Category Archives: Film Festivals

Sundance 2021: Lineup Announced

The full lineup has been announced for the 2021 Sundance Film Festival, taking place online and via select drive-ins, independent arthouses, and community partnerships January 28 through February 3.

Today’s announcement reveals the US and World Cinema Documentary and Dramatic Competitions, NEXT, Premieres, Midnight, Spotlight, Special Screenings, New Frontier, Shorts, and Indie Series, and may be found here.

Leave a comment

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

On DVD: HAPPY HAPPY JOY JOY: THE REN & STIMPY STORY

Coming to DVD tomorrow, Tuesday, December 15:
HAPPY HAPPY JOY JOY: THE REN & STIMPY STORY

Directors:
Ron Cicero and Kimo Easterwood

World Premiere:
Sundance 2020

Select Festivals:
Big Sky Doc, San Francisco, Cleveland

About:
An exploration of the groundbreaking animated series and its controversial creator.

I profiled the doc before Sundance here.

Leave a comment

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

In Theatres & In Virtual Release: ASSASSINS

Coming to select theatres and to virtual cinemas today, Friday, December 11:
ASSASSINS

Director:
Ryan White

World Premiere:
Sundance 2020

Select Festivals:
DOC NYC, Zurich, Warsaw, Stockholm, Full Frame, Double Exposure, Hot Docs, Brisbane, Hawai’i

About:
An investigation of the bizarre story behind the brazen assassination of the half-brother of Kim Jong-un.

My pre-Sundance profile of the doc may be found here.

Leave a comment

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

On VOD: GIVING VOICE

Coming to Netflix this Friday, December 11:
GIVING VOICE

Director:
James D Stern and Fernando Villena

World Premiere:
Sundance 2020

About:
An exploration of the impact of playwright August Wilson through an annual monologue competition for high school students.

I profiled the doc before Sundance here.

Leave a comment

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

Jerusalem 2020: Documentary Overview

Festival:
The 37th Jerusalem Film Festival

Dates:
December 10-20

About:
Rescheduled from its usual Summer dates, this Israeli event goes online and showcases approximately 70 new features, with documentaries making up a third of the lineup.

Continue reading →

Leave a comment

Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Overviews, Recommendations

New Directors/New Films 2020: Documentary Overview

Festival:
The 49th New Directors/New Films

Dates:
December 9-20

About:
This notable series co-curated by the Museum of Modern Art and the Film Society of Lincoln Center, rescheduled from its usual Spring dates and now online, offers six works of nonfiction among its 27 feature film lineup.

Continue reading →

Leave a comment

Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Overviews, Recommendations

In Theatres & On VOD: COLLECTIVE

Coming to select theatres and to VOD today, November 20:
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

About:
An investigation reveals disturbing corruption in Romanian state agencies following a fatal nightclub fire in Bucharest.

I profiled the doc before Sundance here.

Leave a comment

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

On VOD: LEAP OF FAITH: WILLIAM FRIEDKIN ON THE EXORCIST

Coming to VOD via Shudder today, Thursday, November 19:
LEAP OF FAITH: WILLIAM FRIEDKIN ON THE EXORCIST

Director:
Alexandre O Philippe

World Premiere:
Venice 2019

Select Festivals:
Sundance, London, Sitges, Docs Against Gravity

About:
A dissection of the 1973 horror classic through an extensive conversation with its director.

I profiled the doc before Sundance here.

Leave a comment

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

IDFA 2020 Overview, Part Two

Festival:
The 33rd IDFA

Dates:
November 18-December 6

About:
Yesterday’s post covered the Dutch event’s competitive sections, while today’s looks at non-competitive programming strands.

Continue reading →

Leave a comment

Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Overviews, Recommendations

On DVD: AGGIE

Coming to DVD today, Tuesday, November 17:
AGGIE

Director:
Catherine Gund

World Premiere:
Sundance 2020

Select Festivals:
Nantucket, MoMA Documentary Fortnight, Cleveland, San Francisco, Ashland, Salem

About:
The filmmaker profiles her mother, the influential art collector, philanthropist, and social justice advocate, Agnes Gund.

I profiled the doc before Sundance here.

Leave a comment

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