Festival:
The 31st Human Rights Watch Film Festival
Dates:
June 11-20 (online)
About:
The NYC edition of this respected event presents eleven documentary features, available online throughout the US.
BELLY OF THE BEAST
Category Archives: Recommendations
Human Rights Watch 2020: Documentary Overview
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Overviews, Recommendations
On VOD: BORN IN EVIN
New to VOD this week:
BORN IN EVIN
Director:
Maryam Zaree
World Premiere:
Berlin 2019
Select Festivals:
Hot Docs, IDFA, Sarajevo, Morelia, Biografilm, Human Rights Watch NYC, Cologne, Heartland
About:
A personal film investigating the filmmaker’s birth in an Iranian prison for dissidents.
Actress Maryam Zaree was born in Iran, but has lived in Germany for most of her life. Both of her parents were dissidents critical of the Shah of Iran, but found no more freedom under the Ayatollah’s rule. Instead, they were both persecuted, leading to Maryam being born in Evin, a notorious prison. While Maryam’s mother has thrived since she found asylum in Germany, she has never wanted to discuss her experiences. Still seeking answers about her own past, Maryam sets out on a journey to find other victims of the regime, including others like her, who were born to dissidents in prison. Unapologetically a personal film – and one that doubles as a form of therapy, for good and bad – Zaree’s project finds power in providing a platform for Maryam and others to confront generational trauma.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
Sydney 2020: Documentary Overview
Festival:
The 67th Sydney Film Festival
Dates:
June 10-21 (online)
About:
This long-running Australian event holds an online edition this year, focused on documentaries, female filmmakers from Europe, and shorts, offering Aussie audiences 12 nonfiction features among its 19 feature presentations. Continue reading
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Overviews, Recommendations
On DVD: THE WINDERMERE CHILDREN: IN THEIR OWN WORDS
Coming to DVD today, Tuesday, June 9:
THE WINDERMERE CHILDREN: IN THEIR OWN WORDS
Directors:
Guy Arthur and Francis Welch
World Premiere:
British TV broadcast (January 2020)
About:
Child survivors of the Holocaust reflect on a rehabilitation program in which they took part in the UK.
I previously wrote about the doc here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
On DVD/VOD: ADVOCATE
Coming to DVD and VOD tomorrow, Tuesday, June 9:
ADVOCATE
Directors:
Rachel Leah Jones and Philippe Bellaïche
World Premiere:
Sundance 2019
Select Festivals:
DOC NYC, Docaviv, IDFA, CPH:DOX, Hot Docs, Sheffield, Thessaloniki Doc, Krakow, Human Rights Watch, Doc Edge, Philadelphia, Other Israel, United Nations Association, Antenna, UK Jewish, San Francisco Jewish
Notable Recognition:
The doc was shortlisted for the Academy Awards.
About:
An exploration of the Israeli justice system through a passionate Israeli attorney working for Palestinian defendants.
I profiled the doc before Sundance here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Releases, Sundance
On DVD: THE BOOKSELLERS
Coming to DVD tomorrow, Tuesday, June 9:
THE BOOKSELLERS
Director:
DW Young
World Premiere:
New York Film Festival 2019
Select Festivals:
St Louis, Miami Jewish, RiverRun, Sebastopol Doc, Victoria
About:
An affectionate portrait of NYC’s community of rare book dealers and collectors.
I previously wrote about the doc here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
On TV: BE WATER
Coming to ESPN’s 30 for 30 series this Sunday, June 7:
BE WATER
Director:
Bao Nguyen
World Premiere:
Sundance 2020
About:
A reflection on the brief but impactful career of legendary actor Bruce Lee.
I profiled the doc before Sundance here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Releases, Sundance
On VOD: THE BOOKSELLERS
Coming to VOD tomorrow, Friday, June 5:
THE BOOKSELLERS
Director:
DW Young
World Premiere:
New York Film Festival 2019
Select Festivals:
St Louis, Miami Jewish, RiverRun, Sebastopol Doc, Victoria
About:
An affectionate portrait of NYC’s community of rare book dealers and collectors.
I previously wrote about the doc here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
On DVD: REWIND
Coming to DVD tomorrow, Tuesday, June 2:
REWIND
Director:
Sasha Joseph Neulinger
World Premiere:
Tribeca 2019
Select Festivals:
BFI London, Traverse City, Palm Springs, Denver, Mill Valley, Nashville, Rome, Heartland, Big Sky Doc, Atlanta Jewish
About:
A filmmaker confronts his traumatic past.
I previously wrote about the doc here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
On VOD: THE INFILTRATORS
Coming to VOD tomorrow, Tuesday, June 2:
THE INFILTRATORS
Directors:
Alex Rivera and Cristina Ibarra
World Premiere:
Sundance 2019
Select Festivals:
SXSW, Hot Docs, Miami, NY Latino, Montclair, Calgary, Hawaii
About:
A hybrid docufiction project detailing the mission of undocumented youth to be detained by Border Patrol.
I profiled the film before Sundance here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Releases, Sundance
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