Category Archives: Sundance

On DVD: THE BLACK POWER MIXTAPE 1967-1975

Coming to DVD next Tuesday, December 13: THE BLACK POWER MIXTAPE 1967-1975

Göran Hugo Olsson’s look at the Black Power movement premiered at Sundance at the beginning of the year. The film had a limited theatrical and VOD release following additional festival screenings.

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

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Sundance 2012: Shorts Lineup Announced

The final pointer to the 2012 Sundance Film Festival wraps up this year’s lineup, revealing the Shorts selections here.

Last week: US and World Cinema Documentary and Dramatic Competitions and NEXT, Spotlight, Park City at Midnight, and New Frontier

Yesterday: Premieres and Documentary Premieres

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Sundance 2012: Non-Competition Lineups Announced, Part Two

This third pointer wraps up the feature lineup for the 2012 Sundance Film Festival. Revealed today is the second of two releases on non-competition sections of the festival, including Premieres and Documentary Premieres, located here.

Coming tomorrow: Shorts.

Announced last week: US and World Cinema Documentary and Dramatic Competitions and NEXT, Spotlight, Park City at Midnight, and New Frontier.

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In Theatres: KNUCKLE

Coming to theatres this Friday, December 9: KNUCKLE

Ian Palmer’s twelve year profile of the Irish Traveller community premiered at Sundance earlier this year. After further festival exposure, the film opened in the UK and Ireland this past summer before its US run.

I wrote about the film pre-Sundance here.

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In Theatres: AN AFRICAN ELECTION

Now screening at NYC’s Quad Cinema as part of the African Diaspora International Film Festival: AN AFRICAN ELECTION

Director Jarreth Merz and co-director Kevin Merz’s engaging behind-the-scenes view of Ghana’s 2008 presidential election premiered at IDFA and came stateside for Sundance at the beginning of the year. Since then it won at the Atlanta Film Festival and at Visions Du Reel.

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

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On VOD: WE WERE HERE

Coming to VOD next Friday, December 9: WE WERE HERE

David Weissman and Bill Weber premiered this look at San Francisco’s early response to AIDS at Sundance at the beginning of the year. The film is on the shortlist for the Academy Award for Best Documentary.

My pre-Sundance profile of the film is here.

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Sundance 2012: Non-Competition Lineups Announced, Part One

Here’s pointer #2 to an additional lineup announcement for the 2012 Sundance Film Festival. Up today, the first of two releases on non-competition sections of the festival, including NEXT, Spotlight, Park City at Midnight, and New Frontier, found here.

The remaining non-competition sections (Premieres and Documentary Premieres) will be unveiled on Monday, while Shorts will be announced on Tuesday.

If you missed yesterday’s announcement, US and World Cinema Documentary and Dramatic Competitions, click here.

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On DVD: BOBBY FISCHER AGAINST THE WORLD

Coming to DVD next Tuesday, December 6: BOBBY FISCHER AGAINST THE WORLD

Liz Garbus premiered her biography of the chess wunderkind at this year’s Sundance. After screening at numerous additional festivals, it was broadcast on HBO this summer.

I profiled the film pre-Sundance here.

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Sundance 2012: Competition Lineups Announced

Just a quick pointer to the initial lineup announcement for the 2012 Sundance Film Festival. The US and World Cinema Dramatic and Documentary Competitions are here. Check back tomorrow for part one of the non-Competition lineups (NEXT, Spotlight, Park City at Midnight, and New Frontier), Monday for part two (Premieres and Documentary Premieres), and Tuesday for Shorts.

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On TV: ART & COPY

Coming to PBS’ Independent Lens tomorrow, Thursday, December 1: ART & COPY

Doug Pray’s look at advertising and its influence had its world premiere in competition at Sundance in 2009. The film went on to screen extensively at other fests, picking up awards at Atlanta and Newport Beach, as well as an Emmy for Outstanding Arts & Culture programming.

The director of acclaimed festival favorites like SURFWISE and SCRATCH turns his attention to the world of advertising, examining the intersection of creativity, commerce, and culture. His film explores the origins of some of the most famous advertising campaigns in the US and how they left an impression on modern culture – from Reagan’s “It’s morning in America” ads to Nike’s “Just Do It” slogan. Beyond running down these and other memorable sales pitches, the film is especially captivating in relating the seismic shift that took place within the industry in the mid-1960s when art directors began to collaborate directly with copywriters, which had never been done before. Interviewing real world Mad Men (and Mad Women), Pray brings to life the story of how the profession moved from the mediocre to became a dynamic, exciting, and creative endeavor – albeit one that hinges on the ethically questionable practice of persuading people they absolutely need to have what’s being pitched to them.

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