Category Archives: Recommendations

On TV: THE GOSPEL OF EUREKA

Coming to PBS’s POV tonight, Monday, June 24:
THE GOSPEL OF EUREKA

Directors:
Michael Palmieri and Donal Mosher

Premiere:
SXSW 2018

Select Festivals:
Sheffield, AFI Docs, Nashville, BAMcinemaFest, Provincetown, Indie Grits, Ashland, Frameline, Portland QDoc

About:
A small Arkansas town hosts both a spectacular Passion Play and a gospel drag show.

I previously wrote about the doc here.

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On TV: APOLLO 11

Coming to CNN this Sunday, June 23:
APOLLO 11

Director:
Todd Douglas Miller

Premiere:
Sundance 2019

Select Festivals:
SXSW, True/False, Miami

About:
A revisitation of the historic manned space mission to the Moon through exclusive, immersive footage.

I profiled the doc before Sundance here.

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Frameline 2019: Documentary Overview

Festival:
The 43rd Frameline: San Francisco International LGBTQ+ Film Festival

Dates:
June 20-30

About:
The world’s longest-running and most influential LGBT festival presents more than 75 features, including approximately 30 documentaries. Continue reading →

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In Theatres: TONI MORRISON: THE PIECES I AM

photo by Timothy Greenfield-Sanders

Coming to theatres tomorrow, Friday, June 21:
TONI MORRISON: THE PIECES I AM

Director:
Timothy Greenfield-Sanders

Premiere:
Sundance 2019

Select Festivals:
Nantucket, Miami, Cleveland, Montclair, Wisconsin

About:
An intimate profile of the Nobel and Pulitzer Prize-winning literary icon.

I profiled the doc before Sundance here.

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Edinburgh 2019: Documentary Overview

Festival:
The 73rd Edinburgh International Film Festival

Dates:
June 19-30

About:
Just under 30 new or recent nonfiction – of approximately 120 features – appears in the lineup of this long-running Scottish event. Continue reading →

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On DVD: OZONE HOLE: HOW WE SAVED THE PLANET

New to DVD this week:
OZONE HOLE: HOW WE SAVED THE PLANET

Director:
Jamie Lochhead

Premiere:
InScience 2018

About:
A look back at how the world came together to address a potential global catastrophe.

I previously wrote about the doc here.

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In Theatres & On VOD: THE EDGE OF DEMOCRACY

photo by Orlando Brito

Coming to theatres and to Netflix tonight, Wednesday, June 19:
THE EDGE OF DEMOCRACY

Director:
Petra Costa

World Premiere:
Sundance 2019

Select Festivals:
Nantucket, Hot Docs, CPH:DOX, San Francisco, Montclair, IndieLisboa, Biografilm

About:
A cautionary tale about Brazil’s recent political scandals.

My pre-Sundance profile of the doc may be found here.

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On DVD: THE BRINK

Coming to DVD today, Tuesday, June 18:
THE BRINK

Director:
Alison Klayman

Premiere:
Sundance 2019

Select Festivals:
CPH:DOX, Cleveland, Docville

About:
Steve Bannon, post-White House.

My pre-Sundance profile of the doc may be found here.

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AFI Docs 2019 Overview

Festival:
The 17th AFI Docs

Dates:
June 19-23

About:
Just over 40 new and recent doc features, plus retrospective programming and shorts, make up the line-up of this respected Washington DC event. Continue reading →

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On VOD: MEMORY GAMES

MEMORY GAMES

Coming to Netflix tomorrow, Wednesday, June 19:
MEMORY GAMES

Directors:
Janet Tobias and Claus Wehlisch

World Premiere:
DOC NYC 2018

Select Festivals:
RiverRun, Docs Against Gravity, DocLands,

About:
A look at the unforgettable world championship of memory athletes.

The film screened as part of DOC NYC, for which our program notes read:
You won’t believe your eyes watching this competition of memory athletes. Quickly absorbing complex data, such as random sequences of numbers, through visualization techniques – represented here through creative animated sequences – the competitors repeat it back under high-pressure conditions. The film follows hopefuls from the US, Germany, and Sweden on their way to a world championship.

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