May 22 is Harvey Milk Day. Learn more about San Francisco’s first openly gay supervisor in this documentary on his political career. The film chronicles Milk’s humble beginnings as a neighborhood activist, to being a symbol of gay political achievement, and to his tragic assassination in 1978. Featuring exclusive news reports, archival footage, and original interviews, the documentary is not only a biography on Milk, but an examination of social change, political activism, and the cultural life of San Francisco at the time.
World Information Society Day is May 17—how has the Internet and new technologies affected society today? The digital revolution has enabled accessibility: a democratized, mass culture with infinite creative potential. Films, music, literature, and art from around the world are only a simple click of a mouse, a pitter-patter of the keyboard away. Does more art necessarily mean better art? Or does this only pose as a struggle for “true talent” to be heard amongst the masses? Find out in this documentary about hope, fear, and digital culture.
Star Trek: Into Darkness is out this week! Star Trek began as a TV series in 1966, created by Gene Roddenberry. The documentary takes a look at how the beloved franchise impacted audiences worldwide, and also delves into a complex father-son relationship—Gene’s son, Eugene Roddenberry, Jr., was only 17 when his father passed away. Join Eugene Jr. on his journey to learn more about his father as he interviews fans, cast and crew from all five Star Trek shows, and directors such as George Lucas and J.J. Abrams. Whether you’re an oldschool Trekkie or a fan of the new films (or both!), Trek Nation is sure to boldly show what has not been shown before!
Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg will be celebrating his birthday on May 14. How many Facebook friends do you have? How many do you actually keep in touch with? In this documentary, Katherine Brooks sees that she has 5 000 Facebook friends, and decides to visit the city of the first 50 people who answer her status update. Join Katherine on her journey to connect and re-connect with the faces on her Facebook.
It’s Mother’s Day this weekend. Being a mother is no easy task– especially a when you’re a mother of 17! In “Family Portrait in Black and White,” we follow Supermom Olga Nenya as she raises 17 foster children in a Ukrainian village on her own.
Toronto’s been buzzing ever since the Maple Leafs have entered the play-offs for the first time in 9 years. No matter which team you’re rooting (or booing!) for, be sure to check out this documentary on the beloved sport, which features interviews with Wayne Gretzky and Sidney Crosby amongst others, that takes a look at how the culture of hockey has and continues to be ever-changing.
May 5th is International Midwifes’ Day. This training film from the 1950s provides an intimate look at “Miss Mary” Coley, an African-American midwife who assisted with the delivery of over 3,000 babies over the course of her lifetime. Filmmaker George Stoney followed Miss Mary for four months, and also recorded the various living conditions of her patients, as well as African-American families in 1950s Georgia.
May 4th is International Firefighters’ Day– what better way to pay tribute than to learn more about these brave heroes and what they do? Imagine getting 200 calls a day– that’s 160,000 calls in a year! The firefighters of The Bronx are the most active firefighters in the world. Over the course of two weeks, Patrick Chauvel’s documentary sheds light on common causes behind fires, and how they are combatted by these everyday heroes.
On May 2, 2011, Osama Bin Laden was killed by U.S. special forces, putting an end to the pursuit of the FBI’s Most Wanted Man. Mohammed Sifaoui’s documentary focuses on Bin Laden’s methods that led to his escape from the U.S. military through the Tora Bora Mountains and to Pakistan, ten years prior to his capture and death. Features undercover footage from training camps, and evidence that proves that we shouldn’t always believe what we hear on the news.
It’s that time of the year again – as the weather gets nicer everyone tosses of their layers of clothes and get a little more comfortable. But what about the people who make a living undressing all year round? Director Charlie David takes a look inside the lives of three male strippers in three of the sexiest cities in North America — Montreal, Niagara Falls and Las Vegas. The documentary strips away at the taboo topic and takes a hard look at an industry that’s becoming more accepted. Now available on iTunes in the US and Canada, and worldwide on ilovedocs.
This past Monday was the 43rd annual Earth Day! Originally founded as an environmental awareness event in the United States in 1970, Earth Day has become a worldwide affair to demonstrate support for environmental protection. The day provides the opportunity for positive actions and results! Filmmaker Andrew Nisker presents an eye-opening doc about the products we use to clean our homes and bodies. It explores the life cycle of everyday household products to prove that we are drowning in sea of toxicity!
