Today’s Sundance profiles cover the festival’s cutting edge New Frontier section, beginning with fest alum Jenni Olson’s THE ROYAL ROAD, an essay about memory, nostalgia, and California. Continue reading
Category Archives: Recommendations
2015 Sundance Docs in Focus: THE ROYAL ROAD
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Sundance
On DVD: THE INTERNET’S OWN BOY
Coming to DVD tomorrow, Tuesday, January 20: THE INTERNET’S OWN BOY: THE STORY OF AARON SWARTZ
Brian Knappenberger’s portrait of the late Internet activist bowed at Sundance last year. It went on to screen at SXSW, Nantucket, Hot Docs, Atlanta, IFF Boston, and Seattle, among other events. The film made the shortlist for the Best Documentary Academy Award.
My pre-Sundance profile of the doc may be found here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Releases, Sundance
2015 Sundance Docs in Focus: THE NIGHTMARE
Switching over to the Park City at Midnight section, the sole nonfiction selection closes out this week’s profiles: Rodney Ascher’s unsettling study of a mysterious sleep disorder, THE NIGHTMARE. Continue reading
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Sundance
Special Screening: FAR OUT ISN’T FAR ENOUGH
Coming to NYC’s Stranger Than Fiction series as a pre-season special this coming Monday, January 19: FAR OUT ISN’T FAR ENOUGH: THE TOMI UNGERER STORY
Brad Bernstein’s profile of the complicated career of the once-celebrated children’s book illustrator made its bow at Toronto in 2012. Further fest play included DOC NYC, Seattle, Rome, Nashville, Florida, Warsaw, Deauville, Haifa, and RIDM, among others.
I included the film in my Toronto coverage here.
Note: A Q&A with Bernstein and Ungerer will follow the screening.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations
2015 Sundance Docs in Focus: WHAT HAPPENED, MISS SIMONE?
This year’s Documentary Premieres profiles wrap with Liz Garbus’ return to Park City, screening as a Day One film: WHAT HAPPENED, MISS SIMONE?, a biographical portrait of the influential performer and activist. Continue reading
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Sundance
On TV: THE KILL TEAM
Coming to PBS’s Independent Lens this coming Monday, January 19: THE KILL TEAM
Dan Krauss’ exposé of war crimes committed by US soldiers premiered at Tribeca in 2013, picking up a jury prize. Other festival play included AFI Docs, San Francisco, Hot Docs, Little Rock, Camden, Vancouver, London, Warsaw, Zagreb, DOK Leipzig, Abu Dhabi, Big Sky, Cucalorus, and Denver. The film was shortlisted for the Best Documentary Oscar.
I previously wrote about the film out of AFI Docs here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
2015 Sundance Docs in Focus: TIG
This week’s profiles begin with the penultimate title in the Documentary Premieres section: TIG, a candid portrait of a comedian’s struggles with illness, love, and career. Continue reading
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Sundance
On TV: THE CARRIER
Coming to PBS’s AfroPoP as the opening film of their seventh season this coming Monday, January 19: THE CARRIER
Maggie Betts’ profile of a Zambian woman with HIV premiered at Tribeca in 2011. It went on to screen at Zurich, Big Sky, Documentary Edge, One World, Sedona, Watch Docs, and Lone Star, among others.
I previously wrote about the film here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
2015 Sundance Docs in Focus: PROPHET’S PREY
Amy Berg returns to the Documentary Premieres section with her newest project: PROPHET’S PREY, an investigation into the rise and fall of fundamentalist sect leader Warren Jeffs. Continue reading
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Sundance
On DVD: THE GREEN PRINCE
Coming to DVD this coming Tuesday, January 20: THE GREEN PRINCE
Nadav Schirman’s exploration of the unexpected partnership between Israeli’s Shin Bet and the son of a Hamas leader made its bow at Sundance last year, winning the World Cinema Documentary Audience Award. Further festival play followed at Human Rights Watch, San Francisco Jewish, Dallas Jewish, Seattle, Sarasota, Moscow, DocAviv, and Atlantic.
I previously profiled the doc before Sundance here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Releases, Sundance
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