Documentary
Matthew Heineman’s CARTEL LAND, which world premiered at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival, where Heineman won the Directing Award and Special Jury Award for Cinematography in U.S. Documentary Competition, is set for release later this year by The Orchard.
Cinedigm will release It Happened Here, the compelling new documentary from director Lisa F. Jackson and producer Marjorie Schwartz Nielsen that explores sexual assault on campuses through the personal testimonials of five survivors who transform their experiences into a springboard for change.
Oscilloscope Laboratories has acquired MAD AS HELL, with plans to digitally release the documentary film on February 6th with theatrical screenings in New York and Los Angeles and a DVD/Blu-ray release to follow.
Atomic Test – Dominic Bluestone, Christmas Island.
PBS will debut two new documentaries: THE BOMB, and URANIUM – TWISTING THE DRAGON’S TAIL, timed to coincide with the 70th anniversary of the first explosion of an atomic bomb, and the bombing of Hiroshima.
HOW TO DANCE IN OHIO documentary, which is scheduled to premiere at the upcoming 2015 Sundance FilmFestival, will debut on HBO later this year.
FAREWELL TO HOLLYWOOD, a documentary film by Henry Corra and Reggie Nicholson is set to open in the US in February 2015.
The award-winning documentary “ON THE WAY TO SCHOOL” (Sur le chemin de l’école) directed by Pascal Plisson, will open in Lincoln Plaza Cinemas in New York on February 6, 2015. ON THE WAY TO SCHOOL immerses us in the extraordinary routines of four different children who live in the four corners of the earth but all share the same thirst for learning. They understand that only education will allow them a better future and that is why, every day, they must set out on the long and perilous journey that will lead them to knowledge. Their sheer will to accomplish their dream leads them onto a path we have all walked – but never like this.
TAPIA, the documentary about the talented but tormented world champion boxer Johnny Tapia will debut Tuesday, December 16 (11:00 p.m.-midnight ET/PT), exclusively on HBO. TAPIA uses first-person narration and archival footage to explore the achievements, personal demons and ultimate redemption of the popular fighter, who died in 2012 at age 45. The film is executive produced by multiplatinum award-winning musician, entrepreneur and actor Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson and sports promoter, producer and entertainment executive Lou DiBella.
Netflix will release a documentary on singer and civil rights activist Nina Simone, titled, “What Happened, Miss Simone?,” directed by Academy Award(R) nominated filmmaker Liz Garbus (The Farm: Angola, USA and Bobby Fischer Against the World). The film was produced in cooperation with the Estate of Nina Simone, and will premiere exclusively in all territories where Netflix is available in 2015.
“In What Happened, Miss Simone?, Liz Garbus paints a brave and provocative picture of Nina Simone – artist, civil rights activist and heroine – in a film that we’ve loved from day one and are proud to bring to our viewers around the world.” said Lisa Nishimura, Netflix VP of Original Documentary Programming.”
For the first time, more than twenty years after his death, the first fully-authorized feature documentary on Kurt Cobain, legendary lead singer, guitarist and songwriter of Nirvana, “the flagship band of Generation X,” will be released. Titled, KURT COBAIN: MONTAGE OF HECK, the documentary film is scheduled for international release in 2015, and will debut exclusively on HBO in the U.S. Cobain’s daughter Frances Bean Cobain is executive producer, but no Courtney Love.
The documentary, I Am Big Bird, which had its world premiere at Hot Docs earlier this year and will screen at DOC NYC in November, will be released theatrically and on VOD in early 2015 via Tribeca Film. Directed by Dave LaMattina and Chad Walker, I Am Big Bird focuses on Caroll Spinney, who since1969, is the man behind Sesame Street’s Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch. Now at 80 years old, I Am Big Bird features incredible footage of Spinney’s earliest collaborations with Jim Henson as it traces his journey from bullied child to celebrated performer.
The trailer is released for the Orson Welles documentary Magician: The Astonishing Life and Work of Orson Welles from Oscar-winning filmmaker Chuck Workman. The film which was released at the Telluride Film Festival features interviews with with Richard Linklater, Peter Bogdanovich, Frank Marshall, Anthony Perkins, Martin Scorsese, Sydney Pollack, Steven Spielberg. Magician: The Astonishing Life and Work of Orson Welles opens on December 12th.