I spent all of last week in Silver Spring MD attending the 10th anniversary edition of Silverdocs. In addition to curating or appearing on a number of panels in the festival’s accompanying Conference, and serving on the shorts jury, I also covered the event for Indiewire. My roundup, including thoughts on ten titles, may be found here, while I plan to supplement my coverage here later this week with additional titles.
Category Archives: Film Festivals
Silverdocs 2012 in Brief, Part One
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, In Brief
On TV: GRANITO
Coming to POV this Thursday, June 28: GRANITO: HOW TO NAIL A DICTATOR
Pamela Yates’ story of how her previous film on Guatemala helped overthrow a dictator made its world premiere at Sundance last year. It later opened the Human Rights Watch Film Festival and enjoyed a limited theatrical release. For its POV engagement, which includes streaming online following the broadcast, Yates had PBS remove the geoblock that typically limits the stream to US and Canada so that it can be accessed around the world. Recognizing the importance of reaching core audiences in Spanish, the film will be streamed in both English and Spanish, and will also include streaming of the prequel film, WHEN THE MOUNTAINS TREMBLE.
I wrote about the film before Sundance here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Sundance
On Cable: ME @THE ZOO_
Premiering on HBO this Monday, June 25: ME @THE ZOO_
Chris Moukarbel and Valerie Veatch’s portrait of YouTube celebrity Chris Crocker premiered at Sundance this year. It went on to screen at True/False and Provincetown before its cable broadcast premiere next week.
I wrote about the film before Sundance here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Releases, Sundance
In Theatres: THE INVISIBLE WAR
Coming to theatres this Friday, June 22: THE INVISIBLE WAR
Kirby Dick’s potent investigation into military rape and its cover up had its world premiere earlier this year at Sundance, where it walked away with an audience award. Since then the film’s festival circuit has included RiverRun, San Francisco, Human Rights Watch, Los Angeles, and others. Its initial theatrical dates include New York, Los Angeles, Washington DC, San Francisco, and Boston.
My pre-Sundance profile of the film may be found here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Releases, Sundance
On DVD: THE NINE MUSES
Coming to DVD tomorrow, Tuesday, June 19: THE NINE MUSES
John Akomfrah’s experimental melding of THE ODYSSEY and British immigration history premiered at Venice in 2010. It went on to screen at London and Dubai before coming stateside at Sundance in 2011. Additional festival appearances include Sheffield, Karlovy Vary, Jerusalem, Poland’s New Horizons, and Vancouver.
My pre-Sundance profile of the film may be found here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Releases, Sundance
BAMcinemaFest 2012: Documentary Overview
The fourth edition of BAMcinemaFEST begins next Wednesday, June 20 and runs through Sunday, July 1. An outgrowth of Sundance at BAM, a popular program that brought highlights from the premier American independent festival to Brooklyn in the Summer, the BAM Rose Cinemas expanded their focus to offer a showcase of films largely handpicked from other major festivals like Cannes, SXSW, and Berlin, in addition to other special programming. The result is a smartly curated program that is almost guaranteed to include only the best recent filmmaking currently on the circuit. Continue reading
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Overviews, Recommendations
Silverdocs 2012 Overview
The 10th anniversary edition of Silverdocs begins next Monday, June 18 and runs through Sunday, June 24 just outside of Washington DC in Silver Spring MD. In addition to screenings of over one hundred feature and short documentaries, the festival holds a corresponding Conference presenting over 35 panels and workshops, as well as networking opportunities, for attending filmmakers and industry representatives. I’m serving as one of the guest curators for the Conference for a second year – the five panels I’ve organized are noted below – in addition to serving on the festival’s shorts jury and covering the event for Indiewire, so I’m looking forward to attending again. Continue reading
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Overviews, Recommendations
Frameline 2012: Documentary Overview
The oldest LGBT film festival in the world, Frameline, begins its 36th edition tomorrow, June 14 and runs through the end of San Francisco’s gay pride, Sunday, June 24. Affectionately described by many attendees as “the Cannes of gay film festivals,” Frameline’s annual presentation of the newest US and international queer work essentially takes over San Francisco, drawing locals as well as filmmakers, fans, and industry from all over the world. Continue reading
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Overviews
Los Angeles Film Festival 2012: Documentary Overview
Beginning this Thursday, June 14 and running through Sunday, June 24, the Los Angeles Film Festival is expected to reach more than 92,000 attendees in the heart of the film industry. A program of Film Independent, LAFF showcases independent film while also serving as a popular launching pad for high-profile studio productions. I’ve never had the opportunity to attend the event but always look forward to checking out their lineup. Among the more than 70 feature-length films screening during the fest’s 18th edition are 25 documentaries, presented in a juried competition section as well as a few other strands. Continue reading
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Overviews, Recommendations
Human Rights Watch Film Festival 2012: Documentary Overview
The New York edition of the Human Rights Watch Film Festival returns to the Film Society of Lincoln Center for its 23rd year this Thursday, June 14 and runs through Thursday, June 28. Sixteen films will expose audiences to pressing human rights issues around the world, providing audiences with an opportunity to engage with important issues through personal stories. Thirteen of the selections are documentary features, with programming focused around five key themes: Continue reading
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Overviews, Recommendations
