Tomorrow, Friday, March 3 kicks off the 34th edition of the Miami Film Festival. Before wrapping on Sunday, March 12, the popular event, which offers a particular focus on Ibero-American work, will present more than 130 films, including just under 30 feature docs, some of which are noted below. Continue reading
Miami 2017: Documentary Overview
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Overviews, Recommendations
On VOD: KOKO: THE GORILLA WHO TALKS
New on VOD this week:
KOKO: THE GORILLA WHO TALKS
Director:
Jonathan Taylor
Premiere:
British TV (2016)
About:
The story of the famed female gorilla who has been taught sign language over the past several decades.
I previously wrote about the doc here,
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
In Theatres: THE SETTLERS
Coming to theatres this Friday, March 3:
THE SETTLERS
Director:
Shimon Dotan
Premiere:
Sundance 2016
Select Festivals:
New York, DocAviv, IDFA, Biografilm, Sheffield, SF Jewish, Bergen, Heartland
About:
A wide-reaching exploration of the impact of Jewish settlements in the occupied territories of the West Bank.
I profiled the doc before Sundance here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Releases, Sundance
On DVD: THE BUSINESS OF AMATEURS
New to DVD this week:
THE BUSINESS OF AMATEURS
Director:
Bob DeMars
Premiere:
Portland 2015
About:
A former student athlete questions the policies of the NCAA.
Former USC linebacker-turned-filmmaker DeMars enjoyed his time as a student athlete but contends with the health consequences to this day. Sharing his story along with those of several other former amateur collegiate athletes, he launches into a broad consideration of the imbalance of power between student athletes and the NCAA, theoretically charged with looking out for their best interests, but in many ways exploiting them or otherwise hampering their ability to make a sustainable living, receive an adequate education, plan for a future after collegiate athletics, and cope with health concerns resulting from their amateur careers. DeMars’ project is earnest and honest, seeking answers for how and why amateur athletes are treated, and searching for a more equitable system that would truly serve them better. Unfortunately, the film is marred by excessive narration that bogs down and cheapens the storytelling, as well as a tendency to cover far too much, too quickly, introducing interesting or provocative ideas before immediately jettisoning them for another topic.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Releases
In Theatres: KIKI
Coming to theatres today, Wednesday, March 1:
KIKI
Director:
Sara Jordenö
Premiere:
Sundance 2017
Select Festivals:
Berlin, IDFA, CPH:DOX, Sheffield, Tempo Doc, Sarasota, Ambulante, Full Frame, Montclair, BAMcinemaFest, Tel Aviv, Outfest, Inside Out, Frameline, and LGBT fests in Torino, Portland, Atlanta, Sao Paulo, and Austin
About:
A profile of NYC’s vibrant LGBTQ youth ballroom scene.
My pre-Sundance profile of the doc may be found here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Releases, Sundance
On VOD: DEEP RUN
Coming to VOD today, Wednesday, March 1:
DEEP RUN
Director:
Hillevi Loven
Premiere:
Frameline 2015
Seelct Festivals:
DOC NYC, Outfest, San Diego, Indie Grits, RiverRun, Belfast, Woodstock, LGBT fests in Austin, Denver, Stockholm, Atlanta, Miami, Melbourne, Seattle
About:
A portrait of transgender life in the rural South.
I previously wrote about the doc here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
On TV: TIME: THE KALIEF BROWDER STORY
Coming to Spike TV tonight, Wednesday, March 1:
TIME: THE KALIEF BROWDER STORY
Director:
Jenner Furst
Premiere:
Sundance 2017
About:
A six-part docuseries exploring the consequences of the wrongful incarceration of a 16-year-old.
I profiled the series before Sundance here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Releases, Sundance
True/False 2017 Overview
The 14th edition of the True/False Film Fest takes place this weekend, starting Thursday, March 2 and wrapping on Sunday, March 5. More than 30 new and retrospective features, including several hush-hush “secret screenings,” will be showcased in the welcoming college town of Columbia MO, a line-up of highlights from notable events like Sundance, IDFA, Toronto, and elsewhere, as well as several new titles. While I’m sadly missing the festival this year, here’s a brief look at some of the new or under-the-radar titles I’d be checking out if I were in attendance:
Among these are Chico Pereira’s infectiously charming DONKEYOTE (pictured), which follows the director’s uncle as he sets off on a quixotic trip with his faithful donkey and dog; Viktor Jakovleski’s BRIMSTONE & GLORY, a portrait of a Mexican town known for its fireworks; Shevaun Mizrahi’s DISTANT CONSTELLATION, on life in an Istanbul retirement home; Florent Vassault’s LINDY LOU, JUROR NUMBER 2, which accompanies the titular figure as she revisits a trial that has haunted her for twenty years; Fan Jian’s STILL TOMORROW, a portrait of Chinese woman who experiences unexpected fame; and Lea Glob and Mette Carla Albrechtsen’s VENUS, which surveys 100 women on their sexual history.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Overviews, Recommendations
On DVD: RACHEL CARSON
Coming to DVD today, Tuesday, February 28:
RACHEL CARSON
Director:
Michelle Ferrari
Premiere:
American Experience (January 2017)
About:
A portrait of the woman whose writing popularized the environmental movement.
I previously wrote about the doc here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
In Theatres: CONTEMPORARY COLOR
Coming to theatres tomorrow, Wednesday, March 1:
CONTEMPORARY COLOR
Directors:
Bill Ross and Turner Ross
Premiere:
Tribeca 2016
Select Festivals:
IDFA, Hot Docs, New Orleans, San Francisco, Montclair, Seattle, Sydney, Bonnaroo, AFI Docs, Guanajuato, Melbourne, Sidewalk, Camden, Denver, St Louis, Indie Memphis, Sound Unseen
About:
A chronicle of a one-night-only musical collaboration conceived by David Byrne celebrating color guard.
Inspired to showcase color guard – which involves troupes performing synchronized movements incorporating flags and rifles to live or pre-recorded music – Byrne commissioned ten musicians to create original songs/soundtracks to accompany a demonstration of the craft at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center. The Ross brothers, together with an impressive assemblage of cinematographers, were there to capture the concert, as well as some behind-the-scenes details. The result is a visually vibrant concert doc, one very different from the duo’s past output, and likely best appreciated by music/performance doc fans.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Releases
what (not) to doc 