Category Archives: Releases

In Theatres: CUTIE AND THE BOXER

cutieComing to theatres this Friday, August 16: CUTIE AND THE BOXER

Zachary Heinzerling’s warm exploration of the challenges of a long marriage between artists made its debut at Sundance earlier this year, where it picked up a directing award. Its fest circuit has also included True/False, San Francisco, Tribeca, and Karlovy Vary, among others.

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

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On VOD: AN AFRICAN ELECTION

Coming to VOD tomorrow, Tuesday, August 13: AN AFRICAN ELECTION

Jarreth and Kevin Merz’s engrossing examination of Ghana’s presidential election made its debut at IDFA in 2010. It went on to screen at Sundance, Atlanta, and Visions Du Reel, among others. Sundance Artist Services now makes the doc available via iTunes, Amazon Instant Video, XBOX, Sony, SundanceNOW, Vudu, and YouTube.

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

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On Cable: TERMS AND CONDITIONS MAY APPLY

terms and conditionsComing to Pivot for its cable broadcast premiere this Sunday, August 11: TERMS AND CONDITIONS MAY APPLY

Cullen Hoback’s exploration of the end of online privacy had its world premiere at Slamdance. Since then, the doc has screened at Hot Docs, Dallas, Newport Beach, SF DocFest, and Seattle, among others, and has enjoyed a limited theatrical release.

I previously wrote about the film out of Hot Docs here.

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In Theatres: HERBLOCK

herblockComing to theatres tomorrow, Friday, August 9: HERBLOCK: THE BLACK & THE WHITE

Michael Stevens’ tribute to the eponymous editorial cartoonist had its world premiere at Tribeca this Spring. It went on to screen at AFI Docs and Martha’s Vineyard.

I previously wrote about the film out of AFI Docs here.

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In Theatres & On VOD: ZIPPER

Zipper-Film-Still-1-Photo-by-Amy-Nichoslon-580x300Coming to NYC’s IFC Center and to VOD tomorrow, Friday, August 9: ZIPPER

Amy Nicholson’s look at the changing face of Coney Island debuted at DOC NYC last year, where it took home a special jury prize. It went to screen at Big Sky, Atlanta, and Montclair, among others. The doc comes to iTunes simultaneous with its NYC theatrical release, and expands to LA theatres at the end of the month.

I included the film in my DOC NYC coverage here.

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In Theatres: OFF LABEL

off_labelComing to theatres this Friday, August 9: OFF LABEL

Michel Palmieri and Donal Mosher’s exploration of America’s addiction to prescription psychotropic drugs debuted at Tribeca last year. It went on to screen at Hot Docs, San Francisco, Sheffield, One World, Camden, and RIDM, among others.

I included the doc in my Tribeca coverage here.

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In Theatres: THE MACHINE WHICH MAKES EVERYTHING DISAPPEAR

machine which makesComing to theatres this Friday, August 9: THE MACHINE WHICH MAKES EVERYTHING DISAPPEAR

Tinatin Gurchiani’s intimate exploration of her native Georgia debuted last year at DOK Leipzig. It came stateside at Sundance, where Gurchiani won the World Cinema Documentary Competition Best Director Award. Other festival stops have included IDFA, MoMA’s Documentary Fortnight, True/False, Hong Kong, Thessaloniki Doc, It’s All True, Documentary Edge, Hot Docs, and Planete+ Doc.

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

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On VOD: LOW & CLEAR

low and clearNow available on VOD: LOW & CLEAR

Kahlil Hudson and Tyler Hughen’s study of male friendship and fly-fishing had its debut last year at SXSW, where it picked up an audience award. Other stops on the fest circuit included True/False, IDFA, Hot Docs, Dallas, Camden, and Mountainfilm in Telluride. The doc came to iTunes yesterday.

I wrote about the film out of SXSW here.

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On VOD & In Theatres: THE MOTIVATION

large_THE_MOTIVATION_2_PUBSComing to VOD today, Tuesday, August 6: THE MOTIVATION

Adam Bhala Lough’s look at a high-stakes skateboarding competition had its world premiere at Tribeca this Spring and went on to screen at Newport Beach as well. The doc has held special screenings at skate venues and in theaters, adding NYC screenings later this month on August 24. It comes to iTunes, Amazon, Google Play PlayStation, Cinemanow, Vudu, and other On Demand services today.

Pro skateboarder Rob Dyrdek, noting deficiencies in existing skateboarding competitions, set out to present a corrective by founding Street League Skateboarding. In addition to instituting a fairer scoring system and a professionalized ranked system for its competitors, SLS also offers the largest prize in the sport. The film follows eight of the top contenders over a year’s preparation heading into the 2012 championship, from the defending title holder, Sean Malto, to the celebrated prodigy, 17-year-old Nyjah Huston. While there are a lot of characters to juggle, Lough manages to concisely convey the personalities, strengths, and potential weaknesses each brings to his own game. Skateboarders and fans will appreciate the behind-the-scenes view into their lives, while more casual viewers will find the typical joys of the competition doc form enlivened by the athletes’ brash personalities and gravity-defying tricks.

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On VOD: WELCOME TO THE MACHINE

welcome to the machineComing to VOD today, Tuesday, August 6: WELCOME TO THE MACHINE

Avi Zev Weider’s exploration of people’s growing dependence on technology debuted at SXSW last year. It went on to screen at Hot Docs, Sarasota, and Woodstock, among other fests. After a limited theatrical run at the beginning of the year, it now comes to VOD on Comcast, Time Warner, Cox, iTunes, Amazon, Xbox, Vudu, and Google Play.

I wrote about the doc upon its theatrical release here.

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