Category Archives: Recommendations

On DVD: SPLINTERS

Coming to DVD this coming Tuesday, September 25: SPLINTERS

Adam Pesce’s Papua New Guinea surfing doc premiered at Tribeca last year. Screenings followed at IDFA, Hawaii, and Newport Beach, and it received a limited theatrical release earlier this year.

I wrote about the film out of Tribeca here.

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Special Panel: Film Festival Academy

If you’re based in the NYC area or planning on being in town next week for the 50th anniversary New York Film Festival, I’m taking part in a panel for the launch of the Film Festival Academy on Thursday, September 27 from 3:15-4:45pm. I’m one of the panelists for “Programming for Niche Audiences,” looking at what’s involved in targeted, niche- or genre-focused programming. For more information and the entire program for the two-day FFA, follow the link above.

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On DVD: SURVIVING PROGRESS

Coming to DVD next Tuesday, September 25: SURVIVING PROGRESS

Mathieu Roy and Harold Crooks’ look at “progress traps” premiered at Toronto last year. The film went on to screen at Vancouver, IDFA, Dubai, and Big Sky, among others, before a limited theatrical and VOD release.

I previously wrote about the film here.

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In Theatres: DIANA VREELAND: THE EYE HAS TO TRAVEL

Coming to theatres this Friday, September 21: DIANA VREELAND: THE EYE HAS TO TRAVEL

Lisa Immordino Vreeland’s love letter to the influential fashion editor made its premiere at Venice last year. It’s festival run included Telluride, IDFA, San Francisco, and Silverdocs, among others.

I included the film in my Silverdocs roundup here.

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In Theatres: HOW TO SURVIVE A PLAGUE

Coming to theatres this Friday, September 21: HOW TO SURVIVE A PLAGUE

David France’s affecting look back at a community fighting for their lives made its world premiere at Sundance earlier this year. It’s gone on to screen at True/False, Silverdocs, New Directors/New Films, San Francisco, and Outfest, among others.

I profiled the film before Sundance here.

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Toronto 2012: Docs in Brief, Part Two

Last week’s post on Toronto docs covered my thoughts on THE ACT OF KILLING, CAMP 14, THE CENTRAL PARK FIVE, FIRST COMES LOVE, FREE ANGELA & ALL POLITICAL PRISONERS, THE GIRL FROM THE SOUTH, THE LAST WHITE KNIGHT, ROMAN POLANSKI: ODD MAN OUT, and SHEPARD & DARK. This round-up wraps up my Toronto coverage with a look at nine more titles. Continue reading →

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In Theatres: RADIO UNNAMEABLE

Coming to NYC’s Film Forum this Wednesday, September 19: RADIO UNNAMEABLE

Paul Lovelace and Jessica Wolfson’s portrait of NYC’s legendary radio host Bob Fass premiered at Full Frame earlier this year. It’s also screened at BAMcinemFest, Silverdocs, and Sarasota, claiming a special jury prize at the latter.

I previously wrote about the film out of Silverdocs here.

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Toronto 2012: Docs in Brief, Part One

Though the Toronto International Film Festival won’t wrap up until Sunday, I’m already back in NYC – and fairly exhausted from the five nights spent at one of the largest film events in the world. Still, it’s time to share my thoughts on the documentaries I managed to see – not quite half of the nearly fifty on offer. Sadly, scheduling didn’t permit me to see a number of titles that I was eagerly anticipating, such as Lucien Castaing-Taylor and Véréna Paravel’s LEVIATHAN, Seán Ó Cualáin’s MEN AT LUNCH, Dror Moreh’s THE GATEKEEPERS, and Sarah Polley’s STORIES WE TELL, but I’m sure I’ll have opportunities to catch up with these in the coming months.

Yesterday, Movieline published my article looking at various uses of re-enactments in a number of TIFF docs, including ones I also include below. Here at w(n)td, this post, and one on Monday, offer more general reactions, covering both the films in that article and others viewed during TIFF. Continue reading →

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On DVD/VOD: PATIENCE (AFTER SEBALD)

Coming to DVD and VOD next Tuesday, September 18: PATIENCE (AFTER SEBALD)

Grant Gee’s original tribute to the work and influence of WG Sebald made its world premiere at a special Sebald fest organized by Aldeburgh Music in Suffolk, UK. It went on to screen at last year’s New York Film Festival, Vancouver, Rotterdam, and San Francisco, and enjoyed a limited theatrical release.

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

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On DVD: EL VELADOR

Coming to DVD next Tuesday, September 18: EL VELADOR

Natalia Almada’s meditation on death and life, centered around an expansive Mexican cemetery, premiered at New Directors/New Films last year. Its festival circuit has included Cannes, Los Angeles, Silverdocs, FIDM, Jihlava, and IDFA, among others, while also enjoying a week run at MoMA.

I wrote about the doc out of Silverdocs here.

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