DOC NYC 2018 Films Featuring and Directed By Black TalentPosted by Wilson Morales
October 24, 2016
DOC NYC, America’s largest documentary festival, takes place over 8 days in November; the ninth edition will be held November 8-15, 2018 at New York’s IFC Center, Cinepolis Chelsea and the SVA Theatre. The 2018 festival showcases over 300 films and events with more than 500 filmmakers and special guests appearing in person. In addition to premiering feature-length and short documentaries, the festival’s highlights also include DOC NYC PRO—a series of in-depth panels and master classes—and the Visionaries Tribute awards ceremony that honors major figures in the field of nonfiction film. DOC NYC is produced by the IFC Center.
John Chester’s The Biggest Little Farm will open DOC NYC on November 8 following a strong reception at the recent world premiere in Telluride and the Canadian premiere in TIFF.
This year’s Short List feature selections include seven titles directed by women. The full list includes Stephen Maing’s Crime + Punishment, Michael Moore’s Fahrenheit 11/9, Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin’s Free Solo, RaMell Ross’s Hale County This Morning, This Evening, Susan Lacy’s Jane Fonda: A Life In Five Acts, Bing Liu’s Minding The Gap, Alexandria Bombach’s On Her Shoulders, Wim Wenders’ Pope Francis: A Man Of His Word, Rashida Jones and Alan Hicks’ Quincy, Betsy West and Julie Cohen’s RBG, Annie Sundberg and Ricki Stern’s Reversing Roe, Rudy Valdez’s The Sentence, Sandi Tan’s Shirkers, Tim Wardle’s Three Identical Strangers, and Morgan Neville’s Won’t You Be My Neighbour?
The full roster of titles selected for the short list includes Gordon Quinn’s ’63 Boycott, Emmanuel Vaughan-Lee’s Earthrise, Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman’s End Game, Vanessa Roth’s The Girl And The Picture, Marc Serpa Francoeur’s The Head & The Hand, Kim A. Snyder’s Lessons From A School Shooting: Notes From Dunblane, Charlie Tyrell’s My Dead Dad’s Porno Tapes, Cathy Chermol Schrijver’s RX Early Detection: A Cancer Journey With Sandra Lee, Galen Summer’s Sidelined, Kristi Jacobson and Roger Ross Williams’ Take Back The Harbour, Sareen Hairabedian’s We Are Not Done Yet, and Floyd Russ’ Zion.
The festival will close out with the world premiere of HBO’s “Breslin and Hamill: Deadline Artists,” following the beloved New York City journalists Jimmy Breslin and Pete Hamill, while the festival’s Centerpiece presentation will be the world premiere of “Original Cast Album: Co-op,” a new episode from the upcoming season of IFC’s “Documentary Now!” series, inspired by D.A. Pennebaker’s “Original Cast Album: Company.”
The following films at DOC NYC were directed or co-directed by Black filmmakers, or centers around the Black experience
Complete program & ticket info: www.docnyc.net
16 BARS (Sonic Cinema)
DIR: Samuel Bathrick
NYC PREMIERE. Grammy-winning hip hop artist Todd Thomas—better known as “Speech” of the iconic group Arrested Development—leads a unique collaborative music workshop in a Virginia state penitentiary. Striving to overcome their demons, four past and present inmates work side-by-side with Speech to transform their experiences, hopes and fears into songs. Exploring cycles of addiction and incarceration through the power of music and storytelling, the inspiring 16 Bars offers a window into rehabilitation. (USA, 94 min.) In person: Samuel Bathrick, subject Todd “Speech” Thomas
THU NOV 15 9:45 PM (IFC Center, 323 6th Ave.)
THE ARTIST & THE PERVERT (True Love)
DIRS: Beatrice Behn, René Gebhardt
US PREMIERE. Famous Austrian composer Georg Friedrich Haas and renowned African-American sex educator Mollena Williams meet on a blind date. Sharing an appetite for kinky sex, they fall in love and begin a controversial journey towards radical self-determination. From their oasis in the Upper West Side, the couple disregards society’s definitions of ownership, perversion and love, creating their own harmony with plenty of spanking and creative collaboration. The Artist & The Pervert is a free-spirited and provocative story of sexual fulfillment. (Germany, 96 min., German and English) In person: Beatrice Behn, René Gebhardt, subjects Georg Friedrich Haas, Mollena Williams-Haas
SUN NOV 11 9:00 PM (SVA Theatre, 333 W 23rd St.)
