Festival:
The 68th Melbourne International Film Festival
Dates:
August 1-4
About:
Nearly 80 feature documentaries screen at this long-running Australian festival.

IRON FISTS AND KUNG FU KICKS
Festival:
The 68th Melbourne International Film Festival
Dates:
August 1-4
About:
Nearly 80 feature documentaries screen at this long-running Australian festival.

IRON FISTS AND KUNG FU KICKS
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Overviews, Recommendations
Coming to theatres tomorrow, Wednesday, July 31:
JAY MYSELF
Director:
Stephen Wilkes
World Premiere:
DOC NYC 2018
Select Festivals:
deadCENTER, Newport Beach
About:
A renowned photographer prepares to leave his longtime home and studio.
The film screened as part of DOC NYC, for which our program notes read:
Acclaimed photographer Jay Maisel bought a six-story, 72-room building on the Bowery in 1966. Ever since, the site has served as his home, studio, and repository for a breathtaking collection of items that inspires his photographic work. But now it must be emptied out following its sale in the largest private real estate deal in NYC history. As Maisel prepares for this monumental move, a true end of an era, he reflects on his life and work for the camera of his mentee, photographer and filmmaker Stephen Wilkes.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
Coming to DVD/VOD today, Tuesday, July 30:
MEETING GORBACHEV
Directors:
Werner Herzog and Andre Singer
Premiere:
Telluride 2018
Select Festivals:
Toronto, CPH:DOX, Tribeca, DocPoint, Dok Leipzig
About:
The German auteur has a meeting of the minds with the legendary final leader of the Soviet Union.
I previously wrote about the doc here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
Festival:
The 8th Blackstar Film Festival
Dates:
August 1-4
About:
This acclaimed Philadelphia event, focused on work by people of the African diaspora and other communities of color, presents 22 features this year, 14 of those nonfiction. Continue reading
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Overviews, Recommendations
Coming to PBS’s POV tonight, Monday, July 29:
INVENTING TOMORROW
Director:
Laura Nix
Premiere:
Sundance 2018
Select Festivals:
Nantucket, Hot Docs, CPH:DOX, Seattle, Sydney, Melbourne, San Francisco, Full Frame, AFI Docs, Woods Hole, Greenwich, Montclair, Dokufest
About:
A profile of several international students pursuing answers to environmental issues in their science fair projects.
I profiled the doc before Sundance here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Releases, Sundance
Coming to theatres today, Friday, July 26:
HONEYLAND
Directors:
Ljubomir Stefanov and Tamara Kotevska
World Premiere:
Sundance 2019
Select Festivals:
Nantucket, BAMcinemaFest, Hot Docs, Sheffield, Docs Against Gravity, DocsBarcelona, DOK.fest Munich, Hong Kong, New Directors/New Films, Visions du Réel, San Francisco, Seattle, Doc Edge, Sydney, Krakow, Provincetown, Montclair, Midnight Sun
About:
A look at the world of a traditional beekeeper in Macedonia.
My pre-Sundance profile of the doc may be found here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Releases, Sundance
FOR SAMA
Directors:
Waad al-Kateab and Edward Watts
World Premiere:
SXSW 2019
Select Festivals:
Nantucket, Cannes, Sheffield, Hot Docs, AFI Docs, Traverse City, Riverrun, Minneapolis-St Paul, Seattle, Biografilm, Belfast, deadCENTER, Maryland, New Zealand, Guanajuato, Munich, Galway, Melbourne, Mountainfilm
About:
An intimate chronicle of life during war.
I previously wrote about the doc for the Nantucket program, saying:
Filmmaker Waad al-Kateab courageously captures life in Syria through five years of civil war, bearing witness to the brutal conflict. During this time, she falls in love with a young doctor, marries, and has a daughter, Sama. Once a mother, al-Kateab must decide between remaining in Syria to fight for her country’s freedom or leaving to protect her child against the threat of constant danger.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
Festival:
The 42nd Asian American International Film Festival
Dates:
July 25-August 3
About:
This long-lived Asian/Asian American cinema event presents nearly two dozen new features, including nine docs.

THE UGLY MODEL
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Overviews, Recommendations
Coming to theatres tomorrow, Friday, July 26:
MIKE WALLACE IS HERE
Director:
Avi Belkin
World Premiere:
Sundance 2019
Select Festivals:
Nantucket, Sheffield, True/False, Docaviv, AFI Docs, Cleveland, Full Frame, Montclair, Sarasota, Doc10, Annapolis
About:
An exploration of the evolution of television journalism through the life and work of the legendary 60 MINUTES correspondent.
I profiled the doc before Sundance here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Releases, Sundance
Festival:
The 36th Jerusalem Film Festival
Dates:
July 25-August 4
About:
Approximately 30 documentaries are presented among the more than 100 new and recent features in the line-up of this notable Israeli event. Continue reading
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Overviews, Recommendations