New York's Documentary Festival

New York's Documentary Festival

Doc Nyc Celebrates Documentary Filmmaking By Connecting Artists And Audiences Through Powerful Stories And Diverse Voices. The 2024 Festival Will Be Held In-Person From November 13 - 21, 2024, And Online From November 13 - December 1, 2024.

Schedule Of Events:

11:15 am: Left Behind

Nyc Premiere - Left Behind Illuminates The Struggles Of Nyc Schoolchildren With Dyslexia, Following A Diverse Group Of Parents Who, Frustrated By The Lack Of Support, Founded The Literacy Academy Collective. Driven By The Stark Reality That 1 In 5 People Are Dyslexic And Nearly 50% Of Prison Inmates Share This Diagnosis, These Passionate Advocates Fight To De-Stigmatize Dyslexia And Secure Proper Education For Their Kids. The Film Reveals The Power Of Grassroots Activism, Offering An Eye-Opening And Uplifting Message Of Hope And Resilience. - Karen Mcmullen

1:00 pm: Doc Nyc U: Community (Shorts)

Doc Nyc U Features 12 Short Documentaries From Students Across The Five Boroughs. These Two Programs Showcase Competition Finalists From Brooklyn College, City University Of New York, Fashion Institute Of Technology, Hunter College, The New School, New York Film Academy, New York University, Pratt Institute, And The School Of Visual Arts.  

1:30 pm: In Waves And War

Ny Premiere The Extreme Mental And Physical Rigor Required Of Us Navy Seals Takes Its Toll Post-Service. This Film Follows A Cohort Of Veterans, Skilled At Navigating The Danger And Adrenaline Of Deployment, But Struggling In Civilian Life. Plagued By Ptsd, Survivor's Guilt, Traumatic Brain Injury, Chronic Pain, And Depression, The Men Try An Experimental, Hallucinogenic Drug Treatment. Incorporating Animation To Depict Their Visions, The Film Is A Moving Testament To The Hidden Costs Of War And The Bravery Required To Confront Personal Demons. - Karen Mcmullen

1:30 pm: The Battle For Laikipia

Nyc Premiere A Prescient And Urgent Documentary That Shows How Climate Change Can Directly Lead To Conflict; When Resources Dwindle, Battles Arise. In Laikipia, Kenya, The Ranchers, Mostly White Descendants Of British Colonizers, And Local Nomadic Pastoralists Find Themselves Adrift When Drought Hits The Land They Share. Tensions That Have Been Kept At Bay For Generations Resurface And Strife Brews. With Clear-Eyed Rigor, This Film Delivers A Call To Action For Sustainability Worldwide. - Murtada Elfadl

1:45 pm: Facing The Wind

World Premiere Linda And Carla Each Care For Their Beloved Spouses Who Are Living With Lewy Body Dementia. Eager To Learn And Share Information With Others, Linda Starts A Podcast With Curry, Who Has The Disease, And A Community Of Support Groups Begins To Grow. Linda And Jim Decide To Go On An Epic Road Trip, And Carla Quits Her Job To Devote Her Time To Patrick. As Life Becomes Overwhelming, Their Online Support Group Is A Lifeline. Intimate, Raw, And Full Of Life, This Moving Portrait Gracefully Explores The Stark Realities Of Caregiving. - Ruth Somalo

2:00 pm: Shorts: Love For The Game

Sports Stories With Clear Eyes And Full Hearts. - Samah Ali

3:30 pm: Doc Nyc U: Family Matters (Shorts)

Doc Nyc U Features 12 Short Documentaries From Students Across The Five Boroughs. These Two Programs Showcase Competition Finalists From Brooklyn College, City University Of New York, Fashion Institute Of Technology, Hunter College, The New School, New York Film Academy, New York University, Pratt Institute, And The School Of Visual Arts.  

3:45 pm: 76 Days Adrift

Nyc Premiere In 1982, A Whale Collided With Steven Callahan's Single Man Sailboat,  Napoleon Solo, Leaving Him Stranded On A Life Raft In The Atlantic Ocean. This First-Person Account, From Executive Producer Ang Lee, Based On A New York Times Bestseller, Details Callahan's Life Alone At Sea For Nearly Three Harrowing Months. Forced To Reckon With The Consequences Of His Choices, Facing The Dangers Of The Open Ocean, He Pushes Forward In Hopes Of A Rescue. - Brandon Harrison

4:00 pm: Mistress Dispeller

Nyc Premiere In China, Mrs. Li Thought Her Personal Life Was On Solid Emotional Ground, Only To Discover With A Shock That Her Husband Is Having An Affair With A Younger Woman. Feeling Unmoored, She Hires An Agency To Help Save Her Marriage.  The Film Unfolds Like A Novel, Providing Intimate Details With Remarkable Candor; The Filmmaker's Conscientious And Arduous Process Of Gaining Consent From All Participants Is among The Film's Astonishing Details. - Jaie Laplante

4:15 pm: What's Next?

