Category Archives: Sundance

In Theatres & On VOD: ROOM 237

room 237Coming to theatres and VOD this Friday, March 29: ROOM 237

Rodney Ascher’s creative exploration of cinephilic obsession centered around THE SHINING made its debut at Sundance last year. It’s gone on to screen at Cannes, New York, Toronto, Fantastic Fest, and Chicago, among others. In addition to theatrical engagements, the doc will be available on VOD via iTunes, Amazon, Google Play, YouTube, Playstation, XBOX, Vudu, and Time Warner.

I previously profiled the film before Sundance here.

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

On Cable & VOD: THE WORLD ACCORDING TO DICK CHENEY

world according to dick cheneyComing to Showtime for its broadcast premiere this Friday, March 15, followed by Showtime on Demand between Saturday, March 16 and Friday, April 12: THE WORLD ACCORDING TO DICK CHENEY

RJ Cutler and Greg Finton’s extensive profile of the defiant former vice president debuted at Sundance earlier this year. The film is part of Showtime’s newest foray into documentary programming, which has included fellow Sundance doc HISTORY OF THE EAGLES and upcoming portraits of Richard Pryor and Muammar Qaddafi.

I wrote about the film pre-Sundance here.

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On VOD: LOVE FREE OR DIE

Coming to VOD today, Tuesday, March 12: LOVE FREE OR DIE

Macky Alston’s portrait of gay bishop Gene Robinson debuted at Sundance last year, taking home a special jury prize. It went on to screen at Cleveland, Ashland, Full Frame, Seattle, RiverRun, New Orleans, IFF Boston, Frameline, Outfest, and NewFest, among others, as well as an extensive tour of churches and other community screenings. It becomes available today on iTunes, Amazon, YouTube, Playstation, Vudu, and XBOX.

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

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On DVD: CONNECTED

Coming to DVD today, Tuesday, March 12: CONNECTED

Tiffany Schlain premiered her film essay on the interconnectedness of people, nature, and technology at 2011’s Sundance. Its fest circuit included Cleveland, Ashland, Nashville, Nantucket, Bonnaroo, and the Geek Film Festival, among many others.

I wrote about the doc before Sundance here.

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On TV: ESCAPE FIRE

Coming to CNN for its broadcast premiere this Sunday, March 10: ESCAPE FIRE: THE FIGHT TO RESCUE AMERICAN HEALTHCARE

Matthew Heineman and Susan Froemke’s healthcare-focused doc premiered at Sundance last year. It went on to screen extensively on the fest circuit, including at Full Frame, Silverdocs, Hot Springs, Dallas, Nantucket, and Martha’s Vineyard. CNN airs the doc at 8PM and 11PM ET, with repeats scheduled for 8PM and 11PM on Saturday, March 16.

I wrote about the film before Sundance here.

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On DVD: SOUND CITY

sound cityComing to DVD next Tuesday, March 12: SOUND CITY

The Foo Fighters’ Dave Grohl brought the world premiere of his love letter to an iconic recording studio and its distinctive equipment to Sundance this past January. Immediately after, the film began extensive limited run or one-night only theatrical engagements around the US and Canada, and also became available for download.

I wrote about the film before Sundance here.

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In Theatres: A FIERCE GREEN FIRE

fierce green fireComing to theatres this Friday, March 1: A FIERCE GREEN FIRE

Mark Kitchell’s galvanizing register of key moments in the environmental activist movement debuted at last year’s Sundance. Its festival circuit since then has included Sheffield, Palm Springs, Washington DC’s Environmental Film Festival, and Boulder. The film begins its theatrical run at NYC’s Cinema Village this weekend, expanding to Los Angeles, the San Francisco Bay Area, New Orleans, and elsewhere later in March and beyond.

I wrote about the doc before Sundance here.

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In Theatres & On VOD: A PLACE AT THE TABLE

finding north place at the tableComing to theatres and VOD this Friday, March 1: A PLACE AT THE TABLE

Kristi Jacobson and Lori Silverbush’s affecting look at the hunger crisis in America made its world premiere at Sundance last year under its original title FINDING NORTH. The film has gone on to screen at a number of other festivals, including Seattle, Cleveland, Philadelphia, Savannah, and Palm Springs. Simultaneous with its theatrical release, the doc will be available via iTunes and On Demand via Magnolia Pictures.

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

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On DVD: ESCAPE FIRE

Coming to DVD today, Tuesday, February 26: ESCAPE FIRE: THE FIGHT TO RESCUE AMERICAN HEALTHCARE

Matthew Heineman and Susan Froemke’s analysis of the problems with our healthcare system debuted at last year’s Sundance. Since then, the doc has screened at Full Frame, Silverdocs, Hot Springs, Dallas, Heartland, Rehoboth Beach, Nantucket, Martha’s Vineyard, and Woods Hole, among others.

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

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Special Screening: AN OVERSIMPLIFICATION OF HER BEAUTY

oversimplificationComing to NYC’s Stranger Than Fiction as its winter season closing film tomorrow, Tuesday, February 26: AN OVERSIMPLIFICATION OF HER BEAUTY

Terence Nance’s audacious exploration of the fine line between friend and lover had its world premiere last year at Sundance. Its extensive festival circuit has included, among others, Rotterdam, San Francisco, New Directors/New Films, Urbanworld, Sundance London, Cleveland, Traverse City, Montclair, and New Orleans.

Nance’s debut had its origins as a documentary project but ends up as something that’s neither fiction nor non-fiction. Remarkably personal and universal at once, the film is a record of a young man’s growing, but seemingly unrequited, love for his close woman friend. Laying his heart bare, Nance wildly blends verité footage of conversations with the object of his (or his character’s) desire, the charming Namik, with introspective voice over, various animation techniques, re-enactments, confessional interviews, and music to approximate what it means to be head over heels infatuated with someone just out of reach. It’s a daring, original, and deeply satisfying approach to storytelling – its blurring of documentary and narrative mirroring the obsessive close reading – and rewriting – of reality we all engage in when we’re completely crushed out.

Note: Director Nance will be in attendance for a post-screening Q&A.

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