Coming to NYC’s Rooftop Films this Friday, June 3:
THE JANES
Director:
Tia Lessin, Emma Pildes
World Premiere:
Sundance 2022
Select Festivals:
San Francisco, Cleveland, Athena, Minneapolis-St Paul
About:
The story of “Jane,” a group of women in Chicago who built an underground service for women seeking safe, affordable, and illegal abortions before Roe v Wade.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations
Coming to Disney+ today, Friday, May 27:
WE FEED PEOPLE
Director:
Ron Howard
World Premiere:
SXSW 2022
About:
The story of renowned chef José Andrés and his nonprofit World Central Kitchen’s evolution over a 12 year period.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
Coming to theatres today, Friday, May 27:
FANNY: THE RIGHT TO ROCK
Director:
Bobbi Jo Hart
World Premiere:
Hot Docs 2021
Select Festivals:
DOC NYC, DOXA, Inside Out, Frameline, Outfest, Los Angeles Asian Pacific, Santa Barbara, Athena, Cleveland, In-Edit, Hawaii, Doc’n Roll, Woodstock, Florida
About:
Ferocious female rockers Fanny, who shattered glass ceilings in the ’70s, collecting fans like David Bowie before being buried in retro record bins, reunite fifty years later with a new record deal and a chance to rewrite history.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
Festival:
The 24th Docaviv: Tel Aviv International Documentary Film Festival
Dates:
May 26-June 5
About:
This notable Israeli nonfiction event returns to its regular May berth with approximately 100 new and recent documentary features.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Overviews, Recommendations
Coming to VOD today, Tuesday, May 24:
SINCE I BEEN DOWN
Director:
Gilda Sheppard
World Premiere:
Cleveland 2020
Select Festivals:
DOC NYC, Big Sky, Freep, Sebastopol Doc, Portland, Thin Line, Montreal Black
About:
Despite serving life without parole, a man works to improve others’ lives.
I previously wrote about the doc here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
Coming to NYC’s Pure Nonfiction tomorrow, Tuesday, May 24:
BITTERBRUSH
Director:
Emelie Mahdavian
World Premiere:
Telluride 2021
Select Festivals:
Visions du Réel, San Francisco, Sydney
About:
Two women set up camp at a tiny cabin and begin their season of work, to feed their dreams: to own their own livestock, to have true independence, and to start a family.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations
Coming to NYC’s Pure Nonfiction tomorrow, Wednesday, May 18, and to theatres and VOD this Friday, May 20:
HOLD YOUR FIRE
Director:
Stefan Forbes
World Premiere:
Toronto 2021
Select Festivals:
DOC NYC, Palm Springs
About:
Captives, cops, and robbers in New York City’s longest hostage siege reflect in this suspenseful and enlightening take on an event long misunderstood.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
Festival:
The 75th Cannes Film Festival
Dates:
May 17-28
About:
Returning to its regular May berth after a delayed-then-cancelled 2020 edition and a July 2021 edition, the premier film event offers approximately 80 new features, with docs once again making up less than a quarter of the slate, while its parallel sidebars present just two works of nonfiction out of more than 30 features.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Overviews, Recommendations
Coming to theatres today, Friday, May 13:
MAU
Director:
Benji Bergmann, Jono Bergmann
World Premiere:
SXSW 2021
Select Festivals:
CPH:DOX, Hot Docs, Tallinn Black Nights
About:
The unlikely story of design visionary Bruce Mau and his ever-optimistic push for massive change.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
Coming to NYC’s Rooftop Films tonight, Monday, May 9:
HOLD YOUR FIRE
Director:
Stefan Forbes
World Premiere:
Toronto 2021
Select Festivals:
DOC NYC, Palm Springs
About:
Captives, cops, and robbers in New York City’s longest hostage siege reflect in this suspenseful and enlightening take on an event long misunderstood.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations
what (not) to doc 