Coming to theatres tomorrow, Friday, August 14: MERU
Jimmy Chin and E Chai Vasarhelyi’s study of three determined men against a seemingly unscalable peak made its debut at Sundance earlier this year, where it won an audience award. Since then, it has screened at Nantucket, True/False, Full Frame, San Francisco, Telluride Mountainfilm, and Nashville, among others.
I profiled the doc before Sundance here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Releases, Sundance
Opening this Friday, August 14, the Sarajevo Film Festival celebrates its 21st edition through Saturday, August 22, while also commemorating the 20th anniversary of the end of the Bosnian War in which it began. Just over 100 features will unspool during the proceedings, with approximately 40 documentaries among their number, including the following: Continue reading
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Overviews, Recommendations
Coming to theatres this Friday, August 14: WE COME AS FRIENDS
Hubert Sauper’s investigation into modern day colonialism in Africa had its world premiere at Sundance last year, where it won a special jury award. It went on to screen at Berlin, New Directors/New Films, BAFICI, Istanbul, San Francisco, Durban, Dokufest, Rio, Busan, London, Jihlava, CPH:DOX, IDFA, and Traverse City, among many others.
My pre-Sundance profile of the doc may be found here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Releases, Sundance
Coming to VOD today, Tuesday, August 11: THE LIFE AND CRIMES OF DORIS PAYNE
Matthew Pond and Kirk Marcolina’s profile of a notorious jewel thief debuted at Hot Docs in 2013. Its fest circuit also included IDFA, Woodstock, Tallgrass, Antenna, Hot Springs, Cleveland, Docaviv, and ArcLight Hollywood Doc, among others.
I previously included the film in my Hot Docs coverage here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
Coming to DVD tomorrow, Tuesday, August 11: I AM BIG BIRD
Dave LaMattina and Chad Walker’s look at one of SESAME STREET’s beloved muppeteers had its world premiere at Hot Docs last year. Other fest engagements included DOC NYC, AFI Docs, Los Angeles, Cleveland, Philadelphia, Seattle, Montclair, and Melbourne, among others.
I previously wrote about the doc here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
New to VOD this week: DON’T THINK I’VE FORGOTTEN: CAMBODIA’S LOST ROCK AND ROLL
John Pirozzi’s exhumation of Cambodia’s forgotten pop music debuted in Phnom Penh last year. It went on to screen at DOC NYC, Big Sky, Rotterdam, Reel Asian, CAMFest, DOXA, and Seattle, among others. The doc was released on iTunes, Google Play, Amazon Instant, VUDU, Vimeo, and CinemaNow earlier this week.
I previously wrote about the film here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
Coming to NYC’s Rooftop Films tomorrow, Saturday, August 8: DIVINE LOCATION
Ulrike Franke and Michael Loeken’s subtle study of urban planning made its debut at DOK.fest Munich last year. Other screenings included Berlin, DocPoint Helsinki, Kassel Doc, and Duisburg Film Week.
Dortmund, the largest city in the Ruhr Area, has long been the seat of German industry, known for its coal mines and steel mills. In 2001, after Phoenix-East, one of the largest steelworks, shut down, plans began for the redevelopment of its site into luxury housing, centered around the construction of the new, man-made Phoenix Lake. Franke and Loeken chronicle this transformation over several years, while also witnessing the impact of this ambitious development on the working class neighborhood upon which it borders – an area which struggles to survive without the presence of its industrial base. While the real estate developers sit through marketing brainstorming sessions to best sell their future units to the right kind of clientele, current residents recognize the gentrification that’s coming their way. Through all this, the filmmakers maintain a tone of wry bemusement, managing to find moments of sheer absurdity, such as a heated battle over a massive remnant of the steelworks; an elaborate kick-off event presided over by Larry Hagman; and a meeting addressing the problem of geese attracted to the newly formed lake.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations
Coming to theatres tomorrow, Friday, August 7: HOMME LESS
Thomas Wirthensohn’s portrait of unexpected homelessness debuted at last year’s Film Festival Kitzbuehel, where it won the best doc award. It has gone on to screen at DOC NYC (where it won the Metropolis competition), DocAviv, Sarasota, and Hof.
I previously wrote about the film for DOC NYC’s program, saying:
From all outside appearances, Mark seems to have the glamorous New York City life that many would envy. Handsome and always impeccably dressed, the charismatic former male model works as a fashion photographer, appears in movies, and attends the best parties. When he leaves those events, however, he heads to the East Village – not to an overpriced loft, but to a hidden corner of a rooftop to sleep each night. Thomas Wirthensohn exposes the dark underbelly of the American Dream in an often-merciless city.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
Coming to theatres tomorrow, Friday, August 7: CALL ME LUCKY
Bobcat Goldthwait’s portrait of a comic turned unlikely activist debuted at Sundance earlier this year. It has gone on to screen at IFF Boston, Boulder, Montclair, and Cleveland, among others.
My pre-Sundance profile of the doc may be found here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Releases, Sundance
The 68th edition of the Locarno Film Festival launches tonight, Wednesday, August 5, and will screen approximately 100 new feature films before it wraps on Saturday, August 15. Once again, the event has shown a welcome acceptance of nonfiction nearly on par with its fiction offerings, and includes more than forty new documentaries or hybrids in its line-up. As has been the custom for several years, these are integrated throughout nearly all of the various sections of the festival, with some highlights noted below: Continue reading
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Overviews, Recommendations
