Pure Nonfiction at IFC Center Reveals Winter 2020 Season!

We look forward to seeing you back at the IFC Center as soon as it reopens. Our original announcement below shows what we head hoped to offer. – Thom Powers, Pure Nonfiction host

Pure Nonfiction at IFC Center announced its winter season line-up, featuring ten documentary features and series screening February 11 to March 31. Each screening is followed by a conversation with the filmmaker or other special guests. The season opens with Barbara Kopple’s DESERT ONE (Feb 11) about the Americans taken hostage by Iranian militants in 1979—an event whose consequences still resonate today. Several titles deepen our understanding of U.S. politics in this election year, including SLAY THE DRAGON (Feb 25) on activists fighting to reform gerrymandering; AFTER TRUTH: DISINFORMATION AND THE COST OF FAKE NEWS (Mar 19), produced by CNN’s Brian Stelter, on the proliferation of disinformation and conspiracy theories; and KILL CHAIN: THE CYBER WAR ON AMERICA’S ELECTIONS (Mar 26) that investigates the risks of malware in electronic voting.

“Pure Nonfiction’s winter lineup delivers equal doses of inspiration and information that feel vital to 2020,” said host Thom Powers. “We’re also proud to preview some of the most exciting work in episodic documentary alongside feature-length works this season.”

The Winter 2020 season includes several titles fresh from their premieres at the Sundance Film Festival, including three of the year’s most anticipated documentary series: McMILLION$ (Feb 18) about how the mob rigged McDonald’s Monopoly game; THE TRADE (Mar 3), from Oscar-nominated director Matthew Heineman, about human trafficking across the U.S. border; and LOVE FRAUD (March 31), from Oscar-nominated filmmakers Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady, the story of a serial fraudster who romanced women in order to con them out of their money. The slate also boasts Sundance’s U.S. Documentary Audience Award-winner, CRIP CAMP (Mar 24), a look at the birth of the disability rights movement.

The final two titles in the season are DOC NYC alum MOSSVILLE: WHEN GREAT TREES FALL (Mar 10) about a town in Louisiana where the spread of toxic chemical plants faces a courageous resister; and Tribeca Film Festival alum CIRCUS OF BOOKS (Mar 17) profiling the unassuming couple who ran the Los Angeles porn store that became a hub for the gay community.

The Pure Nonfiction screening series, hosted by Thom Powers and Raphaela Neihausen, was formerly known as Stranger Than Fiction, and has been based at IFC Center since its inception. Established in 2005, the series has a reputation as “a vital outpost for award-winning documentaries” (New York Times). The name changed in 2019 to align with the Pure Nonfiction podcast, in which Powers interviews documentary filmmakers, now in its fifth year.

The winter season takes place at the IFC Center every Tuesday night at 7:30 pm for eight weeks, February 11 to March 31, plus special Thursday screenings on March 19 and March 26. Season passes are now on sale for $110 ($90 for IFC Center member) for all 10 evenings. The full season schedule appears below. For more information, visit ifccenter.com/series/purenonfiction.

Pure Nonfiction at IFC Center: Winter 2020 Season | 7:30pm Tuesdays at IFC Center, Feb 11 – Mar 31

Each show features a Q&A with the director or other special guests

Feb 11:             Opening Night – DESERT ONE (2019, Q&A w/ dir. Barbara Kopple)

Feb 18:             McMILLION$ (2020, Q&A w/ dirs. James Lee Hernandez & Brian Lazarte + film subjects Andrew Glomb & George Chandler) – previewing episodes 3 & 4

Feb 25:             SLAY THE DRAGON (2019, Q&A w/ dirs. Barak Goodman & Chris Durrance)

Mar 3:               THE TRADE (2020, Q&A w/ dir. Matthew Heineman) – previewing episodes 2 & 3

Mar 10:             MOSSVILLE: WHEN GREAT TREES FALL (2019, Q&A w/ dir. Alexander John Glustrom)

Mar 17:             CIRCUS OF BOOKS (2019, Q&A w/ filmmakers)

Mar 19:             Thursday special – AFTER TRUTH: DISINFORMATION AND THE COST OF FAKE NEWS (2020, Q&A w/ dir. Andrew Rossi and special guests)

Mar 24:             CRIP CAMP (2020, Q&A w/ dirs. Nicole Newnham & Jim LeBrecht)

Mar 26:             Thursday Special – KILL CHAIN: THE CYBER WAR ON AMERICA’S ELECTIONS (2019, Q&A w/ filmmakers)

Mar 31:             Closing Night – LOVE FRAUD (Q&A w/ dirs. Heidi Ewing & Rachel Grady)

Tickets for Pure Nonfiction screenings are $18 for the general public and $15 for IFC Center members. A Season Pass covers admission to all 8 evenings (plus 2 specials) and provides free popcorn at all screenings. It is available for $110 ($90 for IFC members).