Category Archives: Film Festivals

Visions du Réel 2020 Overview

Festival:
The 51st Cinéma du Réel

Dates:
April 17-May 2 (online)

About:
This well-respected Swiss nonfiction event remarkably has been able to respond quickly to the COVID-19 crisis, transitioning to a robust online edition, most of which is available worldwide for free. Continue reading

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On TV: BEDLAM

Coming to PBS’s Independent Lens this coming Monday, April 13:
BEDLAM

Director:
Kenneth Paul Rosenberg

Premiere:
Sundance 2019

Select Festivals:
DOC NYC, Double Exposure, Hot Springs, Martha’s Vineyard, Pan African, Boston Jewish, ReelAbilities

About:
An exposé of America’s failure to properly care for the mentally ill.

I profiled the doc before Sundance here.

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On VOD: MIDNIGHT FAMILY

Now on VOD:
MIDNIGHT FAMILY

Director:
Luke Lorentzen

World Premiere:
Sundance 2019

Select Festivals:
DOC NYC, Nantucket, Hot Docs, AFI Docs, New Directors/New Films, Sheffield DocFest, CPH:DOX, Hong Kong, Cartagena, Ambulante, Guadalajara, Docville, Full Frame, San Francisco, Freep, Doc10, Sydney, Krakow

Notable Recognition:
The doc was shortlisted for the Academy Awards.

About:
A Mexico City family struggles to make a living as ragtag private paramedics, facing cut-throat competition to respond to patients in need of urgent help.

I profiled the doc before Sundance here.

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

On TV: ONE CHILD NATION

Coming to PBS’s Independent Lens tonight, Monday, March 30:
ONE CHILD NATION

Directors:
Nanfu Wang and Jialing Zhang

World Premiere:
Sundance 2019

Select Festivals:
Nantucket, True/False, Tribeca, Hot Docs, CPH:DOX, Sheffield, Full Frame, AFI Docs, DOXA, San Francisco, Seattle, Doc10, Docville, Florida, Sarasota, Sydney, New Zealand, Montclair, Biografilm, Human Rights Watch

Notable Recognition:
The doc was shortlisted for the Academy Awards.

About:
An expose of the unseen consequences of China’s one-child policy.

I profiled the film before Sundance here.

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On VOD: THE SETTLERS

settlersNew to OVID.tv this week:
THE SETTLERS

Director:
Shimon Dotan

Premiere:
Sundance 2016

Select Festivals:
New York, DocAviv, IDFA, Biografilm, Sheffield, SF Jewish, Bergen, Heartland

About:
A wide-reaching exploration of the impact of Jewish settlements in the occupied territories of the West Bank.

I profiled the doc before Sundance here.

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

On VOD: CRIP CAMP

Coming to Netflix today, Wednesday, March 25:
CRIP CAMP

Directors:
Nicole Newnham and Jim LeBrecht

Premiere:
Sundance 2020

Select Festivals (including COVID 19-cancelled/postponed events):
Documentary Fortnight, True/False, San Francisco, Human Rights Watch London, ReelAbilities, Miami

About:
A chronicle of the origins of America’s disability rights movement.

My pre-Sundance doc profile may be found here.

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

On DVD: SHOOTING THE MAFIA

Coming to DVD tomorrow, Tuesday, March 24:
SHOOTING THE MAFIA

Director:
Kim Longinotto

World Premiere:
Sundance 2019

Select Festivals:
DOC NYC, Berlin, CPH:DOX, Docs Against Gravity, Biografilm, London, Vilnius, Zurich

About:
A portrait of an acclaimed Sicilian photographer and her lifetime bravely bearing witness to the Mafia’s crimes.

I profiled the doc before Sundance here.

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Cinéma du Réel 2020 Overview

Festival:
The 42nd Cinéma du Réel

Dates:
March 13-22

About:
This Paris event presents nearly 50 new and recent documentary features. Continue reading

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On VOD: HILLARY

Coming to VOD via Hulu today, Friday, March 6:
HILLARY

Director:
Nanette Burstein

World Premiere:
Sundance 2020

Select Festivals:
Berlin

About:
A revealing portrait of Hillary Rodham Clinton.

I profiled the docuseries before Sundance here.

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One World 2020 Overview

Festival:
The 22nd One World International Human Rights Documentary Film Festival

Dates:
March 5-14

About:
Approximately 100 new and recent documentary features screen in this event taking place in Prague and 35 other Czech cities. Continue reading

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