Category Archives: Releases

On TV: HAMTRAMCK, USA

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.

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On VOD: THE TRIAL

Coming to MUBI today, Monday, May 24:
THE TRIAL

Director:
Sergei Loznitsa

World Premiere:
Venice 2018

Select Festivals:
Toronto, IDFA, Haifa, Busan, Mar del Plata, Cinema du Reel, Docs Against Gravity

About:
An archival exploration of the public spectacle of Stalin-era Soviet show trials.

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On TV: THE DONUT KING

Coming to PBS’s Independent Lens tonight, Monday, May 24:
THE DONUT KING

Director:
Alice Gu

World Premiere:
SXSW 2020 (unscreened)

Select Festivals:
Sidewalk, Nashville, Milwaukee, San Diego Asian, Los Angeles Asian Pacific, Philadelphia Asian, Calgary Underground

About:
A Cambodian refugee escapes genocide to build a donut empire on the West Coast, and a legacy for other immigrants to emulate.

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On VOD: STATE FUNERAL

Coming to MUBI today, Friday, May 21:
STATE FUNERAL

Director:
Sergei Loznitsa

World Premiere:
Venice 2019

Select Festivals:
Toronto, New York, Minsk, Stockholm, Vienna, Rio, Glasgow, Sofia, Indielisboa, Docaviv, Hong Kong, Docs Against Gravity

About:
An exploration of Stalin’s cult of personality through the Soviet leader’s funeral.

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In Theatres: FINAL ACCOUNT

Coming to theatres today, Friday, May 21:
FINAL ACCOUNT

Director:
Luke Holland

World Premiere:
Venice 2020

Select Festivals:
IDFA

About:
Interviews with the last living generation of Germans to have participated in Adolf Hitler’s Third Reich – not the infamously chilling names in history books, but the everyday citizens who carried out the plans made by the architects of mass-scale genocide.

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On VOD: 1971: THE YEAR THAT MUSIC CHANGED EVERYTHING

Coming to Apple TV+ today, Friday, May 21:
1971: THE YEAR THAT MUSIC CHANGED EVERYTHING

Director:
Asif Kapadia

World Premiere:
Apple TV+ release (May 2021)

About:
A docuseries exploring how the popular musicians and soundtracks of 1971 shaped culture and politics.

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On VOD: BLOCKADE

Coming to MUBI tomorrow, Friday, May 21:
BLOCKADE

Director:
Sergei Loznitsa

World Premiere:
Rotterdam 2006

Select Festivals:
Krakow, Reykjavik, Sydney, Mar del Plata, Thessaloniki Doc

About:
Rarely seen silent images found in Soviet film archives retell the story of the 900-day siege of Leningrad during WWII.

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In Virtual Release: THE PENNY BLACK

Coming to virtual cinemas tomorrow, Friday, May 21:
THE PENNY BLACK

Director:
Joe Saunders

World Premiere:
Slamdance 2020

Select Festivals:
St Louis, Newport Beach

About:
A man searches for his shady neighbor, who entrusted him with a valuable stamp collection before mysteriously vanishing.

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In Virtual Release: TWO GODS

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.

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In Virtual Release: THE NEW DEAL FOR ARTISTS

Coming to virtual cinemas in a newly remastered version this Friday, May 21:
THE NEW DEAL FOR ARTISTS

Director:
Wieland Schulz-Keil

World Premiere:
West German TV broadcast (September 1976)

About:
A look back at the Works Progress Administration, FDR’s ambitious government-supported public arts program under the New Deal.

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