Category Archives: Film

2014 Sundance Docs in Focus: LIVING STARS

living starsShifting over to the festival’s innovative New Frontier section for this last day of 2014 Sundance doc profiles: Mariano Cohn and Gastón Duprat’s LIVING STARS, in which everyday Argentines dance.

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On TV: BLOOD BROTHER

blood brotherComing to PBS’s Independent Lens next Monday, January 20: BLOOD BROTHER

Steve Hoover’s portrait of a young American who devotes himself to caring for Indian orphans with HIV had its world premiere at Sundance last year, where it claimed both jury and audience awards for best US documentary film. Its fest circuit also included Nantucket, Thessaloniki Doc, Heartland, Milwaukee, Big Sky, Little Rock, and New Zealand, among others.

I previously profiled the doc before Sundance here.

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On TV: MY BROOKLYN

my brooklynComing to WORLD Channel’s America ReFramed series tonight, Tuesday, January 14: MY BROOKLYN

Kelly Anderson and Allison Lirish Dean’s look at gentrification debuted at the 2012 Brooklyn Film Festival, winning the audience award. It has screened at numerous Brooklyn-focused community and grassroots events, as well as the Red Hook and Lund, Sweden’s International Architecture fests, before enjoying a limited theatrical release. It will screen on WORLD with Ben Crosbie and Tessa Moran’s FATE OF A SALESMAN.

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

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2014 Sundance Docs in Focus: UNDER THE ELECTRIC SKY (EDC 2013)

under the electric skyToday’s Sundance profiles wrap with the sole documentary in the Park City at Midnight section: UNDER THE ELECTRIC SKY (EDC 2013), about the legendary electronic music festival.

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2014 Sundance Docs in Focus: NICK OFFERMAN: AMERICAN HAM

nick offermanSundance’s Premieres section includes one nonfiction title: NICK OFFERMAN: AMERICAN HAM, a stand-up comedy performance film, directed by Jordan Vogt-Roberts.

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On VOD: WORLD CIRCUS

WORLD CIRCUSComing to VOD today, Tuesday, January 14: WORLD CIRCUS

Angela Snow’s exploration of international circus culture made its debut at Sedona last year. It also screened at Sarasota and RiverRun, among other events. FilmBuff now releases the doc on iTunes, Amazon Instant Video, CinemaNow, PlayStation, Vudu, XBOX, and Google Play.

Snow profiles several circus acts chosen to compete at the prestigious Monte Carlo Circus Festival, known in the profession as the Academy Awards of circus competitions, an event started by Monaco’s royal family. Acts range from lion taming and aerial dancers to plank jumping Cirque du Soleil acrobats and clowns, in rehearsal and during the multiple-day competition. In contrast to its decided second-class entertainment status in the US, Snow demonstrates the high esteem the craft is afforded in Europe, blending a history lesson about the art form on both continents with a competition doc format to make a slight – but diverting enough – hour long film.

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2014 Sundance Docs in Focus: WHITEY: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA V JAMES J BULGER

whiteyThe final film in this year’s Documentary Premieres welcomes back another Sundance alumnus: Joe Berlinger returns to Park City with WHITEY: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA V JAMES J BULGER, an investigation into Boston’s most notorious organized crime figure.

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On DVD: MARVIN HAMLISCH

Marvin Hamlisch Singing with ActressesComing to DVD today, Tuesday, January 14: MARVIN HAMLISCH: WHAT HE DID FOR LOVE

Dori Berinstein’s appreciation of the late musical genius debuted at the BFI London Film Festival last year. Other screenings included DOC NYC and the Hamptons, as well as a limited theatrical release prior to its broadcast premiere as part of PBS’s American Masters series last month.

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

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2014 Sundance Docs in Focus: WE ARE THE GIANT

we are the giantTuesday’s Sundance profiles begin with the penultimate entry in the Documentary Premieres: Greg Barker’s WE ARE THE GIANT, an exploration of the revolutionary spirit.

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On DVD: REWIND THIS!

still_rewindComing to DVD today, Tuesday, January 14: REWIND THIS!

Josh Johnson’s love letter to the VHS tape debuted at SXSW last year. It went on to screen at IFF Boston, Puchon Fantastic, Fantasia, Melbourne, L’Etrange, and Strasbourg fests, among others, before being released on VOD.

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

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