Beginning today, Friday, August 29, and running through Monday, September 1, the 41st edition of the Telluride Film Festival offering attendees their first look at what are typically among the upcoming Awards season contenders, many of them heading to Toronto next week, and to the New York Film Festival at the end of next month. Continuing the festival’s tradition of surprise and anticipation, the line-up for this year’s edition was not announced until yesterday, with a full list and descriptions available through their program guide. Below, I present a brief rundown of some of the nonfiction selections this year, by my count numbering 19 feature documentaries. Continue reading
Category Archives: Film Festivals
Telluride 2014: Documentary Overview
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Overviews, Recommendations
On DVD: AMERICAN PROMISE
Coming to DVD this coming Tuesday, September 2: AMERICAN PROMISE
Joe Brewster and Michèle Stephenson’s twelve-year chronicle of African American education had its premiere at Sundance last year, where it won a special jury award. Screenings followed at the New York Film Festival, Full Frame, Hot Springs, Montclair, Pan African, and DokuFest, among many more.
My pre-Sundance profile of the doc may be found here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Releases, Sundance
On TV: AFTER TILLER
Coming to PBS’s POV this coming Monday, September 1: AFTER TILLER
Lana Wilson and Martha Shane’s intimate portrait of women’s health providers debuted at Sundance last year. It went on to screen at Hot Docs, Seattle, Sheffield, True/False, AFI Docs, and Full Frame, among many others.
I profiled the doc before Sundance here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Releases, Sundance
In Theatres: THROUGH A LENS DARKLY
Coming to NYC’s Film Forum today, Wednesday, August 27: THROUGH A LENS DARKLY: BLACK PHOTOGRAPHERS AND THE EMERGENCE OF A PEOPLE
Thomas Allen Harris’ exploration of black self-representation premiered at Sundance earlier this year. It has also screened at Berlin, Santa Barbara, Montclair, Pan African, Atlanta, Boston LGBT, Frameline, and Open City Docs, among several others.
My pre-Sundance doc profile may be found here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Releases, Sundance
Venice 2014: Documentary Overview
The grandfather of all film events, the Venice International Film Festival, enters its eighth decade as its 71st edition begins tonight, Wednesday, August 27. Running through Saturday, September 6, the Biennale will present over 100 features between its official selection and two autonomous simultaneously presented events, offering attending industry a sneak peek at a number of titles that will almost certainly generate awards attention by the end of the year. Among these are just over 20 new documentaries, many of which I’ll highlight below: Continue reading
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Overviews, Recommendations
In Theatres & On VOD: TO BE TAKEI
Coming to theatres and VOD tomorrow, Friday, August 22: TO BE TAKEI
Jennifer Kroot and Bill Weber’s profile of the beloved STAR TREK actor-turned-gay icon bowed at Sundance at the beginning of the year. It’s gone on to screen at Cleveland, River Run, Wisconsin, Hot Docs, Los Angeles Asian Pacific, DOXA, Seattle, Human Rights Watch, Revelation, Fantasia, and LGBT fests in Boston, Tel Aviv, Connecticut, San Francisco, Dayton, and Los Angeles, among others. In addition to its theatrical engagements it comes to several VOD platforms, including iTunes, Bright House, Cablevision, Comcast, Cox, Insight, and Time Warner Cable.
My pre-Sundance profile of the doc may be found here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Releases, Sundance
In Theatres: KINK
Coming to NYC’s IFC Center this Friday, August 22: KINK
Christina Voros’ behind-the-scenes look at fetish pornography had its world premiere at Sundance last year. It went on to screen at DOC NYC, Seattle, Stockholm, NewFest, and Frameline, among others.
I profiled the doc before Sundance here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Releases, Sundance
On Cable & In Theatres: CAPTIVATED: THE TRIALS OF PAMELA SMART
Coming to HBO tonight, Monday, August 18 and in NYC and LA theatres through this Thursday, August 21: CAPTIVATED: THE TRIALS OF PAMELA SMART
Jeremiah Zagar’s revisitation of an infamous smalltown murder trial had its debut at Sundance at the beginning of the year. It went on to screen at Nantucket, Hot Docs, Sarasota, True/False, and Full Frame, among others.
My pre-Sundance profile of the doc may be found here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Releases, Sundance
Dokufest 2014 Overview
Running tomorrow, Saturday, August 16 through Sunday, August 24 in the Kosovar city of Prizren, Dokufest turns 13 with its latest curated selection of nonfiction from around the globe. Featuring more than 80 feature docs, the festival holds several competitions, recognizing international work, human rights, environmental, and regional cinema, as well as non-competitive special programs exploring religion, music, technology, experimental cinema, American, and Austrian themes, among others, plus several retrospectives and tributes honoring Barbara Kopple, Steve James, Michael Glawogger, and others. The following shines a spotlight on some of the less-covered films in this year’s lineup: Continue reading
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Overviews, Recommendations
In Theatres: MR X: A VISION OF LEOS CARAX
Coming to theatres tomorrow, Friday, August 15: MR X: A VISION OF LEOS CARAX
Tessa Louise-Salomé’s profile of the distinctive French auteur debuted at Sundance this year. It went on to screen at Rotterdam, JeonJu, Stockholm, New Orleans French Film Festival, Sydney Underground, and Moscow, among others.
I profiled the doc before Sundance here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Releases, Sundance
