Category Archives: Recommendations

2018 DOC NYC in Focus: Metropolis

DECADE OF FIRE

Festival:
DOC NYC

Dates:
November 8-15

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

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2018 DOC NYC in Focus: Viewfinders

WALKING ON WATER

Festival:
DOC NYC

Dates:
November 8-15

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

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On DVD: GOD KNOWS WHERE I AM

Coming to DVD today, Tuesday, October 23:
GOD KNOWS WHERE I AM

Directors:
Todd Wider and Jedd Wider

Premiere:
Hot Docs 2016

Select Festivals:
Nantucket, DOC NYC, Cleveland, Big Sky Doc, Kansas City, Calgary, Woodstock, Hamptons, Maryland, Full Frame

About:
An immersive exploration of a woman’s experience of mental illness.

I previously wrote about the doc here.

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2018 DOC NYC in Focus: Special Events

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 →

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NewFest 2018: Documentary Overview

Festival:
The 30th NewFest

Dates:
October 24-30

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

MAKING MONTGOMERY CLIFT

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.

I HATE NEW YORK | Photo by Jacob Fuglsang Mikkelsen

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.

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Special Screening: RODENTS OF UNUSUAL SIZE

Coming to NYC’s Stranger Than Fiction tomorrow, Tuesday, October 23:
RODENTS OF UNUSUAL SIZE

Directors:
Quinn Costello, Chris Metzler, Jeff Springer

Premiere:
DOC NYC 2017

Select Festivals:
Full Frame, Big Sky Doc, Wild and Scenic, Oxford, Washington DC Environmental, Salem, Indie Grits, Freep, Sarasota, IFF Boston, RiverRun, Doc Edge, SF DocFest, Woods Hole, Sidewalk, DocUtah, Yale Environmental, Tallgrass, Hot Springs Doc

About:
A wide-ranging look at efforts to protect Louisiana from a giant swamp rat.

I previously wrote about the film for DOC NYC’s program, saying:
Louisiana has suffered from hurricanes, flooding, and oil spills, but nothing has been as insidious as the nutria. This giant swamp rat, known for its distinctive orange buckteeth, is prone to tunneling and eating plant roots, threatening the region’s fragile wetlands with erosion. This quirky doc follows fisherman-turned-bounty hunter Thomas Gonzales and other colorful Gulf residents, from hunters and trappers to furriers and chefs, as they try to defend their imperiled land from the invasive species.

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On TV: THE APOLOGY

Coming to PBS’s POV tonight, Monday, October 22:
THE APOLOGY

Director:
Tiffany Hsiung

Premiere:
Hot Docs 2016

Select Festivals:
Human Rights Watch, Göteborg, Vilnius, Busan, Cork, Cinemalaya, DocPoint

About:
Former comfort women speak out about the abuse they suffered in WWII.

I previously wrote about the doc here.

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In Theatres: THE PRICE OF EVERYTHING

Coming to theatres today, Friday, October 19:
THE PRICE OF EVERYTHING

Director:
Nathaniel Kahn

Premiere:
Sundance 2018

Select Festivals:
Nantucket, True/False, CPH:DOX, Provincetown, New Zealand, Jerusalem, Melbourne, Athens, Adelaide

About:
A privileged look into the intersection of high art and commerce.

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

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In Theatres: ON HER SHOULDERS

Coming to theatres tomorrow, Friday, October 19:
ON HER SHOULDERS

Director:
Alexandria Bombach

Premiere:
Sundance 2018

Select Festivals:
DOC NYC, SXSW, Hot Docs, Sheffield, AFI Docs, Full Frame, Human Rights Watch, SF Jewish, Jerusalem, Dokufest, Melbourne, Sun Valley, Doc 10, Ashland, Cleveland, Kansas City, Sarasota, Montclair, Maryland, Dallas, Nashville, Seattle, Warsaw, Biografilm, Heartland

About:
A look at the burden carried by a young woman as she advocates for her people on the global stage.

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

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On VOD: THE JUDGE

Coming to VOD today, Thursday, October 18:
THE JUDGE

Director:
Erika Cohn

Premiere:
Toronto 2017

Select Festivals:
DOC NYC, IDFA, One World, Tempo Doc, CPH:DOX, Salem, Full Frame, San Francisco, Cleveland, Calgary Underground

About:
A portrait of a pioneering woman in the male dominated world of Islamic law.

I previously wrote about the doc here.

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