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TikTok, Boom.

Director's Cut

Directed by Shalini Kantayya

US | 2021 | 87 minutes | Color | DVD | English | Order No. W221299  |

Dissecting one of the most influential platforms of the contemporary social media landscape, TIKTOK, BOOM., directed by CODED BIAS filmmaker Shalini Kantayya, examines the algorithmic, socio-political, economic, and cultural influences and impact of the history-making app.

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SYNOPSIS

Dissecting one of the most influential platforms of the contemporary social media landscape, TIKTOK, BOOM., directed by CODED BIAS filmmaker Shalini Kantayya, examines the algorithmic, socio-political, economic, and cultural influences and impact of the history-making app. This rigorous exploration balances a genuine interest in the TikTok community and its innovative mechanics with a healthy skepticism around the security issues, global political challenges, and racial biases behind the platform. A cast of Gen Z subjects, helmed by influencer Feroza Aziz, remains at its center, making this one of the most needed and empathetic films exploring what it means to be a digital native.

With this new work, Kantayya, a Sundance Fellow, continues her engagement in the space where technology meets, amplifies, and opposes our humanity. Her incisive, current look at the power and complexity of tech continues to advance a conversation that is bettered by her careful stewardship.

The Director's Cut is the version of the film that is broadcasting on Independent Lens and contains special edits made by Kantayya.

The filmmaker is available for Q&As.

PRESS

"A thoughtful conversation starter."

The Hollywood Reporter

"An impressive scope with its journalism."

Nick Allen rogerebert.com

"An intriguing exploration."

CBS News

"Engrossing…a cliffhanger"

The Wrap

“A great little historical film that reminds us where this generational new outlet came from."

IndieWire

“Sprightly, informative...there are more levels to the TikTok phenomenon than there are to almost any other blockbuster app."

Variety

“...the documentary shows that there’s so much more going on behind the scenes that most of its users aren’t even aware of."

Golden Globe Awards

"Raises many pressing concerns about the power of TikTok and its lack of accountability"

That Shelf

"The film is a story of personal branding versus personal privacy."

POV Magazine

“The documentary, TIKTOK, BOOM. is here to remind you of the good and the bad."

Geek Vibes Nation

"Incisive look at the power and complexities of technology"

Black Film

"Shalini Kantayya's is the kind of film that should be mandatory viewing for the rising numbers of kids who dream of being social media influences one day..."

Slash Film

"At once fascinating and frightening…insightfully explores the social media platform."

Flickering Myth

“Fascinating and insightful"

Splash Magazine

SCREENING HIGHLIGHTS AND AWARDS

  • Sundance Film Festival
  • Hot Docs Canadian Documentary Film Festival
  • SXSW
  • San Francisco International Film Festival
  • CPH:DOX (Copenhagen International Documentary Film Festival)

ABOUT FILMMAKER(S)

Shalini Kantayya

Two-time Emmy-nominated filmmaker Shalini Kantayya directs fiction and nonfiction films that artfully marry the future of science with the future of story. Her latest film, TikTok, Boom, was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival and was official selection at SXSW. Her critically-acclaimed 2020 Sundance film, Coded Bias, was broadcast nationally on PBS’s Independent Lens and globally on Netflix in April 2021. The film has been nominated for a Critics’ Choice, and an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Documentary. The film won Best Director at the Social Impact Media Awards, and the Visionary Filmmaker Award at GlobeDocs. Shalini’s debut feature, Catching the Sun, released globally on Netflix on Earth Day 2016 with Executive Producer Leonardo DiCaprio and was named a New York Times Critics’ Pick. Shalini directed for National Geographic television series Breakthrough, Executive Produced by Ron Howard, and episodes for NOVA and YouTube Originals. Shalini is a TED Fellow, a William J. Fulbright Scholar, and Concordia Studios Artist Fellow.

Credits

Director/Producer: Shalini Kantayya 

Producers: Ross M. Dinerstein, Shalini Kantayya, Danni Mynard 

Executive Producers: Ross Girard, Rebecca Evans, Travis Collins, Randall Lane, Michael Cho, Mimi Rode, Tim Lee, William Rosenfeld, Robert Kapp, David Tomlin 

DP: Steve Acevedo 

Editor: Seth Anderson 

Composer: Katya Mihailova 

Visual Effects: Zachary Ludescher 

Co-Producers: Colin Frederik, Mona Karrenbach, Roland Kassis, Damen Schlanger 

Associate Producer: Erin Sands 

Additional Photography: Shane Sigler 

Additional Editors: Ian Witenber, Cheree Dillon 

 

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