Category Archives: Recommendations

December 21, 2021 · 1:43 PM

94th Oscars: Best Documentary Shortlist Announced

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences announced the Best Documentary Feature and Best Documentary Short Subject shortlists today. In addition, a documentary feature is included on the International Feature Film shortlist. Congratulations to all the filmmakers – especially the Sundance, DOC NYC, and Nantucket Film Festival alumni represented.

The official lists are below. The final nominees will be announced on February 8.

Documentary Feature:

ASCENSION
ATTICA
BILLIE EILISH: THE WORLD’S A LITTLE BLURRY
FAYA DAYI
THE FIRST WAVE
FLEE
IN THE SAME BREATH
JULIA
PRESIDENT
PROCESSION
THE RESCUE
SIMPLE AS WATER
SUMMER OF SOUL (…OR, WHEN THE REVOLUTION COULD NOT BE TELEVISED)
THE VELVET UNDERGROUND
WRITING WITH FIRE

Documentary Short Subject:
Águilas
Audible
A Broken House
Camp Confidential: America’s Secret Nazis
Coded: The Hidden Love of JC Leyendecker
Day of Rage
The Facility
Lead Me Home
Lynching Postcards: Token of a Great Day
The Queen of Basketball
Sophie & the Baron
Takeover
Terror Contagion
Three Songs for Benazir
When We Were Bullies

International Feature Film:
FLEE was also shortlisted in this category.

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December 20, 2021 · 12:01 PM

On DVD: AMY TAN: UNINTENDED MEMOIR

Coming to DVD tomorrow, Tuesday, December 21:
AMY TAN: UNINTENDED MEMOIR

Director:
James Redford

World Premiere:
Sundance 2021

Select Festivals:
Cleveland, CAAMFest, DocLands, Seattle

About:
A profile of the life and career of the noted author.

I profiled the doc before Sundance here.

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Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Releases, Sundance

December 17, 2021 · 12:01 PM

In Theatres: PRESIDENT

Coming to theatres today, Friday, December 17:
PRESIDENT

Director:
Camilla Nielsson

World Premiere:
Sundance 2021

Select Festivals:
CPH:DOX, AFI Docs, Docaviv, Thessaloniki Doc, Dokufest, Encounters, DMZ Docs, Melbourne, Docville, Zurich, Montclair, Philadelphia

About:
The leader of Zimbabwe’s opposition party seeks a free and fair election.

I previously wrote about the doc before Sundance here.

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Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Releases, Sundance

December 16, 2021 · 1:31 PM

On DVD: NEVER TOO LATE: THE DOC SEVERINSEN STORY

New to DVD this week:
NEVER TOO LATE: THE DOC SEVERINSEN STORY

Director:
Kevin S Bright, Jeff Consiglio

World Premiere:
Cleveland 2020 (unscreened)

Select Festivals:
Full Frame, Nashville, Milwaukee, Virginia, Guanajuato, Mill Valley, BendFilm, Tallgrass, Portland, Sound Unseen

About:
A portrait of the legendary TONIGHT SHOW bandleader.

I previously wrote about the doc here.

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December 15, 2021 · 12:01 PM

Streaming: A FIERCE GREEN FIRE

fierce green fire

New to OVID.tv this week:
A FIERCE GREEN FIRE

Director:
Mark Kitchell

World Premiere:
Sundance 2012

Select Festivals:
Sheffield, Palm Springs, Wild & Scenic, Margaret Mead, Washington DC’s Environmental, San Francisco Green, Boulder

About:
A look back at pivotal episodes in environmental activism.

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

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Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Releases, Sundance

December 14, 2021 · 12:01 PM

On TV: BROOKLYN INSHALLAH

Coming to The WORLD Channel’s America ReFramed today, Tuesday, December 14:
BROOKLYN INSHALLAH

Director:
Ahmed Mansour

World Premiere:
Telluride Mountainfilm 2019

Select Festivals:
DOC NYC, Chicago Palestine, Toronto Palestine

About:
A Palestinian American Lutheran pastor campaigns for political office in NYC.

The film previously screened at DOC NYC, for which our program notes read:
Khader El-Yateem is a Palestinian American, a practicing Lutheran pastor and, he hopes, the first Arab American on the New York City Council. Having grown up amidst conflict before emigrating to the US, Father K works to alleviate the mounting fears of the diverse but marginalized Arab-American community of Bay Ridge following the 2016 presidential election. With the support of political activist Linda Sarsour, he mounts the campaign of a lifetime, taking viewers into the heart of identity politics.

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December 13, 2021 · 12:01 PM

On TV/Streaming: STREET GANG: HOW WE GOT TO SESAME STREET

Coming to HBO and HBO Max today, Monday, December 13:
STREET GANG: HOW WE GOT TO SESAME STREET

Director:
Marilyn Agrelo

World Premiere:
Sundance 2021

Select Festivals:
Hot Docs, Seattle, San Francisco

About:
A look back at the origins of the pioneering children’s television powerhouse.

I profiled the doc before Sundance here.

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December 9, 2021 · 12:05 PM

Sundance 2022: Lineup Announced

The lineup has been announced for the 2022 Sundance Film Festival, taking place in-person in Utah and through seven Satellite Screens across the US, as well as online, January 20-30.

Today’s announcement reveals 80 feature films in the US and World Cinema Documentary and Dramatic Competitions, NEXT, Premieres, Midnight, Spotlight, Kids, Special Screenings, and From the Collection sections, as well as 15 projects in New Frontier and 6 projects in the Indie Episodic Program, and may be found here. Shorts will be announced tomorrow, Friday, December 10.

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December 3, 2021 · 3:02 PM

Streaming: THE FIRST WAVE

Coming to Hulu this Sunday, December 5:
THE FIRST WAVE

Director:
Matthew Heineman

World Premiere:
Hamptons 2021

Select Festivals:
DOC NYC, BFI London, Busan, Hot Springs Doc, Philadelphia, Montclair, Savannah, AFI Fest

About:
A powerful look at the doctors, nurses, and patients on the frontlines during the “first wave” of COVID-19 in New York City from March to June 2020.

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December 3, 2021 · 12:01 PM

In Theatres: FLEE

Coming to theatres today, Friday, December 3:
FLEE

Director:
Jonas Poher Rasmussen

World Premiere:
Sundance 2021

Select Festivals:
DOC NYC, Telluride, Toronto, New York, Karlovy Vary, Visions du Reel, ZagrebDox, Camden, Docs Against Gravity, Jerusalem, Melbourne, Göteborg, Hong Kong, Helsinki, Nordisk Panorama, Zurich, Busan, Reykjavik, El Gouna

About:
The affecting story of a former refugee who must confront the traumas of his past to move forward with his life.

I previously wrote about the doc before Sundance here.

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Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Releases, Sundance