Coming to NYC’s Rooftop Films tomorrow, Saturday, August 28:
SEARCHERS
Director:
Pacho Velez
World Premiere:
Sundance 2021
Select Festivals:
Docaviv, Visions du Reel, Minneapolis-St Paul, AFI Docs
About:
An exploration of online dating apps and the need for human connection during a time of enforced isolation.
I profiled the doc before Sundance here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Releases, Sundance
Coming to theatres today, Friday, August 27:
UNAPOLOGETIC
Director:
Ashley O’Shay
World Premiere:
BlackStar 2020
Select Festivals:
DOC NYC, New Orleans, Black Harvest, St Louis, Cucalorus, Big Sky Doc, Athena, Cleveland, Human Rights Watch, Outfest Fusion
About:
Two fierce abolitionist leaders offer a deep look into the movement for Black Lives.
The film screened as part of DOC NYC, for which our program notes read:
Fed up with misdeeds committed by Chicago law enforcement and a political system unwilling to hold anyone accountable, two millennial Black women take action. Spoken-word artist Bella and PhD candidate Janaé work tirelessly rallying the community and challenging a power structure that historically turns a deaf ear to young, Black, female voices. Over the course of a year, filmmaker Ashley O’Shay documents these courageous activists in their quest for political liberation and social justice.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
Coming to Discovery+ today, Thursday, August 26, and to theatres tomorrow, Friday, August 27:
LILY TOPPLES THE WORLD
Director:
Jeremy Workman
World Premiere:
BlackStar 2020
Select Festivals:
Cleveland, Florida, Ashland, Minneapolis-St Paul, San Francisco, Maryland, RiverRun, Sarasota
About:
20-year-old Lily Hevesh—the world’s greatest domino toppler and the only woman in her field—in a coming-of-age story of artistry, passion, and unlikely triumph.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
Coming to MUBI today, Thursday, August 26:
BUDDY
Director:
Heddy Honigmann
World Premiere:
IDFA 2018
Select Festivals:
Hot Docs, Visions du Reel, DOXA, Documentary Fortnight, Bergen, Dokfest Munich,
About:
From enabling people to occupy public spaces to easing anxieties around social interactions, dogs help their humans navigate physical and emotional living.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Releases
Coming to MUBI today, Wednesday, August 25:
PURPLE SEA
Director:
Amel Alzakout, Khaled Abdulwahed
World Premiere:
Berlin 2020
Select Festivals:
IDFA, Visions du Reel, Doclisboa, Ann Arbor, RIDM, Camden
About:
Made from images filmed by the Syrian artist Amel Alzakout after the boat on which she was fleeing Syria sank off the coast of Lesbos, a revisitation of the moment in which the co-director and the other passengers are floating in the sea in their life-jackets, waiting to be rescued.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Releases
New to VOD this week:
KIPCHOGE: THE LAST MILESTONE
Director:
Jake Scott
World Premiere:
VOD release (August 2021)
About:
Kenyan Olympic runner Eliud Kipchoge dreams of completing a marathon distance of less than two hours.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Releases
Coming to NYC’s Rooftop Films screening tomorrow, Wednesday, August 25:
ONCE UPON A TIME IN QUEENS
Director:
Nick Davis
World Premiere:
Rooftop Films (August 2021)
About:
The first two parts of ESPN’s 30 for 30 multi-part profile of one of the most dominating, infamous, and magical teams of all-time: the 1986 Mets.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Releases
Coming to DVD today, Tuesday, August 24:
AGAINST THE CURRENT
Director:
Oskar Pall Sveinsson
World Premiere:
Reykjavik 2020
About:
Transgender adventurer Veiga Grétarsdóttir attempts to kayak the 1,300 mile circumference of Iceland, counter-clockwise and against the current, an achievement that has been compared to climbing K2.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Releases
Coming to Netflix tomorrow, Wednesday, August 25:
BOB ROSS: HAPPY ACCIDENTS, BETRAYAL, & GREED
Director:
Joshua Rofé
World Premiere:
Rooftop Films (August 2021)
About:
Bob Ross brought joy to millions as the world’s most famous art instructor, but a battle for his business empire cast a shadow over his happy trees.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Releases
Coming to Netflix’s UNTOLD series tomorrow, Tuesday, August 24:
CAITLYN JENNER
Director:
Crystelle Moselle
World Premiere:
Netflix (August 2021)
About:
Caitlyn Jenner’s unlikely path to Olympic glory was inspiring, but her more challenging road to embracing her true self proved even more meaningful.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Releases
what (not) to doc 