XTR

02/20/2021

XTR TOP 100 BEST DOCS OF ALL TIME: #33 STRONG ISLAND

When filmmaker Yance Ford investigates the 1992 murder of a young black man, it becomes an achingly personal journey since the victim, 24-year-old William Ford Jr., was the filmmaker's brother.

One of the rare films to embrace the full literary possibilities of the cinematic medium, in which the images conjured inside the mind can be just as vivid as the ones seen by the naked eye. Strong Island uses one family's heartbreaking tragedy to offer a sobering picture of racial injustice in modern America.

#basedonatruestory #filmmaking #storytelling #filmmakers #documentary #cinema

XTR TOP 100 BEST DOCS OF ALL TIME: #33 STRONG ISLAND

When filmmaker Yance Ford investigates the 1992 murder of a young black man, it becomes an achingly personal journey since the victim, 24-year-old William Ford Jr., was the filmmaker's brother.

One of the rare films to embrace the full literary possibilities of the cinematic medium, in which the images conjured inside the mind can be just as vivid as the ones seen by the naked eye. Strong Island uses one family's heartbreaking tragedy to offer a sobering picture of racial injustice in modern America.

#basedonatruestory #filmmaking #storytelling #filmmakers #documentary #cinema

02/17/2021

XTR TOP 100 BEST DOCS OF ALL TIME: #34 THE HUNTING GROUND

“The Hunting Ground succeeds as a damning portrait of how colleges have allowed sexual assault to go unchecked, valuing their own reputations over the lives of vulnerable students. The solutions to sexual assault on campus are varied and complicated but one thing is clear: You will leave The Hunting Ground feeling outraged.”

Directed by Kirby Dick THE HUNTING GROUND succeeds at something far greater by letting the audience come to know all the brave women and men it gets to come forward with their stories, putting a human face on this most inhumane of crimes.

#basedonatruestory #filmmaking #storytelling #filmmakers #documentary #cinema

XTR TOP 100 BEST DOCS OF ALL TIME: #34 THE HUNTING GROUND

“The Hunting Ground succeeds as a damning portrait of how colleges have allowed sexual assault to go unchecked, valuing their own reputations over the lives of vulnerable students. The solutions to sexual assault on campus are varied and complicated but one thing is clear: You will leave The Hunting Ground feeling outraged.”

Directed by Kirby Dick THE HUNTING GROUND succeeds at something far greater by letting the audience come to know all the brave women and men it gets to come forward with their stories, putting a human face on this most inhumane of crimes.

#basedonatruestory #filmmaking #storytelling #filmmakers #documentary #cinema

02/12/2021

WHAT WE’RE WATCHING THIS WEEKEND: THE APOLLO

Filmmaker Roger Ross Williams looks at the storied history of the iconic Apollo Theater while following the Apollo's inaugural staging of Ta-Nehisi Coates' acclaimed "Between the World and Me."

“Drawing on interviews with theater staff and famous musicians alike, the film's history of this one location is also a cultural history of America.”

#basedonatruestory #filmmaking #storytelling #filmmakers #documentary #cinema #binge

WHAT WE’RE WATCHING THIS WEEKEND: THE APOLLO

Filmmaker Roger Ross Williams looks at the storied history of the iconic Apollo Theater while following the Apollo's inaugural staging of Ta-Nehisi Coates' acclaimed "Between the World and Me."

“Drawing on interviews with theater staff and famous musicians alike, the film's history of this one location is also a cultural history of America.”

#basedonatruestory #filmmaking #storytelling #filmmakers #documentary #cinema #binge

02/04/2021

Congratulations to Jamila Wignot and the team at AILEY, as @neon picks up distribution rights for North America from its Sundance premiere.

“Ailey is a searing and inspirational account of a visionary artistic genius who used his gift of dance and movement to express the Black American experience. Jamila Wignot has created an indelible portrait of both the artist and his work and Neon is thrilled to be part of continuing his legacy by bringing this remarkable film to theaters across the country," Darcy Heusel, Neon's head of impact and audience engagement, said in a statement.

Congratulations to Jamila Wignot and the team at AILEY, as @neon picks up distribution rights for North America from its Sundance premiere.

