what (not) to doc

UNZIPPED
Director Douglas Keeve goes behind the scenes of designer Isaac Mizrahi’s relentless drive and bold vision to bring his 1994 collection to life. From sketches to runway, this insider’s journey is packed with backstage drama, creative triumphs, and iconic supermodels, including Cindy Crawford, Naomi Campbell, and Linda Evangelista.

Director:
Douglas Keeve

Producer:
Michael Alden

Festival Section:
From the Collection

More Info:
Keeve’s acclaimed fashion documentary debuted at 1995 Festival and screens now in a digitally restored version.

Check out the Sundance website for more details, including screening info, by clicking on the film title above.

ONE TO ONE: JOHN & YOKO
An exploration of the seminal and transformative 18 months that one of music’s most famous couples — John Lennon and Yoko Ono — spent living in Greenwich Village, New York City, in the early 1970s.

Director:
Kevin Macdonald

Co-Director:
Sam Rice-Edwards

Producers:
Kevin Macdonald, Alice Webb, Peter Worsley

Festival Section:
Spotlight

More Info:
Macdonald previously directed Sundance doc features LIFE IN A DAY 2020, SKY LADDER: THE ART OF CAI GUO-QIANG, and LIFE IN A DAY.

Check out the Sundance website for more details, including screening info, by clicking on the film title above.

PEE-WEE AS HIMSELF
A chronicle of the life of artist and performer Paul Reubens and his alter ego Pee-wee Herman. Prior to his recent death, Reubens spoke in-depth about his creative influences, and the personal struggles he faced to persevere as an artist.

Director:
Matt Wolf

Producer:
Emma Tillinger Koskoff

Festival Section:
Episodic

More Info:
The Festival will screen both parts of this two-part doc.

Wolf’s previous Sundance projects include the doc feature SPACESHIP EARTH and the doc shorts BAYARD & ME and IT’S ME, HILARY: THE MAN WHO DREW ELOISE.

Check out the Sundance website for more details, including screening info, by clicking on the film title above.

NEVER GET BUSTED!
Barry Cooper was a highly decorated Texas narcotics officer — until he turned on the police force by busting crooked cops and teaching drug users how to hide their stash.

Showrunners:
David Anthony Ngo, Erin Williams-Weir

Executive Producers:
John Battsek, Chris Smith

Producers:
Erin Williams-Weir, Daniel Joyce, David Anthony Ngo, Louise Schultze

Festival Section:
Episodic

More Info:
The first episode of this docuseries screens in this year’s Episodic Pilot Showcase.

Check out the Sundance website for more details, including screening info, by clicking on the film title above.

BUCKS COUNTY, USA
Evi and Vanessa, two 14-year-olds living in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, are best friends despite their opposing political beliefs. As nationwide disputes over public education explode into vitriol and division in their hometown, the girls and others in the community fight to discover the humanity in “the other side.”

Directors:
Robert May, Barry Levinson

Executive Producers:
Barry Levinson, Robert May, Jason Sosnoff, Mark Axelwitz, Nick Dunn, Sarah Cross, David Smick, Jonathan E Lim, Robin Jonas, Steven P Wegner

Festival Section:
Episodic

More Info:
The Festival will screen the first two episodes of this five-part docuseries, followed by a preview of upcoming episodes.

Levinson previously screened his film WHAT JUST HAPPENED at the Festival.

Check out the Sundance website for more details, including screening info, by clicking on the film title above.

THE STRINGER
A two-year investigation uncovers a scandal behind the making of one of the most-recognized photographs of the 20th century. Five decades of secrets are unraveled in the search for justice for a man known only as “the stringer.”

Director:
Bao Nguyen

Producers:
Fiona Turner, Terri Lichstein

Festival Section:
Premieres

More Info:
Nguyen previously debuted his feature docs BE WATER and THE GREATEST NIGHT IN POP at Sundance.

Check out the Sundance website for more details, including screening info, by clicking on the film title above.

SLY LIVES! (AKA THE BURDEN OF BLACK GENIUS)
An examination of the life and legacy of Sly & The Family Stone — the groundbreaking band led by the charismatic and enigmatic Sly Stone — captures the band’s rise, reign, and subsequent fadeout while shedding light on the unseen burden that comes with success for Black artists in America.

Director:
Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson

Producers:
Joseph Patel, Derik Murray

Festival Section:
Premieres

More Info:
Thompson’s debut documentary feature, SUMMER OF SOUL (…OR, WHEN THE REVOLUTION COULD NOT BE TELEVISED) premiered at the Festival before going on to win the Oscar for Best Documentary Feature.

Check out the Sundance website for more details, including screening info, by clicking on the film title above.

SALLY
Sally Ride became the first American woman to blast off into space, but beneath her unflappable composure was a secret. Sally’s life partner, Tam O’Shaughnessy, reveals their hidden romance and the sacrifices that accompanied their 27 years together.

Director:
Cristina Costantini

Producer:
Lauren Cioffi, Dan Cogan, Jon Bardin, Cristina Costantini

Festival Section:
Premieres

More Info:
Costantini’s previous Sundance projects include MUCHO MUCHO AMOR and SCIENCE FAIR.

Check out the Sundance website for more details, including screening info, by clicking on the film title above.