Category Archives: Film Festivals

DOC NYC 2020 Overview: Part Two

Festival:
The 11th DOC NYC

Dates:
November 11-19

About:
In this second post on this year’s DOC NYC, which will be presented online nationwide beginning next week, I’m spotlighting several festival sections, including feature competitions, the latest from nonfiction auteurs, panoramas from the US and abroad, and revealing investigative nonfiction. Note: The rundown below does not include titles from yesterday’s post. Additional sections will follow tomorrow.

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DOC NYC 2020 Overview: Part One

Festival:
The 11th DOC NYC

Dates:
November 11-19

About:
This year, DOC NYC will be available online and nationwide – including US territories – allowing us to reach more nonfiction lovers than ever before. As the Director of Programming of America’s largest documentary festival, I’ll be highlighting our lineup here, over a few posts to try to cover as many titles as possible. First up, a look at the various feature premieres, appearing in different sections throughout the festival.

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New Orleans 2020: Documentary Overview

Festival:
The 31st New Orleans Film Festival

Dates:
November 6-22

About:
This standout regional festival moves to a hybrid format this year, presenting films either online or in an open-air context, with more than two-thirds of the lineup represented by nonfiction features.

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In Virtual Release: US KIDS

Coming to virtual cinemas today, Friday, October 30:
US KIDS

Director:
Kim A Snyder

World Premiere:
Sundance 2020

Select Festivals:
Sheffield, Doc Edge, Mountainfilm, Full Frame, Miami, Martha’s Vineyard, NewportFilm, Calgary, GlobeDocs, Bergen, Hamptons, Mill Valley

About:
The young survivors of the Parkland school shooting are followed over a transformative year and a half.

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

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On TV/VOD: CITY SO REAL

Coming to NatGeo tomorrow, Thursday, October 29 and then to Hulu on Friday, October 30:
CITY SO REAL

Director:
Steve James

World Premiere:
Sundance 2020

Select Festivals:
Hot Docs, AFI Docs, Denver, Chicago, St Louis, Full Frame

About:
An expansive five-part portrait of modern-day Chicago against the backdrop of a contentious mayoral race and police trial.

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

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DOK Leipzig 2020 Overview

Festival:
The 63rd DOK Leipzig

Dates:
October 26-November 1

About:
This notable German nonfiction event has slimmed down for its hybrid edition this year, presenting just shy of 40 new documentary features.

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On TV: FEELS GOOD MAN

Coming to PBS’s Independent Lens tonight, Monday, October 19:
FEELS GOOD MAN

Director:
Arthur Jones

World Premiere:
Sundance 2020

Select Festivals:
True/False, SXSW, Big Sky Doc, Taipei, Fantasia, Sidewalk, Kyiv

About:
An exploration of the unpredictable development of an influential Internet meme.

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

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NewFest 2020: Documentary Overview

Festival:
The 32nd NewFest

Dates:
October 16-27

About:
About a third of the features screening at this year’s hybrid online/drive-in edition of New York’s LGBTQ film festival are documentaries.

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On VOD: TIME

Coming to Amazon Prime tomorrow, Friday, October 16:
TIME

Director:
Garrett Bradley

World Premiere:
Sundance 2020

Select Festivals:
New York, London, Hamptons, Miami, Zurich, Camden, Mill Valley

About:
A longitudinal portrait of a marriage and a family separated by incarceration.

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

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On TV: SOFTIE

Coming to PBS’s POV tonight, Monday, October 12:
SOFTIE

Director:
Sam Soko

Premiere:
Sundance 2020

Select Festivals:
Hot Docs, CPH:DOX, BlackStar, Durban, Encounters, Salem, Galway, DOXA, Thin Line

About:
A chronicle of the personal and professional challenges facing an idealistic Kenyan political activist as he decides to run for office.

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

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