Why did the United States fail to reckon with a danger for which it should have been so well prepared? Renowned director Alex Gibney digs deep to unearth the Trump administration’s doomed response to the Covid 19 crisis.
All in Film
Why did the United States fail to reckon with a danger for which it should have been so well prepared? Renowned director Alex Gibney digs deep to unearth the Trump administration’s doomed response to the Covid 19 crisis.
The 18th edition of Doc Lisboa is unlike any other - instead of an eleven-day festival, Directors Joanna Sousa and Miguel Ribeiro have decided to take us on a six-month journey. Here are our favourite picks from this year’s extraordinary selection.
‘Clinch’ is an intimate portrait of a group of Mixed Martial Artists, struggling together during the Covid-19 quarantine in São Paulo, Brazil - a tricky situation that remains only partially resolved today.
From director Garett Bradley comes an exceptional epic of love, devotion and perseverance more cinematic than any fiction released this year. Hot off its Sundance win and with a solid 9/10 from us, ‘Time’ is a rare example of documentary in its ultimate form: art.
The Balkans is home to an ancient pagan tradition where magic and mystery still have a sacred place in the cosmic order. The Kukeri festival has had a strong hold over Bulgarian cultural life since the fifth century, surviving the Ottomans, Christendom and communist rule. Every winter, hundreds of terrifying figures prowl snow-capped forests and village centres in search of evil spirits to dispel from their communities.
Marc Isaac’s film is a brazen hybrid featuring himself and a cast of real people that gather in his home to a scripted narrative on the theme of hospitality inspired by their personal backgrounds. Although some of the scenes (including the opener) genuinely ring true, there’s no knowing just how much is artifice.
Director Dominique van Olm met the brave team of ‘démineurs’ committed to cleaning up the century-old battlefield to produce a sensitive, beautifully shot film accompanied by a moving soundscape - our latest Free of the Week.
Geogre Hitzak’s short documentary 'Waiting For the Sea', about an electronic music festival in the drained Aral Sea, will be opening the Calvert Journal Film Festival: 7 days of New East cinema, online from 7pm BST tomorrow 12 October for free! Read our review by Tommy Hodgson.
Vinyl is back! In the beautiful “Gotta Groove Records” , step inside the eponymous Cleveland vinyl factory that has seen a stunning resurgence in recent years and discover its beloved magical printing process.
Social Dilemma (2020), Netflix’s latest doc of the moment, not only paints a pessimistic picture of social media but puts the blame for many of society’s ills squarely at the feet of the tech giants. But are we all truly unwitting victims of so-called “surveillance capitalism”?
“Film About A Father Who…” is Sachs’ attempt to understand her wayward and seemingly unknowable father Ira and the complex web of family ties woven by decades of his promiscuity. Filmed over the course of 35 years in a variety of formats, the film charts Ira’s multiple wives, innumerable girlfriends and his ever-growing list of offspring.
Like in so many other Caribbean countries, life is tough for the inhabitants of Jamaica. But with this immersive first-time documentary, director Louis Josek chooses to explore the country from the perspective of its indignant, ambitious youth, the key instigators of a growing cultural shift in the island’s society.
For our latest Top Docs we’ve teamed up with French wildlife photographer Matthieu Courdesses to bring you 10 of the best wildlife documentaries ever made.
“Voices of Men” tackles the highly stigmatised issue of men’s mental health, who are far more likely to die from suicide than women.
With their latest release, Dogwoof and director Natalie Johns introduce genius composer Max Richter and re-acquaint us with a much-needed good night’s sleep. The result is an exquisitely soothing film to be enjoyed cuddled up on the sofa after dark.
Finalist of the paus lockdown competition, Gloria Kurnik’s Mothers is a delightful short film that immediately captured our imagination with the simplicity of its approach and its raw beauty.
Rubika Shah’s raucous BFI 2019 winner about the extraordinary journey of Britain’s 1970s Rock Against Racism collective is available to rent on the Rich Mix website until Sunday 16th August. Tommy Hodgson gives us his review.
Amongst Sundance London’s brilliant short film selection, our non-fiction eye was caught by two in particular: “Beyond the North Winds: A Post Nuclear Reverie” and “Junior Bangers”.
Since “Boys State” won Best Documentary at Sundance (beating audience award-winner “Crip Camp”), it’s received a steady stream of critical acclaim including a five-star review from the Guardian and even a few shouts for best film of the year. Exceptionally, its now premiering online as part of Sundance London on the 9th of August and we highly recommend you tune in.
For 64 years, Yvette was a concierge in the same Parisian building. Now, aged 95, she not only still lives there, she hasn’t been outside for 6 years.