This post begins my annual film-by-film look at the upcoming Sundance Film Festival, kicking off with the 2014 US Documentary Competition. Up first alphabetically: ALIVE INSIDE: A STORY OF MUSIC & MEMORY, Michael Rossato-Bennett’s exploration of the power of music to awaken sufferers of dementia and Alzheimer’s.
Category Archives: Film Festivals
2014 Sundance Docs in Focus: ALIVE INSIDE: A STORY OF MUSIC & MEMORY
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Sundance
On TV: HOW TO SURVIVE A PLAGUE
Coming to PBS’s Independent Lens this coming Monday, December 30: HOW TO SURVIVE A PLAGUE
David France’s look back at the power of grassroots activism at the start of the AIDS epidemic debuted at Sundance last year. It went on to screen at True/False, Silverdocs, New Directors/New Films, San Francisco, and Outfest, among many others, in addition to a theatrical release. It picked up several awards, including a Gotham, and was an Oscar nominee for Best Documentary Feature.
My profiled the doc before Sundance here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Releases, Sundance
2014 Sundance Docs in Focus
Next month marks the 30th anniversary Sundance Film Festival. As I’ve done since 2011, I’m planning to profile each of the nearly fifty feature-length documentaries in the lineup, beginning with the US Documentary Competition this Wednesday, and continuing section-by-section before wrapping up in advance of the festival kick off on Thursday, January 16.
As a Documentary Programming Associate for Sundance, I will note that these profiles are not reviews – each simply features select background on the film and its filmmakers, noting past Sundance projects where applicable, and reasons why readers should add these films to their watch-lists. I hope those who are Park City-bound will see these, and as many other films at Sundance as possible, or catch them at other upcoming festivals, in theatres, TV/cable, or on DVD/VOD. For a sample, check out last year’s, which began here.
I’ve also prepared a Twitter list of 2014 Sundance filmmakers and films, allowing readers a chance to experience the festival through their eyes.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Overviews, Recommendations, Sundance
On VOD: GRANITO
Coming to VOD today, Tuesday, December 17: GRANITO: HOW TO NAIL A DICTATOR
Pamela Yates’ exploration of her work’s impact on justice in Guatemala debuted at Sundance in 2011. It went on to screen at Latin American and human rights festivals around the world, including New York and Paris, and to enjoy a limited theatrical release, as well as broadcast on POV. The doc now comes to iTunes.
My pre-Sundance profile of the film may be found here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Releases, Sundance
In Theatres: THE CRASH REEL
Coming to theatres this Friday, December 13: THE CRASH REEL
Lucy Walker’s candid look at traumatic brain injury through the story of snowboarder Kevin Pearce debuted at Sundance this year. Since then, the doc has screened at DOC NYC, Berlin, Hot Docs, True/False, Full Frame, Seattle, and Los Angeles, among many others, and has been shortlisted for the Best Documentary Oscar.
My pre-Sundance profile of the doc may be found here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Releases, Sundance
Sundance 2014: Shorts Lineup Announced
The fourth and final pointer to the 2014 Sundance Film Festival lineup reveals the just-announced Shorts selections here.
Previously announced:US and World Cinema Documentary and Dramatic Competitions and NEXT; Spotlight, Park City at Midnight, New Frontier, and Sundance Kids; and Premieres and Documentary Premieres.
Filed under Film, Film Festivals, Sundance
Sundance 2014: Premieres & Documentary Premieres Announced
This is the third of four pointers to the lineup announcements for the 2014 Sundance Film Festival. Just announced are the selections for the Premieres and Documentary Premieres, located here.
The programming slate wraps up with one final announcement revealing this year’s Shorts programming.
Announced last week: US and World Cinema Documentary and Dramatic Competitions and NEXT, and Spotlight, Park City at Midnight, New Frontier, and Sundance Kids.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Sundance
Sundance 2014: Spotlight, Park City at Midnight, New Frontier & Sundance Kids Announced
This post is a pointer to the second of four lineup announcements for the 2014 Sundance Film Festival. This year’s selections in Spotlight, Park City at Midnight, and brand new section Sundance Kids may be found here, while New Frontier info may be found here.
The remaining non-competition feature sections, Premieres and Documentary Premieres, as well as Shorts, will be revealed in two further announcements next week.
If you missed yesterday’s announcement, the US and World Cinema Documentary and Dramatic Competitions, plus NEXT, click here.
Filed under Film, Film Festivals, Sundance
Dubai 2013: Documentary Overview
The Dubai International Film Festival celebrates its first decade this month, with its tenth edition starting this Friday, December 6 and running through Saturday, December 14. The eldest of several high-profile Gulf State fests that began last decade, the Emirati event showcases work from the region, while also shining a spotlight on Asian and African work, and annually awards more than half a million dollars in prize money to competition winners. This year’s lineup consists of 174 films representing 57 countries. Among their number are 25 documentary features, a mix of new titles noted below and a number of familiar festival favorites that are just making their regional bows at the event.
Six films compete in the Muhr Arab Documentary Competition, including: Mohamed Amine Boukhris’ WAR REPORTER (pictured), following journalists of the Arab Spring; Ahmed Nour’s WAVES, a personal exploration of the young generation of Egyptians that enabled the revolution to take place; Sarah Francis’ BIRDS OF SEPTEMBER, in which a roving van serves as a confessional for the people of Beirut; and Philippe Aractingi’s HERITAGES, a meditation on the Lebanese director’s ancestral roots.
An additional eight titles are part of the Muhr Asia Africa Documentary Competition, including: Hafiz Rancajale’s BEHIND THE FLICKERING LIGHT (THE ARCHIVE), on Indonesia’s first film archivist; Surabhi Sharma’s BIDESIA IN BAMBAI, a celebration of the underrepresented migrant workforce in Mumbai; and Kazuhiro Sôda’s CAMPAIGN 2 (pictured), about a Fukushima-inspired anti-nuclear political campaign in Japan.
The fest’s non-competitive Arabian Nights section also features several new documentaries, among them Darin Al Baw’s OUR HOME WE CAN NOT WALK TO, about sisters caught in a war in a Lebanese Palestinian refugee camp; Mahmoud Kaabour’s CHAMP OF THE CAMP (pictured), on a Bollywood competition among migrant laborers in Dubai; and Nasredine Ben Maati’s A DOOMED GENERATION, a look at cyber-resistance to Tunisian repression prior to the revolution.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Overviews
Sundance 2014: Competition & NEXT Lineups Announced
Here’s a quick pointer to the initial lineup announcement for the 2014 Sundance Film Festival. The US and World Cinema Dramatic and Documentary Competitions, plus the NEXT section, are here. Announcements for other sections will follow later this week and next.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Sundance
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