COOKED: SURVIVAL BY ZIP CODE (Viewfinders)
DIR: Judith A. Helfand
WORLD PREMIERE. In July 1995, Chicago was hit by a record heat wave that claimed the lives of 739 residents, primarily among the elderly, African Americans and those living in poverty. Using this tragedy as a jumping-off point, but referencing other extreme weather catastrophes like Hurricanes Katrina and Sandy, Cooked provocatively reframes the politics of disaster to encompass extreme inequity, arguing that economically disadvantaged communities should be preventatively treated as disasters taking place in slow motion. (USA, 76 min.) In person: Judith A. Helfand, author Eric Klinenberg
SUN NOV 11 1:30 PM (SVA Theatre, 333 W 23rd St.)
WED NOV 14 2:45 PM (IFC Center, 323 6th Ave.)
CRIME + PUNISHMENT (Shortlist: Features)
DIR: Stephen Maing
In this Sundance Special Jury Award-winning film, Stephen Maing provides unparalleled access to the NYPD 12—a group of whistle-blowing cops—and one unforgettable former cop turned tenacious private investigator. Together they expose the ongoing, illegal practice of quota-driven policing targeting young minorities. Putting their careers and their safety at risk, these officers reveal how coercion and retaliation have been employed to keep them in line, and that the ultimate consequence of this systemic corruption is the erosion of public trust and the rule of law. Courtesy of IFC Films/Hulu. (USA, 112 min.) In person: Stephen Maing, subjects
MON NOV 12 2:15 PM (Cinepolis Chelsea, 260 W 23rd St.)
TUE NOV 13 11:00 AM (Cinepolis Chelsea, 260 W 23rd St.)
DECADE OF FIRE (Metropolis)
DIRS: Vivian Vazquez, Gretchen Hildebran
WORLD PREMIERE. In the 1970s, the Bronx was on fire. Left unprotected by the city government, nearly a half-million people were displaced as their close-knit, multiethnic neighborhood burned, reducing the community to rubble. While insidious government policies caused the devastation, Black and Latino residents bore the blame. In this story of hope and resistance, Bronx native Vivian Vasquez exposes the truth about the borough’s sordid history and reveals how her embattled and maligned community chose to resist, remain and rebuild. (USA, 72 min.) In person: Vivian Vazquez, Gretchen Hildebran
PRESS SCREENING: MON NOV 5 12:00 PM (IFC Center, 323 6th Ave.)
SAT NOV 10 4:15 PM (SVA Theatre, 333 W 23rd St.)
EMANUEL (American Perspectives)
DIR: Brian Ivie
NYC PREMIERE. On June 17, 2015, national headlines blazed the story: Churchgoers gunned down during prayer service in Charleston, South Carolina. After a 21-year-old white supremacist opened fire in Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church, nine African Americans lay dead, leaving their families and the nation to grapple with this senseless act of terror. Featuring intimate interviews with survivors and family members, Emanuel is a poignant story of justice and faith, love and hate, examining the healing power of forgiveness. (USA, 80 min.) In person: Brian Ivie
WED NOV 14 5:00 PM (IFC Center, 323 6th Ave.)
THU NOV 15 10:30 AM (IFC Center, 323 6th Ave.)
FIRE ON THE HILL: THE COWBOYS OF SOUTH CENTRAL LA (Wild Life)
DIR: Brett Fallentine
NYC PREMIERE. Against the backdrop of the mean streets of Compton, California, urban cowboys find joy and purpose among the horses of the Hill, the last public stable in South Central LA. Brett Fallentine follows three Black cowboys: Ghuan, who fights to rebuild the Hill after a mysterious fire and to preserve its unique culture; Calvin, as he struggles to balance family responsibilities and the cowboy lifestyle; and Calvin, on a quest to become a bull-riding rodeo champion. (USA, 84 min.) In person: Brett Fallentine, subject
FRI NOV 9 7:45 PM (Cinepolis Chelsea, 260 W 23rd St.)