Nyc Premiere At 100 Years Old, Dr. Howard Tucker Has Been Recognized By Guinness World Records As The World's Oldest Practicing Doctor. Told Through The Eyes Of His Loving Grandson, The Film Follows The Spirited, Curious, Elegant, And Quirky Neurologist As He Begins To Slow Down And Grapple With Aging, Social Media, And Computer Technology For The First Time. A Fun And Loving Ode To Living A Meaningful Life And Gracefully Keeping One's Own Identity. - Ruth Somalo

4:30 pm: My Stolen Planet

Nyc Premiere What Does A Woman Do When Political Institutions Police Every Aspect Of Her Life, From The Way She Dresses To What She Does For A Living? Filmmaker Farahnaz Sharifi Takes Her 8mm Camera And Records An Alternate Life, One Lived Behind Closed Doors Where Her Family And Friends Choose For Themselves. This Powerful Documentary Offers A Heady And Provocative Mix Of Personal Narrative And Lessons In Iran's History Since The 1979 Islamic Revolution. - Murtada Elfadl

6:15 pm: In Waves And War

Ny Premiere The Extreme Mental And Physical Rigor Required Of Us Navy Seals Takes Its Toll Post-Service. This Film Follows A Cohort Of Veterans, Skilled At Navigating The Danger And Adrenaline Of Deployment, But Struggling In Civilian Life. Plagued By Ptsd, Survivor's Guilt, Traumatic Brain Injury, Chronic Pain, And Depression, The Men Try An Experimental, Hallucinogenic Drug Treatment. Incorporating Animation To Depict Their Visions, The Film Is A Moving Testament To The Hidden Costs Of War And The Bravery Required To Confront Personal Demons. - Karen Mcmullen

6:30 pm: Drop Dead City - New York On The Brink In 1975

World Premiere - Set In 1970s New York City, This Gripping Documentary Explores The City's Descent Into Financial Chaos, Leading To The Infamous 1975 Fiscal Crisis. Once A Haven For Working-Class People, Thanks To Strong Unions And Government Subsidies, Nyc Plunged Into Economic Freefall  When Audits Exposed A Budget Crisis, Leading To Layoffs, White Flight, And Surging Poverty. As Banks Refused Aid, President Ford Famously Told The City To "Drop Dead." Featuring Firsthand Accounts From Former City Officials, Vibrant Archival Footage, And A Killer Soundtrack, This Suspenseful Film Captures The Drama, Grit, And Resilience Of A City On The Edge. - Karen Mcmullen

6:30 pm: Standing Above The Clouds

Nyc Premiere Refusing To Give Up Their Rights Over Their Sacred Land, Native Hawaiian Mothers And Daughters Band Together To Stop The Construction Of A Massive Telescope On Mauna Kea. What Emerges Is A Study Of Resilience And The Ways Wisdom And Healing Are Passed From One Generation To Another. Underlying Their Spirited Resistance Is The Women's Ever-Present Love For Their Land, Their Legacies, And Each Other. - Bedatri D. Choudhury

6:30 pm: Thom Browne: The Man Who Tailors Dreams

World Premiere In The World Of Superstar Fashion Designers, Thom Browne Stands Apart With His Theatrical Runway Shows, Dramatic Ready-To-Wear Creations, And Eye-Popping Originality. From His Headquarters In New York City's Fashion District, Browne Recounts His Early Breaks In The Fashion World, How His Work Garnered Support From Celebrity Fans Such As Michelle Obama, Billie Eilish, Zendaya, Lebron James And Anna Wintour, And How His Reconceptualization Of The Classic Men's Business Suit Became His Signature Achievement. Sparkling Highlights From Browne's Personal Archives Showcase The Years Of Growing Wit, Edge, And Mastery, All The While Contrasted With Browne's Humble, Gently Welcoming Persona. - Jaie Laplante

6:45 pm: Devo

Nyc Premiere Fueled By The Disillusionment Of Kent State And Vietnam War, The ?70s Music Sensation Devo Channeled Its "Organized Absurdity" Into An Entertaining Satire Of Modern Society. Rising To Fame During The Reagan Era, The Counterculture Quintet Became Iconic With Their Hit "Whip It," Cutting-Edge Mtv Videos, And Outlandish Headwear. Told Through The Voices Of Its Five Members, The Film Is A Fast-Paced, Music-Filled Journey Through The History Of This Subversive, Counter-Culture Band. - Karen Mcmullen

6:45 pm: Roleplay

Nyc Premiere A Timely, Lyrical Film That Follows College Students As They Grapple With Questions Of Sex, Consent, Identity, And Power. The Students Spend A Year Creating An Immersive Play From Their Real-Life Experiences,  Building Characters And Scenes Based On The Sexual Politics Of Their Campus. A Film That Respectfully Captures Vulnerable And Fascinating Young Adults Creating A Space For Deep Reflection And Learning, While Discussing Privilege, Representation, Allyship, And Racism. - Ruth Somalo

