Coming to theatres and to VOD this Friday, August 6:
WHIRLYBIRD
Director:
Matt Yoka
World Premiere:
Sundance 2020
Select Festivals:
AFI Docs, Full Frame, Calgary, Rocky Mountain Women’s, Sun Valley
About:
The story of a marriage’s fraying against the backdrop of cutthroat news reporting in 1990s Los Angeles.
I profiled the doc before Sundance here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Releases, Sundance
Coming to Netflix today, Tuesday, August 3:
PRAY AWAY
Director:
Kristine Stolakis
World Premiere:
Tribeca 2020 (unscreened)
Select Festivals:
Telluride, Hot Docs, Florida, Doc10, AFI Docs
About:
A powerful exposé on gay conversion programs, revealing the damage inflicted by shame and repression through intimate testimonies from current members and former leaders of the pray the gay away movement.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
Coming to NYC’s Rooftop Films tomorrow, Wednesday, August 4:
HOMEROOM
Director:
Peter Nicks
World Premiere:
Sundance 2021
Select Festivals:
Nantucket, BlackStar, Hot Docs, True/False, Full Frame, San Francisco, IFF Boston, Ashland
About:
An intimate profile of an Oakland high school class in the tumultuous year of COVID and a widespread reckoning of racial injustice.
I profiled the doc before Sundance here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Releases, Sundance
Festival:
The 74th Locarno Film Festival
Dates:
August 4-14
About:
This influential Swiss event returns after a reimagined edition last year, presenting 20 documentaries among its approximately 80 new features.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Overviews, Recommendations
Coming to NYC’s JCC Manhattan tomorrow, Tuesday, August 3:
MISHA AND THE WOLVES
Director:
Sam Hobkinson
World Premiere:
Sundance 2021
Select Festivals:
CPH:DOX, Hot Docs, Docaviv, Thessaloniki Doc, RiverRun
About:
The fascinating tale of a woman’s self-mythologizing Holocaust survival story.
I profiled the doc before Sundance here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Releases, Sundance
Coming to PBS’s POV today, Monday, August 2:
PIER KIDS
Director:
Elegance Bratton
World Premiere:
Outfest 2019
Select Festivals:
DOC NYC, New Orleans, True/False, BlackStar, Wicked Queer, Frameline, Virginia
About:
A portrait of several homeless queer youth of color in NYC.
The film screened as part of DOC NYC, for which our program notes read:
Caught up in the precariousness of survival and self-preservation, homeless queer and trans youth of color hang out at Christopher Street Pier, forging their own chosen family. Genuine and charming, these eloquent youth must contend with overwhelming amounts of homophobia and abuse. As real as it gets, and with intimate, immersive access to the hazardous life of its vulnerable but fearless protagonists, director Elegance Bratton’s still-hopeful portrait exposes a raw side of New York City many often choose to ignore.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
Coming to theatres and VOD today, Friday, July 30:
SABAYA
Director:
Hogir Hirori
World Premiere:
Sundance 2021
Select Festivals:
Nantucket, CPH:DOX, True/False, Docaviv, Hong Kong, Moscow, Melbourne
About:
An immersion into dangerous efforts to rescue Yazidi women and girls from their horrific fate as ISIS sex slaves.
I profiled the doc before Sundance here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Releases, Sundance
Coming to theatres tomorrow, Friday, July 30:
PRAY AWAY
Director:
Kristine Stolakis
World Premiere:
Tribeca 2020 (unscreened)
Select Festivals:
Telluride, Hot Docs, Florida, Doc10, AFI Docs
About:
A powerful exposé on gay conversion programs, revealing the damage inflicted by shame and repression through intimate testimonies from current members and former leaders of the pray the gay away movement.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
Coming to theatres and to VOD tomorrow, Friday, July 30:
ENEMIES OF THE STATE
Director:
Sonia Kennebeck
World Premiere:
Tribeca 2020 (unscreened)
Select Festivals:
DOC NYC, Toronto, CPH:DOX, Calgary, Glasgow
About:
Everything is not as it seems for an American family that flees to Canada to protect their hacker son from US government persecution.
The film screened as part of DOC NYC, for which our program notes read:
Director Sonia Kennebeck investigates the strange case of Anonymous hacktivist Matt DeHart and his claims of persecution by the US government. He and his parents fled the US seeking asylum in Canada after law enforcement brought charges against him for child pornography. DeHart counters that he’s being framed, targeted for his support of Wikileaks, and that he was tortured in a US prison. Unfolding like an espionage mystery, the film follows a multiyear quest for truth, with unexpected twists and turns until the very end.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
Coming to NYC’s Rooftop Films this Friday, July 30:
BRING YOUR OWN BRIGADE
Director:
Lucy Walker
World Premiere:
Sundance 2021
About:
A compelling and comprehensive essay exploring the history and causes of wildfires.
I profiled the doc before Sundance here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Releases, Sundance
what (not) to doc 