Currently Browsing: documentary

Japanese American Filmmaker Discovers Her Mother’s Secrets

Rea Tajiri knew she would eventually lose her mother to dementia. What she didn’t know was how much of her mother she would find.

The unraveling of memories and intimate discoveries of her mother’s inner world that would otherwise be forgotten in a shroud of silence, come to life in Wisdom Gone Wild — an evocative, nostalgic documentary that follows Rea’s 16-year caregiving journey. read more.

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Betye Saar on Film: Life, Art, and Lasting Creativity

The Black Harvest Film Festival runs through November 16th at the Gene Siskel Film Center in Chicago. While there, I viewed Betye Saar: Ready to Be a Warrior. Angela Robinson Witherspoon’s candid documentary peels back many layers of the iconic artist, activist, and teacher, Betye Saar. Betye has been in the art industry for over six decades.read more.

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Gail Freedman Documents the Joyful & Tragic in Real Life

Today FF2 will be highlighting the work of director Gail Freedman, best known for her documentary Too Hot to Trot. Released on this day in 2018, Too Hot to Trot follows two sets of dance partners through the joyful, fast-paced world of queer ballroom dance.

Gail Freedman’s career defies any one particular interest.read more.

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‘Under The Sky Of Damascus’ Examines Syria’s Gender Dynamics

It was 10 AM in Los Angeles when I arrived at the screening for Under the Sky of Damascus, a documentary directed by Heba Khaled, Talal Derki, and Ali Wajeeh. I went into the theater not knowing what to expect, and came out feeling like I just watched a very familiar glimpse of life in the Middle East post-Arab Spring.… read more.

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‘The Janes’ Filmmakers Win duPont-Columbia Journalism Award!

On Monday, February 6th, Emma Pildes and Tia Lessin won the duPont-Columbia Silver Baton award for their documentary The Janes. The Alfred I. duPontColumbia University Awards honor excellence in television, radio and digital journalism, and are considered some of the most prestigious awards in journalism. read more.

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Filmmaker Dawn Porter’s Docs Combine Empathy and Education

On this day in 2016, the timely and important documentary, Trapped, was released in theaters. Trapped was directed and produced by the brilliant documentary filmmaker Dawn Porter. 

Dawn’s directorial debut came out with a bang with the hard-hitting and critically acclaimed documentary, Gideon’s Army.read more.

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