Coming to PBS’s AfroPoP next Monday, October 1 on WORLD and on general PBS stations on Wednesday, October 3: AN AFRICAN ELECTION
Jarreth and Kevin Merz’s gripping look at Ghana’s 2008 presidential election premiered at IDFA in 2010. Its festival circuit included Sundance, Atlanta, and Visions Du Reel.
I profiled the film pre-Sundance here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Sundance
Coming to NYC’s Stranger Than Fiction next Tuesday, October 2: ESCAPE FIRE: THE FIGHT TO RESCUE AMERICAN HEALTHCARE
Matthew Heineman and Susan Froemke’s exposé of the sad state of US healthcare made its world premiere at Sundance earlier this year. It’s won awards at Full Frame, Newport Beach, and Silverdocs since then, and is still screening widely on the festival circuit.
I profiled the film before Sundance here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Sundance
Coming to theatres this Friday, September 28: THE OTHER DREAM TEAM
Marius Markevicius’ look at national pride through sports premiered in competition at Sundance this year. It went on to screen at Dallas, Newport Beach, and Seattle.
My pre-Sundance profile of the doc may be found here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Releases, Sundance
The eighth edition of the Camden International Film Festival takes place this Thursday through Sunday, offering up more than thirty documentaries. With the slogan “small towns, big films,” the doc fest signals its intimate appeal – while I’ve yet to make it out, I’ve heard nothing but glowing reviews from past filmmaker and industry attendees, who enjoy a getaway from city living to catch up on some of the year’s most notable recent docs and to participate in the Points North Documentary Forum that takes place alongside the festival. Continue reading
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Overviews
The Film Society of Lincoln Center celebrates a half century of the New York Film Festival beginning next week. The 50th Anniversary edition of North America’s second oldest film festival runs from September 28 through October 14, and is also notable as Richard Peña’s 25th and final festival as the Film Society’s Program Director and NYFF Selection Committee Chair.
For NYC film lovers, the launch of the NYFF marks the start of the Fall, and its carefully curated programming exposes audiences to some of the world’s best cinema. Among the offerings this year, there are easily more than fifty documentary features, made up of new films, retrospective screenings, experimental essays, and doc/fiction hybrids. While I won’t be able to see the bulk of these what with hundreds of Sundance submissions to watch, the following highlights those in which I’m most interested: Continue reading
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Overviews, Recommendations
If you’re based in the NYC area or planning on being in town next week for the 50th anniversary New York Film Festival, I’m taking part in a panel for the launch of the Film Festival Academy on Thursday, September 27 from 3:15-4:45pm. I’m one of the panelists for “Programming for Niche Audiences,” looking at what’s involved in targeted, niche- or genre-focused programming. For more information and the entire program for the two-day FFA, follow the link above.
Filed under Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations
Coming to theatres this Friday, September 21: HOW TO SURVIVE A PLAGUE
David France’s affecting look back at a community fighting for their lives made its world premiere at Sundance earlier this year. It’s gone on to screen at True/False, Silverdocs, New Directors/New Films, San Francisco, and Outfest, among others.
I profiled the film before Sundance here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Releases, Sundance
Last week’s post on Toronto docs covered my thoughts on THE ACT OF KILLING, CAMP 14, THE CENTRAL PARK FIVE, FIRST COMES LOVE, FREE ANGELA & ALL POLITICAL PRISONERS, THE GIRL FROM THE SOUTH, THE LAST WHITE KNIGHT, ROMAN POLANSKI: ODD MAN OUT, and SHEPARD & DARK. This round-up wraps up my Toronto coverage with a look at nine more titles. Continue reading
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, In Brief, Recommendations
Filmmakers: The late submission deadline for US and international feature-length documentaries and narratives Sundance is next Monday, September 24. Note that this is not the postmark deadline; you must registered your application through Withoutabox and your film must arrive at the Sundance offices by next Monday.
The 2013 fest will take place January 17-27.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Submission Deadlines
Though the Toronto International Film Festival won’t wrap up until Sunday, I’m already back in NYC – and fairly exhausted from the five nights spent at one of the largest film events in the world. Still, it’s time to share my thoughts on the documentaries I managed to see – not quite half of the nearly fifty on offer. Sadly, scheduling didn’t permit me to see a number of titles that I was eagerly anticipating, such as Lucien Castaing-Taylor and Véréna Paravel’s LEVIATHAN, Seán Ó Cualáin’s MEN AT LUNCH, Dror Moreh’s THE GATEKEEPERS, and Sarah Polley’s STORIES WE TELL, but I’m sure I’ll have opportunities to catch up with these in the coming months.
Yesterday, Movieline published my article looking at various uses of re-enactments in a number of TIFF docs, including ones I also include below. Here at w(n)td, this post, and one on Monday, offer more general reactions, covering both the films in that article and others viewed during TIFF. Continue reading
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, In Brief, Recommendations
what (not) to doc 