Category Archives: Film

Coming to VOD today, Tuesday, July 15: SOUNDING THE ALARM

John Block’s exploration of the impact of autism has been screening at special events at hospitals, universities, and media centers in Boston, Miami, and New York since the beginning of the year. It most recently screened as part of last month’s Nantucket Film Festival, and now comes to Netflix, iTunes and Amazon Prime.

I previously wrote about the film in the Nantucket program, saying:
Since the 1990s, the number of reported cases of autism has increased dramatically, with the most recent Centers for Disease Control estimates suggesting a prevalence rate of one in 68 children. A decade ago, when Bob and Suzanne Wright’s grandson Christian was diagnosed, the couple made it their mission to discover the causes, treatments, and cure for the disorder, and they founded the advocacy organization Autism Speaks. Filmmaker John Block’s moving documentary tells the Wrights’ story, as well as the stories of other families affected by their children’s autism diagnoses, detailing their day-to-day struggles and triumphs as they seek better lives for their loved ones.

Coming to DVD tomorrow, Tuesday, July 15: NORTHERN LIGHT

Nick Bentgen’s portrait of community and snowmobiling had its world premiere at True/False last year. Other fests included Visions du Réel, Hot Docs, BAMcinemaFest, New Orleans, Viennale, and Sebastopol Doc.

I covered the doc out of True/False here.

Coming to PBS’s POV today, Monday, July 14: GETTING BACK TO ABNORMAL

Louis Alvarez, Andrew Kolker, Peter Odabashian, and Paul Stekler’s look at race relations and politics in post-Katrina New Orleans debuted at SXSW last year. It’s gone on to screen at Hot Springs Doc fest, New Orleans’ FilmOrama, and the Film Society of Lincoln Center’s Art of the Real series.

I wrote about the doc out of SXSW here.

Coming to VOD today, Tuesday, July 8: DAMNATION

Travis Rummel and Ben Knight’s look at America’s obsession with dams picked up an audience award upon its debut at SXSW earlier this year. It’s since gone on to screen at Full Frame, Washington DC’s Environmental fest, DOXA, and SF Green, among others.

I previously wrote about the doc upon its theatrical release here.

Coming to DVD today, Tuesday, July 8: THIS AIN’T CALIFORNIA

Marten Persiel’s evocation of 1980s East German skateboarding premiered in Berlin in 2012. It followed with screenings at Karlovy Vary, Warsaw, CPH:DOX, Tempo, and Rooftop Films, among others.

I wrote about the hybrid film upon its theatrical release here.

Coming to DVD and VOD tomorrow, Tuesday, July 8: JODOROWSKY’S DUNE

Frank Pavich’s look back at the sci-fi epic that never was debuted at Cannes last year. It went on to Toronto, Telluride, AFI Fest, BFI London, CPH:DOX, Fantastic Fest, Tokyo, and Sitges before its theatrical release in the Spring.

I included the doc in my Toronto coverage here.