Returning tonight, Thursday, June 11, the Human Rights Watch Film Festival showcases 16 films and three special programs addressing a wide range of human rights issues to audiences for its 26th edition in New York City, which will run through Sunday, June 21. The following offers highlights from this year’s thematic programming: Continue reading
Category Archives: Film Festivals
Human Rights Watch 2015: Documentary Overview
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Overviews, Recommendations
In Theatres: THE WOLFPACK
Coming to NYC and LA theatres this Friday, June 12: THE WOLFPACK
Crystal Moselle’s stranger than fiction story of a group of brothers raised on movies premiered at Sundance earlier this year, winning the US Documentary Grand Jury Prize. Screenings have followed at Cleveland, Full Frame, Sarasota, Tribeca, Riverrun, IFF Boston, San Francisco, Seattle, and the upcoming Nantucket Film Festival.
I previously profiled the film before Sundance here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Releases, Sundance
Los Angeles 2015: Documentary Overview
The Los Angeles Film Festival returns for its 21st edition tonight, Wednesday, June 10, and runs through Thursday, June 18. After a major shift in its programming team which saw the departure of longtime programmers David Ansen and Doug Jones and the addition of curator Elvis Mitchell, associate director Roya Rastegar, and senior programmer Jennifer Cochis, the event has gone through some significant retooling, with the introduction of several new sections and a refocusing of existing ones. Just over 70 features will screen, with nearly two dozen documentaries counted within that number. Among the highlights are the following: Continue reading
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Overviews, Recommendations
On DVD: RICH HILL
Coming to DVD tomorrow, Tuesday, June 9: RICH HILL
Tracy Droz Tragos and Andrew Droz Palermo’s portrait of adolescence in a poor community won the US Documentary Grand Jury Prize upon its debut at Sundance last year. Other festival berths included DOC NYC, Nantucket, True/False, Dallas, Cleveland, Sarasota, and Ashland, among several others.
I previously profiled the doc before Sundance here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Releases, Sundance
Sheffield Doc/Fest 2015 Overview
Tomorrow, Friday, June 5 sees the opening of the 22nd Sheffield Doc/Fest, the beloved UK nonfiction event that has gone through significant staff changes over the past year, seeing the departure of several key figures, including director Heather Croall (to Adelaide Fringe Festival), deputy director Charlie Phillips (to the Guardian), and director of programming Hussain Currimbhoy (to Sundance). This edition marks Claire Aguilar’s first in the role of director of programming, having joined the staff after a long tenure at ITVS. Running through Wednesday, June 10, the festival will present over 70 documentary features across a wide range of thematic strands. In addition to curating notable festival favorites, the event offers audiences their first look at several new films, including the opening night debut of Benedikt Erlingsson’s THE GREATEST SHOWS ON EARTH: A CENTURY OF VAUDEVILLE, CIRCUSES AND CARNIVALS, preceded by a live circus show. Other highlights follow below: Continue reading
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Overviews, Recommendations
Encounters 2015 Overview
South Africa’s Encounters, Africa’s largest documentary film festival, kicks off its 17th edition tomorrow, Thursday, June 4, in Cape Town, with screenings continuing there and in Johannesburg through Sunday, June 14. About half of its 30+ feature lineup consists of African films, with the remainder made up of a diverse selection of international festival favorites. The highlights below draw from the former: Continue reading
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Overviews, Recommendations
In Theatres & On VOD: THE NIGHTMARE
Coming to theatres and to VOD this Friday, June 5: THE NIGHTMARE
Rodney Ascher’s disturbing investigation into sleep paralysis debuted at Sundance earlier this year. It has since screened at Hot Docs, SXSW, Seattle, and the Stanley Film Festival. In addition to theatrical engagements across the US and in Toronto, Gravitas also releases the film on all major VOD platforms.
I profiled the doc before Sundance here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Releases, Sundance
Special Screening: THE WOLFPACK
Coming to NYC’s Stranger Than Fiction series tomorrow, Tuesday, June 2 and to Rooftop Films this Saturday, June 6: THE WOLFPACK
Crystal Moselle’s portrait of a family’s unusual upbringing made its debut at Sundance earlier this year, where it claimed the US Documentary Grand Jury Prize. Its fest circuit has included Cleveland, Full Frame, Sarasota, Tribeca, Riverrun, IFF Boston, San Francisco, Seattle, and the upcoming Nantucket Film Festival.
My pre-Sundance profile of the doc may be found here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Sundance
Brooklyn Film Festival 2015: Documentary Overview
The Brooklyn Film Festival returns for its 18th edition tomorrow, Friday, May 29, presenting 109 films before it wraps up on Sunday, June 7, curated by new director of programming Bryce Renninger from a record number of film submissions. Among these are the following ten feature documentaries, which premiered at several notable film events and now come to NYC via BFF: Continue reading
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Overviews, Recommendations
On VOD: HOT GIRLS WANTED
Coming to VOD this Friday, May 29: HOT GIRL WANTED
Jill Bauer and Ronna Gradus’ candid exploration of the amateur porn industry made its world premiere at Sundance earlier this year. Other screenings have included the Miami film festival, Indiana University, and the Kinsey Institute. It now comes to VOD exclusively through Netflix.
My pre-Sundance profile of the doc may be found here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Releases, Sundance
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