Festival:
The 45th Frameline
Dates:
June 10-27
About:
The oldest LGBTQ film festival in the world presents just under 50 new features and episodics in a hybrid format, including approximately 20 works of nonfiction.
Category Archives: Recommendations
Frameline 2021: Documentary Overview
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Overviews, Recommendations
On DVD: HOT HOUSE
New to DVD this week:
HOT HOUSE
Director:
Shimon Dotan
World Premiere:
Jerusalem 2006
Select Festivals:
Sundance, Human Rights Watch, Watch Docs
About:
A look at how Israeli prisons have encouraged the development of the next generation of Palestinian leaders as well as future terrorist threats.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
Tribeca 2021: Documentary Overview
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
On DVD: AMERICAN OZ
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
In Theatres: THE ANCIENT WOODS
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
Special Screening & In Theatres: ALL LIGHT, EVERYWHERE
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
On VOD: CHANGING THE GAME
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
Sheffield Doc/Fest 2021 Overview
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
On VOD: BLACK HOLES: THE EDGE OF ALL WE KNOW
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
Rotterdam 2021: Documentary Overview
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
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