“Ailey is a searing and inspirational account of a visionary artistic genius who used his gift of dance and movement to express the Black American experience. Jamila Wignot has created an indelible portrait of both the artist and his work and Neon is thrilled to be part of continuing his legacy by bringing this remarkable film to theaters across the country," Darcy Heusel, Neon's head of impact and audience engagement, said in a statement.

01/28/2021

Documentary+ Streaming Service Launched by Nonfiction Studio XTR

Documentary+ Streaming Service Launched by Nonfiction Studio XTR

Free platform Documentary+ is available Thursday and features films such as "The Imposter," "Cartel Land" and "Born Into Brothers."

01/28/2021

Non-Fiction Streamer Documentary+ Launches With Titles Including ‘The Imposter’, ‘Life, Animated’ & ‘Hype!’

Non-Fiction Streamer Documentary+ Launches With Titles Including ‘The Imposter’, ‘Life, Animated’ & ‘Hype!’

Documentary+, the non-fiction streamer from You Cannot Kill David Arquette studio XTR, has unveiled its launch slate. The service, which launches today, will include feature-length and short docume…

01/28/2021

Everything to know about Documentary+

Everything to know about Documentary+

Say hello to the brand new streaming destination for nonfiction content.

01/27/2021

SUNDANCE PREVIEW: REBEL HEARTS (World Premiere)
Premieres // Jan. 29th 8:00PM PST

With a mixture of defiance and joy, REBEL HEARTS reveals one of the biggest religious showdowns of the twentieth century, which pitted a delightfully noncomforming group of feminist nuns against a powerful patriarchy insistent on female subservience. @Pedro.Kos’s euphoric and essential documentary reveals a groundbreaking sisterhood that not only flipped the bird—politely—at the Catholic Church’s brazen misogyny but, through their teachings, fundamentally reshaped American society.

#basedonatruestory #filmmaking #storytelling #filmmakers #documentary #cinema #binge #sundance #sundance2021 #sundancefilmfestival #film

SUNDANCE PREVIEW: REBEL HEARTS (World Premiere)
Premieres // Jan. 29th 8:00PM PST

With a mixture of defiance and joy, REBEL HEARTS reveals one of the biggest religious showdowns of the twentieth century, which pitted a delightfully noncomforming group of feminist nuns against a powerful patriarchy insistent on female subservience. @Pedro.Kos’s euphoric and essential documentary reveals a groundbreaking sisterhood that not only flipped the bird—politely—at the Catholic Church’s brazen misogyny but, through their teachings, fundamentally reshaped American society.

#basedonatruestory #filmmaking #storytelling #filmmakers #documentary #cinema #binge #sundance #sundance2021 #sundancefilmfestival #film

12/15/2020

XTR is proud to have supported 8 Films that will be screening in competition at the Sundance Film Festival this year.

Films will be screening in the U.S. Documentary Competition, World Documentary Competition, as well as the Sundance Documentary Premieres, respectively.

In an effort to be a force in increasing representation, racial equity, and authenticity; 6 of the 8 Films supported were helmed by Women and 6 were helmed by People of Color.

Congratulations to al of the filmmaking teams screening their work at @sundanceorg this year!

The Films are as follows:

AILEY
Dir: Jamila Wignot (US)

FAYA DAYI
Dir: Jessica Beshir (WORLD)

AT THE READY
Dir: Maisie Crow (US)

HOMEROOM
Dir: Pete Nicks (US)

USERS
Dir: Natalia Almada (US)

REBEL HEARTS
Dir: Pedro Kos (US)

TRY HARDER!
Dir: Debbie Lum (US)

BRING YOUR OWN BRIGADE
Dir: Lucy Walker (PREMIERE)

12/15/2020

“I decided long ago never to walk in anyone's shadow; if I fail, or if I succeed at least I did as I believe.” — Whitney Houston

In WHITNEY (2018), Filmmaker Kevin Macdonald examines the life and career of singer Whitney Houston. The doc features never-before-seen archival footage, exclusive recordings, rare performances, and interviews with the people who knew her best.

#basedonatruestory #filmmaking #storytelling #filmmakers #documentary #cinema #whitneyhouston #whitney

12/10/2020

XTR TOP 100 BEST DOCS OF ALL TIME: #43 Spellbound (2002)

Eight youthful competitors, sponsored by their hometown newspapers, travel with their families to Washington, D.C., to compete in the 1999 Scripps National Spelling Bee.

