Category Archives: Film Festivals

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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Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Sundance

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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Filed under Documentary, Film, Releases, Sundance

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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Filed under Documentary, Film, Releases, Sundance

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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May 9, 2011 · 10:30 AM

Hot Docs 2011 in Brief, Part Two: Competition

In my week in Toronto, I managed to see enough notable films at Hot Docs to warrant a couple of posts here to supplement those titles discussed in my indieWIRE coverage. This post looks at a selection of films in the festival’s international and Canadian competitions, while the next will cover the remaining sections.

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May 6, 2011 · 11:56 AM

Hot Docs Forum 2011 in Brief

The Hot Docs Forum, the festival’s international pitching sessions, wrapped up yesterday, with 28 new projects presented over two days to a collection of the most powerful decision makers of various non-fiction funds and broadcast outlets. The Forum has had a great track record of leading to co-production deals or pre-sales, helping to get the selected doc projects made. I run down a number of pitches that I found to be among the most promising in my latest indieWIRE article here.

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May 4, 2011 · 1:51 PM

Hot Docs 2011 in Brief, Part One

I plan to post thoughts on as many Hot Docs films as I can after I return from Toronto. In the meantime, my reactions to eight titles, loosely thematically linked by the concept of home, are available in my first indieWIRE article on this year’s fest here.

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May 3, 2011 · 10:30 AM

Tribeca 2011: Docs in Brief, Part Two: Other Sections

In my previous Tribeca post, I offered brief thoughts about the recently-completed festival’s World Documentary Competition. Today, I’ll wrap up with a few highlights from the Spotlight, Viewpoints, and Galas sections.

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May 2, 2011 · 10:30 AM

Tribeca 2011: Docs in Brief, Part One: Competition

With the 10th annual Tribeca Film Festival wrapping up this past weekend, I’ve had a chance to write up my reactions to a selection of the documentary lineup. Today’s post covers offerings from the World Documentary Competition, while the next one will look at Spotlight, Viewpoints, and Galas.

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Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, In Brief