Coming to PBS’s American Experience tomorrow, Tuesday, February 15:
THE AMERICAN DIPLOMAT
Director:
Leola Calzolai-Stewart
World Premiere:
American Experience broadcast (February 2022)
About:
A spotlight on three pioneering Black diplomats assigned to advocate for American ideals abroad while contending with racism at home.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Releases
Coming to PBS’s Independent Lens today, Monday, February 14:
BULLETPROOF
Director:
Todd Chandler
World Premiere:
SXSW 2020 (unscreened)
Select Festivals:
Hot Docs, IDFA, Dokufest, Camden, Philadelphia, DOK Leipzig, Jihlava, Doclisboa, Maryland, Tempo Doc, Melbourne, DMZ Docs
About:
A provocative exploration of fear and American violence that interrogates what it means to be safe in school in the United States.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Releases
Coming to theatres today, Friday, February 11:
AMERICAN RECKONING
Director:
Brad Lichtenstein, Yoruba Richen
World Premiere:
LA theatrical release (February 2022)
About:
A look back at the civil rights era focused on a little-known armed resistance group called the Deacons for Defense and Justice and the still-unresolved killing of local NAACP leader Wharlest Jackson.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Releases
Coming to theatres and to VOD today, Friday, February 11:
RONNIE’S
Director:
Oliver Murray
World Premiere:
UK theatrical release (October 2020)
Select Festivals:
DOC NYC, RiverRun
About:
The story of the legendary London night club and the musician for whom it was named.
The film screened as part of DOC NYC, for which our program notes read:
A chronicle of the life of saxophonist Ronnie Scott, from poor, Jewish kid growing up in 1940s East End, London to the owner of the legendary night club, Ronnie’s. Glorious clips from performances by jazz greats spanning decades—Dizzy Gillespie, Sarah Vaughn, Ella Fitzgerald, Jimi Hendrix, Nina Simone, Van Morrison, Chet Baker, and more—bring to life this story of a charming, talented man who secretly wrestled with his own inner demons.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
Coming to theatres today, Friday, February 11:
A NIGHT OF KNOWING NOTHING
Director:
Payal Kapadia
World Premiere:
Cannes (Directors’ Fortnight) 2021
Select Festivals:
DOC NYC, Toronto, IDFA, New York, Busan, Camden, Marseilles, Jihlava, AFI Fest, San Diego Asian, DOK Leipzig
About:
A stack of love letters lay out the map to a brave, new world emerging from the dying embers of the world we know.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Releases
Act one coming to theatres today, Thursday, February 10:
JEEN-YUHS: A KANYE TRILOGY
Director:
Clarence “Coodie” Simmons, Chike Ozah
World Premiere:
Sundance 2022
About:
Kanye West in three acts. The story beyond the iconic music, and an intimate and empathetic chronicle featuring never-before-seen footage from 21 years in the life of a captivating figure.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Releases, Sundance
Festival:
The 72nd Berlinale
Dates:
February 10-20
About:
This A-list international cinema event returns its public event to the winter after shifting last year’s festival to the summer, and presents approximately 40 documentaries among its more than 130 new feature films.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Overviews, Recommendations
New to DVD this week:
THE BEATLES: GET BACK
Director:
Peter Jackson
World Premiere:
Disney+ (November 2021)
About:
This three-part docuseries covers the making of the Beatles’ 1970 album LET IT BE, drawing from never-released footage shot in-studio for the album’s accompanying documentary feature.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Releases
Coming to VOD today, Tuesday, February 8:
SO LATE SO SOON
Director:
Daniel Hymanson
World Premiere:
True/False 2020
Select Festivals:
DOC NYC, Cleveland, Big Sky Doc, Indie Memphis
About:
An exploration of the artistic process and life of a long-married couple.
I previously wrote about the doc here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Recommendations, Releases
Oscar nominations were announced this morning, including the documentaries listed below. Congratulations to all the nominees – particular Sundance winner FLEE, nominated in three categories – and good luck on Sunday, March 27.
Documentary Feature:
Documentary Short Subject:
Audible
Lead Me Home
The Queen of Basketball
Three Songs for Benazir
When We Were Bullies
International Feature Film:
Japan, DRIVE MY CAR
Denmark, FLEE (the sole documentary)
Italy, THE HAND OF GOD
Bhutan, LUNANA, A YAK IN THE CLASSROOM
Norway, THE WORST PERSON IN THE WORLD
Animated Feature Film:
ENCANTO
FLEE (the sole documentary)
LUCA
THE MITCHELLS VS THE MACHINE
RAYA AND THE LAST DRAGON
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Sundance
what (not) to doc 