The result is a powerful, moving and often very funny exploration of what it is to be an American, and illustrates the effects competing at a young age has on family dynamics.

Directed by Jeffrey Blitz

#xtrtop100 #basedonatruestory #filmmaking #storytelling #filmmakers #documentary #cinema #sushi #foodie #fooddocs #food #spellbound #scrippsspellingbee #spellingbee #competition

12/10/2020

Thank you to @indiewire for naming 76 DAYS and @thefightmovie as frontrunners in their Oscars 2021: Best Documentary Feature Predictions.

Although @theacademy awards are still a few months away, we’re glad to see the filmmaking teams being noticed for their intense amount of sacrifice and craftiness in bringing us these important films.

You can watch 76 DAYS now from the link in our bio and @thefightmovie on @appletv and @amazonprimevideo respectively.

#basedonatruestory #filmmaking #storytelling #filmmakers #documentary #cinema #76days #lockdown @filmmakerhao @aclu #aclu #oscars

12/09/2020

Congratulations to the teams of @bloodynoseemptypockets and @feelsgoodmanfilm for being named amongst @theplaylistnation ‘s Best Film Posters of 2020!

Be sure to check out the @feelsgoodmanfilm page for personal poster prints by artist @mattfurie himself.

#basedonatruestory #filmmaking #storytelling #filmmakers #documentary #cinema

12/08/2020

DOC NYC

DOC NYC

DOC NYC Live: SHORT LIST: SHORTS (Personal Histories)

�First-person tales: Ashes to Ashes, No Crying at the Dinner Table, Flower Punk, and Sing Me a Lullaby.

12/03/2020

Made in Association with XTR Film Society, 76 DAYS, has its virtual worldwide theatrical release tomorrow!

In one of the most important and compelling documentaries of our time, 76 DAYS tells the struggles of front-line medical workers and patients fighting to survive the initial COVID-19 outbreak in Wuhan, China during the city's comprehensive lockdown.

Filmed on the ground in Wuhan by directors Hao Wu (@filmmakerhao), Weixi Chen, and Anonymous, the film was recently announced as a @NYTIMES Critics Pick, a @DOCNYC ShortList Award Winner, and currently 100% Fresh on @Rottentomatoes.

Click the link in our bio for tickets and where to watch globally.

#basedonatruestory #filmmaking #storytelling #filmmakers #documentary #cinema #xtr #76days

12/03/2020

As the leaves fall, the skies turn to gray, and tightening restrictions are once again the topic of the day, here’s a friendly reminder that you got this! Filmmaking, art, and just seeing the world under NEW perspectives are more important than ever. So whether you’re into making DOCS or watching DOCS, keep yourself curious, stay safe, and keep exploring the world however you can.

#basedonatruestory #filmmaking #storytelling #filmmakers #documentary #cinema

12/01/2020

THIS SHOULD BE A DOC: DAVID CHANG WINS $1 MILLION FOR HOSPITALITY WORKERS AFFECTED BY COVID

“It means more to me to get this right to put a spotlight on the industry,” said @davidchang, the founder of Momofuku (@momolongplay) and host of UGLY DELICIOUS. David Chang won $1 million for the Southern Smoke Foundation, a Houston-based crisis-relief organization for hospitality industry workers experiencing debt and other hardships. Chang went on to become the first celebrity to hit the big question on the long standing show Who Wants to Be A Millionaire by correctly answering “Benjamin Harrison” as the first US President to live in the White House with electricity.

#basedonatruestory #filmmaking #storytelling #filmmakers #documentary #cinema #davidchang #whowantstobeamillionaire #netflix #ugledelicious #chef

11/29/2020

XTR TOP 100 BEST DOCS OF ALL TIME: #46 RBG

“The documentary makes us grateful for the truth that "it takes all sorts to make a world" — and for the fact that RBG may be staunchest bulwark against the unmaking of that world, in the present American political moment.“ @financialtimes

An intimate portrait of an unlikely rock star: Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. With unprecedented access, filmmakers @betsywestnyc and Julie Cohen explore how RBG’s early legal battles changed the world for women.

11/20/2020

THIS SHOULD BE A DOC: DOLLY PARTON PART-FUNDED NEW CORONAVIRUS VACCINE

“Vaccine, vaccine, vaccine, vacciiiiiiiiiiiiiine.”

