SPOTLIGHT GALA and AWARDS PRESENTATION The archipelago nation of the Maldives, off India’s coast, looks like paradise. But the country risks being submerged underwater before the end of the century unless climate change is reversed. That sets a clear mission for the charismatic President Mohamed Nasheed, who fought a dictatorship to be elected at age […]
As the number of routine—and sometimes required—vaccinations greatly increases, so do fears about the unintended consequences. The Greater Good gives a thoughtful analysis to this controversy, weaving together personal stories, in-depth reporting and lively graphics in a style reminiscent of Waiting for Superman. Essential viewing for parents, the film explores the debates over autism, mercury, HPV and more, while taking […]
2011 VIEWFINDERS COMPETITION WINNER Calling to mind Paradise Lost in its quest to re-open a murder conviction, Scenes of a Crime looks at the high-profile case of a child’s death in upstate New York. The filmmakers uncover troubling video footage from a 10-hour police interrogation that led to a disputed confession. Winner of the Full Frame Grand Jury […]
In a hilarious Borat-style experiment, director Vikram Gandhi poses as a guru, complete with a team of young, lithe female assistants, to make a point about blind faith. But the line between what’s fake and what’s real gets blurry when he attracts loyal followers hanging on his every word. As he gets more deeply involved with his disciples, […]
US PREMIERE For six years, Colombian guerrillas held Ingrid Betancourt as a hostage in the jungle while supporters around the world campaigned for her release. Director Angus MacQueen gains remarkable access to Betancourt to uncover the mystery of what she endured during those years. The film also gives a suspenseful account of the daring rescue effort that set […]
WORLD PREMIERE By turning a bizarre motif into a poignant narrative, Flat Daddy gives a jolt of new energy to the wartime documentary. As American soldiers get shipped abroad, their families fill the void with life-size cardboard photos known as “Flat Daddies” or “Heroes on a Stick.” The filmmakers follow four families from the Bronx, Las Vegas, suburban […]
In post-war Sierra Leone, the international community spent millions on a questionable justice system. But an alternative approach emerged at a grassroots level known as “fambul tok” (literally, “family talk”). Reviving an ancient tradition around campfires, villagers bring together victims and offenders for ceremonies of truth telling and forgiveness. The film chronicles the movement and captures dramatic reconciliations, offering […]
After a long career covering wars for ABC News, director Kevin McKiernan (Good Kurds, Bad Kurds) turns the camera on his grown daughter Cáitrín as she attempts to produce a play about Martin Luther King, Jr. in China. Her quest to build a bridge between countries threatens to fall apart over political and cultural clashes. Collaborating with acclaimed […]
US PREMIERE The French painter Jean Marc Calvet recounts his incredible life story as a former Cannes bodyguard who abandoned his family, robbed a Miami mobster, hid out in Central America and overcame addictions by teaching himself how to paint at age 38. That was seven years ago. Now his intricate paintings sell for five figures, but he […]
DOC NYC, the city’s premier documentary festival, will return to downtown New York with its 2nd annual event from November 2-10, 2011 at IFC Center, NYU and additional venues. This year’s festival will expand from seven to nine days, adding several new sections, increasing the number of competition films and panels, and showcasing a retrospective […]