Next up in my 2012 Sundance doc line-up overview: Don Argott and Sheena M Joyce’s US Documentary Competition title THE ATOMIC STATES OF AMERICA, about the history and potential risky future of nuclear energy.
Category Archives: Sundance
2012 Sundance Docs in Focus: THE ATOMIC STATES OF AMERICA
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Sundance
2012 Sundance Docs in Focus: AI WEIWEI: NEVER SORRY
Opening up my film-by-film look at the documentaries of the upcoming 2012 Sundance Film Festival is the alphabetical first of the US Documentary Competition: AI WEIWEI: NEVER SORRY, Alison Klayman’s insider portrait of the controversial Chinese artist and activist.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Sundance
2012 Sundance Docs in Focus
The 2012 Sundance Film Festival is only three weeks away, and, as usual, the documentaries in the line-up are among some of the most anticipated programs to come to Park City. Beginning on Monday, I’ll offer brief looks at all of Sundance’s feature-length docs, usually covering three titles a day so that I’ll get through them all by opening night, Thursday, January 19.
The format will be similar to the one I used last year (which began here), and it’s important to note that these aren’t reviews – as a Documentary Programming Associate for the festival, I’m excited for audiences to see all of the films at Sundance this year, especially the docs. To this end, I’m hoping this doc focus series provides additional information on the filmmakers and films, and my thoughts on why you should plan on watching them, either in Park City if you’ll be joining us there, or at other festivals at which they go on to screen.
The series begins on Monday with a look at three films in the US Documentary Competition, and will cycle through the remaining nearly forty docs in the all of the festival’s sections in the lead up to Park City.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Sundance
On TV: THESE AMAZING SHADOWS
Coming to PBS’ Independent Lens tomorrow, Thursday, December 29: THESE AMAZING SHADOWS
Paul Mariano and Kurt Norton’s doc on the National Film Registry premiered at Sundance nearly a year ago. It went on to tour the festival circuit extensively, as well as to play theatrically in limited engagements.
My pre-Sundance profile of the doc may be found here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Sundance
Special Screening: BUCK
Returning to NYC’s Stranger Than Fiction as a pre-Winter season special screening tonight, Monday, December 19: BUCK
Cindy Meehl’s portrait of horse whisperer Buck Brannaman won the Audience Award at Sundance and has been one of the most popular docs on both the festival circuit and in theatrical release this year. Unsurprisingly, the film has made the Best Documentary Oscar shortlist.
My pre-Sundance profile of the doc may be found here.
Note: Director Cindy Meehl will be present for a post-screening Q&A.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Sundance
Special Screening: !WOMEN ART REVOLUTION
Coming to NYC’s MoMA as part of “The Contenders 2011” film exhibition series this Sunday, December 18 and Monday, December 26: !WOMEN ART REVOLUTION
Lynn Hershman Leeson’s 40-years-in-the-making US feminist art doc premiered at Toronto last year before making its US premiere at Sundance this past January. It had a limited theatrical release this Summer.
My pre-Sundance profile may be found here.
Update: My information was incorrect in a previous version of this post – neither Gloria Steinem nor Lynn Hershman Leeson will be present for these screenings.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Sundance
In Theatres: CORMAN’S WORLD
Coming to theatres tomorrow, Friday, December 16: CORMAN’S WORLD: EXPLOITS OF A HOLLYWOOD REBEL
Alex Stapleton’s appreciation of the prolific indie film producer premiered at Sundance earlier this year, and has gone on to notable festival berths at Cannes, Karlovy Vary, Deauville, Pusan, and the New York Film Festival.
My pre-Sundance profile of the film may be found here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Releases, Sundance
Special Screening: IF A TREE FALLS
Coming to NYC’s Stranger Than Fiction as a pre-Winter season special screening this Thursday, December 15: IF A TREE FALLS: A STORY OF THE EARTH LIBERATION FRONT
Marshall Curry and Sam Cullman’s look at radical environmentalism picked up the Best Documentary Editing jury prize at its premiere at Sundance. The doc was recognized with additional awards on the fest circuit prior to its limited theatrical run. It is on the shortlist for the Academy Award nomination for Best Documentary.
I profiled the film before Sundance here.
Note: Directors Curry and Cullman will be present for a post-screening Q&A.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Releases, Sundance
Special Screening: THE FLAW
Coming to NYC’s Rooftop Films’ “Films for the Occupation” series this Thursday, December 15: THE FLAW
David Sington’s in-depth analysis of the financial crisis premiered at Sheffield last year. It has its North American premiere in competition at Sundance earlier this year.
I profiled the film before Sundance here.
Note: University professor/author Louis Hyman, featured in the film, will be present for post-screening Q&A. The Rooftop Occupation screening series is free to the general public.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Sundance
On VOD: SENNA
Coming to VOD tomorrow, Tuesday, December 13: SENNA
Asif Kapadia’s doc on the legendary racer Ayrton Senna made its premiere stateside at the beginning of the year at Sundance, where it took home the World Cinema Audience Award. It enjoyed a theatrical release this past summer, and now comes to iTunes, Amazon VOD, CinemaNow, Sony Playstation, XBox & Zune Marketplace.
My pre-Sundance profile of the doc may be found here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Releases, Sundance
what (not) to doc 