Category Archives: Film Festivals

June 2, 2011 · 10:30 AM

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.

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June 1, 2011 · 10:30 AM

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.

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May 31, 2011 · 10:30 AM

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.

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May 27, 2011 · 10:30 AM

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.

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May 26, 2011 · 10:30 AM

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.

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May 25, 2011 · 11:34 AM

Special Screening: BOBBY FISCHER AGAINST THE WORLD

Kicking off NYC’s Stranger Than Fiction’s first Summer Season with a special pre-season screening next Thursday, June 2: BOBBY FISCHER AGAINST THE WORLD

Acclaimed director Liz Garbus premiered her biography of chess wunderkind Fischer at the beginning of the year at Sundance. The film has gone on to screen at numerous festivals, with Garbus picking up an award at Newport Beach recently, and will be kicking off the HBO Documentary Films Summer Series on June 6.

See my pre-Sundance profile of the film here.

Note: Director Liz Garbus will be present for a post-screening Q&A.

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May 24, 2011 · 10:30 AM

In Theatres: !WOMEN ART REVOLUTION

Coming to NYC’s IFC Center next Wednesday, June 1: !WOMEN ART REVOLUTION

Lynn Hershman Leeson spent decades making this look at feminist art in the US, bringing the film to Toronto for its premiere last year, and to Sundance for its US premiere in January. I wrote about the film before Sundance here.

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May 20, 2011 · 10:30 AM

On DVD: A SMALL ACT

Coming to DVD next Tuesday, May 24: A SMALL ACT

Since premiering it at last year’s Sundance, Jennifer Arnold has taken her film around the world, winning jury and audience awards while sharing the story of Hilde Back and Chris Mburu. After its successful festival, theatrical, and broadcast run, the doc will finally be available on DVD.

My thoughts on Arnold’s inspirational film can be found here.

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May 19, 2011 · 10:30 AM

On Cable: HOW TO DIE IN OREGON

Coming to HBO for its cable premiere next Thursday, May 26: HOW TO DIE IN OREGON

Like his previous film, CLEAR CUT: THE STORY OF PHILOMATH, OREGON, director Peter D Richardson premiered his sophomore film at Sundance, where it won the Documentary Grand Jury Prize. It has since gone on to screen at SXSW and Hot Docs, and picked up additional awards at Full Frame and Ashland Independent.

I wrote about Richardson’s powerful, emotional film in the lead up to Sundance here.

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May 10, 2011 · 10:30 AM

Hot Docs 2011 in Brief, Part Three: Other Sections

My previous Hot Docs post covered a number of films in the just-wrapped fest’s two competitions. Today, I’ll look at a selection of docs from the World Showcase, the national spotlight, and the Next sections.

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