Category Archives: Sundance

In Theatres: INDIE GAME: THE MOVIE

Coming to theatres this Friday, May 18: INDIE GAME: THE MOVIE

Lisanne Pajot and James Swirksy’s exploration of creativity and passion had its world premiere earlier this year at Sundance, where it picked up the World Cinema Documentary Editing Award. Additional festival screenings have included SXSW, RiverRun, and Hot Docs. After opening theatrically in Seattle April 27, the film expands to NYC, LA, SF, and Phoenix this week, with additional international engagements to come.

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

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In Theatres: UNDER AFRICAN SKIES

Coming to NYC’s IFC Center today Friday, May 11: UNDER AFRICAN SKIES

Joe Berlinger’s look at the controversy around Paul Simon’s GRACELAND had its world premiere earlier this year at Sundance. It’s been on the festival circuit since, winning an award at Nashville.

I wrote about the film before Sundance here.

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On DVD: MY PERESTROIKA

Coming to DVD next Tuesday, May 15: MY PERESTROIKA

Robin Hessman’s look at last generation of Soviet Russians made its premiere at Sundance in 2010. It has screened extensively at festivals all around the world since, including New Directors/New Films, Full Frame, Hot Docs, Doha tribeca, Pusan, Camden, RIDM, Sheffield, and Rotterdam. The film screened on POV and also enjoyed a limited theatrical release last year.

I wrote about the film before its release here.

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On DVD: WE WERE HERE

Coming to DVD next Tuesday, May 15: WE WERE HERE

David Weissman’s moving look at the early days of AIDS in San Francisco made its world premiere at Sundance last year. Well received on the festival circuit, it enjoyed a theatrical release and made Oscar’s documentary shortlist.

I profiled the doc before Sundance here.

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In Theatres: PAYBACK

Coming to NYC’s Film Forum today, Wednesday, April 25: PAYBACK

Jennifer Baichwal’s expansive exploration of debt, based on Margaret Atwood’s essay, premiered in competition at Sundance earlier this year. In addition to ongoing festival engagements, the film expands from its two-week Film Forum release with bookings in the San Francisco Bay Area, Portland, Denver, and elsewhere in May and June.

I profiled the film before Sundance here.

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On DVD: CRIME AFTER CRIME

Coming to DVD tomorrow Tuesday, April 24: CRIME AFTER CRIME

Yoav Potash’s affecting film about a battered woman unjustly incarcerated debuted at Sundance last year, and went on to win a number of awards on the festival circuit from San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Heartland. It had a limited theatrical release last summer and premiered on cable as part of Oprah’s Documentary Club.

I wrote about the film before Sundance here.

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On DVD: THE FLAW

Coming to DVD next Tuesday, April 17: THE FLAW

David Sington’s financial crisis doc made its premiere at Sheffield in 2010. It came stateside last year, screening in competition at Sundance.

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

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Special Screening: DECASIA

Coming to NYC’s Maysles Cinema as part of the new “Street Views” series tomorrow, Tuesday, April 10: DECASIA

Bill Morrison’s meditation on creation and destruction made its premiere at Sundance in 2002. It went on to screen at additional notable festivals, including Rotterdam, Karlovy Vary, and Edinburgh, before enjoying a limited theatrical release.

Harder to describe than it is to experience, Morrison’s experimental film assembles more than an hour’s worth of damaged, decaying black and white film footage into an absorbing collage. Viewers find themselves simultaneously caught between the tension of trying to decipher and at times narrativize the footage before them, but also reflect on its impermanence and impending loss. The archival images, beautiful and haunting but also sometimes disturbing, work their spell on the audience – from whirling dervishes to carnival rides, the effect is truly hypnotic. Utilizing only existing deteriorated celluloid and a pulsating score, Morrison explores the process of making through an almost paradoxical play with images that are literally being unmade before the viewer’s eyes.

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Special Screening: WE’RE NOT BROKE

Coming to NYC’s Stranger Than Fiction next Tuesday, April 10: WE’RE NOT BROKE

Karin Hayes and Victoria Bruce premiered their economic exposé at Sundance earlier this year. The doc has gone on to be programmed at other notable festivals, with upcoming appearances at Dallas, the Independent Film Festival Boston, DocAviv, and STF heads Thom Powers and Raphaela Neihausen’s inaugural Montclair Film Festival.

I wrote about the film before Sundance here.

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On DVD: MISS REPRESENTATION

Coming to DVD next Tuesday, April 10: MISS REPRESENTATION

Jennifer Siebel Newsom’s corrective to media’s objectification of women made its premiere at Sundance last year. It played at additional fests, including hometown San Francisco, and has hosted extensive community and educational screenings throughout the US and internationally. It made its broadcast premiere as part of Oprah’s Documentary Club.

I wrote about the film before Sundance here.

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