7:00 pm: Janis Ian: Breaking Silenc

World Premiere Janis Ian Had One Of The Most Remarkable Debuts In Modern Music History. At The Age Of 13, She Began Performing Her Original Songs At New York City Gigs Alongside Future Legends. From There, The Precocious Teenager Turned Fearless Singer-Songwriter Built A Career With Many Chapters-Winning Grammys While Navigating Personal And Professional Highs And Lows-In A Remarkable Trajectory Now Entering Its Fifth Decade. Ian's Emotionally Transporting Songbook And Turbulent Life Story Make Compelling Echoes For The Generation Of american Women Who Came Of Age In The 1960s And 1970s, Discovering And Voicing Their Power. - Jaie Laplante

7:00 pm: Secret Mall Apartment

Nyc Premiere Having Lost Their Studio Loft Spaces To Corporate Developers Of The Providence Place Mall, A Group Of Rhode Island Artists Plot Revenge By Inhabiting A Secret, Unused Space Inside The Mall's Design. Over The Next Four Years, The Project Grew In Significance As The Artists Created A Combination Of Living Space, Studio, Art Installation, And A Communal Center—And Recorded Their Work On Video. Jeremy Workman's Latest Joint Is A Madcap Rollercoaster  Of Wonder, And One Of 2024's Most Memorable Rides. - Jaie Laplante

9:00 pm: All The Mountains Give

North american Premiere Two Young Kurdish Men Make Their Living By Smuggling Goods Across The Treacherous Border Between Iraq And Iran. First-Time Filmmaker Arash Rakhsha Conjures A Poignantly Cinematic Perspective Out Of This Intriguing And Previously Untold Story. Elevating The Stirring Narrative With Striking Images, Patient Observation, And Astute Insight Into The People And The Terrain, Rakhsha Announces Himself As A Filmmaker To Watch. - Murtada Elfadl

9:00 pm: Conbody Vs Everybody (Episodes 1 And 2)

Nyc Premiere Debra Granik's Forthcoming Limited Series Conbody Vs Everybody Is At Once A Story Of The School-Of-Tough-Knocks Education Of A Charismatic Ex-Con, Coss Marte, As He Tries To Rebuild His Life, And A Portrait Of The Teeming Life And Energy Of New York City's Lower East Side, Captured With The Authenticity Of Atmosphere That Only Master Artists Such As Granik Can Locate. Filmed Over Eight Years, The Series Follows  Formerly Incarcerated People As They Slip In And Out Of Coss's Life And His Business, Each Of Them Fascinating And Magnetic On Screen. Doc Nyc Presents Episodes One And Two Of The Five-Part Series Back-To-Back, Shown To The Public For The First Time Since Their Launch At Sundance Earlier This Year. - Jaie Laplante

9:15 pm: A Man With Sole: The Impact Of Kenneth Cole

Nyc Premiere In 1982, Kenneth Cole Burst Onto The american Fashion Scene. Unable To Afford A Traditional Showroom During The New York Shoe Expo, The Enterprising Founder Registered His Footwear Business As A Film Production, Enabling Him To Sell Thousands Of Pairs Of Shoes Out Of A Trailer In Midtown Manhattan. Cole's Unwavering Determination Fueled His Company's Growth And His Fierce Commitment To Social Activism. This New York Fashion Icon Measures Success By His Contribution To Destigmatizing Hiv/Aids, Advancing Lgbtq Rights, And Fighting For Social Justice. -Brandon Harrison

9:15 pm: Harley Flanagan: Wired For Chaos

World Premiere From His Harsh Childhood In The Burnt-Out Lower East Side, Musician Harley Flanagan Burst Onto The Punk Music Scene At Age 11 As Drummer For His Aunt's Band, The Stimulators. The Founder Of The Cro-Mags Tells His Inconceivable Story, With Interviews With Hard Rockers And Icons Like Flea, Ice-T, Henry Rollins, Michael Imperioli, And Surprising Guests. Featuring Gritty Footage Of Nyc's Downtown 1970s And '80s Music Scene, This Passionate Film Showcases Harley's Against-The-Odds Transformation From Chaos To Peace, Driven By Music, Family, And Personal Growth. - Karen Mcmullen

9:30 pm: This Is A Film About The Black Keys.

Nyc Premiere This Music-Filled Documentary Follows The Black Keys, From Their Parents' Garages In Ohio To Global Fame. Geeky Pat And Popular Dan Develop A Unique Musical Chemistry And Style Influenced By Mississippi Blues, And Embark On Tour In A Minivan. During Their Rise, They Gain Fans, Wives, Acclaim, And Well-Timed Boosts From Collaborators Like Danger Mouse, Rza, And Beck. When Rock-Star Status And The Pressures Of Fame Strain Their Creative Partnership, The Duo Reckon With The Hidden Costs Of Success. - Karen Mcmullen

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