New to DVD and VOD this week: OLYMPIC PRIDE, AMERICAN PREJUDICE
Deborah Riley Draper’s chronicle of African American athletes at the 1936 Olympics made its debut at the Los Angeles Film Festival this Summer. Other screenings include the American Black Film Festival, BronzeLens, Cucalorus, Hot Springs Doc, Traverse City, Chicago, St Louis, and Washington Jewish. It is now available on DVD as well as VOD platforms including iTunes and Amazon.
I previously wrote about the doc here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
The 13th Dubai International Film Festival begins today, Wednesday, December 7, and runs through next Wednesday, December 14. The Gulf State event ups its nonfiction offerings this year slightly, presenting 23 documentary features compared to last year’s slim 17. Among these are the following:
Documentaries in competition include a single entry in the Muhr Emirati category, Nujoom Alghanem’s HONEY, RAIN & DUST (pictured), about three individuals involved with apiary and honey collection; as well as several in the Muhr Feature section, such as: Laurent Aït Benalla’s TERRA FIRMA, a study of a French harbor and its traffic with north Africa and the Middle East; Mohamed Rashad’s LITTLE EAGLES, in which the Egyptian filmmaker explores 1970s political activism while contemplating his career; Iman Kamel’s EGYPTIAN JEANNE D’ARC, an experimental meditation on present-day Egyptian women’s lives; Eliane Raheb’s THOSE WHO REMAIN, a portrait of a Christian Lebanese farmer and restaurateur; Hady Zaccak’s 104 WRINKLES, about the filmmaker’s centenarian grandmother; and Alfoz Tanjour’s A MEMORY IN KHAKI, which shares story of refugees from Syrian repression.
Nonfiction screening out of competition has largely been covered on this site at other events. Of note are several titles from the Arab world, showcased in the Arabian Nights section: DOC NYC alum BEZNESS AS USUAL (pictured), Dutch director Alex Pitstra’s personal reckoning with his Tunisian father; THE WAR SHOW, Obaidah Zytoon and Andreas Dalsgaard’s exploration of Syrians set against the Arab Spring and exile; ZAINEB HATES THE SNOW, Kaouther Ben Hania’s chronicle of a Tunisian girl’s coming to terms with life in Canada; THE CHALLENGE, Yuri Ancarani’s impressionistic portrait of falconry in Arab culture; and GAZA SURF CLUB, Philip Gnadt and Mickey Yamine’s look at surf culture in the isolated occupied land.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Overviews, Recommendations
This post is a pointer to the fourth lineup announcement for the 2017 Sundance Film Festival, revealing the 2017 Shorts program. The lineup may be found here.
Earlier lineup announcements include the US and World Cinema Documentary and Dramatic Competitions, plus NEXT; New Frontier; and Premieres, Documentary Premieres, Midnight, Spotlight, Kids, and Special Events.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Overviews, Recommendations
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences announced the Best Documentary Feature shortlist today. Congratulations to all the filmmakers – in particular all of the Sundance and DOC NYC alumni represented.
I’ve previously written about most of these and hope to cover the remainder before the final nominees are announced on January 24. For now, here is the official shortlist, with links to my previous coverage, where applicable:
I AM NOT YOUR NEGRO (pictured)
THE IVORY GAME
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Sundance
Coming to DVD today, Tuesday, December 6: HEART OF A DOG
Laurie Anderson’s essay film on mortality and love premiered at Telluride last year. It went on to screen at Venice, Toronto, San Sebastian, New York, Adelaide, Dublin, Rotterdam, San Francisco, Leeds, and Chicago. The film was shortlisted by the Academy Award for the Best Documentary Feature of 2015. It now comes to DVD via the Criterion Collection.
I previously wrote about the doc here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
Coming to DVD today, Tuesday, December 6: LOVE BETWEEN THE COVERS
Laurie Kahn’s exploration of the dismissed romance literary genre had its world premiere at Hot Docs last year. It went on to screen at DOC NYC, Los Angeles, Provincetown, Woods Hole, Sidewalk, Hot Springs Doc, Mill Valley, and St Louis, as well as at several book events.
I previously wrote about the doc here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
Coming to VOD today, Tuesday, December 6: THE ANTHROPOLOGIST
Seth Kramer, Daniel A Miller, and Jeremy Newberger’s anthropological look at climate change made its bow at DOC NYC last year. The doc went on to screen at Cleveland, Dallas, RiverRun, Minneapolis, IFF Boston, Cucalorus, and San Francisco Green, among other events. It now comes to VOD via iTunes.
I previously wrote about the film here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
Coming to DVD today, Tuesday, December 6: AUTHOR: THE JT LEROY STORY
Jeff Feuerzeig’s behind-the-scenes exploration of the literary wunderkind debuted at Sundance this year. It went on to screen at Nantucket, True/False, Full Frame, San Francisco, DocAviv, Seattle, Sheffield, Sundance London, Provincetown, New Zealand, Sidewalk, and BAMcinemaFest, among other events.
My pre-Sundance profile of the film may be found here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Releases, Sundance
This post is a pointer to the third lineup announcement for the 2017 Sundance Film Festival. This year’s selections in the Premieres, Documentary Premieres, Midnight, Spotlight, Kids, and Special Events sections may be found here.
Still to be revealed in further announcements are 2017’s Shorts and From the Collection selections.
Earlier lineup announcements include the US and World Cinema Documentary and Dramatic Competitions, plus NEXT and New Frontier.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Overviews, Recommendations, Sundance
Coming to DVD tomorrow, Tuesday, December 6: BECOMING MIKE NICHOLS
Douglas McGrath’s indepth look at the acclaimed filmmaker’s early work debuted at Sundance earlier this year. Other screenings included Martha’s Vineyard and the Berkshires, as well as HBO broadcasts.
I profiled the doc before Sundance here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Releases, Sundance
