Japan’s Yamagata International Documentary Film Festival is the oldest nonfiction event in Asia, established in 1989. Held biennially, this year marks its 13th edition, which begins today, Thursday, October 10 and runs through next Thursday, October 17. In an area of the world with relatively few such dedicated events, the festival offers a special focus on regional and national documentary filmmaking, with supplementary international and retrospective programming. What follows are some brief highlights where possible, as the fest’s website offers only cursory information on the majority of its programming sections. Continue reading
Category Archives: Recommendations
Yamagata 2013: Documentary Overview
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Overviews, Recommendations
In Theatres: GOD LOVES UGANDA
Coming to theatres this Friday, October 11: GOD LOVES UGANDA
Roger Ross Williams’ provocative exploration of the influence of American evangelicals in Africa debuted at Sundance at the beginning of the year. Its extensive festival run has also included San Francisco, Hot Docs, Cleveland, AFI Docs, Hamptons, Nantucket, BAMcinemaFest, New Orleans, Outfest, Festival do Rio, Sundance London, Sheffield, Ashland, Dallas, and Full Frame, picking up awards at the latter four, among many others.
My pre-Sundance profile of the doc may be found here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Releases, Sundance
In Theatres: THE INSTITUTE
Coming to theatres this Friday, October 11: THE INSTITUTE
Spencer McCall’s intriguing look at a labyrinthine citywide game had its world premiere at Slamdance this year. It’s gone on to screen at True/False, Arclight Doc, Atlanta, St Louis, Wisconsin, and San Francisco Doc.
I included the doc in my T/F coverage here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
On VOD: HERMAN’S HOUSE
Now available on VOD: HERMAN’S HOUSE
Angad Singh Bhalla’s exploration of the relationship between and artist and a prisoner held in solitary confinement debuted at True/False last year. It went on to Full Frame, Hot Docs, Camden, Hamptons, Antenna, New Orleans, RIDM, and SF Doc, among others. Just days after his release from prison after 41 years, the film’s subject, Herman Wallace, passed away last Friday morning.
I wrote about the doc out of Hot Docs here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
London 2013: Documentary Overview
Opening tomorrow, Thursday, October 9, and running through next Sunday, October 20, the BFI London Film Festival, the UK’s largest public cinema event, will present nearly 400 films from 57 countries, appropriately enough for its 57th edition. In the neighborhood of fifty documentary features are included in this impressive figure, showcased in the Documentary Competition as well as in the festival’s various thematic sections. The following offers some of the highlights: Continue reading
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations
On VOD: THE NETWORK
Coming to VOD today, Tuesday, October 8: THE NETWORK
Eva Orner’s exploration of Afghanistan’s post-Taliban television industry had its world premiere at SXSW earlier this year. It went on to screen at Antenna, Bermuda, Festival do Rio, and Sheffield. After a limited theatrical release last month, FilmBuff now releases the film on iTunes, Amazon Instant Video, Google Play, Xbox Video, Sony Playstation, and Vudu.
I wrote about the doc upon its theatrical release here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
New Orleans 2013: Documentary Overview
Closing in on a quarter of a century of bringing films to the Big Easy, the 24th edition of the New Orleans Film Festival kicks off this Thursday, October 10, and runs through next Thursday, October 17. The premier film event in Louisiana, the regional festival has been growing in stature for the past few years, buoyed by a passionate staff, excellent curation, and a perfect destination setting, making it no surprise that more than 200 filmmakers are expected to attend their screenings this year, in addition to industry representatives serving on numerous panels and juries. Continue reading
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Overviews, Recommendations
On VOD: PING PONG
Coming to VOD today, Tuesday, October 8: PING PONG
Hugh Hartford’s profile of the World Over 80s Table Tennis Championships debuted at Hot Docs last year. Its festival circuit also included DOC NYC, Sheffield, Miami, Palm Springs, and Vancouver.
I previously wrote about the doc upon its theatrical release here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
Hamptons 2013: Documentary Overview
Beginning its third decade this Thursday, October 10, the 21st edition of the Hamptons International Film Festival runs through Monday, October 14. More than seventy features will screen in the tony townships located about 100 miles east of New York City, offering locals a chance to sample potential Oscar contenders and acclaimed international work, while also drawing Manhattan industry for an early Fall weekend getaway. Among the lineup are more than two dozen feature docs, with some of the highlights noted below. Continue reading
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Overviews, Recommendations
On TV: CODE OF THE WEST
Coming to WORLD Channel’s America ReFramed series tomorrow, Tuesday October 8: CODE OF THE WEST
Rebecca Richman Cohen’s exploration of medical marijuana made its debut at SXSW last year. It went on to screen at Camden, DOC NYC, Traverse City, and the IFF Boston, among others.
I previously wrote about the doc out of SXSW here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
