Category Archives: Sundance

On TV (Encore): LAST TRAIN HOME

Returning to POV for an encore screening this Monday, August 5: LAST TRAIN HOME

Lixin Fan’s masterful examination of Chinese migrant workers bowed at IDFA in 2009, where it picked up the best feature documentary award. It went on to screen at a host of fests, including Sundance, New Directors/New Films, San Francisco, Seattle, Human Rights Watch, Cleveland, Cinema du Reél, RiverRun, Thessaloniki Doc, and Hong Kong. POV originally screened the film in its 2011 season.

I previously wrote about the doc upon its theatrical release here.

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

Special Screening: CUTIE AND THE BOXER

cutieComing to Rooftop Films this Saturday, August 2: CUTIE AND THE BOXER

Zachary Heinzerling’s complex portrait of marriage, compromise, and art had its world premiere this year at Sundance. Since then, it has screened extensively, including True/False, San Francisco, Tribeca, Sarasota, Karlovy Vary, Nantucket, and Provincetown, and will bow theatrically later this month.

I profiled the doc prior to Sundance here.

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In Theatres: BLACKFISH

blackfishComing to theatres this Friday, July 19: BLACKFISH

Gabriela Cowperthwaite’s searing exposé of orca captivity debuted earlier this year at Sundance. Other fest screenings have included Sarasota, Seattle, Vancouver, Provincetown, Nantucket, AFI Docs, Miami, Moscow, Melbourne, and Sydney, among others.

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

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On Cable: THE CRASH REEL

crash reelComing to HBO as part of its annual Docs Summer Series next Monday, July 15: THE CRASH REEL

Lucy Walker’s intimate exploration of snowboarder Kevin Pearce’s struggle with traumatic brain injury had its world premiere at Sundance earlier this year. Since then, the doc has screened at Berlin, Hot Docs, True/False, Full Frame, Seattle, and Los Angeles, among others, and has picked up awards at SXSW, Dallas, and Ashland.

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

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On DVD: THE GATEKEEPERS

gatekeepersComing to DVD tomorrow, Tuesday, July 9: THE GATEKEEPERS

Dror Moreh’s candid look at Israel’s internal security agency debuted at Jerusalem last year. Its festival circuit most notably included Telluride, Toronto, and Sundance. The doc was one of the five nominees for this year’s Best Documentary Oscar.

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

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On DVD: THE HOUSE I LIVE IN

Coming to DVD today, Tuesday, July 2: THE HOUSE I LIVE IN

Eugene Jarecki’s exploration of the damages wrought by the war on drugs had its world premiere at Sundance last year, where it picked up a grand jury prize. Other festival screenings included Los Angeles, Vancouver, and Melbourne, among others.

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

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In Theatres & On Cable: GIDEON’S ARMY

gideon's armyComing to NYC’s Quad Cinema this Friday, June 28 and to HBO as part of its annual Docs Summer Series next Monday, July 1: GIDEON’S ARMY

Dawn Porter’s portrait of the struggles of Southern public defenders had its world premiere in competition at Sundance at the beginning of the year, where it picked up the Documentary Editing Award. Since then, the film has screened at Miami, Full Frame, Ashland, Little Rock, AFI Docs, and at various legal conferences.

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

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On DVD: A PLACE AT THE TABLE

finding north place at the tableComing to DVD tomorrow, Tuesday, June 25: A PLACE AT THE TABLE

Kristi Jacobson and Lori Silverbush’s exploration of hunger in America debuted at Sundance last year under its original title FINDING NORTH. Its fest circuit has included Seattle, Cleveland, Philadelphia, and Palm Springs, among others, and the doc has enjoyed a theatrical and VOD release.

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

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In Theatres: 20 FEET FROM STARDOM

twenty feet from stardomComing to theatres this Friday, June 14: 20 FEET FROM STARDOM

Morgan Neville’s tribute to background singers had its world premiere at Sundance as one of the opening night films this year. Its extensive festival circuit has included SXSW, Miami, Sarasota, Dallas, and the just-wrapped Seattle, where it just picked up the documentary audience award.

I profiled the doc before Sundance here.

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In Theatres: PANDORA’S PROMISE

pandora's promiseComing to theatres this Wednesday, June 12: PANDORA’S PROMISE

Robert Stone’s re-examination of the risks and rewards of nuclear energy debuted earlier this year at Sundance. It has gone on to screen at True/False, Full Frame, Stranger Than Fiction, and at several universities.

I profiled the doc pre-Sundance here.

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