The Best Documentary Feature Oscar shortlist was just announced, narrowing the nearly 150 qualifiers to just fifteen contenders. Congratulations go to all the filmmakers for making it on to this list, especially the eleven Sundance alums and the nine DOC NYC Short List alums!
It’s now a waiting game until the five final nominees are revealed on Thursday, January 16. In the meantime, here is the official shortlist, with links to my previous coverage for each of the films:
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Sundance
New York’s African Diaspora International Film Festival, one of the oldest events focusing on filmmaking by and about the people of Africa and the African Diaspora, enters its third decade beginning this Friday, November 29 and continuing through Sunday, December 15. The 21st edition of the fest brings over 70 films to audiences, including more than thirty documentary features made up of both new films and little seen retrospective programming. Special programming strands explore Afro-Brazilian, Haitian, Jamaican, and other Caribbean themes, with films representing 35 countries on offer.
The Gala nonfiction presentations include: Pratibha Parmar’s ALICE WALKER: BEAUTY IN TRUTH, an insightful portrait of the acclaimed author/activist; Centerpiece YOUTHS OF SHASHA, Emanuele Cicconi’s look at the musically talented but unsupported youths in an Ethiopian village; Joel Zito Araújo and Megan Mylan’s RACE (RAÇA), showcasing three black Brazilians who make a stand for equal rights and representation; and Closing Night film SPIES OF MISSISSIPPI (pictured), Dawn Porter’s intriguing tale of a state-funded covert spy agency fighting integration during the height of the Civil Rights struggle.
Among the other recent documentary offerings are: Ada M Babino’s I DON’ BEEN THROUGH THE SNAKE’S SKIN & COME OUT CLEAN (pictured), about the perspective and knowledge passed down by a long-lived Louisiana couple to their children and grandchildren; Nevline Nnaji’s REFLECTIONS UNHEARD: BLACK WOMEN IN CIVIL RIGHTS, a reclamation of the unheralded influence of women within the black power and feminist movements; James Brown’s RED, WHITE, BLACK & BLUE, which follows a South Central Los Angeles rugby team to a competition in New Zealand; Tukufu Zuberi’s AFRICAN INDEPENDENCE, a wide-ranging look at the history and struggles of post-colonial governance in Africa; Jaime Otero’s A COMMON ENEMY, about the first free elections after Tunisia’s Arab Spring; Joseph Hillel’s AYITI TOMA, THE LAND OF THE LIVING, a complex consideration of Haiti’s demonized voudou culture and historical exploitation by outsiders; and Valerie Scoon’s GRENADA: COLONIALISM AND CONFLICT, on the dark legacy of the Caribbean island nation’s colonial past.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Overviews, Recommendations
Coming to theatres today, Friday, November 22: NARCO CULTURA
Shaul Schwarz’s look at the music subculture engendered by Mexico’s drug cartels made its debut at Sundance earlier this year. The doc has also screened at Berlin, Hot Docs, Fantastic Fest, Sydney, Stockholm, and San Sebastian among others.
My pre-Sundance profile may be found here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Releases, Sundance
With IDFA kicking off tonight, this second of two posts wraps up my list of titles I’d be checking out if I were headed to the Netherlands. Yesterday’s post covered the competitions, while the following runs down the fest’s various non-competitive strands. Continue reading
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Overviews, Recommendations
Tomorrow, Wednesday, November 20 sees the opening of the 26th edition of the largest documentary event in the world, The Netherlands’ IDFA. Screening approximately 150 new feature documentaries, plus additional retrospective programming, shorts, and transmedia projects through Sunday, December 1, Amsterdam’s fest will play host to hundreds of the nonfiction world’s top buyers, broadcasters, and programmers, not to mention its over 120,000 general attendees. While I’ve attended the event for the past four years, I’m very sadly missing this one. Still, I’ve diligently (and wistfully) scoured through the lineup to construct my wishlist, if I were attending, broken down by section. As in the past, the fest’s sheer size necessitates breaking this down into two posts – today’s looks at IDFA’s competitions, while tomorrow’s will look at the non-competitive line-up. Continue reading
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Overviews, Recommendations
Released on DVD last week: BLACKFISH
Gabriela Cowperthwaite’s exploration of the consequences of keeping killer whales in captivity debuted at Sundance at the beginning of the year. Other screenings have included DOC NYC, Nantucket, Seattle, Sarasota, Vancouver, Provincetown, AFI Docs, Miami, Moscow, Melbourne, and Sydney, among others. The film has enjoyed a limited theatrical release and has been broadcast on CNN.
