Category Archives: 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.

Coming to DVD tomorrow, Tuesday, June 1:
STRAY

Director:
Elizabeth Lo

World Premiere:
Tribeca 2020 (unscreened)

Select Festivals:
DOC NYC, Hot Docs, London, Bergen, RIDM, Stockholm, San Diego Asian

About:
A dogs’-eye view of Istanbul.

I previously wrote about the doc here.

Coming to theatres today, Friday, May 28:
FIVE YEARS NORTH

Director:
Zach Ingrasci, Chris Temple

World Premiere:
Full Frame 2020 (unscreened)

Select Festivals:
DOC NYC, Seattle, Mountainfilm

About:
An exploration of the complexity of the immigration debate through the stories of an undocumented Guatemalan teenager and a Cuban-American ICE agent.

The film screened as part of DOC NYC, for which our program notes read:
After making the dangerous journey from his native Guatemala to New York City, 15-year-old Luis struggles to balance attending school and finding work to support his family back home. Meanwhile, Judy, a Cuban-American ICE agent, faces her own internal conflict with the shifting enforcement priorities of her longtime career, from targeting criminals to nonviolent undocumented individuals. As these two worlds near a collision, their parallel tales present a complex and nuanced take on both immigration and civic duty.   

Coming to theatres and to VOD tomorrow, Friday, May 28:
MOBY DOC

Director:
Rob Gordon Bralver

World Premiere:
Theatrical/VOD release (May 2021)

About:
An idiosyncratic portrait of the musician and activist Moby.

Coming to NYC’s IFC Center tomorrow, Friday, May 28:
DEREK DELGAUDIO’S IN & OF ITSELF

Director:
Frank Oz

World Premiere:
SXSW 2020 (unscreened)

Select Festivals:
DOC NYC, Montclair, Philadelphia

About:
The illusionist’s acclaimed one-man show.

I previously wrote about the film here.

Coming to The WORLD Channel’s America ReFramed today, Tuesday, May 25:
HAMTRAMCK, USA

Director:
Razi Jafri, Justin Feltman

World Premiere:
SXSW 2020 (unscreened)

Select Festivals:
DOC NYC, DOXA, Sarasota, St Louis, CAAMFest, Melbourne Doc, Virginia

About:
An election in America’s first majority Muslim city splits the community along ethnic lines.

The film screened as part of DOC NYC, for which our program notes read:
Formerly a solid Polish Catholic town, Hamtramck MI is America’s first majority Muslim city. During one election cycle, popular incumbent Karen Majewski faces Muslim challenger Mohammed Hassan for mayor, and the typically harmonious, culturally commingling community begins to split along ethnic lines. Going behind the scenes of small-town politics to explore the beauty and challenges that come with multiculturalism, Razi Jafri and Justin Feltman’s film is a heartwarming reminder that civility and respect can coexist in our political races.

Coming to virtual cinemas tomorrow, Friday, May 21:
TWO GODS

Director:
Zeshawn Ali

World Premiere:
Full Frame 2020 (unscreened)

Select Festivals:
DOC NYC, BlackStar, Montclair, Hot Docs, Camden

About:
A Black Muslim casket maker mentors two boys.

I previously wrote about the doc here.

Coming to DVD today, Tuesday, May 18:
WOJNAROWICZ

Director:
Chris McKim

World Premiere:
Tribeca 2020 (unscreened) / DOC NYC 2020

Select Festivals:
Hot Docs

About:
A powerful elegy to the late New York artist, writer, and filmmaker.

I previously wrote about the doc here.