Category Archives: Sundance

Coming to theatres (as part of the International Documentary Association’s Oscar-qualifying DocuWeeks) this Friday, August 12 (NYC’s IFC Center) and on Friday, August 26 (LA’s Laemmle Sunset 5): MISS REPRESENTATION

Jennifer Siebel Newsom’s look at how women and girls are objectified in mass media launched at Sundance this year and has swept through a number of other festivals in the intervening months, including San Francisco, Atlanta, Silverdocs, and Sonoma, where it won the audience award. The film has been picked up by OWN for Oprah’s Documentary Club.

I profiled the film before its world premiere here.

Coming to theatres next Friday, August 12: SENNA

Asif Kapadia’s doc debut charts the story of Ayrton Senna, the legendary Formula One world champion. It’s North American premiere at this year’s Sundance, where it took home the World Cinema Audience Award, showed that the beautifully constructed film can score with non-racing fans as well as its core sports fan base.

I profiled the doc before its Sundance debut here.

Coming to theatres this Friday, August 5: MAGIC TRIP

Last month, Magnolia released Alex Gibney and Alison Ellwood’s Ken Kesey LSD doc On Demand. They’re now bringing the Sundance alum to theatres.

I profiled the film before its world premiere

Coming to NYC’s IFC Center this Friday, July 29: THE INTERRUPTERS

The Oscar-nominated Steve James premiered a longer version of this engrossing and inspirational look at violence prevention at this year’s Sundance before taking it to scores of festivals. It’s taken home jury or audience awards at Full Frame, Sheffield, Miami, Philadelphia, Minneapolis/St Paul, and Little Rock. Its IFC Center run will be followed by a one week run at NYC’s Maysles Cinema beginning August 5 (as part of a special Master Class with Steve James), as well as a two week run in Chicago’s Gene Siskel Film Center beginning August 12. After that it expands to more than two dozen additional cities.

My pre-Sundance preview of the film can be found here.

Note: Filmmakers and special guests will be in attendance at select screenings for Q&As.

Coming to theatres next Wednesday, July 27: LIFE IN A DAY

Oscar winner Kevin Macdonald artfully combined thousands of hours of YouTube user-generated footage from July 24, 2010 into a remarkable snapshot that premiered simultaneously at Sundance and online this past January. After a number of additional festival engagements, it comes to screens around the US beginning next week.

I profiled the film before Sundance here.

Coming to Magnolia Pictures On Demand today, July 1: MAGIC TRIP

Alex Gibney and Alison Ellwood brought their archival-rich exploration of Ken Kesey’s 1964 LSD (road)trip to Sundance for its world premiere. After additional festivals, including Hot Docs and BAMcinemaFEST, Magnolia is releasing the film on demand now, with theatrical coming next month.

I wrote about the film prior to its premiere

Coming to theatres in New York and Los Angeles next Friday, July 8: BEATS, RHYMES & LIFE: THE TRAVELS OF A TRIBE CALLED QUEST

Actor Michael Rapaport’s documentary directorial debut had its world premiere at Sundance and went on to screen at Tribeca and elsewhere. Along the way, his portrait of the influential hip hop group got picked up by Sony Pictures Classics and begins its theatrical release this summer.

My pre-Sundance profile of the film can be found