Coming to NYC’s Rooftop Films this Saturday, July 28: GRANDMA LO-FI: THE BASEMENT TAPES OF SIGRIDUR NIELSDOTTIR
Kristín Björk Kristjánsdóttir’s lovingly quirky portrait of a senior music maker had its world premiere at CPH:DOX, where it won an award. Festival screenings have followed at Rotterdam, MoMA’s Documentary Fortnight, SXSW, Sheffield, Dokufest Kosovo, and New Horizons, among others.
I included the film in my SXSW coverage here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations
Coming to theatres this Friday, July 27: SEARCHING FOR SUGAR MAN
Malik Bendjelloul’s search for an obscure ’70s rock performer with an unlikely impact on apartheid made its world premiere at Sundance this year, where it scored both a special jury prize and an audience award, and made headlines as the first sale at the festival. The doc has gone on to screen at numerous notable fests including SXSW, Tribeca, Los Angeles, and Karlovy Vary, among others.
My pre-Sundance profile of the film may be found here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Releases, Sundance
Beginning this Friday July 27 and running through the end of the month, NewFest: The New York LGBT Film Festival returns for its 24th edition. It’s a bit of a different year for the event which I ran from 1996-2008 – a significantly leaner affair, with fewer days and significantly fewer films than usual, but, notably, the first in partnership with the just wrapped Outfest in Los Angeles. Earlier this year, the two orgs announced a strategic partnership that promises to revitalize the East Coast LGBT fest – expect bigger changes for next year’s big 25th anniversary.
This year’s event is more of a curated showcase, presenting just 19 feature length films and two programs of shorts, and providing continuity between NewFest-past and NewFest-future. Last year, the fest left its traditional early June berth for the end of July, and picked up the Film Society of Lincoln Center as a venue for its gala screenings. This year, the relationship with the Film Society expands, with the venerable spot hosting all but one of the screenings.
With a more limited line-up, there’s only room for five doc features. These include Sundance alums ABOUT FACE: SUPERMODELS THEN AND NOW (pictured), Timothy Greenfield-Sanders’ interviews about beauty and aging; and special jury winner LOVE FREE OR DIE, Macky Alston’s portrait of gay bishop Gene Robinson.
The remaining docs include Kieran Turner’s JOBRIATH AD, about the influential gay glam rock performer who never managed to achieve stardom; Michiel van Erp’s I AM A WOMAN NOW (pictured), a smart portrait of five older transwomen, and the winner of an award at Outfest; and Andrea Esteban’s BORN NAKED (MLB), a multi-city profile of young lesbian and trans artists and organizers in Europe.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Overviews
Coming to DVD and VOD tomorrow, Tuesday, July 24: JIRO DREAMS OF SUSHI
David Gelb’s portrait of an octogenarian sushi masterchef made its world premiere at Tribeca last year. Its festival circuit has included Berlin, Jerusalem, AFI Fest, and Silverdocs, among others, and the doc has had a successful theatrical release since the spring.
I wrote about the film out of Tribeca here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
Coming to theatres this Friday, July 27: AI WEIWEI: NEVER SORRY
Alison Klayman’s insider look at the internationally famous dissident Chinese artist made its world premiere earlier this year at Sundance, where the film picked up a special jury prize. It went on to screen at more than twenty fests since, including Berlin, True/False, Miami, Full Frame, Silverdocs, Hot Docs, and Human Rights Watch, opening the latter two.
I wrote about the doc before Sundance here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Releases, Sundance
Coming to NYC’s Rooftop Films next Wednesday, July 25: HER MASTER’S VOICE!
Nina Conti’s introspective look at her career as a ventriloquist and the influence of her late mentor made its world premiere at SXSW earlier this year, where the film picked up an audience award. Additional fest appearances have included Hot Docs, Atlanta, and the London doc fest, among others. The doc was recently acquired by Virgil Films for a theatrical and DVD release.
I wrote about the film out of Hot Docs here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations
Coming to NYC’s AMC Loews Village 7 through TUGG next Monday, July 23 and to PBS’ Independent Lens next Thursday, July 26: STRONG!
Julie Wyman’s portrait of three-time Olympic weightlifter Cheryl Haworth made its world premiere last month at Silverdocs. While her film is beginning its festival circuit, Wyman is also utilizing TUGG to crowdsource a multi-city tour.
I included the doc in my Silverdocs roundup here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
Coming to HBO next Monday, July 23: VITO
Jeffrey Schwarz’s biography of influential LGBT activist and film scholar Vito Russo made its world premiere at the New York Film Festival last year. Since then, it’s had a limited theatrical release while also screening extensively on the festival circuit, with nearly fifty stops including Berlin, Big Sky, Cleveland, Dallas, Frameline, and Outfest. Along the way, the film has claimed awards at Palm Spring, Inside Out, and Seattle LGBT, among others.
I wrote about the doc upon its NY theatrical release here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations
Coming to NYC’s Film Forum next Wednesday, July 25: PLANET OF SNAIL
Seung-Jun Yi’s portrait of a loving married couple with disabilities made its premiere at IDFA last year, where it won the top jury prize. Fest appearances since have included Thessaloniki Doc, Tribeca, Planete Doc, and Hot Docs, among others.
I wrote about the film out of IDFA here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
Coming to DVD next Tuesday, July 24: BETTER THIS WORLD
Katie Galloway and Kelly Duane de la Vega’s in-depth investigation into a controversial case of domestic terrorism made its world premiere at SXSW last year. The film has toured extensively on the festival circuit, with appearances including Hot Docs, Full Frame, Silverdocs, San Francisco, DMZ Docs, and Camden, among many others. It’s claimed awards from the Gothams, IDA, and numerous fests.
I included the doc in my SXSW coverage here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
what (not) to doc 