Category Archives: Releases

On DVD/VOD: MAIDEN

Coming to DVD and VOD today, Tuesday, October 1:
MAIDEN

Director:
Alex Holmes

World Premiere:
Toronto 2018

Select Festivals:
Sundance, Nantucket, SXSW, IDFA, CPH:DOX, Tribeca, Seattle, Biografilm, DocPoint, Glasgow, Dublin, Sydney

About:
The immersive, against-all-odds story of sailor Tracy Edwards, who skippered the first all-female international crew in the 1989 Whitbread Round the World Yacht Race.

I profiled the doc before Sundance here.

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

On TV: SILICONE SOUL

Coming to Starz tomorrow, Tuesday, October 1:
SILICONE SOUL

Director:
Melody Gilbert

World Premiere:
Thessaloniki Doc 2018

Select Festivals:
DOC NYC, One World, Fargo, SF DocFest, Minneapolis-St Paul, Sofia, BendFilm, Chagrin Doc, AmDocs, DocuWest

About:
Profiles of individuals who have developed attachments to lifelike dolls.

The film screened as part of DOC NYC, for which our program notes read:
Romance traditionally has been the domain of humans. This film, however, shows it is possible between men and the life-size dolls. Disarmingly candid interviews highlight the bonds formed between synthetic beings and lonely souls who have struggled to find the “one,” while other subjects profiled reveal unexpected attachments to eerily lifelike dolls. Melody Gilbert’s documentary sensitively explores the meaning of and desire for companionship and emotional connection.

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On VOD: GENERAL MAGIC

Coming to VOD tomorrow, Tuesday, October 1:
GENERAL MAGIC

Directors:
Matt Maude and Sarah Kerruish

World Premiere:
Tribeca 2018

Select Festival:
Palm Springs, Cleveland, Florida, Doc Edge, Sidewalk, Philadelphia, Hot Springs Doc, Milwaukee, Denver, Hawaii

About:
A look back at an ahead-of-its-time tech company.

I previously wrote about the doc here.

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On TV: DIEGO MARADONA

Coming to HBO this coming Tuesday, October 1:
DIEGO MARADONA

Director:
Asif Kapadia

World Premiere:
Cannes 2019

Select Festivals:
Telluride, Sheffield, Karlovy Vary, Biografilm, Jerusalem

About:
An archival portrait of the celebrated but controversial soccer star.

I previously wrote about the doc here.

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On TV: THE SILENCE OF OTHERS

Coming to PBS’s POV this coming Monday, September 30:
THE SILENCE OF OTHERS

Directors:
Almudena Carracedo and Robert Bahar

Premiere:
Berlin 2018

Select Festivals:
Hot Docs, Sheffield, AFI Docs, Reyjkavik, Docs Against Gravity, Cairo, Hamptons, Mar del Plata, Los Angeles, Moscow

Notable Recognition:
The doc was shortlisted for the Academy Awards.

About:
Victims and survivors of Franco’s brutal regime take to Argentine courts to seek justice.

I previously wrote about the doc here.

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On DVD/Digital: 8 DAYS: TO THE MOON AND BACK

Coming to DVD and digital today, Tuesday, September 24:
8 DAYS: TO THE MOON AND BACK

Director:
Anthony Philipson

World Premiere:
BBC broadcast (July 2019)

About:
An immersive revisitation of the Apollo 11 mission.

I previously wrote about the doc here.

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In Theatres: ANTHROPOCENE: THE HUMAN EPOCH

photo by Edward Burtynsky

Coming to theatres for a one-night only nationwide special release tomorrow, Wednesday, September 25:
ANTHROPOCENE: THE HUMAN EPOCH

Directors:
Jennifer Baichwal, Nicholas de Pencier, and Edward Burtynsky

World Premiere:
Toronto 2018

Select Festivals:
Sundance, Berlin, Cleveland, Washington DC Enviro, Calgary, Vancouver, Hong Kong, Doc10, Docs Against Gravity, Sydney, Sheffield, Revelation Perth, Melbourne Doc, DokuFest

About:
A striking visual chronicle of human impact on the planet.

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

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

On TV: BUZZ

Coming to HBO this Wednesday, September 25:
BUZZ

Director:
Andrew Shea

World Premiere:
DOC NYC 2018

About:
A revealing portrait of FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS author Buzz Bissinger.

I previously wrote about the doc here.

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In Theatres: DIEGO MARADONA

Coming to theatres today, Friday, September 20:
DIEGO MARADONA

Director:
Asif Kapadia

World Premiere:
Cannes 2019

Select Festivals:
Telluride, Sheffield, Karlovy Vary, Biografilm, Jerusalem

About:
An archival portrait of the celebrated but controversial soccer star.

Diego Maradona emerged from the slums of Buenos Aires to become a worldwide sports phenomenon. With access to Maradona’s own personal archives, Director Asif Kapadia turns his signature approach to the notorious bad boy, focusing on the seven years Maradona spent in Naples after he transferred from Barcelona in 1984. With the fate of the club on his shoulders, the champion athlete embraces the impoverished Italian city and its excesses, resulting in a wild tragicomedy that should prove compelling even for non-soccer fans.

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In Theatres: BUZZ

Coming to theatres today, Friday, September 20:
BUZZ

Director:
Andrew Shea

World Premiere:
DOC NYC 2018

About:
A revealing portrait of FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS author Buzz Bissinger.

The film screened as part of DOC NYC, for which our program notes read:
Pulitzer Prize-winning author Buzz Bissinger is known for getting his subjects to open up for Vanity Fair assignments like profiling Caitlyn Jenner, as well as for his book, FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS. Now he reveals himself during a tumultuous year in his personal life filmed by his longtime friend Andrew Shea. As he collaborates with Jenner on her biography, Bissinger exposes his own buried desires in ways that test his marriage and family. This surprising portrait explores the toll of seeking one’s authentic self.

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