Hitting the halfway point of this series of profiles of this year’s documentary lineup, we reach the third of four IDFA titles in the World Cinema Documentary Competition: BIG BOYS GONE BANANAS!*, Swedish director Fredrik Gertten’s story of censorship, media spin, and corporate interests.
Category Archives: Sundance
2012 Sundance Docs in Focus: BIG BOYS GONE BANANAS!*
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Sundance
2012 Sundance Docs in Focus: THE AMBASSADOR
My spotlight on this year’s World Cinema Documentary Competition continues with the second of four films that also screened at IDFA in November: THE AMBASSADOR, from Denmark’s master provocateur Mads Brügger, an exposé of corruption and international diplomacy.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Sundance
In Theatres: SING YOUR SONG
Coming to theatres this Friday, January 13: SING YOUR SONG
Susanne Rostock’s Harry Belafonte biography made its premiere at Sundance last year before screening at numerous additional high-profile fests, including Berlin, SXSW, and Tribeca. It made its broadcast premiere on HBO this past Fall.
I wrote about the film before Sundance
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Releases, Sundance
2012 Sundance Docs in Focus: 5 BROKEN CAMERAS
Next up in the World Cinema Documentary Competition is the first of four films that also screened recently at IDFA: 5 BROKEN CAMERAS, from Palestine/Israel/France, Emad Burnat and Guy Davidi’s moving and very personal document of the Palestinian/Israeli conflict played out in one village.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Sundance
2012 Sundance Docs in Focus: 1/2 REVOLUTION
Moving on to this year’s World Cinema Documentary Competition: 1/2 REVOLUTION, from Denmark/Egypt, Omar Shargawi and Karim El Hakim’s up-close, immersive view of the first part of last year’s Tahrir Square uprising.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Sundance
2012 Sundance Docs in Focus: WE’RE NOT BROKE
The final film in this year’s US Documentary Competition: WE’RE NOT BROKE, Karin Hayes and Victoria Bruce’s timely exploration of economic inequities and corporate tax loopholes.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Sundance
Special Screening: THE INTERRUPTERS
Coming to NYC’s Stranger Than Fiction as a pre-Winter season special screening this Thursday, January 12: THE INTERRUPTERS
Steve James premiered his riveting and hopeful look at violence prevention at Sundance last year before taking it to scores of festivals, where it’s claimed numerous awards. It enjoyed a limited theatrical release, but was snubbed by the Academy Awards by not making the short list.
My pre-Sundance profile of the doc may be found here.
Note: Director Steve James will be present for a post-screening Q&A.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Sundance
2012 Sundance Docs in Focus: SLAVERY BY ANOTHER NAME
From noted editor/producer Sam Pollard comes the next 2012 Sundance US Documentary Competition title: SLAVERY BY ANOTHER NAME, a searing exhumation of post-abolition institutionalized racism.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Sundance
2012 Sundance Docs in Focus: THE QUEEN OF VERSAILLES
Like fellow 2012 Sundance US Documentary Competition titles DETROPIA and WE’RE NOT BROKE, the next film also reflects on the Recession: Lauren Greenfield’s THE QUEEN OF VERSAILLES offers a portrait of the very wealthy, forced to cope with the economic crisis.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Sundance
2012 Sundance Docs in Focus: THE OTHER DREAM TEAM
Continuing my profiles of the 2012 Sundance US Documentary Competition: Marius Markevicius’ THE OTHER DREAM TEAM explores national identity and pride through sports.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Sundance
what (not) to doc 