2024 OPENING NIGHT, CENTERPIECE, CLOSING NIGHT, AND SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS
DOC NYC is proud to announce the first wave of program selections for our 15th edition, running in-person from November 13 – 21 at IFC Center, SVA Theatre and Village East by Angelika, and continuing online through December 1. The 2024 festival showcases more than 200 films and dozens of events, including in-person appearances by filmmakers at most screenings.
Binge on all 200+ films in the 2024 program with the All Film Pass for only $699 through October 18th! Ticket packs and individual film tickets for in-person and online screenings are also now available.
Opening Night:
Blue Road – The Edna O’Brien Story
Nov 13 at SVA Theatre (US Premiere)
Edna O’Brien wrote a sexually charged 1960 debut novel, The Country Girls, becoming a literary sensation and awakening the wrath of patriarchal religious Ireland where the novel and its sequels were banned and burned – This inspiring film portrays O’Brien’s final testimonies at age 93, and brings her diaries to life, revealing her extraordinary experiences in Ireland, London, and New York, where Vanity Fair referred to her as “the playgirl of the Western world.” O’Brien hosted star-studded parties, wrote for The New York Times and published dozens of books and screenplays, influencing a generation of writers in Ireland and abroad.
Closing Night:
Drop Dead City – New York City on the Brink in 1975
Nov 21 at SVA Theatre (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.
Centerpiece Screening:
All God’s Children
Nov 14 at Village East (World Premiere)
Concerned about escalating tensions between Jewish and Black Brooklynites, the spiritual leaders of Congregation Beth Elohim in Park Slope and Antioch Baptist Church in Bed-Stuy embark on a radical experiment to bring the change they hope to see in their communities – The rabbi and the pastor lead delegations to their places of worship to learn from each other, but soon tensions emerge, testing their dreams of unity. Tackling their complex histories head on, these two New York City devotional institutions find communal traction, fighting side-by-side for justice and compassion.
Special Presentation:
2073
Nov 15 at Village East (NYC Premiere)
If you could go back in time and change the course of history, what would you do? – Oscar-winning filmmaker Asif Kapadia flips that idea on its head with a great deal more urgency: if we knew what the future would be, what could we do now? In this hybrid film, fictional footage from 50 years in the future is juxtaposed with documentary images from our present moment, following a cause-and-effect style of logic to some worrisome conclusions. Kapadia’s message: It’s not too late!
Special Presentation:
Architecton
Nov 16 at IFC Center (NYC Premiere)
A visually stunning documentary about humanity’s relationship with architecture and the environment – Italian architect Michele De Lucchi reflects on the need for a new concept of beauty, as traditional grandiose structures and disposable concrete buildings become unsustainable. Through mesmerizing imagery of ancient ruins, modern cityscapes, and natural quarries, the film invites viewers to question the ecological impact of architecture on the world, without imposing definitive answers.
Special Presentation:
The Ride Ahead
Nov 15 at Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan (NYC Premiere)
A heartwarming, enlightening journey about Gen Z life with a disability – Samuel Habib, whom we first met in the 2022 Emmy-winning New York Times Op-Doc short My Disability Roadmap, is now ready for life as a twentysomething and the typical milestones of those years. With a rare neurodevelopmental disorder challenging his speech and movement, Samuel seeks out mentors in the disability community for advice, asking profound questions about how they’ve navigated their adult lives. Samuel’s joyous thirst for knowledge and fearlessness in facing challenges – both in life and in making this film – are authentically galvanizing.
Special Presentation:
Thom Browne: The Man Who Tailors Dreams
Nov 15 at IFC Center (World Premiere)
In the world of superstar fashion designers, Thom Browne (expected to attend the screening) 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.
The 2024 DOC NYC festival will take place both in person and online starting on Wednesday, November 13, with in-person screenings and events held at IFC Center, SVA Theatre and Village East by Angelika through Thursday, November 21. The festival’s online offerings will continue through Sunday, December 1, 2024. The All Film Pass, which allows access to all in-person and online DOC NYC screenings, is now available. An Online Film Pass, which allows access to all the festival’s online screenings, is also now available.
