Brazil’s It’s All True International Documentary Film Festival celebrates its 20th anniversary beginning tomorrow, Thursday, April 9 with a screening of the late Eduardo Coutinho’s LAST CONVERSATIONS. The festival will run through Sunday, April 19 in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, while tours will continue in other cities into May and June. More than 40 new features will screen, with shorts and retrospectives bringing the total lineup to over 100 films. Continue reading
Category Archives: Film
It’s All True 2015 Overview
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Overviews, Recommendations
In Theatres: SONG FROM THE FOREST
Coming to theatres this Friday, April 10: SONG FROM THE FOREST
Michael Obert’s portrait of a return to Western civilization debuted at IDFA in 2013. Other fest screenings have included DOC NYC, SXSW, ZagrebDox, Thessaloniki Doc, London, Cleveland, It’s All True, Planete + Doc, DOXA, Pan African, !f Istanbul, and Camden.
I previously wrote about the film for DOC NYC’s program:
Drawn to the Central African Republic to study the songs of the Bayaka pygmies 25 years ago, American musicologist Louis Sarno abandoned modern civilization to join the tribe and start a family. Fulfilling a long-standing promise to show his teenager, Samedi, the world, father and son trade the rainforest for the concrete jungle and travel to New York City, visiting family and friends like Louis’ college roommate, director Jim Jarmusch. While Samedi takes it all in, Louis, surprisingly, is the one who becomes the fish out of water.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
Full Frame 2015 Overview
This Thursday, April 9 kicks off year 18 for the Full Frame Documentary Film Festival, which will present over 60 new doc features, plus shorts, retrospective programming, and several conversations before it wraps up on Sunday, April 12. In addition to a smartly curated lineup culling some of the best work from Sundance, IDFA, SXSW, and other previous events, the Durham NC fest also introduces its audiences to several notable premieres: Continue reading
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Overviews, Recommendations
In Theatres: IN COUNTRY
Coming to theatres this Friday, April 10: IN COUNTRY
Mike Attie and Meghan O’Hara’s profile of an unlikely pastime debuted at Full Frame last year. It went on to screen at DOC NYC, Hot Docs, CPH:DOX, and Camden, among other events.
I previously wrote about the film for DOC NYC’s program:
By now, the idea of Civil War re-enactment is familiar, but the subjects of Mike Attie and Meghan O’Hara’s intriguing film relive the battles of a far more surprising conflict: Vietnam. Drawing a mix of combat enthusiasts, Iraq War soldiers, actual Vietnam veterans, and even a former South Vietnamese Army officer, this band of brothers regularly recreates – by choice – a war that a whole generation would rather forget. What lies behind their compulsion to restage an unpopular war: therapy, nostalgia or something else?
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
On DVD: MONK WITH A CAMERA
Coming to DVD tomorrow, Tuesday, April 7: MONK WITH A CAMERA
Guido Santi and Tina Mascara’s portrait of a wealthy photographer’s road to enlightenment had its world premiere at IDFA in 2013. It went on to screen at Palm Springs, Ashland, Full Frame, Cleveland, Documentary Edge, and Sedona, among others.
I previously wrote about the doc upon its theatrical release here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Releases
On DVD: HAPPY VALLEY
Coming to DVD tomorrow, Tuesday, April 7: HAPPY VALLEY
Amir Bar-Lev’s examination of the Penn State scandal’s impact on the local community made its debut at Sundance last year. Its festival circuit included Nantucket, DOC NYC, Hamptons, Camden, Traverse City, BAMcinemaFest, Philadelphia, Sarasota, True/False, and Nashville, among others.
I profiled the doc before Sundance here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Releases, Sundance
On DVD: MAD AS HELL
Coming to DVD next Tuesday, April 7: MAD AS HELL
Andrew Napier’s chronicle of the rise of Cenk Uygur and the Young Turks had its world premiere at Hot Docs last year. Other screenings have included Tallgrass and Santa Barbara.
I previously wrote about the doc upon its theatrical release here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
On TV: LITTLE HOPE WAS ARSON
Coming to PBS’s Independent Lens this coming Monday, April 6: LITTLE HOPE WAS ARSON
Theo Love’s investigation into the burning of East Texan churches premiered at Slamdance last year. It went on to screen at Cucalorus, Austin, Heartland, Big Sky, Portland, Omaha, Red Rock, and Lone Star, among others
I previously wrote about the doc upon its theatrical release here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Releases
In Theatres: THE HAND THAT FEEDS
Coming to theatres tomorrow, Friday, March 3: THE HAND THAT FEEDS
Rachel Lears and Robin Blotnick’s story of service workers uniting for fair treatment premiered at Full Frame last year. Its audience award win there was duplicated at DOC NYC, while additional screenings have included Traverse City, AFI Docs, Woodstock, Sidewalk, Cleveland, Workers Unite, Hardacre, Boulder, and Latino fests in San Francisco, Chicago, and San Diego, among others.
I previously wrote about the doc here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
In Theatres: LAMBERT AND STAMP
Coming to theatres this Friday, April 3: LAMBERT AND STAMP
James D Cooper’s profile of the men behind The Who debuted at Sundance last year. It went on to screen at Sundance London, Sarasota, Belfast, Knoxville, Whistler, and Chattanooga, among others.
I profiled the doc before Sundance here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Releases, Sundance
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