Coming to theatres tomorrow, Friday, November 6: SEMBENE!
Samba Gadjigo and Jason Silverman’s portrait of the influential father of African cinema debuted at Sundance at the beginning of the year. It went on to screen at Cannes, Telluride, Sydney, BFI London, Durban, Mill Valley, Zanzibar, and Rio.
My pre-Sundance profile of the doc may be found here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Releases, Sundance
Now on DVD and VOD: MATT SHEPARD IS A FRIEND OF MINE
Michele Josue’s rounded portrait of the hate crime victim premiered at Mill Valley in 2013. It went on to screen at DOC NYC, IDFA, Cleveland, CNEX Taipei Doc, St Louis, Miami LGBT, Toronto’s Inside Out, and Russia’s Side by Side LGBT fests, among others. In addition to its DVD release, the film is now available on VOD via iTunes and Amazon.
I previously wrote about the doc upon its theatrical release here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
Today’s DOC NYC 2015 preview wraps with the second day of DOC NYC PRO programming on Friday, November 13: Pitch Day, copresented with A&E IndieFilms, which draws on expert advice to help documentary filmmakers present their film ideas to funders and industry professionals. Beginning with Pitch Day, weekday DOC NYC PRO sessions include access to the new PRO Lounge, begin with morning bagels and coffee from 9:15-10:00am, and conclude with Happy Hours from 5:00-6:00pm. Continue reading
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Overviews, Recommendations
Tomorrow, Thursday, November 5, sees the opening of CPH:DOX, one of the signature nonfiction events in the world in only its 13th edition. More than 180 new documentary features will screen through the Copenhagen fest’s wrap on Sunday, November 15, in addition to retrospective programming, shorts, and several live events. The following presents highlights from several of its sections: Continue reading
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Overviews, Recommendations
Next up in my preview, DOC NYC offers a global lens through our International Perspectives section: Continue reading
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Overviews, Recommendations
Coming to theatres today, Wednesday, November 4: IN JACKSON HEIGHTS
Frederick Wiseman’s portrait of NYC’s most diverse neighborhood had its world premiere at Venice this Fall. It has gone on to screen at Toronto, Zurich, London, Tokyo, Chicago, and the New York Film Festival, among others.
As in other works, Wiseman drops the viewer directly into his setting, offering an immersion into the vibrant Queens community and its many cultures and subcultures. Thoroughly a celebration of the local, the film flits effortlessly between various public spaces, more often than not highlighting a sense of community and inclusion. Wiseman’s camera spends time with an assembly of small business owners concerned about gentrification, a circle of gay seniors, a meeting of undocumented people, and a trans support group. He checks in on educational efforts in the neighborhood, from Arabic language lessons to an over-the-top taxi training course. Weaving in the sounds and sights of Jackson Heights – the long-established Queens Pride parade, groups of musicians, shop signs – Wiseman creates an uplifting, engrossing, and sprawling city symphony with his 40th nonfiction feature.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
Today’s DOC NYC preview begins with our standing section offering a panoramic view of stories from around the country: American Perspectives. Continue reading
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Overviews, Recommendations
Now on DVD: BRONX OBAMA
Ryan Murdock’s look at a presidential lookalike made its bow at True/False last year. The film has gone on to screen at AFI Docs, Montclair, Traverse City, Hot Docs, Ambulante CA, and Bergen, among others.
I previously wrote about the doc here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
Coming to NYC’s Stranger Than Fiction series tomorrow, Thursday, November 5: SHERPA
Jennifer Peedom’s tense look at the dangers and economics of mountain climbing made its debut at Sydney this Summer. It has gone on to screen at Telluride, Toronto, Melbourne, Aspen, and London, among others.
What began as a record of an Everest ascent from the perspective of the often-overlooked mountain guide becomes a much more complex and harrowing tale as Peedom’s filming takes place during the worst accident in the mountain’s history. On April 18, 2014, a massive block of ice fell onto an already treacherous part of the climbers’ route, killing sixteen Sherpas. This took place a year after tensions between entitled European climbers and Sherpas hit a boiling point, resulting in physical violence that became international news. As Sherpas, climbing tour heads, and anxious foreign climbers react to the tragedy, Peedom captures a fascinating, multilayered story as it unfolds. Sherpas, despite economically depending on the foreign mountain-climbing industry, begin to organize, calling first for a cancellation of the climbing season out of respect for their fallen brothers, and then draft a list of demands for better compensation and conditions, tired of assuming most of the risk in this dangerous endeavor but little of the reward. Recognizing the economic impact of a cancelled season, the foreign-owned climbing tour companies scramble to work out a solution, but largely come off poorly in the end, as do some of the climbers.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations
Coming to VOD today, Tuesday, November 3: MERU
Jimmy Chin and E Chai Vasarhelyi’s study in determination premiered at Sundance this year, where it picked up an audience award. It has gone on to screen at Nantucket, True/False, Full Frame, San Francisco, Telluride Mountainfilm, and Nashville, among others. It now comes to VOD via iTunes.
My pre-Sundance doc profile may be found here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Releases, Sundance
what (not) to doc 