One of Europe’s oldest and most respected film festivals, Karlovy Vary, begins its 47th edition this Friday and runs through July 7. Set in a picturesque spa city in the Czech Republic’s Bohemia, the A-list event serves as a mid-Summer launching point for scores of new films, and draws attendees from around the world to the crossroads of Western and Eastern Europe, including 10,000 backpacking students who camp out in a local soccer stadium, watch films all day, and party all night. I attended last year’s festival for Indiewire and had a fantastic time. While I’m unfortunately not returning this year, I have looked through the roughly 180 features in its lineup to identify 35 documentary features. Of these, here are some highlights – films I would check out if I were Europe-bound: Continue reading
Category Archives: Film
Karlovy Vary 2012: Documentary Overview
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Overviews
Silverdocs 2012 in Brief, Part Two
Yesterday, I posted a link to my Indiewire article on this year’s just-concluded Silverdocs, which included a roundup of ten titles. This post adds nearly a dozen more to wrap up my coverage of the event this year. Continue reading
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, In Brief, Recommendations
Special Screening: CHINA HEAVYWEIGHT
Coming to NYC’s Rooftop Films this Saturday, June 30: CHINA HEAVYWEIGHT
Yung Chang’s exploration of China’s economic and societal changes through the microcosm of boxing had its world premiere earlier this year at Sundance. Since then, it’s screened at several other fests, including Hot Docs, Planete Doc, Sheffield, and It’s All True.
My pre-Sundance profile may be found here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Sundance
Silverdocs 2012 in Brief, Part One
I spent all of last week in Silver Spring MD attending the 10th anniversary edition of Silverdocs. In addition to curating or appearing on a number of panels in the festival’s accompanying Conference, and serving on the shorts jury, I also covered the event for Indiewire. My roundup, including thoughts on ten titles, may be found here, while I plan to supplement my coverage here later this week with additional titles.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, In Brief
On TV: GRANITO
Coming to POV this Thursday, June 28: GRANITO: HOW TO NAIL A DICTATOR
Pamela Yates’ story of how her previous film on Guatemala helped overthrow a dictator made its world premiere at Sundance last year. It later opened the Human Rights Watch Film Festival and enjoyed a limited theatrical release. For its POV engagement, which includes streaming online following the broadcast, Yates had PBS remove the geoblock that typically limits the stream to US and Canada so that it can be accessed around the world. Recognizing the importance of reaching core audiences in Spanish, the film will be streamed in both English and Spanish, and will also include streaming of the prequel film, WHEN THE MOUNTAINS TREMBLE.
I wrote about the film before Sundance here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Sundance
Indiewire @ Hulu Docs: LGBT Lives
My latest Indiewire curation for Hulu documentaries ties into LGBT Pride – NYC and SF are both holding their big events this weekend. Watch these now for free!
For more information about the selections, see my Indiewire article.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Indiewire @ Hulu Docs
In the Works: NORTHERN LIGHT
Against a harsh winter and an even harsher economic climate, working class America is revealed in a snowmobile competition in the north woods of Michigan.
In Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, an annual snowmobile race draws thousands to observe family members and friends participate in a dramatic competition. This becomes the backdrop for an observational documentary about three of the families in the community. Filmed over two years, Nick Bentgen and Lisa Kjerulff’s portrait reveals not only the spectacle of the race, but the quiet lives of some of those involved as they struggle with the fallout of the economic crisis to provide for their families and survive in difficult times. Continue reading
Filed under Documentary, Film, In the Works
On Cable: ME @THE ZOO_
Premiering on HBO this Monday, June 25: ME @THE ZOO_
Chris Moukarbel and Valerie Veatch’s portrait of YouTube celebrity Chris Crocker premiered at Sundance this year. It went on to screen at True/False and Provincetown before its cable broadcast premiere next week.
I wrote about the film before Sundance here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Releases, Sundance
In Theatres: THE INVISIBLE WAR
Coming to theatres this Friday, June 22: THE INVISIBLE WAR
Kirby Dick’s potent investigation into military rape and its cover up had its world premiere earlier this year at Sundance, where it walked away with an audience award. Since then the film’s festival circuit has included RiverRun, San Francisco, Human Rights Watch, Los Angeles, and others. Its initial theatrical dates include New York, Los Angeles, Washington DC, San Francisco, and Boston.
My pre-Sundance profile of the film may be found here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Releases, Sundance
Special Screening: THE CARRIER
Coming to NYC’s Maysles Cinema as part of the “No More Stigma” film series this Thursday, June 21: THE CARRIER
Maggie Betts’ portrait of a Zambian woman’s struggle with HIV made its world premiere at Tribeca last year. Since then, the film has screened at numerous events, including Big Sky, Documentary Edge, One World, and Lone Star, where I was on the jury that awarded it Best Documentary.
Set in a rural village, Betts’ beautifully lensed film focuses on a single family led by farmer Abarcon and his three wives, Brenda, Matildah, and Mutinta, and their many children. The AIDS pandemic plaguing the continent is soon felt – Abarcon contracts the virus, passing it on to his wives, two of whom are pregnant. As they try to come to grips with what is still very much a death sentence for many due to lack of access to treatment, Mutinta emerges as the focal point of the film, driven to save her unborn child from the fate of her parents. Betts achieves a remarkable intimacy with her characters despite the tension and drama that their HIV status engenders. They speak with surprising candor, demonstrating the strength and dignity that is often brought out in individuals when they’re tested by almost overwhelming forces. If the film significantly falters in one area, it’s in the melodramatic score, which at times casts a shadow on the narrative, tipping the family drama into the overwrought.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations
