This past summer's 2009 Virgin Mobile FreeFest, held in Columbia, Maryland on August 30, 2009, will again be accessible via documentary film. During the free music festival, a team of 14 aspiring filmmakers between the ages of 16 and 22 were given the rare opportunity to create a behind-the-scenes "All Access" rockumentary that captures the high voltage energy of bands like Public Enemy, Weezer, Blink-182 and others as a way of boosting awareess about the problems of homeless youth. The free music festival and documentary project were sponsored by Kyocera Wireless, a company that's made public awareness about homeless youth its mission.

Music fans and the general public will have their own all access passes to see the star-studded rockumentary from November 10 through December 14, when the Indepenent Film Channel showcases the project in a series of six weekly vignettes that air every Tuesday night. Don't have IFC? That's no excuse for not watching these energy-packed vignettes -- they're also being shown at Billboard.com and Sasha Bruce House, a non-profit shelter for homeless youth in our nation's capital. November is National Homeless Youth Awareness Month and, yes, there are homeless kids in our nation's capital.

Michael Jackson's This Is It documentary has made its worldwide whirlwind tour, garnering huge box office income for Sony, AEG and others involved in feeding the final images of the King of Pop to devastated fans, everyone who's seen the film has had time to reflect on their first impressions of the footage that shows Michael rehearsing for his sold out comeback tour that never happened. So, what's everyone feeling about the experience of seeing the beloved King of Pop come alive again on the big screen? We'd like to know what you think, so please participate in the 'Is Documentary All That?' poll. And please feel free to leave comments if you feel the choices don't capture your feelings, or if you have more to say.

In November, fresh for the holidays, Medici Arts, a division of the BBC, will release the limited edition, digitally remastered DVD of Lady Day: The Many Faces of Billie Holiday, featuring performances by the one and only Lady Day, along with Louis Armstrong, Benny Goodman, Lester Young, Bessie Smith, Artie Shaw and other jazz legends. Actress Ruby Dee narrates with passages from Holiday's autobiography, Lady Sings the Blues.

Releasing simultaneously in limited edition, digitally remastered DVDs, Celebrating Bird: The Triumph of Charlie Parker features Dizzy Gillespie, Roy Haynes, Jay McShann, Frank Morgan and Chan Parker playing with Bird, one of the grestest jazz saxophonists of all time, and Thelonious Monk: American Composer presents performances of 'Round Midnight, Lulu's Back In Town, Epistrophy Blue Monk and more of the great jazz pianist's favorite compositions. Or, if you're up for an overview, The Story of Jazz gives you some Billie Holiday, Louis Armstrong, Charlie Parker and Thelonius Monk, along with a bit of Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Charles Mingus and many more.

Medici Arts doesn't sell DVDs on its Website, but you can compare prices and order by clicking: Lady Day, Charlie Parker, Thelonious Monk and/or The Story of Jazz. If you're thinking of these as holiday gifts, it's probably best to order early.

(PHOTO: 'Lady Day' on DVD. Courtesy Medici Arts).

Two excellent documentaries are opening this week in select theaters across the U.S.

• William Kunstler: Disturbing the Universe is a biodoc about the noted civil rights attorney, who was undoubtedly one of the most famous and controversial lawyers in American history. A self-styled 'radical' lawyer, Bill Kunstler represented a long list of famous and infamous clients -- Martin Luther King, H. Rap Brown, Angela Davis, Adam Clayton Powell, Jr., the Weather Underground, Chicago Seven, Catonsville Nine, Jack Ruby and Omar Abdel-Rahman ("the Blind Sheik") among them, in his ongoing mission to uphold First Amendment Rights.

  Produced and directed by Kunster's daughters, filmmakers Emily Kunstler and Sarah Kunstler, the documentary traces the lawyer's career, covering many of his biggest trials and his stint as president of the ACLU with archival footage and on camera interviews with admirers, including politicians Tom Hayden, Julian Bond and Herman Badillo. among others. The film is comprehensive, balanced and fascinating. In addition to their detailed investigation of their father's career, Kunstler's daughters bring a compelling sense of intimacy to this film. Released by Arthouse Film, it is opening on November 13 in New York and Boston, with wider release on November 20 in Los Angeles, Berkeley, San Francisco and D.C.

• Ten9Eight: Shoot for the Moon is Mary Mazzio's compelling documentary about inner city teens who are trying to win the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship's business plan competition. Picked from 24,000 submissions, 35 teens are in the final competition. Having overcome significant challenges in their lives, these enterprising kids have already got a head start on their business futures, and are looking for the win -- which comes with $10,000 to help with the start up of their fledgling business, and consults with leading entrepreneurs -- Arthur Blank of Home Depot, Tom Scott of Nantucket Nectars, Ralph Schlosstein of BlackRock, Kay Koplovitz of USA Network and Wyc Grousbeck, owner of the Celtics. The kids are terrific. Really, they're all winners, and so's the film. Opening on November 13 at AMC Theaters in New York City, Los Angeles, Boston, Chicago, DC, Atlanta, Miami and Kansas City.

(PHOTO: 'William Kunstler: Disturbing the Universe' Poster Art. Courtesy of Arthouse Film).