Stranger Than Fiction, the weekly documentary film series hosted by Thom Powers and Raphaela Neihausen and presented by IFC Center, takes a new approach to its programming this winter season with a thematic focus on music documentaries. The season opens on Tuesday, January 28 with a sneak preview of FINDING THE FUNK, directed by Nelson George, tracing the past, present and future of funk, featuring interviews with Sly Stone, George Clinton, Bootsy Collins and more. The season combines classic docs such as Timothy Greenberg-Sanders’ LOU REED: ROCK AND ROLL HEART (Feb 4) and D.A. Pennebaker’s MONTEREY POP (Feb 18 including a historic reunion of the crew) with previews of forthcoming releases such as BROTHERS HYPNOTIC (Feb 11) about a family of street musicians turning professional and THE ROAD TO FAME (Mar 4) about Chinese students putting on a production of the Broadway musical “Fame.” The 1994 Oscar-nominated film A GREAT DAY IN HARLEM, about a famous group portrait of jazz musicians, will screen on Feb 25 and include a tribute to its producer Jean Bach who died last year at age 94. The STF winter season takes place at the IFC Center every Tuesday night at 8:00 pm for eight weeks, plus a special Thursday screening on Jan 30. Each event includes a discussion with the filmmakers, followed by a gathering at a nearby bar. Tickets are available for individual shows or season passes can be bought for $99 for 9 films.

“Music is a great way to beat the winter doldrums,” said Artistic Director Thom Powers, who also programs for the Toronto International Film Festival, DOC NYC and SundanceNOW.com. “This eclectic group of films gives insights to favorite performers and showcases emerging talent.” One exception to the music-themed Tuesdays is a special Thursday night screening on Jan 30 of THE CENTRAL PARK FIVE, directed by Ken Burns, Sarah Burns & David McMahon, featuring a Q&A with two of the film subjects Yusef Salaam and Korey Wise who were wrongfully convicted in the case of the Central Park jogger. Mayor DeBlasio has vowed to settle their case seeking restitution for the years they spent in jail.

The two final STF winter screenings on March 11 and 18 will be announced later in January.