Category Archives: Recommendations

2017 Sundance Docs in Focus: THE NEW RADICAL

new radicalTHE NEW RADICAL
Adam Bhala Lough profiles two crypto-anarchists as they face off against systems of control.

Festival Section:
US Documentary Competition
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2017 Sundance Docs in Focus: ICARUS

icarusICARUS
Bryan Fogel exposes a complex doping operation at the heart of Russia’s Olympics program.

Festival Section:
US Documentary Competition
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2017 Sundance Docs in Focus: THE FORCE

forceTHE FORCE
Peter Nicks immerses viewers in the beleaguered Oakland Police Department as it attempts to reform its scandal-ridden image.

Festival Section:
US Documentary Competition
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On DVD: HEY BARTENDER

hey bartenderComing to DVD today, Tuesday, December 28: HEY BARTENDER

Douglas Tirola’s insider’s look at cocktail culture made its world premiere at SXSW in 2013. Screenings followed at Montclair, Napa Valley, and New Orleans, among other events.

I included the doc in my SXSW coverage here.

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2017 Sundance Docs in Focus: DOLORES

doloresDOLORES
Peter Bratt celebrates an unheralded pioneer of the modern labor rights movement.

Festival Section:
US Documentary Competition
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2017 Sundance Docs in Focus: DINA

dinaDINA
Dan Sickles and Antonio Santini profile an unforgettable woman as she seeks to realize her desires.

Festival Section:
US Documentary Competition
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2017 Sundance Docs in Focus: CITY OF GHOSTS

city of ghostsCITY OF GHOSTS
Matthew Heineman captures a courageous group of citizen journalists and their struggle to expose the truth behind ISIS.

Festival Section:
US Documentary Competition
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2017 Sundance Docs in Focus: CHASING CORAL

chasing coralCHASING CORAL
Jeff Orlowski races to capture the climate change-driven destruction of the planet’s lifegiving coral reefs.

Festival Section:
US Documentary Competition

Special Program:
The New Climate
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2017 Sundance Docs in Focus: CASTING JONBENET

casting jonbenetCASTING JONBENET
Kitty Green’s hybrid explores the 1996 murder of the child beauty pageant winner from the perspectives of the local community.

Festival Section:
US Documentary Competition
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On TV: EVERY BRILLIANT THING

every_brilliantComing to HBO tonight Monday, December 26: EVERY BRILLIANT THING

Randy Barbato and Fenton Bailey’s filmed version of Jonny Donahoe and Duncan Macmillan’s acclaimed and life-affirming fictional stage show made its debut at DOC NYC last month.

I previously wrote about the film for DOC NYC, saying:
When he is only seven years old, a young boy’s mother attempts suicide for the first time. He responds the only way he knows how: he begins an enumerated list of “brilliant things” worth living for, from “things with stripes” to “water fights.” As he grows, so does the list, following him through subsequent suicide attempts by his mother as well as pivotal moments in his own life, and culminating in its development into a poignant and very funny one-man show featuring creative audience participation.

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