Category Archives: Recommendations

January 29, 2021 · 3:02 PM

On VOD: LANCE

New to ESPN+ this week:
LANCE

Director:
Marina Zenovich

World Premiere:
Sundance 2020

About:
The rise and fall of Lance Armstrong.

I profiled the doc before Sundance here.

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January 29, 2021 · 1:31 PM

On VOD: SOFTIE

Coming to OVID.tv today, Friday, January 29:
SOFTIE

Director:
Sam Soko

Premiere:
Sundance 2020

Select Festivals:
Hot Docs, CPH:DOX, BlackStar, Durban, Encounters, Salem, Galway, DOXA, Thin Line

About:
A chronicle of the personal and professional challenges facing an idealistic Kenyan political activist as he decides to run for office.

My pre-Sundance profile of the doc may be found here.

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January 28, 2021 · 12:01 PM

2021 Sundance Docs in Focus (Recap)

The 2021 Sundance Film Festival begins today, Thursday, January 28, and runs through Sunday, February 3, screening online and at select in-person satellite venues throughout the US.

To catch up with the festival’s doc programming, here are links to my series of 2021 Sundance documentary profiles, divided by festival section:

US Documentary Competition

AILEY | Courtesy of Sundance Institute | photo by Jack Mitchell
ALL LIGHT, EVERYWHERE | Courtesy of Sundance Institute | photo by Corey Hughes.
AT THE READY | Courtesy of Sundance Institute
CUSP | Courtesy of Sundance Institute
HOMEROOM | Courtesy of Sundance Institute | photo by Sean Havey
REBEL HEARTS | Courtesy of Sundance Institute | photo by Corita Art Center, Immaculate Heart Community, Los Angeles
RITA MORENO: JUST A GIRL WHO DECIDED TO GO FOR IT | Courtesy of Sundance Institute
SUMMER OF SOUL (…OR, WHEN THE REVOLUTION COULD NOT BE TELEVISED) | Courtesy of Sundance Institute | photo by Mass Distraction Media
TRY HARDER! | Courtesy of Sundance Institute | photo by Lou Nakasako
USERS | Courtesy of Sundance Institute | photo by Natalia Almada

World Cinema Documentary Competition

CAPTAINS OF ZAATARI | Courtesy of Sundance Institute
FAYA DAYI | Courtesy of Sundance Institute | photo by Jessica Beshir
FLEE | Courtesy of Sundance Institute
MISHA AND THE WOLVES | Courtesy of Sundance Institute
THE MOST BEAUTIFUL BOY IN THE WORLD | Courtesy of Sundance Institute | photo by Mario Tursi
PLAYING WITH SHARKS | Courtesy of Sundance Institute
PRESIDENT | Courtesy of Sundance Institute
SABAYA | Courtesy of Sundance Institute | photo by Lolav Media/Ginestra Film
TAMING THE GARDEN | Courtesy of Sundance Institute
WRITING WITH FIRE | Courtesy of Sundance Institute | photo by Black Ticket Films

Premieres

AMY TAN: UNINTENDED MEMOIR | Courtesy of Sundance Institute | photo by KPJR Films
BRING YOUR OWN BRIGADE | Courtesy of Sundance Institute | photo by Lucy Walker
IN THE SAME BREATH | Courtesy of Sundance Institute
MY NAME IS PAULI MURRAY | Courtesy of Sundance Institute | photo by Pauli Murray Foundation
PHILLY DA | Courtesy of Sundance Institute | photo by Yoni Brook
THE SPARKS BROTHERS | Courtesy of Sundance Institute | photo by Jake Polonsky
STREET GANG: HOW WE GOT TO SESAME STREET | Courtesy of Sundance Institute | photo by Luke Geissbühler

NEXT

SEARCHERS | Courtesy of Sundance Institute | photo by Asterlight

Midnight

A GLITCH IN THE MATRIX | Courtesy of Sundance Institute

Special Screenings

LIFE IN A DAY 2020 | Courtesy of Sundance Institute

Indie Series Program

SEEDS OF DECEIT | Courtesy of Sundance Institute | photo by Sjors Mosman and Kevin Vidal

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January 27, 2021 · 1:31 PM

On DVD: THE CHANGIN’ TIMES OF IKE WHITE

New to DVD this week:
THE CHANGIN’ TIMES OF IKE WHITE

Director:
Daniel Vernon

World Premiere:
Camden 2019

Select Festivals:
DOC NYC, Glasgow, Valladolid

About:
The unexpected story of a long-vanished jailhouse musician.

I previously wrote about the doc here.

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January 27, 2021 · 12:01 PM

2021 Sundance Docs in Focus: SEEDS OF DECEIT

Courtesy of Sundance Institute | photo by Sjors Mosman and Kevin Vidal


SEEDS OF DECEIT
Miriam Guttmann investigates a disturbing pattern of abuse of power by a leading Dutch fertility doctor in this docuseries.

Festival Section:
Indie Series Program

Continue reading →

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January 26, 2021 · 3:02 PM

On DVD/VOD: NASRIN

Coming to DVD/VOD today, Tuesday, January 26:
NASRIN

Director:
Jeff Kaufman

World Premiere:
GlobeDocs 2020

Select Festivals:
DOC NYC, Denver, Global Health, Human Rights Film Festival Berlin

About:
A portrait of human rights attorney Nasrin Sotoudeh.

I previously wrote about the doc here.

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January 26, 2021 · 1:31 PM

2021 Sundance Docs in Focus: LIFE IN A DAY 2020

Courtesy of Sundance Institute


LIFE IN A DAY 2020
Kevin Macdonald presents a crowdsourced look at life around the world on a single day during the pandemic.

Festival Section:
Special Screenings

Continue reading →

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January 26, 2021 · 12:01 PM

2021 Sundance Docs in Focus: A GLITCH IN THE MATRIX

Courtesy of Sundance Institute


A GLITCH IN THE MATRIX
Rodney Ascher goes down the rabbit hole of simulation theory.

Festival Section:
Midnight

Continue reading →

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January 25, 2021 · 3:02 PM

On TV: THE MOLE AGENT

Coming to PBS’s POV tonight, Monday, January 25:
THE MOLE AGENT

Director:
Maite Alberdi

World Premiere:
Sundance 2020

Select Festivals:
DOC NYC, Nantucket, Hot Docs, Full Frame, True/False, San Sebastian, New Directors/NewFilms, Miami, Karlovy Vary, Cleveland

About:
An 83-year-old man becomes an undercover spy in a Chilean retirement home.

I profiled the doc before Sundance here.

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January 25, 2021 · 1:31 PM

2021 Sundance Docs in Focus: SEARCHERS

Courtesy of Sundance Institute | photo by Asterlight


SEARCHERS
Pacho Velez explores online dating apps and the need for human connection during a time of enforced isolation.

Festival Section:
NEXT

Continue reading →

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Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Sundance