Two Emmy nominated documentaries are among 11 that are scheduled to be showcased on HBO every Monday from 21:00 hrs beginning October 3 and ending December 5.
Mapplethorpe and Everything is Copy are the Emmy nominees and the 11 documentaries will be presented by HBO in the following order:
Homegrown: The Counter-Terror Dilemma, premieres on October 3, and addresses one of today’s most serious and urgent questions, highlighting the real and evident threat of domestic Islamic extremism in the United States, with firsthand accounts from those who are on the front line of this battle. It is directed by Emmy winner, Greg Barker (HBO’s Manhunt).
Nothing Left Unsaid: Gloria Vanderbilt & Anderson Cooper, premieres on October 10, and shows a mother and son candidly reflecting upon their extraordinary family history, marked by tragedy as equally as success. It is directed by Oscar nominee, Liz Garbus (HBO’s A Good Job: Stories of the FDNY).
Orphans of Ebola, which premieres on October 17, follows Abu, a 12-year-old boy from a village in Sierra Leone who lost eight family members during the Ebola epidemic and whose story shows the incredible bravery of the thousands of children who became orphaned by the virus and who must now reconcile their past and recreate their lives. Ben Steele directs.
San Francisco 2.0 premieres on October 17. It visits this famous city, which for a long time was known as the counterculture capital of the United States, and that now with the race for digital gold, must reinvent itself in the face of the prosperity that sees young people from the technological elite coming to build their fortunes here. Emmy winner Alexandra Pelosi (HBO’s Journeys with George) directs.
Everything is Copy – Nora Ephron: Scripted & Unscripted, premieres on October 24. This is an illuminating and candid portrait of Nora Ephron, the writer and screenwriter known for her biting and intelligent humour, written and directed by her son Jacob Bernstein. The documentary presents intimate interviews with some of those closest to her, including her three sisters, as well as Mike Nichols, Tom Hanks, Meg Ryan, Steven Spielberg and Meryl Streep.
Class Divide, which premieres on October 31, highlights the effects of hyper-gentrification and the growing inequality using the microcosm of New York’s Chelsea neighbourhood, focusing on an intersection where an elite private school sits across the street from low-income housing projects. It is directed by Marc Levin.
Meet the Donors: Does Money Talk? premieres on October 31. This film goes into the fundraising circuit and conversation with dozens of mega donors who support the two political parties in the United States. This is also directed by Pelosi.
Mapplethorpe: Look at the Pictures, which premieres on November 14, presents an unflinching and unprecedented look at the controversial photos of Robert Mapplethorpe, who tore down taboos with his frank way of portraying nudity, sexuality, and fetishism. This is directed by Emmy winners Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato (HBO’s Wishful Drinking), and produced by Film Manufacturers Inc.
Suited, which premieres on November 21, tells the story of Bindle & Keep, a Brooklyn tailoring company that makes custom suits for gender-nonconforming and transgender clients. The documentary focuses on the intimate process of assuming a new identity, accepting difference, and facing this in one’s own skin. It is directed by Jason Benjamin and produced by Lena Dunham and Jenni Konner (HBO’s Girls).
Marathon: The Patriots’ Day Bombing, premieres on November 28. Directed by Ricki Stern and Annie Sundberg, and produced in association with the Boston Globe, this film recounts the dramatic story of the April 2013 terrorist attack at the Boston Marathon through the experiences of people whose lives were affected.
Guerras Ajenas (Wars of Others), which is set for December 5, is a rebroadcast. It analyzes the practice of aerial spraying in Colombia with glyphosate, an herbicide declared to be potentially carcinogenic by the World Health Organization in 2015. The aerial spraying has been a key tool in the collaboration between Colombia and the United States in the “War on Drugs”, and specifically against the cultivation of the coca leaf. This original production from HBO Latin America is directed by Carlos Moreno.
According to a press release from HBO, this is its fifth consecutive documentary season. HBO distinguishes itself by showcasing documentaries that not only are of great quality, but that also demonstrate to audiences that the genre can be as innovative and attractive as fiction. Each year, HBO’s documentaries feature the most diverse, relevant and controversial themes, such as politics, health, terrorism, family, crime and art.
