Category Archives: Film Festivals

Coming to OVID this Sunday, May 19:
ROUGH AUNTIES

Director:
Kim Longinotto

Premiere:
IDFA 2008

Select Festivals:
Sundance, Hot Docs, Thessaloniki Doc, Full Frame, BAFICI, One World, Krakow, Vienna, Big Sky Doc, Durban, Salem

About:
A group of women are on a mission to help the abused and neglected children of South Africa.

I previously wrote about the doc for the Sundance program, saying:
Jackie, Mildred, Eureka, Sdudla, and Thuli are the women behind Bobbi Bear, a nonprofit organization based in Durban, South Africa, that counsels sexually abused children and works to bring their abusers to justice. Born out of a recognition of cultural stigmas that discourage reporting abuse and inadequate methods of communicating with young victims, Bobbi Bear developed a method of letting children use teddy bears to explain their abuse. Since 1992, the multiracial staff has become the fearless and powerful voice for those victims who would otherwise continue to live in fear, powerless against their oppressors and ignored by the legal system. Director Kim Longinotto adeptly and intimately follows Bobbi Bear staff in difficult direct sessions with children and consultations with family members, and on raids with authorities to arrest the perpetrators of these heinous acts. Facing tragedy daily as part of their advocacy work and, heartbreakingly for some, in their personal lives, the women draw strength from each other and find hope despite the suffering around them. Equally as compassionate to the young victims as they are steadfast in their pursuit of justice, these five exceptional women have found themselves transformed by their mission into “rough aunties,” crossing barriers of race, culture, and socioeconomic status to become formidable agents of change in their community.

Coming to DVD today, Tuesday, May 14:
APOLLO 11

Director:
Todd Douglas Miller

Premiere:
Sundance 2019

Select Festivals:
SXSW, True/False, Miami

About:
A revisitation of the historic manned space mission to the Moon through exclusive, immersive footage.

I profiled the doc before Sundance here.

Coming to Showtime tonight, Friday, May 10:
WU-TANG CLAN: OF MICS AND MEN

Director:
Sacha Jenkins

Premiere:
Sundance 2019

Select Festivals:
Tribeca, Hot Docs

About:
An exploration of the history and cultural significance of the influential hip-hop collective.

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

Coming to theatres today, Thursday, May 9:
THE BIGGEST LITTLE FARM

Director:
John Chester

Premiere:
Telluride 2018

Select Festivals:
Sundance, DOC NYC, Toronto, Berlin, Miami, Hamptons, Napa Valley, AFI Fest, Palm Springs, Thessaloniki Doc, CPH:DOX, Sarasota, Sun Valley, Newport Beach, Montclair

About:
For over eight years, John and Molly Chester find ways to work with nature to establish a biodynamic farm.

I profiled the doc before Sundance here.

Coming to DVD tomorrow, Tuesday, May 7:
SCIENCE FAIR

Directors:
Cristina Costantini and Darren Foster

Premiere:
Sundance 2018

Select Festivals:
SXSW, Edinburgh, Cleveland, New Zealand, Vancouver, Sun Valley, Portland, Provincetown

About:
A profile of participants in the world’s premier science fair.

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

Coming to theatres tomorrow, Friday, May 3:
ASK DR RUTH

Director:
Ryan White

Premiere:
Sundance 2019

Select Festivals:
Hot Docs, Tribeca, San Francisco, Full Frame, Miami, IFF Boston, Miami Jewish

About:
A profile of the world-famous sex therapist and Holocaust survivor, Dr Ruth Westheimer.

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