As a seasoned gamer with a knack for seeking out the most intriguing narratives and a soft spot for documentaries that delve deep into the human condition, I can hardly contain my excitement about this year’s Docs to Watch lineup at the SCAD Savannah Film Festival. The diverse range of stories spanning across continents and showcasing a multitude of perspectives is nothing short of captivating.
This year, the SCAD Savannah Film Festival, held annually just before the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announces its Oscar shortlists, has unveiled the titles of the 10 documentaries it will spotlight during its Docs to Watch panel. This panel, lasting approximately 90 minutes, is a lively discussion centered around the trials and triumphs of documentary filmmaking.
This year’s panel, happening at the Lucas Theatre on October 30th evening and moderated by me for the 11th consecutive time, will feature the following movies. These films will not only be presented during the event itself, but they will also screen during the festival, with a Q&A session with their directors to follow:
- Black Box Diaries (MTV Documentary Films), represented on the panel by director Shiori Ito — the filmmaker documents the investigation into her sexual assault by a powerful man in Japan
- Carville: Winning Is Everything, Stupid (CNN Films), represented on the panel by director Matt Tyrnauer — a profile of the legendary political strategist as he leads the effort to convince Joe Biden to not seek re-election
- Daughters (Netflix), represented on the panel by co-director Natalie Rae — a look at a pilot program that offers incarcerated men and their young daughters the chance to reconnect
- Hollywoodgate (self-distributed), represented on the panel by director Ibrahim Nash’at — the filmmaker embeds with the Taliban in the year after America’s withdrawal from Afghanistan
- Piece by Piece (Focus Features), represented on the panel by director Morgan Neville — the rollercoaster life and career of Pharrell Williams is told through interviews and LEGO animation
- Porcelain War (Picturehouse), represented on the panel by co-director Brendan Bellomo (co-director Slava Leontyev will also be at the fest) — the lives of married artists in present-day Ukraine are upended by the Russian invasion
- Sugarcane (National Geographic Documentary Films), represented on the panel by co-director Julian Brave NoiseCat (co-director Emily Kassie will also be at the fest) — the discovery of unmarked graves at an Indian residential school in Canada forces a shocking reckoning with the past
- Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story (Warner Bros.), represented on the panel by director Peter Ettedgui — the life, work and tragic accident of a beloved movie star are examined by family and friends 20 years after his death
- Union (Level Ground), represented on the panel by co-director Stephen Maing — a chronicle of the David vs. Goliath effort of labor organizers and employees at an Amazon warehouse in Staten Island to form a union
- Will & Harper (Netflix), represented on the panel by director Josh Greenbaum — Will Ferrell and Harper Steele, an old friend from Saturday Night Live who recently came out as a trans woman go on a road trip across America
Over the past ten years, I’ve been captivated by the Docs to Watch series, which has showcased an impressive lineup of documentaries. Forty-seven films from this series were later nominated for the Best Documentary Feature Oscar, with eight of them eventually taking home the award! These include 2015’s Amy, 2016’s O.J.: Made in America, 2017’s Icarus, 2018’s Free Solo, 2019’s American Factory, 2021’s Summer of Soul, 2022’s Navalny, and this year’s 20 Days in Mariupol. It’s been a privilege to witness the recognition these powerful films have received over the years!
Christina Routhier, executive director of SCAD Savannah Film Festival, expressed excitement about this year’s Docs to Watch selection. She described it as a compelling and vital portrayal of our contemporary world. These films delve into crucial matters with skill and creativity, showcasing the variety of perspectives that are currently shaping the documentary genre. This presents a remarkable chance for the SCAD community to interact with an innovative collection of filmmakers and narratives.
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2024-10-02 20:54