Category Archives: Recommendations

On DVD: THE JAZZ LOFT ACCORDING TO W EUGENE SMITH

Coming to DVD tomorrow, Tuesday, January 9:
THE JAZZ LOFT ACCORDING TO W EUGENE SMITH

Director:
Sara Fishko

Premiere:
New Orleans 2015

Select Festivals:
DOC NYC, Rotterdam, Full Frame, Cleveland, Florida, BAFICI, Copenhagen Jazz Film Festival

About:
An insider look at NYC bohemia in the late 1950s-early 1960s.

I previously wrote about the doc here.

Leave a comment

Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases

2018 Sundance Docs in Focus: WESTWOOD: PUNK, ICON, ACTIVIST

Courtesy of Sundance Institute | photo by Pierre Verdy

WESTWOOD: PUNK, ICON, ACTIVIST
Lorna Tucker profiles the uncompromising British designer.

Festival Section:
World Cinema Documentary Competition

Country:
UK
Continue reading →

Leave a comment

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

2018 Sundance Docs in Focus: THIS IS HOME

Courtesy of Sundance Institute | photo by Gidalya Pictures

THIS IS HOME
Alexandra Shiva reveals the experiences of newly arrived Syrian refugees in Baltimore.

Festival Section:
World Cinema Documentary Competition

Country:
USA/Jordan
Continue reading →

Leave a comment

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

2018 Sundance Docs in Focus: SHIRKERS

Courtesy of Sundance Institute

SHIRKERS
Sandi Tan recounts the tangled mystery of what happened to her first feature film.

Festival Section:
World Cinema Documentary Competition

Country:
USA (about Singapore)
Continue reading →

Leave a comment

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

On TV: UNREST

Coming to PBS’s Independent Lens this coming Monday, January 8:
UNREST

Director:
Jennifer Brea

Premiere:
Sundance 2017

Select Festivals:
Hot Docs, Sheffield, CPH:DOX, SXSW, RiverRun, Cleveland, Nashville, New Zealand, Melbourne

Notable Recognition:
The doc was shortlisted for the Academy Awards.

About:
A personal and candid look at life with a debilitating and widely misunderstood medical condition.

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

Leave a comment

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

2018 Sundance Docs in Focus: A POLAR YEAR

Courtesy of Sundance Institute

A POLAR YEAR
Samuel Collardey chronicles the culture clash facing a Danish teacher on assignment in Greenland.

Festival Section:
World Cinema Documentary Competition

Country:
France
Continue reading →

Leave a comment

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

2018 Sundance Docs in Focus: OUR NEW PRESIDENT

Courtesy of Sundance Institute

OUR NEW PRESIDENT
Maxim Pozdorovkin reveals American politics through the distinct, and decidedly warped, lens of the Russian newsmedia.

Festival Section:
World Cinema Documentary Competition

Country:
Russia/USA
Continue reading →

Leave a comment

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

2018 Sundance Docs in Focus: THE OSLO DIARIES

Courtesy of Sundance Institute | photo by Saar Yaacov

THE OSLO DIARIES
Mor Loushy and Daniel Sivan take an unprecedented behind the scenes look at the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.

Festival Section:
World Cinema Documentary Competition

Country:
Israel/Canada
Continue reading →

Leave a comment

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

2018 Sundance Docs in Focus: OF FATHERS AND SONS

Courtesy of Sundance Institute | photo by Kahtan Hasson and Talal Derki

OF FATHERS AND SONS
Talal Derki embeds with a radical jihadist and his family in Syria.

Festival Section:
World Cinema Documentary Competition

Country:
Germany/Syria/Lebanon/Qatar
Continue reading →

Leave a comment

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

2018 Sundance Docs in Focus: MATANGI/MAYA/MIA

Courtesy of Sundance Institute

MATANGI/MAYA/MIA
Stephen Loveridge offers an insider perspective on the life and career of the popular musician.

Festival Section:
World Cinema Documentary Competition

Country:
Sri Lanka/United Kingdom/USA
Continue reading →

Leave a comment

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