With the 2011 Sundance Film Festival less than a month away, I’m going to begin offering brief looks at the feature-length documentaries in the line-up, a couple or more a day, until I’ve hopefully gone through them all before the festival begins, time permitting. These aren’t reviews – as a Documentary Programming Associate for the festival, of course I encourage you to see all of these films! The purpose of this series of posts is to present each of the docs in focus, provide some additional information and thoughts about why you should see them, and put them on your radar if you’re heading to Park City or to other festivals at which they will go on to screen. I’ll begin later today with BEING ELMO: A PUPPETEER’S JOURNEY.
Category Archives: Recommendations
2011 Sundance Docs in Focus
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Sundance
indieWIRE @ Hulu Docs: Past Favorites
With the end of the year scant days away, my latest selections for Hulu’s Documentaries page for indieWIRE takes a cue from all of the top ten/best of lists to present six of the most notable/celebrated docs available on the platform – a diverse bunch, but all have that don’t-miss factor. If you’re looking for something good to watch during the lazy holiday break, take a look.
For more information about the selections, take a look at my iW article.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Indiewire @ Hulu Docs, Recommendations
Special Screening: THE TILLMAN STORY
Coming to NYC’s Stranger Than Fiction this coming Monday, December 20: THE TILLMAN STORY
I’ve written about Amir Bar-Lev’s film, which debuted this year at Sundance, before its theatrical release in a previous post.
If you’re in the NYC area, you have another chance to see the film in a theatre at next week’s STF.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Sundance
indieWIRE @ Hulu Docs: Winter Sports
With winter quickly approaching, my latest round of selections for Hulu’s Documentaries page for indieWIRE is up, focusing on cold-weather activities – from hockey to mountain climbing to Arctic expeditions.
For more information about the selections, take a look at my iW article.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Indiewire @ Hulu Docs, Recommendations
IDFA 2010: Additional Docs in Brief
While I’ve already posted links to my indieWIRE coverage of a number of IDFA films (DONOR UNKNOWN, BURMA SOLDIER, FAMILY INSTINCT, AGNUS DEI, KANO, THE OTHER CHELSEA, MY BAREFOOT FRIEND, iTHEMBA, DIVINE PIG, and THERE ONCE WAS AN ISLAND) as well as some thoughts on the FORUM, I thought I’d briefly cover a few other titles which also screened in Amsterdam.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, In Brief, Recommendations
Special Screening: NO DINOSAURS IN HEAVEN
Special sneak preview, coming this Thursday, December 2: NO DINOSAURS IN HEAVEN
Acclaimed documentary filmmaker Greta Schiller (BEFORE STONEWALL, PARIS WAS A WOMAN, THE MAN WHO DROVE WITH MANDELA) returns with her first new feature-length project in more than a decade, drawing from her intervening experiences as a science educator in NYC schools.
Schiller’s new doc addresses the encroachment of creationism in US public schools, inspired by the filmmaker’s own experience with a fellow teacher, a Christian fundamentalist who sought to undermine evolution in favor of the creationist point of view. While exploring this incident and its potential impact on scientific literacy in American classrooms, the film also uses a river rafting trip through the Grand Canyon to debunk the arbitrary psuedo-science through real-world examples and to expose the tactics that fundamentalists have been employing to break down the vital separation of Church and State.
NO DINOSAURS IN HEAVEN will have its premiere screening where the project began, at The City College of New York. The CCNY and the general public can attend the special free sneak preview and panel discussion, followed by a reception, on Thursday. There are plans for distribution which will be announced at the event.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations
IDFA 2010: The FORUM in Brief
My second of two articles out of IDFA (the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam), focusing on the international co-production financing market, the FORUM, is now up at indieWIRE here. Doubling as an entry in iW‘s Filmmakers Toolkit, it’s also intended for filmmakers interested in learning about what makes for an effective pitch.
Filed under Dear Documentary Filmmakers, Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, In Brief, Recommendations
indieWIRE @ Hulu Docs: Thanksgiving Special
My latest curation of Hulu Documentaries page for indieWIRE sort of “celebrates” Thanksgiving with a series of docs about food – but be warned, some of these will make you rethink what and how you eat…
For more information about the selections, take a look at my iW article.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Indiewire @ Hulu Docs, Recommendations
IDFA 2010: Docs in Brief
While I’m planning to post a separate wrap up on this blog after my time in Amsterdam, my initial article out of IDFA (the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam) is now up at indieWIRE here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, In Brief, Recommendations
Special Screening: MARLENE
Coming to NYC’s Stranger Than Fiction next Tuesday, November 23: MARLENE
Maxmillian Schell’s classic 1984 documentary on the by then reclusive Marlene Dietrich was Oscar nominated the following year, and additionally picked up awards from various film critics’ circles and German film awards.
STF brings back the unusual but poignant doc, in which the legendary German star consented to an interview, on the condition that her present-day self not be filmed. Controlling her image in a masterful way, Dietrich forces Schell and the audience to focus on her classical appearance, even as they engage in a fascinating retrospective look at her career. If you haven’t seen the film before, definitely take a look.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations
