Category Archives: Recommendations

Festival:
The 22nd Ji.hlava International Documentary Film Festival

Dates:
October 25-30

About:
More than 100 new and recent nonfiction features are presented in this Czech event.

Among the world premieres in the main competition, Opus Bonum, are: Alexandra Kandy Longuet’s VACANY, an observational study of an American motel; Jorge Pelicano’s UNTIL PORN DO US PART, about a religious woman trying to come to terms with her son’s gay porn career; Sanaz Azari’s BACKSTAGE ACTION, which focuses on film extras; NSD Mike Hoolboom’s AFTERMATH, an experimental portrait of four artists.

Filmmakers making their feature debut are spotlighted in the First Lights competition, with world premieres including: Dulce Ferreira Sanchez’s THE PARADISE, exploring Venezuela’s recent history through 15 years of the filmmaker’s home movies; Joaquín Maito’s OWNER’S PORTRAIT, an essay about animals, humans, and capitalism; Javier Bellido Valdivia’s CONNATURAL, profiling three generations of women and their connection to mortality; and Cyprien Clément-Delmas and Igor Kosenko’s BOY OF WAR, about a naive teen eager to join the war in Ukraine.

Works from Central and Eastern European are the focus of the Between the Seas competition, with several world premieres, including: Hilal Baydarov’s BIRTHDAY, a portrait of the filmmaker’s lonely mother; Alexander Mihalkovich’s MY GRANNY FROM MARS, about an old Ukrainian woman living in Russian-occupied Crimea; Simon Mozgovyi’s THE WINTER GARDEN’S TALE, on a crumbling conservatory that has just lost its longtime gardener; and Eugene Golovanevsky’s HEAVY METAL, which follows construction workers as they tear down a high-rise.

National cinema making its debut in the Czech Joy competition includes: Pavel Jurda’s GOOD MR BENDA, a portrait of an athletics-minded grandfather; Martin Páv’s VOTE FOR KIBERA, a hopeful profile of the people of Nairobi’s biggest slum; Jana Boršková’s PASSENGERS, a longitudinal portrait of former residents of a children’s home; and Jiří Holba’s FERAL, about a Czech man living as a hermit in the Australian outback since the 1980s.

Festival:
DOC NYC

Dates:
November 8-15

Section:
American Perspectives, which highlights stories from around the US: Continue reading →

Festival:
DOC NYC

Dates:
November 8-15

Section:
Metropolis, our competition section focused on stories about New York City: Continue reading →

Festival:
DOC NYC

Dates:
November 8-15

Section:
Viewfinders, our competition section highlighting features which demonstrate distinct directorial vision: Continue reading →

In just over two weeks, on Thursday, November 8, the ninth edition of DOC NYC, America’s largest documentary festival, begins. As the event’s Director of Programming, I’ve led the film selection, and, as in years past, will briefly spotlight our programming here, section by section.

Section:
Special Events, our tentpole screenings: Continue reading →

Festival:
The 30th NewFest

Dates:
October 24-30

About:
NYC’s LGBT fest celebrates an anniversary year, presenting 15 docs among its 40+ offerings.

Nonfiction in key slots include closing night selection MAKING MONTGOMERY CLIFT, Robert Clift and Hillary Demmon’s intimate reassessment of the life, career, and legacy of the Hollywood legend; and doc centerpiece DYKES, CAMERA, ACTION!, Caroline Berler’s survey of queer women’s cinema.

Among the fest’s other documentaries are: Gustavo Sánchez’s I HATE NEW YORK, a portrait of three trans artists in NYC’s nightlife scene; Laura Marie Wayne’s LOVE, SCOTT, about the transformation a gay musician goes through after a vicious attack; Tristan Aitchison’s SIDNEY & FRIENDS, on the struggles of trans and intersex Kenyans; and Christian Sonderegger’s COBY, on life after transitioning for a transman in Ohio.