WED NOV 14 12:30 PM (IFC Center, 323 6th Ave.)
HALE COUNTY THIS MORNING, THIS EVENING (Shortlist: Features)
DIR: RaMell Ross
In his lyrical directorial debut, winner of a Special Jury Award for Creative Vision at this year’s Sundance, acclaimed photographer RaMell Ross rewrites familiar representational tropes of race, region and class in this impressionistic portrait of two young African-American men in the American South over five years. The film’s unique storytelling, composed of intimate, associative moments, led the Village Voice to offer, “It’s not every day that you witness a new cinematic language being born…” Courtesy of Cinema Guild. (USA, 76 min.) In person: RaMell Ross
FRI NOV 9 3:15 PM (Cinepolis Chelsea, 260 W 23rd St.)
WED NOV 14 12:30 PM (Cinepolis Chelsea, 260 W 23rd St.)
A HYMN FOR ALVIN AILEY (1999) (Doc Redux)
DIR: Orlando Bagwell
Made for PBS’s Great Performances series, Orlando Bagwell’s Emmy Award-winning film is an homage to Alvin Ailey, the pioneering African-American choreographer and founder of New York City’s renowned Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. Following Ailey’s death, the Theater’s artistic director, Judith Jamison, choreographed “Hymn,” a celebration of his influence featuring Anna Deavere Smith. Bagwell uses this piece as a departure point for a broader look at Ailey, his work and its legacy through archival interviews with Ailey and his collaborators and striking performance footage. (USA, 60 min.) In person: Orlando Bagwell, editor Jean Tsien
Orlando Bagwell will receive a Lifetime Achievement Award at DOC NYC’s Visionaries Tribute.
TUE NOV 13 12:30 PM (IFC Center, 323 6th Ave.)
IT MUST SCHWING! THE BLUE NOTE STORY (Sonic Cinema)
DIR: Eric Friedler
NYC PREMIERE. Executive produced by Wim Wenders and featuring haunting animation and a swinging soundtrack, this film tells the story of the legendary Blue Note Records label. Founded in 1939 by two young German refugees from Berlin with a passion for American jazz music, Blue Note recorded live in New York City at a time when African Americans faced blatant discrimination and segregation, supporting musicians like Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Herbie Hancock, Thelonious Monk and Quincy Jones. (Germany, 113 min., in German and English) In person: Eric Friedler
SAT NOV 10 4:00 PM (SVA Theatre, 333 W 23rd St.)
LIFE WITHOUT BASKETBALL (Jock Docs)
DIRS: Tim O’Donnell, Jon Mercer
WORLD PREMIERE. After a controversial basketball ruling about head coverings makes it impossible for Bilqis Abdul-Qaadir to maintain her religious convictions while playing professionally, she begins training the next generation of Muslim girls at an Islamic school’s athletics program. As she reckons with the possibility of life without basketball, Bilqis fights to change the rules of the International Basketball Federation and become the first Division I basketball player to play wearing the hijab. (USA, 89 min.) In person: Tim O’Donnell, Jon Mercer, subject Bilqis Abdul-Qaadir
SAT NOV 10 5:00 PM (Cinepolis Chelsea, 260 W 23rd St.)
OUT OF OMAHA (Viewfinders)
DIR: Clay Tweel
WORLD PREMIERE. Director Clay Tweel was previously on the DOC NYC Short List with his film Gleason. Now he returns with a film eight years in the making about two young African American twin brothers. Darcell and Darrell Trotter are coming of age in the racially and economically divided town of Omaha, Nebraska. Their journey to adulthood illustrates how hope survives in the face of poverty, violence and sacrifice. Musician J. Cole serves as the film’s executive producer. (USA, 92 min.) In person: Clay Tweel, J. Cole, subjectsSAT NOV 10 7:00 PM (SVA Theatre, 333 W 23rd St.)
