Category Archives: Film Festivals

Hamptons 2016: Documentary Overview

hiff-logo-red-650Tomorrow, Thursday, October 6 kicks off the 24th edition of the Hamptons International Film Festival. Running through Monday, October 10, the event will present nearly 30 documentary features among its approximately 70 feature film lineup. Select highlights follow: Continue reading →

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In Theatres: NEWTOWN

newtownComing to theatres this Friday, October 7: NEWTOWN

Kim A Snyder’s look at the aftermath of an unthinkable tragedy debuted at Sundance at the start of the year. Screenings followed at Nantucket, SXSW, Full Frame, AFI Docs, Cleveland, Camden, Melbourne, BAMCinemaFest, and Bentonville, among others.

My pre-Sundance profile of the doc may be found here.

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London 2016: Documentary Overview

lff-2016-title-artwork-750x680_0The 60th BFI London Film Festival launches tomorrow, Wednesday, October 5, and runs through Sunday, October 16. The event offers audiences nearly 250 new and retrospective features, among them ore than 50 documentaries and hybrids. While many have been covered here previously, the following offers a selective spotlight: Continue reading →

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On TV: BEST OF ENEMIES

best of enemiesComing to Independent Lens tonight Monday, October 3: BEST OF ENEMIES

Morgan Neville and Robert Gordon’s review of the contentious Buckley/Vidal debates debuted at Sundance last year. Screenings followed at DOC NYC, Nantucket, BAMcinemaFest, AFI Docs, Outfest, San Francisco, SXSW, Hot Docs, Full Frame, Srasota, Miami, and IFF Boston, among others.

I profiled the doc before Sundance here.

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New York Film Festival 2016: Documentary Overview

1437138_1280x720The 54th annual New York Film Festival opens this Friday, September 30, and runs through Sunday, October 16. As has been the case in recent years, nonfiction has been embraced by the event’s programmers in contrast to its historical neglect, with documentaries making up nearly half of the more than fifty offered new feature films. Particularly notable is the selection of Ava DuVernay’s exploration of mass incarceration in America, 13TH, as NYFF’s Opening Night Film – the first time a documentary has claimed that coveted slot, and one of two docs in the program’s Main Slate. A sampling of other nonfiction follows below. Continue reading →

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On DVD: EAT THAT QUESTION

eat that question zappaComing to DVD today, Tuesday, September 27: EAT THAT QUESTION: FRANK ZAPPA IN HIS OWN WORDS

Thorsten Schütte’s profile of the outspoken, media-savvy musician premiered at Sundance earlier this year. It went on to screen at Berlin, Montclair, New Zealand, Traverse City, Sarajevo, and Asbury Park.

My pre-Sundance profile of the doc may be found here.

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On DVD: CITY OF GOLD

city of goldComing to DVD tomorrow, Tuesday, September 27: CITY OF GOLD

Laura Gabbert’s look at Jonathan Gold’s love of culinary Los Angeles premiered at Sundance last year. Its fest circuit also included DOC NYC, SXSW, Melbourne, Napa Valley, Vancouver, Traverse City, deadCENTER, Provincetown, Newport Beach, AFI Docs, New Zealand, and Montclair, among others.

My pre-Sundance profile of the doc may be found here.

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On DVD: HOW TO DANCE IN OHIO

how to dance in ohioComing to DVD tomorrow, Tuesday, September 27: HOW TO DANCE IN OHIO

Alexandra Shiva’s look at a rite of passage experienced by youth on the autism spectrum debuted at Sundance last year. Screenings followed at Nantucket, AFI Docs, Melbourne, Margaret Mead, Nashville, deadCENTER, and Full Frame, among other events.

My pre-Sundance doc profile may be found here.

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In Theatres & On VOD: AUDRIE & DAISY

audrieComing to theatres and to Netflix today, Friday, September 23: AUDRIE & DAISY

Bonni Cohen and Jon Shenk’s examination of the impact of online bullying on teenage sexual assault victims premiered at Sundance this year. Screenings followed at San Francisco, Hot Docs, Traverse City, Melbourne, and Montclair, among others. In addition to its theatrical and Netflix release, free community and university screenings have been set up across the country.

My pre-Sundance profile of the doc may be found here.

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In Theatres & On VOD: THE LOVERS AND THE DESPOT

lovers and the despotComing to theatres and VOD tomorrow, Friday, September 23: THE LOVERS AND THE DESPOT

Robert Cannan and Ross Adam’s tale of a dictator’s cinephilia bowed at Sundance earlier this year. Screenings followed at Berlin, Cleveland, RiverRun, IFF Boston, Sarasota, Seattle, DocAviv, and Docs Against Gravity.

I profiled the doc before Sundance here.

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