Today’s look at Sundance 2013’s US Documentary Competition wraps up with returning filmmakers Carl Deal and Tia Lessin: CITIZEN KOCH, a bracing analysis of the political consequences of corporate personhood.
Category Archives: Sundance
2013 Sundance Docs in Focus: CITIZEN KOCH
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Sundance
2013 Sundance Docs in Focus: BLOOD BROTHER
The next US Documentary Competition title in my profile of the upcoming Sundance doc slate: BLOOD BROTHER, Steve Hoover’s portrait of his best friend, who has dedicated his life to an Indian orphanage for HIV positive children.
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2013 Sundance Docs in Focus: BLACKFISH
Continuing my doc-by-doc look at Sundance 2013: Gabriela Cowperthwaite’s US Documentary Competition title, BLACKFISH, an exploration of the risks of keeping killer whales in captivity – for both the orcas and their trainers.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Sundance
2013 Sundance Docs in Focus: AMERICAN PROMISE
The third Sundance 2013 title of today: Joe Brewster and Michèle Stephenson’s US Documentary Competition entry, AMERICAN PROMISE, which follows two African-American boys from kindergarten to high school graduation.
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2013 Sundance Docs in Focus: AFTER TILLER
Next up in my overview of the 2013 Sundance Film Festival US Documentary Competition: AFTER TILLER, Martha Shane and Lana Wilson’s portrait of the only physicians in the country who perform controversial late-term abortions.
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2013 Sundance Docs in Focus: 99% – THE OCCUPY WALL STREET COLLABORATIVE FILM
My film-by-film look at the documentaries of next month’s 2013 Sundance Film Festival begins with the US Documentary Competition. Going alphabetically through the contenders, first up: 99% – THE OCCUPY WALL STREET COLLABORATIVE FILM, a history, overview, and analysis of the Occupy movement from its inception, through eviction, and to today, by Audrey Ewell, Aaron Aites, Lucian Read, and Nina Krstic.
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On DVD: PUTIN’S KISS
Coming to DVD next Monday, January 31: PUTIN’S KISS
Lise Birk Pederson’s exploration of Russia through ideological politics premiered at IDFA last year. It picked up a jury prize for cinematography upon its US premiere at Sundance at the beginning of the year. Its fest circuit has included Santa Barbara, Full Frame, Nashville, and Seattle, among others.
My pre-Sundance profile of the doc may be found here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Releases, Sundance
2013 Sundance Docs in Focus
The 2013 Sundance Film Festival ushers in a new crop of filmmaking talent in less than a month. As a preamble to the festival, beginning this Wednesday and continuing daily until the start of the festival on Thursday, January 17, I’m planning to profile each of the more than forty feature length documentaries in this year’s line-up.
I’ll be using the same format I’ve employed the last couple of years (last year’s began here), providing some background on the film and filmmakers and reasons why I’m excited for audiences to see these amazing projects. These profiles are not reviews – as a Documentary Programming Associate for the festival, I hope readers get a chance to see all of the 2013 Sundance films, and especially the non-fiction on offer – whether in Park City or hopefully at other festivals, or wherever else they might go on to screen.
The series kick off on Wednesday with profiles of three films in the US Documentary Competition, and will cover each section of the festival that features docs one-by-one as we countdown to Sundance 2013.
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In Theatres: WEST OF MEMPHIS
Coming to theatres on Christmas, next Tuesday, December 25: WEST OF MEMPHIS
Amy Berg’s quest for the exoneration of the West Memphis Three made its world premiere at Sundance at the beginning of the year. Its festival circuit has included berths at Deuville, London, Toronto, and DOC NYC, among others.
My pre-Sundance profile of the film may be found here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Releases, Sundance
On Cable: PROJECT NIM
Coming to HBO tomorrow, Thursday, December 20: PROJECT NIM
James Marsh’s acclaimed portrait of a young ape premiered at Sundance in 2011, where he picked up the Documentary Directing Award. The Oscar shortlisted doc played extensively on the festival circuit and enjoyed a theatrical release.
My pre-Sundance profile of the film may be found here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Sundance
what (not) to doc 