Festival:
The 25th Slamdance Film Festival
Dates:
January 25-31
About:
The smaller, alternative January Park City film festival has an anniversary year, screening 10 docs among its nearly 30 features. Continue reading
Category Archives: Recommendations
Slamdance 2019: Documentary Overview
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Overviews, Recommendations
2019 Sundance Docs in Focus: WU-TANG CLAN: OF MICS AND MEN
Courtesy of Sundance Institute
Sacha Jenkins explores the history and cultural significance of the influential hip-hop collective.
Festival Section:
Indie Episodic
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Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Sundance
On TV: THE KING
Coming to PBS’s Independent Lens next Monday, January 28:
THE KING
Director:
Eugene Jarecki
Premiere:
Cannes 2017
Select Festivals:
Sundance, Nantucket, Nashville, Seattle, Martha’s Vineyard, London, Sarasota, Chicago DOC 10, Deauville, Zurich, Haifa
About:
A musical road trip across the US in Elvis Presley’s 1963 Rolls Royce explores the rise and fall of the American empire.
My pre-Sundance profile of the doc may be found here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Releases, Sundance
2019 Sundance Docs in Focus: THIS IS PERSONAL
Courtesy of Sundance Institute
Amy Berg presents a candid look at the work and challenges of modern day feminist activism.
Festival Section:
Special Events
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Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Sundance
2019 Sundance Docs in Focus: LORENA
Courtesy of Sundance Institute
Joshua Rofé investigates the notorious case of Lorena and John Wayne Bobbitt.
Festival Section:
Special Events
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Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Sundance
In Theatres: THE 5 BROWNS: DIGGING THROUGH THE DARKNESS
Coming to theatres tomorrow, Wednesday, January 23:
THE 5 BROWNS: DIGGING THROUGH THE DARKNESS
Director:
Ben Niles
Premiere:
Montclair 2018
Select Festivals:
DOC NYC, SF DocFest, Sedona
About:
A unique family musical group reckons with the revelation of past trauma.
The film screened as part of DOC NYC, for which our program notes read:
Five close-knit siblings, all piano virtuosos trained at Juilliard, form The 5 Browns, a musical group that takes the world by storm, touring and recording best-selling albums. The facade of their happy, all-American family is shattered, however, with the revelation of a dark secret. Laced with brilliant musical performances, this is the compelling story of how the gifted siblings struggle to save themselves and their music while confronting their disturbing past.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
2019 Sundance Docs in Focus: LEAVING NEVERLAND
Courtesy of Sundance Institute
Dan Reed presents an intimate profile of two of Michael Jackson’s alleged sexual abuse victims.
Festival Section:
Special Events
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Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Sundance
On TV: THREE IDENTICAL STRANGERS
Coming to CNN this Sunday, January 27:
THREE IDENTICAL STRANGERS
Director:
Tim Wardle
Premiere:
Sundance 2018
Select Festivals:
Nantucket, DOC NYC, Hot Docs, Miami, San Francisco, Sydney, Dallas, Montclair, Cleveland, Newport Beach
Notable Recognition:
The doc was shortlisted for the Academy Awards.
About:
The surprising, stranger than fiction tale of triplets separated at birth.
I profiled the doc before Sundance here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Releases, Sundance
2019 Sundance Docs in Focus: MAIDEN
Courtesy of Sundance Institute | photo by Tracy Edwards
Alex Holmes tells the story of a pioneering all-female yacht racing team.
Festival Section:
Spotlight
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Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Sundance
91st Oscars: Best Documentary Nominees
The Best Documentary Oscar finalists were announced this morning, together with all the other categories – the entire list of nominees has been posted by the Academy here. The documentaries are listed below. Congratulations to all the nominees – of which 4 were on the DOC NYC Short List, and the fifth part of the fest’s larger lineup – and good luck on Sunday, February 24!
FREE SOLO
HALE COUNTY THIS MORNING, THIS EVENING
MINDING THE GAP
OF FATHERS & SONS
RBG
Congrats also to the Documentary Shorts nominees, which includes two DOC NYC alumni:
BLACK SHEEP
END GAME
LIFEBOAT
A NIGHT AT THE GARDEN
PERIOD. END OF SENTENCE.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations
what (not) to doc 