In one week, New York’s premier documentary festival, DOC NYC, kicks off its third edition. Running Thursday, November 8 through Thursday, November 15, the festival, run by Raphaela Neihausen and Thom Powers, boasts an expanded line-up of over 100 events, plus the addition of two new members to the programming team, Mystelle Brabee on features, and myself on shorts and panels. I’m planning on running brief posts on the latter beginning later today and running through the festival. While I of course encourage everyone to see as much of DOC NYC’s offerings as possible, below I’m shining the spotlight on a selection from each section of the festival. Continue reading
Category Archives: Film Festivals
DOC NYC 2012 Overview
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Overviews, Recommendations
CPH:DOX 2012 Overview
CPH:DOX, the better-known name for the Copenhagen International Documentary Film Festival, begins next week and celebrates its 10th anniversary this year. The festival is the largest doc-specific event in Scandinavia, and has developed a reputation for its broad conception of non-fiction, often including more experimental, art cinema, and hybrid (or even genre-free) work in its impressive line-up. To this point, the festival (in)famously awarded Harmony Korine’s TRASH HUMPERS its grand jury prize back in 2009.
By my count, there are approximately 150 feature-length docs being presented this year, beginning with the controversial THE ACT OF KILLING, by Joshua Oppenheimer, Christine Cynn, and Anonymous, which made quite an impression out of both Telluride and Toronto, and opens the festival a couple of days early, on Tuesday, October 30. The closing film, Daniel Dencik’s Greenland adventure voyage, THE EXPEDITION TO THE END OF THE WORLD (pictured), screens on Friday, November 9 (though the festival continues for two more days, til Sunday, November 11). Though I’ve always been curious about the event, I’ve never made it out to the festival; if I were attending, the following titles would be on my list: Continue reading
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Overviews
On Cable: THE BIG PICTURE: RETHINKING DYSLEXIA
Coming to HBO next Monday, October 29: THE BIG PICTURE: RETHINKING DYSLEXIA
James Redford’s positive look at dyslexia had its world premiere this year at Sundance, under its earlier title THE D WORD. It’s gone on to screen at Nashville, Tallgrass, Heartland, and Newport Beach, among others.
My pre-Sundance profile of the film may be found here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Sundance
On TV: LOVE FREE OR DIE
Coming to PBS’ Independent Lens) next Monday, October 29: LOVE FREE OR DIE
Macky Alston’s profile of gay bishop Gene Robinson made its world premiere at Sundance this year, where it claimed a special jury prize. Its festival circuit has included Cleveland, Ashland, Full Frame, London LGBT, Seattle, Seattle, New Orleans, Frameline, Outfest, and NewFest, among others.
I profiled the film before Sundance here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Sundance
On DVD/VOD: THE INVISIBLE WAR
Already available on iTunes and coming to DVD and VOD tomorrow, Tuesday, October 23: THE INVISIBLE WAR
Kirby Dick’s exposé on rape in the US military claimed an audience award at its premiere this year at Sundance. Its extensive festival run has included Full Frame, Dallas, Ashland, San Francisco, Human Rights Watch, Los Angeles, and Hot Docs, and it enjoyed a limited theatrical release this Summer.
My pre-Sundance profile of the film may be found here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Releases, Sundance
Special Screening: 1/2 REVOLUTION
Coming to NYC’s Landmark Sunshine Cinema via Tugg tomorrow, Tuesday, October 23: 1/2 REVOLUTION
Omar Shargawi and Karim El Hakim’s direct experience of the beginnings of the uprising in Tahrir Square premiered in the Nordisk Panorama last year. It made its stateside debut at Sundance and also screened at Dubai, Thessaloniki Doc, True/False, and the Aljazeera Doc fest.
My pre-Sundance profile of the film may be found here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Sundance
Special Screening: THE ATOMIC STATES OF AMERICA
Coming to NYC’s Stranger Than Fiction series at the IFC Center next Tuesday, October 23: THE ATOMIC STATES OF AMERICA
Don Argott and Sheena M Joyce’s exploration of nuclear power made its world premiere in competition at Sundance at the beginning of the year. Its festival run has included Dallas, the Hamptons, Heartland, and Newport Beach, among others.
My pre-Sundance profile of the film may be found here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Sundance
In Theatres: BESTIAIRE
Coming to NYC’s Anthology Film Archives tomorrow, Friday, October 19: BESTIAIRE
Denis Côté’s look at how we view animals made its premiere at Sundance earlier this year. It went on to screen at Berlin, Cinema du Reel, New Horizons, and Toronto, among others.
My pre-Sundance profile of the film may be found here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Releases, Sundance
On Cable: ETHEL
Coming to HBO this Thursday, October 18: ETHEL
Rory Kennedy’s profile of her mother made its world premiere at Sundance this January. It’s been warmly received on the festival circuit, screening at Full Frame, Hot Docs, San Francisco, Sarasota, Nantucket, Provincetown, Traverse City, and Ashland, among others, picking up multiple awards along the way.
I profiled the film before Sundance here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Sundance
On DVD: MARINA ABRAMOVIC THE ARTIST IS PRESENT
Coming to DVD next Tuesday, October 16: MARINA ABRAMOVIC THE ARTIST IS PRESENT
Matthew Akers’ look at the acclaimed performance artist’s recent MoMA show made its world premiere at Sundance this year. It won an audience award in Berlin, and also screened at Nantucket, DOXA, San Francisco, and Silverdocs, among others.
My pre-Sundance profile of the film may be found here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Releases, Sundance
what (not) to doc 