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Roberto Minervini, an Italian-born Texas-based documentarian, former punk band singer and It technician, is known for spending months or years building connections and trust within communities as he films their lives.

Shooting handheld himself, filming without cutting until data cards are full and he can no longer hold up his Arri Amira camera, Minervini is seemingly obsessed with what he calls his responsibility to create “a sacred space…for them to be who they are. That’s who I am as a filmmaker.”

His controversial 2015 film “The Other Side” chronicles the lives of “people on the outs, poor, dealers, criminals, then the militias.” The young white males that populate the back roads of Louisiana and Texas are in a place Minervini relates to, he told Ji.hlava docu film fest director Marek Hovorka in a masterclass at the 24th edition of the Czech Republic’s leading non-fiction film event.

“The feeling of abandonment,...

#20. What You Gonna Do When the World’s on Fire? – Dir. Roberto Minervini (Us)

#19. The Golden Glove – Dir. Fatih Akin (Germany)

#18. In Fabric – Dir. Peter Strickland (UK)

#17. Dolemite is My Name – Dir. Craig Brewer (Us)

#16. The Lighthouse – Dir. Robert Eggers (Us)

#15. Luce – Dir. Julius Onah (Us)

#14. The Painted Bird – Dir. Vaclav Marhoul (Czech Republic)

#13. The Wild Pear Tree – Dir. Nuri Bilge Ceylan (Turkey)

#12. Parasite – Dir. Bong Joon-ho (South Korea)

#11. Waves – Dir. Trey Edward Shults (Us)

#10. Clemency – Dir. Chinonye Chukwu (Us)

#09.…...

August warmth is a harbinger for the fall theatrical season, which is already revving into gear. Magnolia Pictures’ Cold Case Hammarskjöld continues recent non-fiction theatrical debuts that are eyeing awards season. Cold Case won the Best Director prize in the World Documentary section at Sundance in January. Sony Pictures Classics is opening doc Aquarela in select locations. The Participant-produced title debuted at last year’s Venice Film Festival. India’s Fip will have the widest Specialty start on this continent this weekend for drama Mission Mangal headlined by Bollywood superstar Akshay Kumar. Sundance comedy Adam begins its run in two New York and L.A. theaters, while Slamdance honoree Birds Without Feathers by Wendy McColm launches exclusively in Manhattan.

Other limited releases include Roberto Minervini’s What You Gonna Do When the World’s on Fire? via KimStim. Halfway Crooks Entertainment has Low Low in L.A. starting Friday, while...