Celebrating its twentieth anniversary, this year’s Hamptons International Film Festival is bigger than usual, drawing audiences to the storied Long Island townships that are home to some of the wealthiest people in the country. Among these are members of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences, which the festival has capitalized on – among its many offerings one can usually find some of the eventual frontrunners for the Oscars, viewed by Academy members at the five-day event, which begins this Thursday and runs through next Monday, October 8. Sadly, my schedule prevents me from attending this year, but I wanted to point out some of the highlights below. Continue reading
Hamptons International Film Festival 2012: Documentary Overview
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Overviews, Recommendations
In Theatres: THE HOUSE I LIVE IN
Coming to theatres this Friday, October 5: THE HOUSE I LIVE IN
Eugene Jarecki’s look at the failure of the war on drugs had its world premiere at Sundance this year, where it claimed a grand jury prize. Since then it has screened at Los Angeles, Melbourne, among others, and begins a theatrical rollout this weekend that continues into next month.
I profiled the film before Sundance here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Releases, Sundance
In the Works: THE BABUSHKAS OF CHERNOBYL
Despite the dangers, Chernobyl’s Dead Zone has been the unlikely home of a group of defiant elderly women for more than 25 years.
While on location at Chernobyl working on a PBS series, filmmakers Holly Morris and Anne Bogart noticed smoke coming from a chimney in what is supposed to be an uninhabitable area. Investigating, they were surprised to discover a community of two hundred, mostly widows, who claim the land as their ancestral birthright, in spite of its toxicity. Living in the Dead Zone, these Ukrainian babushkas have been largely isolated since the fall of the Soviet Union. They share their stories of defiance and survival in a post-apocalyptic setting in Morris and Bogart’s film. Continue reading
Filed under Documentary, Film, In the Works
On TV/DVD: GIVE UP TOMORROW
Coming to POV and being released on DVD next Thursday, October 4: GIVE UP TOMORROW
Michael Collins and Marty Syjuco’s exploration of a case of criminal injustice in the Philippines premiered at Tribeca last year, winning both an Audience Award and a Special Jury Prize. Its festival run has included Sheffield, Traverse City, IDFA, Hot Docs, Silverdocs, and True/False, among others.
I wrote about the film out of Tribeca here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
On TV: AN AFRICAN ELECTION
Coming to PBS’s AfroPoP next Monday, October 1 on WORLD and on general PBS stations on Wednesday, October 3: AN AFRICAN ELECTION
Jarreth and Kevin Merz’s gripping look at Ghana’s 2008 presidential election premiered at IDFA in 2010. Its festival circuit included Sundance, Atlanta, and Visions Du Reel.
I profiled the film pre-Sundance here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Sundance
Special Screening: ESCAPE FIRE
Coming to NYC’s Stranger Than Fiction next Tuesday, October 2: ESCAPE FIRE: THE FIGHT TO RESCUE AMERICAN HEALTHCARE
Matthew Heineman and Susan Froemke’s exposé of the sad state of US healthcare made its world premiere at Sundance earlier this year. It’s won awards at Full Frame, Newport Beach, and Silverdocs since then, and is still screening widely on the festival circuit.
I profiled the film before Sundance here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Sundance
In Theatres: THE OTHER DREAM TEAM
Coming to theatres this Friday, September 28: THE OTHER DREAM TEAM
Marius Markevicius’ look at national pride through sports premiered in competition at Sundance this year. It went on to screen at Dallas, Newport Beach, and Seattle.
My pre-Sundance profile of the doc may be found here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Releases, Sundance
Indiewire @ Hulu Docs: Hispanic Heritage Month
My latest curation of Hulu’s Documentaries page for Indiewire recognizes Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept 15-October 15), presenting docs on Latino/a Americans as well as from Spanish-speaking Central and South America and the Caribbean. Watch these now for free!
For more information about the selections, see my Indiewire article.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Indiewire @ Hulu Docs
Special Screening: BROOKLYN CASTLE
Coming to NYC’s Stranger Than Fiction as its season opener this Thursday, September 27: BROOKLYN CASTLE
Katie Dellamaggiore’s profile of Brooklyn junior high school chess team premiered at SXSW earlier this year, claiming an audience award. It’s gone on to screen at Cleveland, Dallas, Hot Docs, Silverdocs, and Rooftop Films, among others.
I wrote about the film out of SXSW here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations
On TV: EL VELADOR
Coming to POV this Thursday, September 27: EL VELADOR
Natalia Almada’s meditation on life and death in Mexico made its world premiere at New Directors/New Films last year. It went on to screen at Cannes, Silverdocs, FIDM, Jihlava, and IDFA, among others.
I included the film in my Silverdocs roundup here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
