Category Archives: Film Festivals

Northside 2014: Documentary Overview

header1Brooklyn’s Northside Festival kicks off today, Thursday, June 12, and runs through next Thursday, June 19, with film programming starting on Monday evening. As it has for the past several years, this mini-SXSW joins the worlds of music, cinema, and innovation together, and presents a healthy number of docs in its line-up – both new and recent work and an eclectic selection of retrospective classics or unseen gems. The following offers notable selections from this year’s film programming: Continue reading

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Human Rights Watch 2014: Documentary Overview

hrwlogo copyBeginning tomorrow, Thursday, June 12, the New York edition of the Human Rights Watch Film Festival celebrates a quarter century of showcasing films addressing vital global concerns. With screenings through Sunday, June 22, the event will screen nearly two dozen programs to bear witness to and bring greater awareness of continuing human rights abuses around the world. Among the thematic offerings this year are: Continue reading

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In Theatres: IVORY TOWER

ivory towerComing to theatres this Friday, June 13: IVORY TOWER

Andrew Rossi’s investigation of the current economics of higher education debuted earlier this year at Sundance. It has also screened at Sarasota, Miami, Seattle, Ashland, Full Frame, Cleveland, and Montclair, among others.

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

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Los Angeles 2014: Documentary Overview

laff_key_art_a_pThis Wednesday, June 11, marks the start of the 20th anniversary edition of the Los Angeles Film Festival, which will continue through Thursday, June 19. Nearly 200 films total will screen, though this year sees slightly fewer feature documentaries represented, with only 21 by my count, representing a cross-section of debuts as well as LA premieres of several festival favorites. The following offers brief highlights: Continue reading

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Sheffield Doc/Fest 2014 Overview

Sheffield-Doc-FestThis Saturday, June 7, sees the launch of the 21st edition of Sheffield Doc/Fest, one of the nonfiction community’s favorites on the festival circuit. I’ll be on Nantucket for the month of June, gearing up for my own festival, but other doc folk will be headed over the Pond between now and the fest’s wrap next Thursday, June 12. The following represent some of the doc features that have most piqued my interest in this year’s lineup: Continue reading

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In Theatres: CITIZEN KOCH

Citizen-Koch-Key-Image-Courtesy-Matt-Wisniewski-580x300Coming to theatres this Friday, June 6: CITIZEN KOCH

Carl Deal and Tia Lessin’s investigation into the selling of democracy premiered at Sundance last year. It went on to screen at DOC NYC, Full Frame, Sarasota, Traverse City, Wisconsin, Big Sky, and Citizen Jane, among others.

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

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Encounters 2014 Overview

Encounters_Film_Fest_300_300_80The 2014 edition of Encounters: South African International Documentary Festival celebrates its sweet sixteen beginning tomorrow, Thursday, June 5, screening in Cape Town and Johannesburg through Sunday, June 15. Its line-up of more than 30 feature docs includes a selection of well-traveled recent international films as well as a large number of recent local and greater African productions, as noted below: Continue reading

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In Theatres: THE CASE AGAINST 8

case 8Coming to theatres this Friday, June 6: THE CASE AGAINST 8

Ben Cotner and Ryan White’s marriage equality chronicle debuted at Sundance this year, where they picked up the US Documentary Directing Award. The doc went on to win an audience award at SXSW, best doc at Vail, and to screen at Cleveland, RiverRun, DOXA, Hot Docs, Sarasota, Dallas, Ashland, and the upcoming Nantucket Film Festival, among several others. It begins a theatrical run now, expanding next week, before its broadcast debut on HBO later this month.

I profiled the doc before Sundance here.

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Special Screening: RICH HILL

RichHill2Coming to LA’s ArcLight Documentary Film Series tomorrow, Tuesday, June 3: RICH HILL

Tracy Droz Tragos and Andrew Droz Palermo’s sensitive portrait of three adolescents had its world premiere earlier this year at Sundance, where it picked up the US Documentary Grand Jury Prize. It went on to screen at True/False, Dallas, Cleveland, Wisconsin, Sarasota, Ashland, and the upcoming Nantucket Film Festival.

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

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On DVD: WHEN I WALK

when i walkComing to DVD this coming Tuesday, June 3: WHEN I WALK

Jason DaSilva’s personal experience of multiple sclerosis had its world premiere at Sundance last year. Its fest circuit also included Hot Docs, Sarasota, Milwaukee, LA’s Arclight Doc Fest, Vancouver, Hot Springs, Margaret Mead, ReelAbilities, Hawaii, and Poland’s New Horizons American Film Festival, among others.

I profiled the doc before Sundance here.

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