Documentaries Opening in Theaters During February 2012

As usual, the list of documentaries opening this month will be released in limited runs in select theaters. If they are not on the bill at a theater near you, be on the alert for them to be shown online or for their DVDs to be released shortly. Here's the list:

February 3

• Splinters - Filmmaker Adam Pesce travels to Papua New Guinea, where surfing, introduced to the seaside village of Vanimo just 20 years ago, has become a major sport and surfboards are now not only vehicles for personal prestige and pride, they present locals with a ride to see the wider world outside their remote and underdeveloped town. - In limited release.

• Windfall - Filmmaker Laura Israel follows the installation of wind turbines as sources of energy in two rural towns in New York State, and reveals how the projects impact the lives of their residents. - In limited release.

February 8:

• The Miners' Hymns - New York filmmaker Bill Morrison uses aerial shots of the contemporary landscape to bookend his impressionistic compilation of archival footage tracing the history of coal mining during the 20th century, and presenting views of miners' lives in Durham, in the northeast of England. The images are accompanied by Icelandic composer's Johann Jóhannsson's mournful score. - In limited release.

February 10

• Undefeated - In this rousing and inspirational Oscar-nominated sports documentary, filmmakers Dan Lindsay and T.J. Martin follow Manassas High School (North Memphis, Tennessee) football coach, Bill Courtney, as he spurs his team towards their first-ever match in the championship playoffs.

February 16:

• Re:Generation Music Project - Filmmaker Amir Bar Lev puts his interesting, inventive spin on the artistry and business of mixing music to make the new sounds that thrill demanding listeners. Produced in conjunction with the Grammys. - In limited release.

February 29:

• This is Not a Film - Iranian director Jafar Panahi, accused of planning to make a subversive film, is currently under house arrest in Tehran and prohibited from making movies for the next 20 years, creates this brilliant autobiographical not-a-film to show what his life is like and how he's trying to cope with his current situation. On my Best Documentaries of 2011 list. Don't miss it. - In limited release.