My pre-Sundance profile of the doc may be found here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Releases, Sundance
The sixth and last of this year’s DOC NYC shorts programs explores a yearning for the past, often wrapped up in places.
DOC NYC Program Description:
THEN & NOW:
Thursday, November 21 at 9:30pm
Nostalgia and changing times. THE PHOTO MAN (USA, 7 min., Ben Kitnick) trades in old photographs. An antique store owner welcomes visitors in NOT FOR SALE (USA, 10 min., Matthew C. Levy). THE FINAL NOTE (USA, 16 min., Mayeta Clark) profiles a South Bronx piano warehouse. A young couple takes over THE MERCANTILE (USA, 16 min., Brian Bolster), a general store in remote Montana. LAST DAYS OF THE VIDEO STORE (USA, 7 min., Quin O’Brien) shows the struggle of a once-thriving business. Remembrances of a swiftly changing Brooklyn come to animated life in OF MEMORY & LOS SURES (USA, 15 min., Laurie Sumiye & Andrew Parsons). CAMP STORY (USA, 26 min., David B. Levy) reveals the impact of getting away from the city as a kid. (97 min. total)
Why You Should Attend:
The pull of the past is strong in these shorts, from lost photos to vanishing businesses, summer memories to transforming neighborhoods.
More Info:
To purchase tickets, follow the link from the program page by clicking on the program title above.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Overviews, Recommendations
Argentina’s Mar del Plata International Film Festival begins this Saturday, November 16, and runs through Sunday, November 24. While this is the fest’s 28th edition, the event is technically Latin America’s oldest fest, having been founded in 1954. After more than a decade, it largely went dormant between 1967-1995, until it relaunched in its current incarnation in 1996. The only “A” class fest in South America, the seaside resort destination event annually draws over 100,000 attendees for its impressive 425-strong film lineup, consisting of approximately 250 feature-length films and 170 mid-lengths and shorts. Included are nearly 75 documentary features, largely representing new Argentine and Latin American filmmaking. The following offers a spotlight on some of these: Continue reading
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Overviews, Recommendations
Doc-A-Thon wraps up on DOC NYC‘s closing day, next Thursday, November 21. Catch these essential panels at the IFC Center to help you connect with your audiences: Continue reading
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Overviews, Recommendations
DOC NYC‘s penultimate shorts program this year turns the spotlight on family and the influence they have on us.
DOC NYC Program Description:
BLOOD IS THICKER:
Thursday, November 21 at 9:15pm
This program demonstrates the bonds of family, even under the most trying circumstances. In BEYOND BROKEN, Vasso, dependent on her family after a brutal attack, turns to art to find the will to go on (USA, 38 min., Andrew Morreale). A grandson realizes his late grandfather’s secret dream of becoming a filmmaker in QUICKSAND (USA, 8 min., Lance Oppenheim). SOFTENING (Canada, 39 min, Kelly O’Brien) explores the relationship between the filmmaker’s special needs son and the rest of the family. (85 min. total)
Why You Should Attend:
Family relationships, functional or dysfunctional, are universal, making these shorts resonant for all audiences. The particular situations these families find themselves in offer opportunities to reflect on what matters most in our lives.
More Info:
To purchase tickets, follow the link from the program page by clicking on the program title above.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Overviews, Recommendations
what (not) to doc 