UPDATED with details about the next and final screening, which is “Stamped from the Beginning” on November 20. Learn more here.
This Monday, November 20, the next and concluding screening in our Art of the Doc series will be of Roger Ross Williams’ acclaimed “Stamped from the Beginning” at the Landmark Westwood. Doors open at 6:30pm with a pre-reception featuring beer, wine, and conversations with other documentary fans. Then at 7:30, the screening will begin, after which there will be a Q&A moderated by IndieWire’s Marcus Jones with director Roger Ross Williams himself. The film, based on the book by Ibram X. Kendi about how racist tropes permeate American culture, debuted to extraordinary acclaim at TIFF in September, and IndieWire’s Anne Thompson considers it a frontrunner in the Best Documentary Feature race at the Oscars.
New to our Art of the Doc series? Well, IndieWire has celebrated the start of Oscar season by shining a light on several of the best nonfiction titles film has to offer in 2023. The publication has hosted a documentary screening series in Los Angeles, called Art of the Doc, that spotlights some of the biggest contenders for the Best Documentary Feature Academy Award.
Presented in partnership with National Geographic, IndieWire’s Art of the Doc began on Thursday, October 19 with a screening of Amanda McBaine and Jesse Moss’ “The Mission” — watch the post-screening conversation that took place afterward here. Afterward, the series screened four other documentaries and hosted panel discussions with the directors and talent behind the acclaimed films: “Going to Mars: The Nikki Giovanni Project” and “Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie,” “Bobi Wine: The People’s President,” and “The Eternal Memory.”
“Our editors gave careful consideration in selecting these films for our inaugural screening series, Art of the Doc,” said IndieWire senior VP and editor in chief Dana Harris-Bridson. “We’re excited to have the in-person opportunity to share IndieWire’s perspective with the work of great filmmakers.”
“We’re thrilled to be launching our first documentary screening series with our partner National Geographic,” said IndieWire senior VP and publisher James Israel. “Nat Geo’s support of the art of current documentary filmmaking aligns perfectly with IndieWire’s long-standing mission to celebrate the best in non-fiction storytelling.”
A National Geographic film, “The Mission” examines the 2018 death of John Chau, a Christian Missionary who broke Indian government laws by traveling to the secluded island of North Sentinel Island in an attempt to convert the uncontacted tribe that resides there. The film premiered at the 2023 Telluride Film Festival in August, and will premiere in theaters October 13. McBaine and Moss, best known for their 2020 documentary “Boys State,” will both appear for a panel moderated by IndieWire Editor at Large Anne Thompson.
“Going to Mars” first premiered at Sundance Film Festival in January, where it won the Grand Jury Prize. A profile of Nikki Giovanni, one of the most acclaimed living American poets, “Going to Mars” was acquired by HBO Documentary Films, and will play a limited run in theaters beginning November 3 ahead of its linear TV premiere. Joe Brewster, who co-directed the film with Michele Stephenson, will appear at IndieWire’s screening of the film for a panel conversation along with producer Tommy Oliver.
“Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie” focuses on the life of the beloved “Back to the Future” star and his struggles with Parkinson’s disease. The movie premiered at Sundance Film Festival in January, and was released by Apple TV+ on May 12. Director Davis Guggenheim will participate in a panel conversation at the screening.
“Bobi Wine: The People’s President” focuses on the 2021 presidential campaign of Ugandan pop star-turned politician Bobi Wine. A National Geographic Film, it released in theaters on July 28. Moses Bwayo, who co-directed with Christopher Sharp, will participate in a panel conversation at the screening.
“The Eternal Memory” premiered at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival in January, where it won the World Cinema Documentary Competition prize. MTV Documentary Films released it in theaters on August 11. Directed by Maite Alberdi, the Chilean documentary focuses on the romantic relationship between actor Paulina Urrutia and journalist Augusto Góngora, and Góngora’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis. Urrutia will participate in a panel conversation at the screening.
Inspired by the book of the same name by Dr. Ibram X. Kendi, “Stamped From the Beginning” explores the history of anti-Black racism in the United States and its role in shaping the country’s culture. The film, from director Roger Ross Williams, premiered at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival, and will release on Netflix November 11. Williams will participate in a panel conversation at the screening.
Read on for the current list of screenings and dates.
Thursday, October 19: “The Mission” (dir. Amanda McBaine and Jesse Moss)
Thursday, October 26: “Going To Mars: The Nikki Giovanni Project” (dir. Joe Brewster and Michele Stephenson)
Monday, November 6: “Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie” (dir. Davis Guggenheim)
Wednesday, November 15: “Bobi Wine: The People’s President” (dir. Christopher Sharp and Moses Bwayo)
Thursday, November 16: “The Eternal Memory” (subject Paulina Urrutia)
Monday, November 20: “Stamped From the Beginning” (dir. by Roger Ross Williams)
Awards Voters and Industry Professionals can apply to attend this series. Learn more here.
