Category Archives: Film Festivals

January 28, 2021 · 12:01 PM

2021 Sundance Docs in Focus (Recap)

The 2021 Sundance Film Festival begins today, Thursday, January 28, and runs through Sunday, February 3, screening online and at select in-person satellite venues throughout the US.

To catch up with the festival’s doc programming, here are links to my series of 2021 Sundance documentary profiles, divided by festival section:

US Documentary Competition

^{AILEY | Courtesy of Sundance Institute | photo by Jack Mitchell}

^{ALL LIGHT, EVERYWHERE | Courtesy of Sundance Institute | photo by Corey Hughes.}

_{AT THE READY | Courtesy of Sundance Institute}

_{CUSP | Courtesy of Sundance Institute}

^{HOMEROOM | Courtesy of Sundance Institute | photo by Sean Havey}

^{REBEL HEARTS | Courtesy of Sundance Institute | photo by Corita Art Center, Immaculate Heart Community, Los Angeles}

^{RITA MORENO: JUST A GIRL WHO DECIDED TO GO FOR IT | Courtesy of Sundance Institute}

^{SUMMER OF SOUL (…OR, WHEN THE REVOLUTION COULD NOT BE TELEVISED) | Courtesy of Sundance Institute | photo by Mass Distraction Media}

^{TRY HARDER! | Courtesy of Sundance Institute | photo by Lou Nakasako}

^{USERS | Courtesy of Sundance Institute | photo by Natalia Almada}

World Cinema Documentary Competition

^{CAPTAINS OF ZAATARI | Courtesy of Sundance Institute}

^{FAYA DAYI | Courtesy of Sundance Institute | photo by Jessica Beshir}

^{FLEE | Courtesy of Sundance Institute}

^{MISHA AND THE WOLVES | Courtesy of Sundance Institute}

^{THE MOST BEAUTIFUL BOY IN THE WORLD | Courtesy of Sundance Institute | photo by Mario Tursi}

^{PLAYING WITH SHARKS | Courtesy of Sundance Institute}

^{PRESIDENT | Courtesy of Sundance Institute}

^{SABAYA | Courtesy of Sundance Institute | photo by Lolav Media/Ginestra Film}

^{TAMING THE GARDEN | Courtesy of Sundance Institute}

^{WRITING WITH FIRE | Courtesy of Sundance Institute | photo by Black Ticket Films}

Premieres

^{AMY TAN: UNINTENDED MEMOIR | Courtesy of Sundance Institute | photo by KPJR Films}

^{BRING YOUR OWN BRIGADE | Courtesy of Sundance Institute | photo by Lucy Walker}

^{IN THE SAME BREATH | Courtesy of Sundance Institute}

_{MY NAME IS PAULI MURRAY | Courtesy of Sundance Institute | photo by Pauli Murray Foundation}

_{PHILLY DA | Courtesy of Sundance Institute | photo by Yoni Brook}

^{THE SPARKS BROTHERS | Courtesy of Sundance Institute | photo by Jake Polonsky}

^{STREET GANG: HOW WE GOT TO SESAME STREET | Courtesy of Sundance Institute | photo by Luke Geissbühler}

NEXT

^{SEARCHERS | Courtesy of Sundance Institute | photo by Asterlight}

Midnight

^{A GLITCH IN THE MATRIX | Courtesy of Sundance Institute}

Special Screenings

^{LIFE IN A DAY 2020 | Courtesy of Sundance Institute}

Indie Series Program

^{SEEDS OF DECEIT | Courtesy of Sundance Institute | photo by Sjors Mosman and Kevin Vidal}

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January 27, 2021 · 12:01 PM

2021 Sundance Docs in Focus: SEEDS OF DECEIT

^{Courtesy of Sundance Institute | photo by Sjors Mosman and Kevin Vidal}

SEEDS OF DECEIT
Miriam Guttmann investigates a disturbing pattern of abuse of power by a leading Dutch fertility doctor in this docuseries.

Festival Section:
Indie Series Program

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January 26, 2021 · 1:31 PM

2021 Sundance Docs in Focus: LIFE IN A DAY 2020

LIFE IN A DAY 2020
Kevin Macdonald presents a crowdsourced look at life around the world on a single day during the pandemic.

Festival Section:
Special Screenings

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January 26, 2021 · 12:01 PM

2021 Sundance Docs in Focus: A GLITCH IN THE MATRIX

A GLITCH IN THE MATRIX
Rodney Ascher goes down the rabbit hole of simulation theory.

Festival Section:
Midnight

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January 25, 2021 · 3:02 PM

On TV: THE MOLE AGENT

Coming to PBS’s POV tonight, Monday, January 25:
THE MOLE AGENT

Director:
Maite Alberdi

World Premiere:
Sundance 2020

Select Festivals:
DOC NYC, Nantucket, Hot Docs, Full Frame, True/False, San Sebastian, New Directors/NewFilms, Miami, Karlovy Vary, Cleveland

About:
An 83-year-old man becomes an undercover spy in a Chilean retirement home.

I profiled the doc before Sundance here.

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January 25, 2021 · 1:31 PM

2021 Sundance Docs in Focus: SEARCHERS

^{Courtesy of Sundance Institute | photo by Asterlight}

SEARCHERS
Pacho Velez explores online dating apps and the need for human connection during a time of enforced isolation.

Festival Section:
NEXT

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January 25, 2021 · 12:01 PM

2021 Sundance Docs in Focus: STREET GANG: HOW WE GOT TO SESAME STREET

^{Courtesy of Sundance Institute | photo by Luke Geissbühler}

STREET GANG: HOW WE GOT TO SESAME STREET
Marilyn Agrelo revisits the origins of the pioneering children’s television powerhouse.

Festival Section:
Premieres

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January 22, 2021 · 1:31 PM

2021 Sundance Docs in Focus: THE SPARKS BROTHERS

^{Courtesy of Sundance Institute | photo by Jake Polonsky}

THE SPARKS BROTHERS
Edgar Wright pays tribute to the influential but overlooked band Sparks.

Festival Section:
Premieres

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January 22, 2021 · 12:01 PM

2021 Sundance Docs in Focus: PHILLY DA

^{Courtesy of Sundance Institute | photo by Yoni Brook}

PHILLY DA
Ted Passon, Yoni Brook, and Nicole Salazar follow an outspoken district attorney as he attempts to reform a broken criminal justice system, in this preview of the first two episodes of their new docuseries for Independent Lens.

Festival Section:
Premieres

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