Festival:
The 71st Berlinale
Dates:
March 1-5 (industry)
About:
Germany’s world-class film event presents its scaled-down line-up of approximately 100 features – docs or hybrids making up a third – for industry online over the next few days, with in-person screenings of these selections planned for the public this June.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Overviews, Recommendations
Coming to virtual cinemas via Metrograph beginning tomorrow, Friday, February 26:
UNTITLED PIZZA MOVIE
Director:
David Shapiro
World Premiere:
Sundance 2020
About:
The filmmaker revisits a long-unfinished project to make sense of the passing of his friend and collaborator.
My pre-Sundance profile of the docuseries may be found here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Releases, Sundance
Coming to OVID.tv tomorrow, Thursday, February 25:
WINTER NOMADS
Director:
Manuel von Stürler
World Premiere:
Berlin 2012
Select Festivals:
IDFA, San Francisco, Thessaloniki Doc, ZagrebDox, Flahertiana, Reykjavik, Goteborg, Guth Gafa
About:
A grizzled veteran shepherd and a newcomer lead their flock all over the Swiss countryside to fatten them up before slaughter.
I previously wrote about the doc here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Releases
Coming to DVD today, February 23:
COLLECTIVE
Director:
Alexander Nanau
World Premiere:
Venice 2019
Select Festivals:
Sundance, DOC NYC, Toronto, IDFA, Zurich, Goteborg, Thessaloniki Doc, Docaviv, Docs Against Gravity, Docville, Moscow, Hamptons, Montclair
Notable Recognition:
The doc has been shortlisted for the Academy Awards.
About:
An investigation reveals disturbing corruption in Romanian state agencies following a fatal nightclub fire in Bucharest.
I profiled the doc before Sundance here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Releases, Sundance
Coming to OVID.tv today, Thursday, February 18:
TOKYO IDOLS
Director:
Kyoko Miyake
Premiere:
Sundance 2017
Select Festivals:
CPH:DOX, Nashville, Docville, Hot Docs, DOXA, Documentary Edge
About:
An examination of sexuality and social media popularity via a distinctly Japanese popular culture phenomenon.
My pre-Sundance profile of the doc may be found here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Releases, Sundance
Coming to The WORLD Channel’s America ReFramed tomorrow, Tuesday, February 16:
PAHOKEE
Directors:
Ivete Lucas and Patrick Bresnan
World Premiere:
Sundance 2019
Select Festivals:
DOC NYC, SXSW, San Francisco, DokuFest, Sarasota, Denver, Maryland, Hamptons, Visions du Reel, Miami, Encounters, Sidewalk, Montclair, Los Angeles Latino, Bentonville, IFF Boston, Ashland
About:
Four teenagers are followed through their senior year of high school in the Florida Everglades.
I profiled the doc before Sundance here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Releases, Sundance
Festival:
The 27th Slamdance Film Festival
Dates:
February 12-25
About:
Presented online – and a few weeks later than its usual concurrence with Sundance – this ever-scrappy event presents 25 features, with docs making up just over half that number, including the highlights below.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Overviews, Recommendations
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences announced the Best Documentary Feature and Best Documentary Short Subject shortlists today. In addition, two documentary features are included on the International Feature Film shortlist. Congratulations to all the filmmakers – especially the Sundance, DOC NYC, and Nantucket Film Festival alumni represented.
The official lists are below, with links to my previous coverage, where applicable. The final nominees will be announced on March 15.
Documentary Feature:
Documentary Short Subject:
Abortion Helpline, This Is Lisa
Call Center Blues
Colette
A Concerto Is a Conversation
Do Not Split
Hunger Ward
Hysterical Girl
A Love Song for Latasha
The Speed Cubers
What Would Sophia Loren Do?
International Feature Film:
Denmark, ANOTHER ROUND
Hong Kong, BETTER DAYS
Czech Republic, CHARLATAN
Romania, COLLECTIVE
Russia, DEAR COMRADES
Mexico, I’M NO LONGER HERE
Norway, HOPE
Guatemala, LA LLORONA
Chile, THE MOLE AGENT
Ivory Coast, NIGHT OF THE KINGS
Bosnia and Herzegovina, QUO VADIS, AIDA?
Iran, SUN CHILDREN
France, TWO OF US
Taiwan, A SUN
Tunisia, THE MAN WHO SOLD HIS SKIN
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Sundance
Coming to YouTube tomorrow, Saturday, February 6:
LIFE IN A DAY 2020
Director:
Kevin Macdonald
World Premiere:
Sundance 2021
About:
A crowdsourced look at life around the world on a single day during the pandemic.
I profiled the doc before Sundance here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Releases, Sundance
Coming to select theatres and to VOD today, Friday, February 5:
A GLITCH IN THE MATRIX
Director:
Rodney Ascher
World Premiere:
Sundance 2021
About:
A trip down the rabbit hole of simulation theory.
I profiled the doc before Sundance here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Releases, Sundance
what (not) to doc 