Lindh, a radical mujahideen fighter who became known as “the American Taliban.”

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February 2, 2022 · 3:01 PM

SXSW 2022: Features Lineup Announced

SXSW announced its 2022 line-up today, a total of more than 100 projects. Following is the list of nonfiction features and episodics, broken down by section:

Continue reading →

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Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Overviews, Recommendations

February 2, 2022 · 1:31 PM

On DVD: LITTLE GIRL

New to DVD this week:
LITTLE GIRL

Director:
Sébastien Lifshitz

World Premiere:
Berlin 2020

Select Festivals:
Karlovy Vary, Docs Against Gravity, Chicago, Ghent, Tokyo, Seville, MIX Brasil, Thessaloniki, Jerusalem, Seattle, Rendez-Vous with French Cinema

About:
A portrait of an eight-year-old who wants to express her true gender identity.

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