Festival:
The 19th SF DocFest
Dates:
September 3-20
About:
Emerging after the postponement of its typical late May/early June dates, this Northern Californian event goes online with just under 30 nonfiction features. Continue reading
Category Archives: Recommendations
SF DocFest 2020 Overview
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Overviews, Recommendations
In Virtual Release: HEALING FROM HATE: BATTLE FOR THE SOUL OF A NATION
Coming to virtual cinemas tomorrow, Friday, September 4:
HEALING FROM HATE: BATTLE FOR THE SOUL OF A NATION
Director:
Peter Hutchison
World Premiere:
DOC NYC 2019
Select Festivals:
Martha’s Vineyard, Big Sky Doc
About:
Former hate group members help others attempting to leave behind radicalism.
I previously wrote about the doc here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
On VOD: FEELS GOOD MAN
Coming to VOD tomorrow, Friday, September 4:
FEELS GOOD MAN
Director:
Arthur Jones
World Premiere:
Sundance 2020
Select Festivals:
True/False, SXSW, Big Sky Doc, Taipei, Fantasia, Sidewalk, Kyiv
About:
An exploration of the unpredictable development of an influential Internet meme.
My pre-Sundance profile of the doc may be found here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Releases, Sundance
Docaviv 2020 Overview
Festival:
The 22nd Docaviv: Tel Aviv International Documentary Film Festival
Dates:
September 3-12
About:
Rescheduled from its usual May dates, this well-curated Israeli event will present nearly 90 new documentary features in an online format, though some drive-in events are also being planned. Continue reading
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Overviews, Recommendations
On DVD/VOD: THE MOLE AGENT
Coming to DVD and VOD today, Tuesday, September 1:
THE MOLE AGENT
Director:
Maite Alberdi
World Premiere:
Sundance 2020
Select Festivals:
Nantucket, Hot Docs, Full Frame, True/False, San Sebastian, New Directors/NewFilms, Miami, Karlovy Vary, Cleveland
About:
An 83-year-old man becomes an undercover spy in a Chilean retirement home.
I profiled the doc before Sundance here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Releases, Sundance
Venice 2020: Documentary Overview
Festival:
The 77th Venice International Film Festival
Dates:
September 2-12
About:
The world’s oldest festival is also the first major Fall event to take place in theatres in the COVID-19 era, albeit with a somewhat truncated lineup of approximately 60 new features – 15 of those nonfiction. In addition, the autonomous parallel sidebars offer eight documentaries among their approximately 30 selections. Continue reading
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Overviews, Recommendations
On VOD: BLOODY NOSE, EMPTY POCKETS
Coming to VOD tomorrow, Tuesday, September 1:
BLOODY NOSE, EMPTY POCKETS
Directors:
Bill Ross, Turner Ross
World Premiere:
Sundance 2020
Select Festivals:
Berlin, CPH:DOX, True/False, Big Sky Doc, Calgary Underground
About:
A chronicle of the patrons and staff of a dive bar on what is meant to be its final day.
I profiled the film before Sundance here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Releases, Sundance
On TV: LOVE FRAUD
Coming to Showtime this Sunday, August 30:
LOVE FRAUD
Directors:
Rachel Grady and Heidi Ewing
World Premiere:
Sundance 2020
About:
An investigation of a notorious serial fraudster through the women he’s seduced, robbed, and abandoned.
I profiled the docuseries before Sundance here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Releases, Sundance
On VOD: CLASS ACTION PARK
Coming to HBO Max tonight, Thursday, August 27:
CLASS ACTION PARK
Directors:
Chris Charles Scott and Seth Porges
World Premiere:
Florida 2020
Select Festivals:
Fantasia, Indie Street, Docville
About:
A look back at NJ’s notorious amusement park, Action Park.
Located in Vernon NJ, just 50 miles away from NYC, Action Park was a regular attraction for families and teens from the late 1970s through the mid-1990s. As revealed in Chris Charles Scott and Seth Porges’ infectiously enjoyable revisitation of the site’s heyday, Action Park was also likely the world’s most dangerous amusement park, with patrons regularly suffering injuries both minor and major, and, in many cases, death. Drawing on a parade of past attendees, former staff, and Vernon residents, the film indulges the audience in a wild recounting of the highs and lows of Action Park – the Wild West, no-holds-barred freedom that attracted die-hard fans, but also the shocking lack of even basic security precautions that resulted in far too many accidents, and, intriguingly, the story of Gene Mulvihill, the shady owner that made it all possible. While not the most polished production, this memorable film successfully evokes nostalgia for a lost era when kids could enjoy the thrill and adventure of unsupervised play and parents didn’t live in constant fear.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
In Virtual Release: HOUSE OF CARDIN
Coming to virtual cinemas tomorrow, Friday, August 28:
HOUSE OF CARDIN
Directors:
P David Ebersole and Todd Hughes
World Premiere:
Venice 2019
Select Festivals:
DOC NYC, Chicago, Frameline, Provincetown, Palm Springs, Cleveland, RiverRun, Outfest
About:
A portrait of legendary fashion designer Pierre Cardin.
The film screened as part of DOC NYC, for which our program notes read:
Pierre Cardin forever changed fashion in multiple ways: He freed women from figure-molded clothes and introduced new shapes, styles, and colors; he was a pioneer in crossing over from haute couture to ready-to-wear; and he brought his designs to multiple products beyond clothes. Drawing on Cardin’s archives and insightful interviews with the designer himself, filmmakers P David Ebersole and Todd Hughes provide a lively, entertaining, and joyous overview of his contributions to the world of fashion and beyond.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
