Coming to DVD next Tuesday, October 30: FIRST POSITION
Bess Kargman’s engaging ballet profile premiered last year in Toronto, taking first runner up in the Audience Award. Since then it’s had an extensive festival and theatrical release, both in the US and internationally, including the Hamptons, Doc NYC, Portland, and SF Doc, picking up awards at the latter three.
I included the film in my Hamptons roundup here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
Coming to HBO next Monday, October 29: THE BIG PICTURE: RETHINKING DYSLEXIA
James Redford’s positive look at dyslexia had its world premiere this year at Sundance, under its earlier title THE D WORD. It’s gone on to screen at Nashville, Tallgrass, Heartland, and Newport Beach, among others.
My pre-Sundance profile of the film may be found here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Sundance
Coming to PBS’ Independent Lens) next Monday, October 29: LOVE FREE OR DIE
Macky Alston’s profile of gay bishop Gene Robinson made its world premiere at Sundance this year, where it claimed a special jury prize. Its festival circuit has included Cleveland, Ashland, Full Frame, London LGBT, Seattle, Seattle, New Orleans, Frameline, Outfest, and NewFest, among others.
I profiled the film before Sundance here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Sundance
Coming to theatres this Friday, October 26: THE REVISIONARIES
Scott Thurman’s eye-opening look at textbooks and the culture wars premiered at Tribeca earlier this year, where it was recognized with a special jury prize. It also screened at Hot Docs, Silverdocs, Nashville, and Hot Springs, among other festivals.
I included the film in my Tribeca roundup here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
Coming to POV this Thursday, October 25: NOSTALGIA FOR THE LIGHT
Patricio Guzmán’s meditation on time and Chile’s Atacama Desert made its debut at Cannes in 2010. It screened extensively on the fest circuit, with stops at Toronto, Melbourne, Hong Kong, Full Frame, San Francisco, Miami, and Thessaloniki Doc, among many others. The film also picked up awards from the IDA and the European Film Awards.
Atacama, one of the driest environments on the planet at 10,000 feet above sea level, serves as a nexus uniting the stars above and the ground below in Guzmán’s masterfully conceived and shot film essay. While astronomers are drawn to the site to take advantage of the atmospheric conditions enabling them to witness the secrets of the cosmos, others are busy studying the earth beneath their feet. The arid climate serves to protect archaeological treasures from pre-Columbian times, and, most affectingly, more recent deposits – the remains of loved ones – dissidents who were “disappeared” during Pinochet’s brutal regime. As scientists and still grieving families gather in the same space, each on different, but related, quests – to turn back the hands of time – Guzmán crafts a stunning and singular evocation of place and memory.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations
Coming to VOD today, Tuesday, October 23: THE RUSSIAN WINTER
Petter Ringbom’s behind the scenes look at musician John Forté’s Russian tour premiered at Tribeca this year. It screened at the Moscow International Film Festival this Summer, and will also screen in competition next month at IDFA.
I included the film in my Tribeca roundup here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
Coming to Investigation Discovery for its broadcast premiere tomorrow, Tuesday, October 23: INTO THE ABYSS
Werner Herzog’s exploration of death row debuted last year at Telluride, followed by Toronto. It also screened at DOC NYC, AFI Fest, Human Rights Watch, Hong Kong, Melbourne, and London, among others, while also enjoying a limited theatrical run.
I wrote about the film out of Toronto here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations
Already available on iTunes and coming to DVD and VOD tomorrow, Tuesday, October 23: THE INVISIBLE WAR
Kirby Dick’s exposé on rape in the US military claimed an audience award at its premiere this year at Sundance. Its extensive festival run has included Full Frame, Dallas, Ashland, San Francisco, Human Rights Watch, Los Angeles, and Hot Docs, and it enjoyed a limited theatrical release this Summer.
My pre-Sundance profile of the film may be found here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Releases, Sundance
Coming to NYC’s Landmark Sunshine Cinema via Tugg tomorrow, Tuesday, October 23: 1/2 REVOLUTION
Omar Shargawi and Karim El Hakim’s direct experience of the beginnings of the uprising in Tahrir Square premiered in the Nordisk Panorama last year. It made its stateside debut at Sundance and also screened at Dubai, Thessaloniki Doc, True/False, and the Aljazeera Doc fest.
My pre-Sundance profile of the film may be found here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Sundance
Coming to NYC’s Stranger Than Fiction series at the IFC Center next Tuesday, October 23: THE ATOMIC STATES OF AMERICA
Don Argott and Sheena M Joyce’s exploration of nuclear power made its world premiere in competition at Sundance at the beginning of the year. Its festival run has included Dallas, the Hamptons, Heartland, and Newport Beach, among others.
My pre-Sundance profile of the film may be found here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Sundance
what (not) to doc 