Category Archives: Recommendations

On DVD: WHAT NOW? REMIND ME

140612_WhatNowMain1Coming to DVD today, Tuesday, November 18: WHAT NOW? REMIND ME

Joaquim Pinto’s intimate exploration of disease had its world premiere at Locarno last year, where it won the FIPRESCI and Special Jury Prizes. Its fest circuit also included New York Film Festival, Rotterdam, Vancouver, QueerLisboa, Hong Kong, Thessaloniki Doc, RIDM, DocLisboa, San Francisco, CPH:DOX, Edinburgh, and Seattle, among others.

I previously wrote about the film here.

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On VOD: HOTLINE

1201x782-KEY-IMAGE-Hotline2-Photo-by-Tony-Shaff-copy-1160x652Coming to VOD today, Tuesday, November 18: HOTLINE

Tony Shaff’s exploration of the power of connections made between strangers debuted at Hot Docs. It has gone on to screen at DOC NYC, New Orleans, Denver, Portland, Rhode Island, Brooklyn, and Camden. Gravitas Ventures now releases the film on iTunes and other VOD platforms.

I previously wrote about the film for DOC NYC’s program, saying:
Once ubiquitous, but surprisingly still in regular use despite our increasingly detached digital world, telephone hotlines connect strangers for a multiplicity of purposes. Some are for profit, others for the public good – from the titillation of phone sex or the spiritual advice of Ms. Cleo, to the lifesaving potential of a suicide prevention line. Tony Shaff’s inquisitive film explores what motivates individuals to reveal personal details of their lives in conversations with faceless strangers.

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IDFA 2014: Overview, Part One

idfa_logoThe 27th edition of the world’s premier nonfiction event, IDFA, begins this Wednesday, November 19, and presents approximately 175 new feature documentaries, plus dozens of retrospective screenings, shorts, transmedia, and more, before it wraps up on Sunday, November 30. I’ve greatly enjoyed traveling to Amsterdam for this event in the past, but will unfortunately be missing it again this year. The fest’s programming traditionally travels widely over the next year, so doc lovers should be sure to keep an eye out for the highlights noted below. Given IDFA’s size, I’ve split them up into two posts – competitions today, followed by the non-competitive sections tomorrow: Continue reading →

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On TV: TRUE SON

true-son.10107268.87Coming to Fusion tomorrow, Tuesday, November 18: TRUE SON

Kevin Gordon’s profile of a young politician bowed at Tribeca this Spring. It went on to SF DocFest, Oakland Underground, the United Nations Association, and Indie Memphis before a limited theatrical release.

I previously wrote about the doc upon its theatrical release here.

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On DVD/VOD: ALIVE INSIDE

alive insideComing to DVD and VOD tomorrow, Tuesday, November 18: ALIVE INSIDE: A STORY OF MUSIC & MEMORY

Michael Rossato-Bennett’s exploration of the impact of music on memory had its world premiere at Sundance this year, where it won an audience award. The doc went on to screen at Nantucket, Seattle, Big Sky, RiverRun, deadCenter, Nashville, Ptown, and Cleveland, among several others, before a limited theatrical release this Summer.

I profiled the film before Sundance here.

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On Cable: BANKSY DOES NEW YORK

424146_424146_PRG-DOC_Banksy_Art-copy-1160x652Coming to HBO tonight, Monday, November 17: BANKSY DOES NEW YORK

Chris Moukarbel’s exploration of a month-long public art sensation debuted at the Hamptons last month. It went on to screen at DOC NYC this past weekend.

I previously wrote about the film for DOC NYC’s program, saying:
Last October, when infamous street artist Banksy revealed his New York City residency, he set off a daily scavenger hunt among curious fans, would-be art collectors, and, of course, the police. With camera phones at the ready, everyone wanted a piece of his ephemeral works before they were destroyed – or removed for profit. Chris Moukarbel tracks the course of Banksy’s secretly created public works from the Lower East Side to Staten Island, Williamsburg to Willets Point, and explores the unprecedented speed of the public’s reaction.

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On TV: LUCKY

luckyComing to Audience DirecTV tomorrow, Saturday, November 15: LUCKY

Laura Checkoway’s portrait of an edgy aspiring model with a troubled past debuted at Hot Docs last year. It went on to screen at DOC NYC, BAFICI, Urbanworld, and Atlanta, among others.

I included the film in my Hot Docs coverage, which may be found here.

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On TV: HAPPINESS

happinessComing to PBS’s Independent Lens this coming Monday, November 17: HAPPINESS

Thomas Balmès’ portrait of a rural Bhutanese boy’s confrontation with modern times had its world premiere at IDFA last year. It went on to screen at Sundance, where it claimed the World Cinema Cinematography Award; Nantucket; Camden; Margaret Mead; Cleveland; Melbourne; Thessaloniki Doc; and Sheffield, among others.

My pre-Sundance profile of the doc may be found here.

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2014 DOC NYC in Focus: Additional Shorts

1201x782-KEY-IMAGE-The_Chaperone_1-copy-1160x652Five additional shorts are part of DOC NYC, screening before feature presentations: Continue reading →

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2014 DOC NYC in Focus: SHOW + TELL

1201x782-KEY-IMAGE-Basement-Metal-Ronnie-Bhardwaj-copy1-400x200DOC NYC‘s sixth of six shorts programs turns the focus on young boys: Continue reading →

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