Category Archives: Film Festivals

August 6, 2019 · 3:02 PM

Locarno 2019: Documentary Overview

Festival:
The 72nd Locarno Film Festival

Dates:
August 7-17

About:
This long-running Swiss A-list fest presents 30 documentaries among its line-up of approximately 90 new and recent features. Continue reading →

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August 6, 2019 · 1:31 PM

On DVD: HALSTON

photo by Berry Berenson Perkins

Coming to DVD today, Tuesday, August 6:
HALSTON

Director:
Frédéric Tcheng

Premiere:
Sundance 2019

Select Festivals:
CPH:DOX, Tribeca, Seattle, Montclair, Sarasota

About:
An exploration of the life and legacy of America’s first celebrity designer.

My pre-Sundance doc profile may be found here.

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August 2, 2019 · 12:01 PM

DokuFest 2019 Overview

Festival:
The 18th DokuFest

Dates:
August 2-10

About:
Prizren, Kosovo hosts this respected nonfiction event, which annually showcases approximately 85 recent features in addition to several tributes and retrospectives.

CENTAR

As in the past, the fest curates a strong selection of international work that has debuted at other notable events, and also includes a number of projects highlighting nonfiction from the Balkans. Amng the latter is such work as: From Turkey, Rûken Tekeş’ AETHER, an exploration of an ancient conservation area abut to be submerged by a dam project, and Burak Çevik’s BELONGING, which looks back at a 15 year old murder case, and Aylin Kuryel’s HEADS AND TAILS, about the connection between Turkish hair providers and Israeli wig makers for Orthodox Jewish women; from Serbia and Germany, Ivan Marković’s CENTAR, an observational look at a building through its maintenance workers; from Greece, Ireland, and the United States, Paul Duane’s WHILE YOU LIVE, SHINE, about an American musicologist obsessed with the folk music of a Greek mountain region; from Romania, Nora Agapi’s TIMEBOX, in which the filmmaker’s portrait of her documentarian father goes in unanticipated directions; and, from Austria, Croatia, Slovenia, and Serbia, Želimir Žilnik’s THE MOST BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY IN THE WORLD, which follows migrants navigating Austria’s bureaucracy to gain residence.

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July 31, 2019 · 12:01 PM

Melbourne 2019: Documentary Overview

Festival:
The 68th Melbourne International Film Festival

Dates:
August 1-4

About:
Nearly 80 feature documentaries screen at this long-running Australian festival.

IRON FISTS AND KUNG FU KICKS

As in the past, the majority of nonfiction appearing in the fest has previously debuted, but there are several Australian films making their world premiere: Daniel Gordon’s THE AUSTRALIAN DREAM, which explores the controversy around race and Australian soccer champion Adam Goodes; Serge Ou’s IRON FISTS AND KUNG FU KICKS, a look at the popularity of martial arts films; Justin Krook’s MACHINE, which considers the growing influence of technology and AI in our lives; Hylton Shaw and Samantha Dinning’s NO TIME FOR QUIET, on a rock camp for girls and gender-fluid youth; Liam Firmager’s SUZI Q, about the pioneering female rock musician; and Isabel Peppard and Josie Hess’ MORGANA, about a housewife-turned-feminist pornographer.

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July 29, 2019 · 1:31 PM

Blackstar 2019: Documentary Overview

Festival:
The 8th Blackstar Film Festival

Dates:
August 1-4

About:
This acclaimed Philadelphia event, focused on work by people of the African diaspora and other communities of color, presents 22 features this year, 14 of those nonfiction. Continue reading →

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July 29, 2019 · 12:01 PM

On TV: INVENTING TOMORROW

Coming to PBS’s POV tonight, Monday, July 29:
INVENTING TOMORROW

Director:
Laura Nix

Premiere:
Sundance 2018

Select Festivals:
Nantucket, Hot Docs, CPH:DOX, Seattle, Sydney, Melbourne, San Francisco, Full Frame, AFI Docs, Woods Hole, Greenwich, Montclair, Dokufest

About:
A profile of several international students pursuing answers to environmental issues in their science fair projects.

I profiled the doc before Sundance here.

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July 26, 2019 · 1:31 PM

In Theatres: HONEYLAND

Coming to theatres today, Friday, July 26:
HONEYLAND

Directors:
Ljubomir Stefanov and Tamara Kotevska

World Premiere:
Sundance 2019

Select Festivals:
Nantucket, BAMcinemaFest, Hot Docs, Sheffield, Docs Against Gravity, DocsBarcelona, DOK.fest Munich, Hong Kong, New Directors/New Films, Visions du Réel, San Francisco, Seattle, Doc Edge, Sydney, Krakow, Provincetown, Montclair, Midnight Sun

About:
A look at the world of a traditional beekeeper in Macedonia.

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

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July 25, 2019 · 3:02 PM

Asian American International 2019: Documentary Overview

Festival:
The 42nd Asian American International Film Festival

Dates:
July 25-August 3

About:
This long-lived Asian/Asian American cinema event presents nearly two dozen new features, including nine docs.

THE UGLY MODEL

Among these are Doris Yeung’s THE UGLY MODEL, about a Korean American model struggling with self-image issues due to his ethnicity; Joseph Juhn’s JERONIMO, the story of a Korean Cuban man; Laura Asherman’s AMERICAN HASI, which follows the stand-up tour of an Indian comic from Alabama; Valerie Soe’s LOVE BOAT: TAIWAN, about a cruise that brings together young Taiwanese Americans; and Sergio Mata’u Rapu’s EATING UP EASTER, which examines the deleterious impact of globalization and tourism on Easter Island.

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July 25, 2019 · 1:31 PM

In Theatres: MIKE WALLACE IS HERE

Coming to theatres tomorrow, Friday, July 26:
MIKE WALLACE IS HERE

Director:
Avi Belkin

World Premiere:
Sundance 2019

Select Festivals:
Nantucket, Sheffield, True/False, Docaviv, AFI Docs, Cleveland, Full Frame, Montclair, Sarasota, Doc10, Annapolis

About:
An exploration of the evolution of television journalism through the life and work of the legendary 60 MINUTES correspondent.

I profiled the doc before Sundance here.

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July 25, 2019 · 12:01 PM

Jerusalem 2019: Documentary Overview

Festival:
The 36th Jerusalem Film Festival

Dates:
July 25-August 4

About:
Approximately 30 documentaries are presented among the more than 100 new and recent features in the line-up of this notable Israeli event. Continue reading →

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