Premiering at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival, Academy Award-nominated director Elaine McMillion Sheldon’s ("Heroin(e)", "Recovery Boys") elegiac, stirring, and magical new documentary “King Coal” gives an insider’s unique perspective on the profound impact that coal has had on the people and mythos of Central Appalachia. As the daughter, granddaughter, and great-granddaughter of coal miners, Elaine’s narrative comes from a place of personal experience and deep reflection — and stretches the boundaries of traditional documentary. Sitting down with Ken in Park City the night before her film’s world premiere, Elaine discusses the liberating effect of using hybrid storytelling strategies, the challenges of presenting a nuanced approach to a highly politicized issue, and her nervous anticipation of watching the film with her family for the first time. "King Coal" was produced by Diane Becker, Shane Boris, and Peggy Drexler.
Follow:
@topdocspod on Instagram and twitter
@elainemsheldon on twitter
The Presenting Sponsor of “Top Docs” is Netflix.
A big thanks to Portrait for hosting this conversation at Sundance.
”The Pigeon Tunnel” with Errol Morris
”Big Vape” with R.J. Cutler
”The Mission” with Amanda McBaine & Jesse Moss
”Beckham” with Fisher Stevens
Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival Lineup with Ken Jacobson
”Invisible Beauty” with Bethann Hardison & Frédéric Tcheng
Toronto International Film Festival Lineup Rundown with Thom Powers
”The U.S. and the Holocaust” with Ken Burns & Lynn Novick
”The 1619 Project” with Shoshana Guy
”Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie” with Davis Guggenheim
”Secrets of the Elephants” with Lucinda Axelsson
”Dear Mama” with Allen Hughes
”Being Mary Tyler Moore” with James Adolphus
”Pretty Baby: Brooke Shields” with Lana Wilson
”Bobi Wine: The People’s President” with Moses Bwayo & Christopher Sharp
”The Accused: Damned or Devoted?” with Mohammed (”Mo”) Ali Naqvi
”20 Days in Mariupol” with Mstyslav Chernov
”The Deepest Breath” with Laura McGann
”Every Body” with Julie Cohen
”Pamela, a love story” with Ryan White
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
The Multiverse Fancast
Cinema: A to B
I Finally Watched...
Kill James Bond!
Pod Meets World