Category Archives: Releases

Coming to the World Channel’s Doc World series this Sunday, November 6: A GOAT FOR A VOTE

Jeroen van Velzen’s made its world premiere on Dutch television in 2014. Its festival circuit included Traverse City, Sarasota, Camden, Movies That Matter, and One World, among others.

A look at African democracy in a microcosm, van Velzen’s appealing project follows a secondary school presidential election in a small Kenyan village. The three-way race is between Said, a popular rich kid; Harry, a quiet boy from the poor side of the tracks; and Magdalene, who dreams of being the school’s first female president. While Said aims to charm his classmates by composing a catchy rap, Harry hits upon the idea of bribing voters with goat meat, and Magdalene attempts to disrupt the boys’ efforts by creating a unified female student voting bloc to place her in power. As a midlength, the film demonstrates compact observational storytelling – but perhaps a bit too compact, limiting van Velzen’s ability to fully flesh out his protagonists. Still, in a nation where many past federal elections have included charges of fraud and led to violence, this offers an interesting exploration of these young subjects’ perceptions of how political campaigns are meant to operate.

Coming to theatres and to VOD tomorrow, Friday, November 4: PETER AND THE FARM

Tony Stone’s portrait of an isolated farmer debuted at True/False at the beginning of the year. It went on to screen at New Directors/New Films, San Francisco, Melbourne, Camden, and Poland’s American fest, among other events.

Peter Dunning has worked his Mile Hill Farm for 35 years, and it has taken its toil. He came to Vermont as part of the back to the land movement, and for a time, Mile Hill was an idyllic place, drawing his friends and family together. Now 68 years old, Peter is alone, estranged from his grown children, his marriage having ended long ago, a victim of his depression and alcoholism. Somehow, he still maintains a wry humor, and a penchant for storytelling, preventing this artfully composed profile from feeling either exploitative or unrelentingly dark, leaving an indelible impression of the man and his work.

New to DVD this week: DEEP WEB

Alex Winter’s look at the dark corners of the Internet debuted at SXSW last year. It went on to screen at Full Frame, San Francisco, Hot Docs, and Montclair, among other fests.

I previously wrote about the doc here.

New to DVD this week: LUCHA MEXICO

Alex Hammond and Ian Markiewicz’s portrait of lucha libre had its world premiere at Guanajuato last year. It went on to screen at DOC NYC, DOXA, and Hola Mexico.

I previously wrote about the doc here.

Coming to VOD today, Wednesday, November 2: CIRCLE OF POISON

Evan Mascagni and Shannon Post’s investigation into banned chemicals debuted at DOC NYC last year. Its fest circuit also included Barcelona and Washington DC’s Environmental fests, Salem, and Louisville. It now comes to iTunes and other VOD platforms.

I previously wrote about the film for DOC NYC’s program, saying:
When the federal government bans a chemical, deeming it harmful to the well-being of its citizens, few know that they actively encourage the manufacturer to export it abroad for profit. Evan Mascagni and Shannon Post’s pointed exposé reveals this disturbing practice, focusing on the global trade in banned pesticides, their devastating environmental and health impact, and, perhaps most eye-opening, the border-defying return of these harmful chemicals to the US in the form of residue on imported foods.

New to DVD this week: MISS SHARON JONES!

Barbara Kopple’s portrait of a performer’s battle against cancer had its world premiere at Toronto last year. Screenings followed at DOC NYC, Nantucket, Montclair, Dallas, Sarasota, Sydney, DocPoint, Palm Springs, Santa Barbara, New Zealand, SXSW, IDFA, and AFI Docs, among other events. The film will screen later this month as part of DOC NYC’s Short List.

I previously wrote about the doc here.