(Back) In Theatres: Three Best Documentary Oscar Nominees

how to survive a plague5 broken camerasinvisible warComing to NYC’s Film Society of Lincoln Center’s Elinor Bunin Munroe Film Center for a week run starting this Friday, January 18: HOW TO SURVIVE A PLAGUE, 5 BROKEN CAMERAS, and THE INVISIBLE WAR

In recognition of last week’s Academy Award nominations announcement, the Film Society of Lincoln Center is re-presenting three of the five films up for this year’s Oscar for Best Documentary Feature, all of which previously played as part of FSLC programming – PLAGUE and CAMERAS screened as part of New Directors/New Films, while WAR was part of the Human Rights Watch International Film Festival. If you’re in NYC, this will be another chance to catch all three on the big screen before the winner is announced on Sunday, February 24.

I previously wrote about all three prior to their debuts at Sundance a year ago:
HOW TO SURVIVE A PLAGUE
5 BROKEN CAMERAS
THE INVISIBLE WAR

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2013 Sundance Docs in Focus: INTERIOR. LEATHER BAR.

interior leather barMy 2013 Sundance profiles reach their conclusion with the second of two projects from the boundary-pushing New Frontier section: Travis Mathews and James Franco’s INTERIOR. LEATHER BAR., a re-imagining of, and confrontation with, the “lost” explicit scenes from CRUISING.

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2013 Sundance Docs in Focus: CHARLIE VICTOR ROMEO

charlie victor romeoThe final two documentary profiles from this year’s Sundance come from the festival’s form- and genre-busting New Frontier section, so neither are exactly straightforward documentaries. First up: Robert Berger and Karlyn Michelson’s CHARLIE VICTOR ROMEO, a mix of film, theatre, and documentary that brings airline emergencies to life.

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2013 Sundance Docs in Focus: KINK

kinkMy 2013 Sundance profiles come to an end later today. The first of the final three is the only documentary in the Park City at Midnight section: Christina Voros’ KINK, an inside look at one of the world’s most popular fetish porn websites.

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On TV & DVD: BEAUTY IS EMBARRASSING

Coming to PBS’ Independent Lens next Monday, January 21 and to DVD next Tuesday, January 22: BEAUTY IS EMBARRASSING

Neil Berkeley premiered his film about artist Wayne White at SXSW last year. Its fest circuit has included Full Frame, Cleveland, Hot Docs, Boston, Nashville, and Silverdocs, among many others.

I wrote about the film out of Silverdocs here.

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On DVD: SEARCHING FOR SUGAR MAN

Coming to DVD next Tuesday, January 22: SEARCHING FOR SUGAR MAN

Malik Bendjelloul’s investigation into an obscure musician with an unusual legacy premiered at Sundance last year, claiming two awards. It went on to screen extensively, including SXSW, Tribeca, Karlovy Vary, and IDFA, among others. Earlier this month, the doc was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature, and also picked up a Cinema Eye.

I wrote about the film pre-Sundance here.

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On VOD: THE IMPOSTER

Coming to VOD next Tuesday, January 22: THE IMPOSTER

Bart Layton’s masterful portrait of a stranger than fiction impersonation premiered last year at Sundance. Its festival circuit included Seattle, BAMcinemafest, Edinburgh, and Miami, among many others. The doc was shortlisted for the Academy Award and picked up a Cinema Eye for Best Production earlier this month. FilmBuff releases the film on iTunes, Amazon, YouTube, and Vudu next week.

I wrote about the film before Sundance here.

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2013 Sundance Docs in Focus: STORIES WE TELL

stories we tellToday’s Sundance profiles close out with the second of two docs in the Spotlight section: Sarah Polley’s STORIES WE TELL, a personal investigation into family secrets.

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2013 Sundance Docs in Focus: THE GATEKEEPERS

gatekeepersHeading into the final stretch of the Sundance lineup, these profiles look at the first of two documentaries in the Spotlight section: Dror Moreh’s THE GATEKEEPERS, an eye-opening look at Israeli’s national security.

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2013 Sundance Docs in Focus: THE WORLD ACCORDING TO DICK CHENEY

world according to dick cheneyThis year’s Documentary Premieres comes to a close: RJ Cutler and Greg Finton’s THE WORLD ACCORDING TO DICK CHENEY, a portrait of the former US vice president.

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