According to @thedailybeast when the country music icon was involved in a car accident in 2013, she became friends with Vanderbilt University surgeon Naji Abumrad.

At the start of the coronavirus pandemic, Abumrad showed
Parton the research the university was doing on antibodies to combat COVID-19, and she wanted to help.

She has now donated a million dollars to the Vanderbilt Vaccine Center, which is researching synthetic antibodies that could treat and even prevent the virus through her philanthropy, The Dolly Parton COVID-19 Research Fund. @dollyparton

#xtrtop100 #basedonatruestory #filmmaking #storytelling #filmmakers #documentary #cinema #dollyparton #countrymusic #legend

11/18/2020

XTR TOP 100 BEST DOCS OF ALL TIME: #49 CRUMB

Filmmaker Terry Zwigoff creates a complex but affectionate portrait of his longtime friend, underground cartoonist Robert Crumb. A notorious curmudgeon who would prefer to be alone with his fellow cartoonist wife Aline Kominsky-Crumb and his beloved vintage jazz records, Crumb reveals himself to be a complicated personality who suffered a troubled upbringing and harbors a philosophical opposition to the 1960s hippie underground that first celebrated his work.

#xtrtop100 #basedonatruestory #filmmaking #storytelling #filmmakers #documentary #crumb #cinema #cartoon

11/17/2020

NEXT GEN: YORUBA RICHEN

@redrubes14 is a professor, producer, and director most recently known for her timely and immediate documentary, The New York Times Presents: The Killing of Breonna Taylor, streaming now on Hulu. The New York Times

“I have to be optimistic, because if you don’t have hope, what do you have? So I strongly believe that. I believe that we have the power to change and that if we can’t do it, we put our best effort to try and do it.” via Deadline Hollywood

Yoruba’s work is dedicated to exploring issues of race, space, and power.

11/13/2020

Big thank you to DOC NYCfor inviting us to co-present a legendary conversation with Rep. Barbara Lee (@bleeforcongress), Rep. Ayanna Pressley (@ayannapressley), and Rep. Karen Bass (@repkarenbass) speaking on the film TRUTH TO POWER: BARBARA LEE SPEAKS FOR ME (@socialactionmedia) and touching on the paradigm shift happening in American politics, the recent election, the effect of COVID-19 on the Black community, and the importance of mentorship and having women of color in positions of power.

Watch the recording on DOC NYC's Facebook!

11/11/2020

Today on DOC NYC Live: Join XTR and DOC NYC today for free 30-minute conversations on Facebook Live hosted by their programming team, throwing a spotlight on films and talking with filmmakers and special guests. Today's lineup includes Werner Herzog, Clive Oppenheimer, and more! We'll see you there!

🎥 1PM ET - Werner Herzog & Clive Oppenheimer discuss their new film about meteors Fireball: Visitors from a Darker World coming to Apple TV+ (Apple TV).

11/06/2020

DOCS THAT HONOR DEMOCRACY: KNOCK DOWN THE HOUSE

“Everyone likes an underdog story, and when the underdog is as eloquent, passionate, and righteous as these four women are, the final reels of this film feel like a Rocky movie.” — @theguardian

@racheliplears ‘s KNOCK DOWN THE HOUSE follows a young bartender in the Bronx (@aoc), a coal miner's daughter in West Virginia (paulajeanwv2020), a grieving mother in Nevada (@amy4thepeople), and a registered nurse in Missouri (@CoriBush) as they band together to challenge powerful incumbents in Congress. One of their races will become the most shocking political upsets in recent American history.

11/05/2020

DOCS THAT HONOR DEMOCRACY: AND SHE COULD BE NEXT

No matter what happens at this point, these elections serve as a reminder that the fight for freedom and human dignity is fought not every four years but inch by inch every day. After losing her gubernatorial run in Georgia in 2018 largely due to #votersuppression, @stacyabrams founded @fairfightaction with the intention of nationally eliminating voter suppression directed at communities of color. Her fight as well as the fight of a myriad of other history-makers such as @rashidatlaib (MI), @lucymcbath (GA), @veronicaescobartx (TX), @mariaelenadurazoofficial (CA), and @bushraamiwala (IL) is covered in the two-part documentary, AND SHE COULD BE NEXT, which shows the comprehensive fight for representation in politics and is a much watch this election season. 🎥 by @anothergracelee @marjiparji @ava