OWNED: A TALE OF TWO AMERICAS (In the System)
DIR: Giorgio Angelini
NYC PREMIERE. After World War II, US housing policy sought to create middle-class wealth through homeownership—but these benefits were largely intended for whites only. Today, we see the results: practices including redlining, predatory lending and unchecked speculation have Americans—of all races—shut out from the dream or drowning in real-estate debt. Moving from Levittown to Orange County to Baltimore, this timely film exposes the greed, flawed economic policy and systemic racism that distorted “the American dream” into a game only few can win. (USA, 83 min.) In person: Giorgio Angelini
MON NOV 12 7:30 PM (Cinepolis Chelsea, 260 W 23rd St.)
QUINCY (Shortlist: Features)
DIRS: Rashida Jones, Alan Hicks
For six decades, Quincy Jones has made lasting musical contributions across genres from jazz and soundtracks to pop and hip hop. This intimate portrait by the filmmaking duo of Rashida Jones (his multitalented daughter) and Alan Hicks (Keep On Keepin’ On) follows the now 85-year-old producer over three years on the road. He shares reflections on numerous collaborators, from Frank Sinatra to Michael Jackson. The film culminates with emotional performances that exemplify Quincy’s impact and legacy. Courtesy of Netflix. (USA, 124 min.)
THU NOV 8 9:00 PM (SVA Theatre, 333 W 23rd St.)
SAT NOV 10 10:30 PM (Cinepolis Chelsea, 260 W 23rd St.)
TEDDY PENDERGRASS: IF YOU DON’T KNOW ME (Sonic Cinema)
DIR: Olivia Lichtenstein
NYC PREMIERE. The unforgettable voice behind “Don’t Leave Me This Way,” “Close the Door” and “If You Don’t Know Me By Now,” Teddy Pendergrass was poised to be the biggest R&B artist of all time with five consecutive platinum albums. But his career was halted by a 1982 car accident that left him paralyzed at age 31. This definitive biography, set to a soulful soundtrack, captures revealing interviews with his closest associates to trace his rise, fall and post-accident comeback at Live Aid. (UK, 106 min.) In person: Olivia Lichtenstein
FRI NOV 9 9:00 PM (SVA Theatre, 333 W 23rd St.)
TRE MAISON DASAN (Modern Family)
DIR: Denali Tiller
NYC PREMIERE. While his father serves a prison sentence, Tre, 13, has his own run-ins with the law. Maison, a hyperactive 11 year old with Asperger’s, is raised by his grandmother while his beloved dad is behind bars. Finally reunited with his mother, six-year-old Dasan must confront the truth behind her time away. This compelling portrait of growing up with absent role models poses raw and meaningful questions about justice and the cultural, societal and economic implications of mass incarceration. (USA, 94 min.) In person: Denali Tiller, subjects
SUN NOV 11 7:45 PM (Cinepolis Chelsea, 260 W 23rd St.)
MON NOV 12 2:30 PM (Cinepolis Chelsea, 260 W 23rd St.)
RUDEBOY: THE STORY OF TROJAN RECORDS (Sonic Cinema)
DIR: Nicolas Jack Davies
US PREMIERE. During the late 1960s and early 70s, London’s Trojan Records label became one of the most influential record companies in history. By tapping into Jamaican migration to England, the label became a force in spreading ska, rocksteady and reggae. Rich interviews with colorful characters reveal the stories behind beloved songs such as “Rudy, A Message to You,” “The Israelites” and “You Can Get if You Really Want.” The film celebrates how immigration and innovation transformed popular culture. (UK, 86 min.) In person: Nicolas Jack Davies
WED NOV 14 9:15 PM (SVA Theatre, 333 W 23rd St.)
WHILE I BREATHE, I HOPE (American Perspectives)
DIR: Emily Harrold
NYC PREMIERE. When he won a seat in the South Carolina House of Representatives in 2005, Bakari Sellers became the youngest African-American elected official in US history. As the charismatic Democrat runs for lieutenant governor, a role not held by an African American since 1876, Emily Harrold offers an eye-opening look at the legacy of racism in American politics, following Sellers through his campaign and beyond, including the tragic shooting at Charleston’s Emanuel AME church. (USA, 72 min.) In person: Emily Harrold, subject Bakari Sellers
SUN NOV 11 4:15 PM (IFC Center, 323 6th Ave.)
