Coming to DVD next Monday, January 31: PUTIN’S KISS
Lise Birk Pederson’s exploration of Russia through ideological politics premiered at IDFA last year. It picked up a jury prize for cinematography upon its US premiere at Sundance at the beginning of the year. Its fest circuit has included Santa Barbara, Full Frame, Nashville, and Seattle, among others.
My pre-Sundance profile of the doc may be found here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Releases, Sundance
The 2013 Sundance Film Festival ushers in a new crop of filmmaking talent in less than a month. As a preamble to the festival, beginning this Wednesday and continuing daily until the start of the festival on Thursday, January 17, I’m planning to profile each of the more than forty feature length documentaries in this year’s line-up.
I’ll be using the same format I’ve employed the last couple of years (last year’s began here), providing some background on the film and filmmakers and reasons why I’m excited for audiences to see these amazing projects. These profiles are not reviews – as a Documentary Programming Associate for the festival, I hope readers get a chance to see all of the 2013 Sundance films, and especially the non-fiction on offer – whether in Park City or hopefully at other festivals, or wherever else they might go on to screen.
The series kick off on Wednesday with profiles of three films in the US Documentary Competition, and will cover each section of the festival that features docs one-by-one as we countdown to Sundance 2013.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Overviews, Recommendations, Sundance
Coming to theatres on Christmas, next Tuesday, December 25: WEST OF MEMPHIS
Amy Berg’s quest for the exoneration of the West Memphis Three made its world premiere at Sundance at the beginning of the year. Its festival circuit has included berths at Deuville, London, Toronto, and DOC NYC, among others.
My pre-Sundance profile of the film may be found here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Releases, Sundance
Coming to HBO tomorrow, Thursday, December 20: PROJECT NIM
James Marsh’s acclaimed portrait of a young ape premiered at Sundance in 2011, where he picked up the Documentary Directing Award. The Oscar shortlisted doc played extensively on the festival circuit and enjoyed a theatrical release.
My pre-Sundance profile of the film may be found here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Sundance
Like yesterday’s belated post on the New York Film Festival, this one plays catch up as well, offering brief thoughts on eight of the feature docs that screened as part of the third edition of NYC’s premier non-fiction festival, which wrapped up about a month ago. While on staff this year, I wasn’t able to see our entire feature lineup as I was busy with our shorts programming and Doc-A-Thon panel series, but here are those I did catch: Continue reading
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, In Brief, Recommendations
First things first, I realize this post is ridiculously late – the 50th edition of the NYFF wrapped up just over two months ago. Between responsibilities for Sundance and DOC NYC, time got away from me. For those same reasons, I also only managed to see a handful of the more than fifty documentaries in the lineup. Still, it’s worth noting my brief thoughts on those films before 2012 is a thing of the past: Continue reading
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, In Brief, Recommendations
Four additional titles were announced today for 2013’s Sundance feature line-up – one each in Documentary Premieres, Park City at Midnight, New Frontier, and From the Collection. For details, visit the Sundance site here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Sundance
Coming to NYC’s Maysles Cinema as part of Filmwax’s Docularious series next Wednesday, December 19: JOAN RIVERS: A PIECE OF WORK
Ricki Stern and Annie Sundberg’s surprisingly honest profile of the acerbic comedienne premiered at Sundance in 2010, claiming an editing award. After a healthy festival run, the film performed very well upon theatrical release.
I previously wrote about the doc here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Sundance
The fourth and final pointer to the 2013 Sundance Film Festival lineup reveals the just-announced Shorts selections here.
Revealed last week:US and World Cinema Documentary and Dramatic Competitions and NEXT and Spotlight, Park City at Midnight, and New Frontier.
Revealed yesterday: Premieres and Documentary Premieres.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Sundance
This is the third of four brief pointers to the lineup announcements for the 2013 Sundance Film Festival. Just announced today are the selections for the Premieres and Documentary Premieres, located here.
The programming slate wraps up with tomorrow’s announcement of the Shorts.
Announced last week: US and World Cinema Documentary and Dramatic Competitions and NEXT, and Spotlight, Park City at Midnight, and New Frontier.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Sundance
what (not) to doc 