New to VOD: GOOD PEOPLE GO TO HELL, SAVED PEOPLE GO TO HEAVEN
Holly Hardman’s exploration of Christian evangelicalism and the apocalypse had its world premiere at the 2012 IDFA. Screenings followed at St Louis, Knoxville, and Berkshire, among other fests and special events. The film was released on VOD just before the New Year on iTunes, Google Play, and Amazon Instant.
I previously wrote about the film out of IDFA here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Releases
Today’s Sundance preview wraps with the penultimate film of the US Documentary Competition: Aaron Brookner’s UNCLE HOWARD, a nephew’s revival of his filmmaking inspiration.
Festival Section:
US Documentary Competition
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Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Sundance
Coming to PBS’s Independent Lens tonight, Monday, January 4: CHUCK NORRIS VS COMMUNISM
Ilinca Calugareanu’s exploration of the subversive role played by VCRs in the Cold War made its debut at Sundance last year. Screenings followed at Nantucket, Hot Docs, Edinburgh, Los Angeles, Denver, Stockholm, Leeds, Hamptons, and Seattle, among other fests.
I profiled the doc before Sundance here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Releases, Sundance
Continuing my look at this year’s Sundance doc features: TRAPPED, Dawn Porter’s investigation of the war against reproductive health clinics.
Festival Section:
US Documentary Competition
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Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Sundance
Coming to A&E tonight, Monday, January 4: CARTEL LAND
Matthew Heineman’s visceral exploration of Mexican cartel violence had its world premiere at Sundance last year, where it won two awards. It went on to screen at Nantucket, DOC NYC, True/False, Full Frame, Dallas, Sarasota, Tribeca, IFF Boston, Documenta, Docville, Seattle, Sydney, Human Rights Watch, AFI Docs, and Sheffield, among others. The film has been shortlisted for the Documentary Feature Academy Award.
My pre-Sundance doc profile may be found here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Releases, Sundance
Week two of my Sundance doc preview begins: SUITED, Jason Benjamin’s profile of custom tailors serving gender non-conforming clients.
Festival Section:
US Documentary Competition
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Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Sundance
About a week ago, Nonfics posted the results of their Best Documentary of 2015 poll. The overall results may be found here.
My list appears at the very end of that article, which I’m reproducing below as well. I’ve restricted my list to nonfiction features that have been officially released in 2015, omitting festival favorites that have not yet been made commercially available as of yet.
Before 2015 fades into memory, here are pointers to what I’ve previously written about my top fifteen docs of the year on what (not) to doc. The films are unranked and in alphabetical order:
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
The final 2016 Sundance doc profile for the week: NUTS!, Penny Lane’s curious animated tale of 20th century medical quackery and shameless self-promotion.
Festival Section:
US Documentary Competition
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Next up in my 2016 Sundance doc profiles: NEWTOWN, Kim A Snyder’s poignant profile of a small town as it reckons with an unparalleled tragedy.
Festival Section:
US Documentary Competition
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Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Sundance
Day four of my Sundance preview begins: LIFE, ANIMATED, Roger Ross Williams’ portrait of an autistic man’s transformative connection to Disney films.
Festival Section:
US Documentary Competition
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Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Sundance
what (not) to doc 