In the first of three postings today about NYC festivals all starting this week, we’ll start with BAMcinemaFEST. Now in its third year, this BAM Rose Cinemas based event begins tomorrow and runs through June 26. More or less a successor to Sundance at BAM, which ran for three editions, this popular Brooklyn event features a great selection of strong films culled from top fests, including but no longer limited to Sundance – many films this year made their debuts at Berlin and SXSW. In addition, the fest features special retro and outdoor screenings.
Category Archives: Film Festivals
BAMcinemaFEST 2011: Documentary Overview
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Overviews, Recommendations
In Theatres: PAGE ONE
Coming to NYC’s Angelika Film Center and to the brand new Elinor Bunin Munroe Film Center at the Film Society of Lincoln Center as its inaugural first-run release this Friday, June 17: PAGE ONE: INSIDE THE NEW YORK TIMES
Andrew Rossi premiered his behind-the-scenes look at our nation’s premiere newspaper this January at Sundance (with a slightly longer subtitle) and has taken it to a number of other festivals leading up to its theatrical release this week.
For my pre-Sundance profile on the film, click here.
The doc will expand to additional cities through the end of July – for additional locations and dates, click here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Releases, Sundance
In Theatres: BUCK
Coming to NYC’s IFC Center next Friday, June 17: BUCK
Having taken the festival circuit by storm since its world premiere at Sundance in January, where it took home the US Documentary Audience Award, Cindy Meehl’s profile of Buck Brannaman, the inspiration for the Horse Whisperer, comes to NYC for its theatrical run.
For my pre-Sundance take on the film, click here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Releases, Sundance
DocPoint NYC 2011 in Brief
In celebration of its tenth anniversary, DocPoint: Helsinki Documentary Film Festival, the largest non-fiction event in the Nordic region, has organized DocPoint NYC, a weeklong program of Finnish docs from the past decade from June 8-13, with screenings at MoMA, 92Y Tribeca, Scandinavia House, and Union Docs. In addition, Scandinavia House will host two panels: Digital Distribution on Thursday, June 9 and Doc Power on Friday, June 10.
The Helsinkini festival’s regular dates – during the second half of Sundance – have meant that I’ve never been able to attend. Unfortunately and coincidentally, the NYC event takes place the exact dates that I’m out of the country attending the Transilvania International Film Festival. Despite that, between festival appearances elsewhere and some handy screeners, I’ve been able to see quite a few of the dozens of films that are being offered up to New York audiences, many for the first time.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, In Brief, Recommendations
Special Screening: GRAB
Making its NYC premiere at the National Museum of the American Indian on Thursday, June 16 and Saturday, June 18: GRAB
Billy Luther premiered his doc at this year’s Sundance. It offers a striking, impressionistic look at a unique Native American celebration involving the throwing of food and other items from rooftops.
I wrote about the film before its Sundance premiere here.
Luther’s previous film, MISS NAVAJO, which also screened at Sundance and documents a Native American beauty and culture pageant, is also part of the Museum’s programming.
Note: Admission is free, but reservations are recommended – see Facebook page for details. A Q&A will follow the screening. Also, free GRAB bags will be distributed to select attendees at both screenings.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Sundance
Special Screening: BATTLE FOR BROOKLYN
Coming to NYC’s Brooklyn Film Festival tomorrow, Friday, June 3 and Rooftop Films next Thursday, June 9: BATTLE FOR BROOKLYN
Michael Galinsky and Suki Hawley’s doc had its world premiere in Hot Docs and comes stateside (and back home) for the first time for BIFF and Rooftop. I included the film in my coverage for indieWIRE last month, saying:
Daniel Goldstein’s Brooklyn condo is the point of contention in Michael Galinsky and Suki Hawley’s BATTLE FOR BROOKLYN, which makes its world premiere at Hot Docs. Goldstein’s building is in the footprint of Mayor Bloomberg’s ambitious Atlantic Yards’ economic development plan for the borough. While there are many uncertainties about the benefits promised by the project, developers and the city government are determined to move forward, making questionable use of eminent domain laws to essentially force people out. Not willing to go without a fight, Goldstein becomes an activist, little realizing that his battle will take seven years and cost him a relationship. Galinsky and Hawley found a great underdog in Goldstein and have constructed a thoroughly engaging look at the infuriating erosion of individual rights in the interest of corporate concerns and political maneuvering.
Notes: A Q&A is scheduled following the WIFF screening, while the Rooftop screening is free.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations
Special Screening: SENNA
Opening NYC’s documentary series Stranger Than Fiction’s first Summer Season next Tuesday, June 7: SENNA
Asif Kapadia’s portrait of Formula One world champion race car driver Ayrton Senna wowed audiences and critics alike at its debut this year at Sundance, claiming the World Cinema Audience Award.
My pre-Sundance profile of the doc may be found here.
Note: A Q&A is scheduled following the screening.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Sundance
Silverdocs 2011 Overview
The US’s largest documentary event, Silverdocs, has announced the lineup for its ninth edition, running June 20-26 in Silver Spring MD. I’ve never been able to attend the event in the past due to scheduling conflicts, but I’m excited to be going this year as one of several guest curators of a handful of panels at the Conference that runs concurrent with the film screenings.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Overviews, Recommendations
In Theatres: THE LAST MOUNTAIN
Coming to NY and Washington DC Landmark cinemas next Friday, June 3: THE LAST MOUNTAIN
Director Bill Haney’s environmentally focused film zeroes in on controversial coal mining practices and the activists who are working to prevent them. Following its exclusive engagements in NY and DC, the doc is expanding to select cities through the rest of the summer. For my take on the film before its world premiere at Sundance, click here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Releases, Sundance
Sheffield Doc/Fest 2011 Overview
I’ve been meaning to post on Sheffield Doc/Fest for about a week or so now, but have kept on being distracted. Sadly, I won’t be attending, so perhaps that’s added to the delay. I’m hoping that I’ll be able to go to my first Doc/Fest next year – we’ll see.
In any case, I’ve been jealous of those who have been able to partake in this festival for many years. Until this year, the event has been firmly placed in the Fall’s doc fest cluster, together with CPH:Dox and IDFA, as well as newcomer DOC NYC, making it pretty difficult for me to attend given that it’s prime Sundance screening time. With this edition, Sheffield has made the move to June, holding this year’s festival a remarkable scant seven months since the last edition. Kudos to the festival’s team, especially Festival Director Heather Croall and Programmer Hussain Currimbhoy, on putting together a comprehensive program in such a tight time frame.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Overviews, Recommendations
