Festival:
The 20th Tribeca Festival
Dates:
June 9-20
About:
Approximately 100 features and episodic content – about half of that nonfiction – screens in a hybrid format in this anniversary year for the curiously renamed NYC event, which has dropped “film” from its title.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Overviews, Recommendations
Coming to DVD tomorrow, Tuesday, June 8:
AMERICAN OZ
Director:
Randall MacLowry, Tracy Heather Strain
World Premiere:
American Experience (April 2021)
About:
A portrait of L Frank Baum, best known for his popular series of children’s books that began with THE WONDERFUL WIZARD OF OZ.
I previously wrote about the doc here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
Coming to theatres today, Friday, June 4:
THE ANCIENT WOODS
Director:
Mindaugas Survila
World Premiere:
IDFA 2017
Select Festivals:
DOC NYC, Sydney, Vilnius, DocPoint, CPH:DOX, Docs Against Gravity, BelDocs, Docaviv, MakeDox, New Zealand, Camden, Bergen, DocsBarcelona, Washington DC Environmental
About:
A wordless immersion into the biodiversity of the Baltic forests.
The film screened as part of DOC NYC, for which our program notes read:
Through immersive cinematography and exquisite sound design, one of Europe’s last remaining old-growth forests comes alive in a poetic documentary about the quotidian rituals, survival, and non-anthropocentric harmony of the varied inhabitants of a Lithuanian woodland. Biologist-turned-filmmaker Mindaugas Survila spent a decade making this extraordinary project, patiently infusing its panoply of nonhuman characters with drama, humor, and transcendence.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
Coming to Rooftop Films tonight, Thursday, June 3 and to theatres tomorrow, Friday, June 4:
ALL LIGHT, EVERYWHERE
Director:
Theo Anthony
World Premiere:
Sundance 2021
Select Festivals:
CPH:DOX, Hot Docs, Jeonju, True/False, New Directors/New Films
About:
An interrogation of the idea of objectivity through the shared histories of cameras, weapons, policing, and justice.
I profiled the doc before Sundance here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Releases, Sundance
New to Hulu this week:
CHANGING THE GAME
Director:
Michael Barnett
World Premiere:
Tribeca 2019
Select Festivals:
Palm Springs, Mountainfilm, Watch Docs, Sidewalk, Virginia, Nashville, Flyway, Guth Gafa, Salem, Frameline, Outfest, BFI Flare
About:
A profile of several trans high school athletes.
I previously wrote about the doc here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
Festival:
The 28th Sheffield Doc/Fest
Dates:
June 4-13
About:
Nearly 80 new and recent features make up the lineup of this well-respected and popular British event, presented in a hybrid format this year.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Overviews, Recommendations
New to VOD via Netflix this week:
BLACK HOLES: THE EDGE OF ALL WE KNOW
Director:
Peter Galison
World Premiere:
CPH:DOX 2020
Select Festivals:
Bergen, Jackson Wild
About:
An international assemblage of scientists work together to capture the first image of a black hole.
I previously wrote about the doc here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
Festival:
The 50th International Film Festival Rotterdam
Dates:
June 2-6
About:
This year’s edition of this acclaimed Dutch cinema event was split into two parts – an industry-focused February presentation, and this public-facing offering, which presents more than 100 features, with nonfiction and hybrids making up just over a third of the lineup.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Overviews, Recommendations
Festival:
The 24th Full Frame Documentary Film Festival
Dates:
June 2-6
About:
After cancelling its 2020 edition, this Durham NC doc event returns with an online presentation that includes just over 20 new and recent nonfiction features.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Overviews, Recommendations
Coming to VOD today, Tuesday, June 1:
JULIA SCOTTI: FUNNY THAT WAY
Director:
Susan Sandler
World Premiere:
Nantucket 2020
Select Festivals:
NewFest, Athena, Sebastopol Doc, Austin LGBT
About:
Decades after appearing on bills with Jerry Seinfeld and Chris Rock, trans stand-up comic Julia Scotti returns to the stage.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
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