Protected:
Your Guide to Documentary Films at AFI FEST
The inaugural documentary section at AFI FEST presented by Audi features some of the most engaging and powerful real-life stories depicted in global non-fiction.
Films are listed in chronological order so you can find the ones that best fit your schedule!
Friday, November 15
4:00 p.m. BIKRAM: YOGI, GURU, PREDATOR
Eva Orner’s stunning documentary exposes the abuse perpetrated by Bikram Choudhury and the cult-like atmosphere that gave him virtual immunity. Director Eva Orner attending screening. Buy tickets here.
6:15 p.m. CITIZEN K
Academy Award®-winning director Alex Gibney gripping and complex story of a former Russian oil tycoon who dared opposed Putin. Director Alex Gibney and executive producer John-Paul Bernbach attending screening. Buy tickets here.
Saturday, November 16
6:15 p.m. CITIZEN K
Academy Award®-winning director Alex Gibney gripping and complex story of a former Russian oil tycoon who dared opposed Putin. Buy tickets here.
9:00 p.m. SOUTH OXFORD, ALL IOWA LAWN TENNIS CLUB, MARAVILLA, SERVE
Filmmaker Darius Clark Monroe returns to the screen with a series of intimate nonfiction vignettes exploring America’s culture and passion for tennis and handball. These four stories explore the soulful bond we experience through sport. Director Darius Clark Monroe attending screening. Buy tickets here.
Sunday, November 17
9:00 p.m. – SOUTH OXFORD, ALL IOWA LAWN TENNIS CLUB, MARAVILLA, SERVE
Filmmaker Darius Clark Monroe returns to the screen with a series of intimate nonfiction vignettes exploring America’s culture and passion for tennis and handball. These four stories explore the soulful bond we experience through sport. Buy tickets here.
Monday, November 18
3:15 p.m. – CHEZ JOLIE COIFFURE
Inviting filmmaker Rosine Mbakam inside her Brussels hair salon, Sabine offers an insider’s perspective of a community united in cultural roots that lie elsewhere. A lovely observational chamber piece and affectionate tribute, CHEZ JOLIE COIFFURE heralds an important new voice in documentary filmmaking. Director Rose Mbakam attending screening. Buy tickets here.
6:45 p.m. – DESERT ONE
Two-time Academy Award®-winning director Barbara Kopple brilliantly brings to life the secret mission would prove to be one of the most audacious and controversial in U.S. history. Director Barbara Kopple attending screening. Buy tickets here.
And here is a preview of the documentary films screening Tuesday through Thursday—
Tuesday, November 19
12:15 p.m. SEARCHING EVA
For 25-year-old Eva living in Berlin, complex emotions surrounding adolescence, family, body, art and sex work are processed publicly through unflinchingly personal photos and writings posted on the internet and Instagram. In an attempt to capture the essence of this elusive personality, Pia Hellenthal’s extraordinary feature debut is a modern cinematic portrait that cleverly dismantles identity construction and performativity via social media. Buy tickets here.
1:15 p.m. – DESERT ONE
Two-time Academy Award®-winning director Barbara Kopple brilliantly brings to life the secret mission would prove to be one of the most audacious and controversial in U.S. history. Director Barbara Kopple attending screening. Buy tickets here.
5:15 p.m. READY FOR WAR
In present day America, thousands of immigrants who have proudly served in the military, find themselves not only without citizenship, but face being apprehended by ICE and deportation. Offering a fresh and deeply troubling take on immigration and deportation, Andrew Renzi profiles three veterans trapped in this vicious bind. Buy tickets here.
Wednesday, November 20
12:30 p.m. READY FOR WAR
In present day America, thousands of immigrants who have proudly served in the military, find themselves not only without citizenship, but face being apprehended by ICE and deportation. Offering a fresh and deeply troubling take on immigration and deportation, Andrew Renzi profiles three veterans trapped in this vicious bind. Buy tickets here.
3:30 p.m. PRESENT.PERFECT.
Winner of the Tiger Award at the 2019 Rotterdam Film Festival, PRESENT.PERFECT. is a poetic demonstration of the need to seek out or create global communities and the shrouded threat that doing so poses to state control. Buy tickets here.
4:00 p.m. I AM NOT ALONE
Capturing the fury, emotion and spontaneous expressions of freedom that overtook the streets of Armenia in 2018, filmmaker Garin Hovannisian fascinating eye-witness documentary affords a unique glimpse into a revolution-in-the-making. Buy tickets here.
6:30 p.m. OLIVER SACKS: HIS OWN LIFE
Granted intimate access to Sacks and his close circle during his final months, master filmmaker Ric Burns has crafted a deeply moving documentary that captures Sacks’ remarkable life and reveals the enormity of his spirit. Buy tickets here.
9:30 p.m. SEARCHING EVA
For 25-year-old Eva living in Berlin, complex emotions surrounding adolescence, family, body, art and sex work are processed publicly through unflinchingly personal photos and writings posted on the internet and Instagram. In an attempt to capture the essence of this elusive personality, Pia Hellenthal’s extraordinary feature debut is a modern cinematic portrait that cleverly dismantles identity construction and performativity via social media. Buy tickets here.
10:00 p.m. – CHEZ JOLIE COIFFURE Inviting filmmaker Rosine Mbakam inside her Brussels hair salon, Sabine offers an insider’s perspective of a community united in cultural roots that lie elsewhere. A lovely observational chamber piece and affectionate tribute, CHEZ JOLIE COIFFURE heralds an important new voice in documentary filmmaking. Director Rose Mbakam attending screening. Buy tickets here.
Thursday, November 21
12:00 p.m. OLIVER SACKS: HIS OWN LIFE
Granted intimate access to Sacks and his close circle during his final months, master filmmaker Ric Burns has crafted a deeply moving documentary that captures Sacks’ remarkable life and reveals the enormity of his spirit. Buy tickets here.
5:30 p.m. PRESENT.PERFECT.
Winner of the Tiger Award at the 2019 Rotterdam Film Festival, PRESENT.PERFECT. is a poetic demonstration of the need to seek out or create global communities and the shrouded threat that doing so poses to state control. Buy tickets here.
6:00 p.m. BIKRAM: YOGI, GURU, PREDATOR
Eva Orner’s stunning documentary exposes the abuse perpetrated by Bikram Choudhury and the cult-like atmosphere that gave him virtual immunity. Buy tickets here.
7:30 p.m. I AM NOT ALONE
Capturing the fury, emotion and spontaneous expressions of freedom that overtook the streets of Armenia in 2018, filmmaker Garin Hovannisian fascinating eye-witness documentary affords a unique glimpse into a revolution-in-the-making. Buy tickets here.
