Category Archives: Recommendations

On TV: EVA HESSE

Coming to PBS’s American Masters tomorrow, Friday, August 31:
EVA HESSE

Director:
Marcie Begleiter

Premiere:
Whitney Museum of American Art (May 2015)

Select Festivals:
Docaviv, Virginia, Denver’s Women + Film series, Washington Jewish, Philadelphia Jewish, Wexner Center for the Arts

About:
A portrait of the pioneering postwar artist.

I previously wrote about the doc here.

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In Theatres: PICK OF THE LITTER

Coming to theatres tomorrow, Friday, August 31:
PICK OF THE LITTER

Directors:
Don Hardy and Dana Nachman

Premiere:
Slamdance 2018

Select Festivals:
Nantucket, Hot Docs, AFI Docs, Melbourne, New Zealand, Sydney, Cleveland, Seattle, San Francisco, Freep, Hawaii, Newport Beach

About:
A behind the scenes look at the training of guide dogs for the blind.

I previously wrote about the doc here.

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Telluride 2018: Documentary Overview

Festival:
The 45th annual Telluride Film Festival

Dates:
August 31-September 3

About:
Seventeen of the influential Colorado festival’s 39 feature slots go to documentaries this year.

Continue reading

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Venice 2018: Documentary Overview

Festival:
The 75th annual Venice Film Festival

Dates:
August 29-September 8

About:
The world’s oldest film festival reaches a landmark year, and, together with its autonomous sidebars, presents approximately 30 documentaries among more than 100 new features. Continue reading

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On DVD: RBG

Coming to DVD today, Tuesday, August 28:
RBG

Directors:
Betsy West and Julie Cohen

Premiere:
Sundance 2018

Select Festivals:
Miami, Cleveland, San Francisco, Montclair

About:
A portrait of legendary, outspoken US Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

I profiled the doc before Sundance here.

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On TV: BIDDER 70

Coming to PBS’s America ReFramed tomorrow, Tuesday, August 28:
BIDDER 70

Directors:
Beth Gage and George Gage

Premiere:
Mountainfilm 2012

Select Festivals:
Cleveland, Denver, Human Rights Watch, Traverse City, United Nations, Mill Valley, Washington DC Environmental

About:
An exploration of one man’s act of civil disobedience.

I previously wrote about the doc here.

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On TV: NOWHERE TO HIDE

Coming to PBS’s POV tonight, Monday, August 27:
NOWHERE TO HIDE

Director:
Zaradasht Ahmed

Premiere:
IDFA 2016

Select Festivals:
CPH:DOX, Thessaloniki Doc, One World, Göteborg, Cleveland, Sarasota, Docs Against Gravity, Sydney, Seattle, DocAviv, Human Rights Watch NYC, London, and Toronto

About:
A personal tour through daily life in Iraq.

I previously wrote about the doc here.

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On TV: AMERICA TO ME

Coming to Starz
beginning this Sunday, August 26:
AMERICA TO ME

Director:
Steve James

Premiere:
Sundance 2018

Select Festivals:
Full Frame, AFI Docs, Middlebury

About:
An intimate docuseries exploring the intersection of race and educational achievement over a year in a diverse suburban Chicago-area high school.

I profiled the series pre-Sundance here.

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In Theatres: THE OSLO DIARIES

Coming to theatres today, Friday, August 24:
THE OSLO DIARIES

Directors:
Mor Loushy and Daniel Sivan

Premiere:
Sundance 2018

Select Festivals:
Hot Docs, Seattle, Jerusalem, Global Peace, Biografilm, Documentary Edge, Jewish festivals in San Francisco, Boston, Toronto, and London

About:
An unprecedented behind the scenes look at the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.

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

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In Theatres & On VOD: CRIME + PUNISHMENT

Coming to theatres and to Hulu tomorrow, Friday, August 24:
CRIME + PUNISHMENT

Director:
Stephen Maing

Premiere:
Sundance 2018

Select Festivals:
Nantucket, True/False, Hot Docs, AFI Docs, Doc10, Full Frame, BAMcinemaFest, Ashland, Sarasota, Thin Line, Montclair, Nashville, Seattle, Shanghai, Traverse City, Martha’s Vineyard, NY Asian American, Southern Fried, Houston Latino

About:
Whistleblowing police officers attempt to expose a corrupt NYPD.

I profiled the doc before Sundance here.

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Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Releases, Sundance