The lost star of experimental UK documentary filmmaking, Watkins is better known for his political-horrors predicting the crackdown on protest and counter-culture. In this film about the famous artist, he approaches the themes of suppressed creativity and freedom a new way – using the Trojan horse of an artist biopic to get ideas of transgression through art onto screens. A study of depression and the creative process, this is no boring trudge through talking heads reflecting on The Scream, it’s something much stranger. The Scream is on view at the MoMA in New York until April 29th!
Every third Saturday of April is known internationally as Record Store Day. Conceived by an independent record store employee and audiophile, Chris Brown, it’s purpose is to celebrate music and bring together fans, artists and independent record stores across the world. Special vinyl and CD releases and various promotional products are made exclusively for the day and hundreds of artists across the globe make special appearances and performances. Record Store Day: The Documentary uses archival footage and current interviews with leaders of music to discuss some of their favorite records and what Record Store Day means to them.
This past Thursday was Yom Ha’atzmaut, commemorating the Israeli Delcaration of independence in 1948. I Was There in Color is an extraordinary, never before seen story of the birth of Israel… in color! The historic found-footage was shot by Fred Monosson, a Jewish-American businessman from Brookline, Massachusetts who died in 1972. Until this discovery of his film, the history of Israel was captured only in black and white. Now, for the first time, Israel’s history is told in color!
April 20th (or 4/20) is known as the international cannabis culture holiday. 4/20 has become a familiar term used to refer to the consumption of cannabis and/or a way to identify oneself with cannabis subculture. It is said that the use of this term came into being from a group of teenagers in San Rafael, California in 1971 in connection for a plan they made to search for an abandoned cannabis crop that they had learned about. 4:20 p.m. was their official time to meet up and begin the search. The meeting time eventually evolved into a codeword the teens used for pot-smoking. And although the drug has been smoked by generations of students , musicians, and workers – to little discernible ill effect – it continues to be reviled by the vast majority of governments around the world. In filmmaker Ron Mann’s film Grass, he recounts how a relatively harmless drug has been demonized for decades. The documentary charts the terrible loss in imprisoned lives and billions of dollars wasted fighting a drug that refuses to go away. Warning: readily available munchies are advised for the viewing of this film.
On April 10, 1866 (147 years ago!) the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals was founded. Since its inception, the ASPCA has made it their mission to care for pets and pet parents, provide positive outcomes for at-risk animals, and to serve victims of animal cruelty. To celebrate the organizations valiant efforts, we present “The Gentle Bear Man Of Emo.” This is a touching doc about Michael Scheibler, “The Bear Man”, who’s 320 acres of land in the small town of Emo has become a welcoming sanctuary for droves of surrounding wildlife. Michael finds solace through his interaction with the most dangerous of these animals – a group of over sixty wild bears. A life-altering friendship with these bears leads him on an unexpected path to love and redemption.
Apollo 13 was the seventh manned mission in the American Apollo space program. On this day in 1970 the craft launched with the intentions of landing on the moon. But the lunar landing was aborted after an oxygen tank exploded, creating an assortment of complications. Despite the hardship they faced, the crew returned safely back to Earth six days later. Although the Apollo 13 story may be distorted by the Hollywood version, “Apollo 13: The Untold Story” reveals the what really happened. The documentary features the real astronauts, the actual footage, and the real events of Apollo 13.
Today in 1919 the International Labour Organization was founded by the United Nations. In 1969 the organization even received the Nobel Peace Prize for improving peace among classes and pursuing justice for workers. “Into Our Own Hands” is about the employees of a bankrupt lingerie factory who decide to take it over by forming a cooperative. But with this new-found freedom also comes many struggles. As their project takes shape, they come up against their boss and the reality of the marketplace. Their little enterprise becomes a theater where fundamental economic and social issues are played out amidst the bras and panties!
On April 5, 1994, Kurt Cobain – the lead singer of Nirvana – committed suicide in his Seattle home. After being ruled a suicide, a film crew arrives in Seattle to make a documentary. Director Nick Broomfield talks to lots of people: the estranged father of Cobain’s widow Courtney Love, an L.A. private investigator who worked for Love, a nanny for Kurt and Courtney’s child… Portraits emerge: a shy, slight Kurt, weary of touring, embarrassed by fame, hooked on heroin; an out-going Courtney, dramatic, controlling, moving from groupie to star.
Whether it’s Sudan, Jordan or Zimbabwe, refugees in these countries have also been in the news recently, and with good reason, becoming one is one of the hardest things that anyone can ever experience. Palestine in the South is the hopeful story of a small community of Palestinian refugees that have made of La Calera, Chile, their unexpected home. As told through the eyes of Basem, a newly arrived member, this doc explores the advantages and challenges of starting over on the other side of the world.
This weekend is the 19th annual Ukulele Festival of Northern California! Unless you have been living under a rock with no internet connection, you’ve probably either come across numerous ukelele viral videos, caught a show by Britain’s ukelele orchestra or might have enjoyed a mini-concert in Toronto’s subway system. However it might have happened, by now you are probably aware that ukeleles are more popular than ever! Mighty Uke is a must-watch to understand the history of this instrument, as well as the movement that has brought it back to life and made it the centre of attention all over the planet.
Currently, the US congress is working on an immigration reform bill. An agreement over the bill is expected to be made in early April. Press 1 For English exposes Washington’s immigration policies and its handling of the devastating effects of crime, murder, trafficking, narco-terrorism, smuggling, and border violence that have turned the communities of the southwest into the wild west again. An honest, forthright look at US immigration without interpretation!
Today is Maundy Thursday (also known as Holy Thursday), a Christian feast, falling on the Thursday before Easter, commemorating the Last Supper of Jesus Christ with the Apostles as described in gospels. The holy grail is the vessel which Jesus used at the Last Supper to serve the wine. The grail has influenced our society in three ways and on three different levels. These impressions of the grail are examined in “The Holy Grail”, an episode from the hit TV series that investigates ways in which modern society is impacted by both the legendary and not so legendary symbol.
Easter Sunday celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ on the third day after his crucifixion. But for many children, it’s also the day the Easter Bunny bring chocolate treats. But with chocolate easily accessible and with so many varieties, chocolate can be unappreciated. This was a different story in 1947, when chocolate bar prices were raised from five cents to eight cents children launched an audacious chocolate bar revolt against candy manufacturers. The price change caused a national sensation and drew fatal accusations of a communist conspiracy!
Across the world on the 21st March the art form of puppetry is celebrated. As our way of celebrating we present you with A Puppet Intervention! This doc blows away what it means to put on a puppet show. Bursting forth with dance, shadow puppets, stilt walking, masks, music and even a little vaudeville, this film follows the tumultuous creation of one show, the 2007 production of “A Shoe for Your Foot.”
Every year March 20 International Day of Happiness is celebrated throughout the world – a day for recognizing the need for a more inclusive, equitable and balanced approach to economic growth that promotes sustainable development, poverty eradication, happiness and the well-being of all peoples. Long thought of as a secluded paradise, Bhutan is renowned for rejecting economic prosperity in pursuit of ‘Gross National Happiness’. For centuries, its benevolent kings ignored technological advances, seeking to protect their people from outside influences. Then, overnight, 47 satellite stations descended on the country. Can Bhutan’s mythical spiritual principles withstand this Western onslaught?
March 21 is know throughout the world as World Poetry Day. The day is meant to promote the reading, writing, publishing and teaching of poetry throughout the world. Poetry in Motion is an unprecedented anthology of twenty-four leading North American poets who sing, chant, anything but “read” their work. The result is a celebration of poetry’s ancient oral tradition, and an energetic demonstration that verse is alive and thriving in the media-blitzed age.
There’s been some buzz recently around the announcement of the 2018 private mission to Mars. A nonprofit organization called the Inspiration Mars Foundation, led by millionaire Dennis Tito (and the world’s first space tourist) will aims to launch to the red planet in January 2018. With extra-ordinary access and truly first-time images, Space Tourists, investigates the emotional oscillations of an expensive enterprise and questions the meaning and boundaries of the human spirit and our hunger for adventure and discovery.
Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio has just been elected as the new pope. Selecting the name Pope Francis, he is the first Jesuit pope and first non-European since the Middle Ages. With all the news surrounding the decision, many have become interested in the private chapels of the Vatican. Narrated by Martin Sheen, Inside The Vatican has unprecedented access, with privileged accounts from Vatican officials, historians, and devoted individuals who work closely with the Pope. Gain insight into the remarkable history of this holy city and its unique traditions, some of which have survived for nearly 2000 years.
Today is Maundy Thursday (also known as Holy Thursday), a Christian feast, falling on the Thursday before Easter, commemorating the Last Supper of Jesus Christ with the Apostles as described in gospels. The holy grail is the vessel which Jesus used at the Last Supper to serve the wine. The grail has influenced our society in three ways and on three different levels. These impressions of the grail are examined in “The Holy Grail”, an episode from the hit TV series that investigates ways in which modern society is impacted by both the legendary and not so legendary symbol.
Hugo Chávez, Venezuela’s President and one of South America’s highest-profile leaders, passed away this Tuesday after a long struggle against cancer. With the country divided, many are uncertain if Chavez’s revolution will survive his death. In South Of The Border, Oliver Stone sets out on a road trip across five countries to explore the social and political movements as well as the mainstream media’s misperception of South America while interviewing seven of its elected presidents, including the late Chávez. Stone gains unprecedented access and sheds new light upon the exciting transformations in the region.
This March 8th is International Women’s Day, a day celebrating the achievements of women while remaining vigilant and tenacious for further sustainable change. We honor the day with a documentary about one of the most important women in 20th Century aviation – Florence “Pancho” Barnes. A tough and fearless pilot, Pancho raced Amelia Earhart, performed as a barnstormer, and made a name for herself as Hollywood’s first female stunt pilot in the 1920′s and 30′s. Pancho has become something of a legend, a fascinating yet enigmatic icon whose swagger is often celebrated, but whose story is largely unknown… until now
The first Wednesday of every March is World Math Day, a day dedicated to promoting math and as an exciting subject and to counter negative attitudes. As our way of promoting math, we present you with Clouds Are Not Spheres, a math film about fractal geometry, a language created by Benoit Mandelbrot for our natural world. The man himself explains this groundbreaking discovery in this exciting documentary.
On March 3, 1991, Rodney King was beaten with excessive force by Los Angeles police officers. The following year the officers were acquitted of all charges. The acquittals triggered the 1992 Los Angeles riots. In this doc Peter Jenning looks at what happens when the nation’s most famous police officer takes over the nation’s most infamous police department. The result is a complex tale about the struggle for power-from the top brass to the rank and file cops to the gang members who plague the streets of Los Angeles.
Recently, noodling – that is, fishing with your bare hands! – has become legal in Texas. State Parks and Wildlife biologists are interested to know how many people are actually engaging in noodling, how they’re doing it, how many fish they’re catching and how big those fish are. In Oklahoma, fishermen have been catching catfish with their barehands for centuries. Set against original music by The Flaming Lips, Okie Noodling documents some of todays hand-fishing veterans in action, capturing one of the most unusual pieces of Midwest American culture.
This March 2nd, to celebrate National Reading Day – an annual event that celebrates and encourages – reading – we present Anne Perry Interiors. Anne Perry is a leading authors of our time, specializing in crime novels.. But her books hide a very real tale of murder and everlasting regret. Since she was 15 years old, Anne has carried an awful secret, a story of a young murderer forever trying to get beyond her terrible deed. This intimate documentary enters the inner sanctum of Anne’s reclusive life.
China’s rapid shift from a rural to an urban society is staggering. In a rush to urbanize – despite environmental concerns – China is flattening 700 barren mountains and filling in the valleys to create a 10-square-mile base for “Lanzhou New City.” But who shapes a city like Lanzhou New City? Who is allowed to do it? And how does the design of our cities affect our lives? By exploring a diverse range of urban design projects in dozens of cities around the world, the documentary Urbanized frames a global discussion on the future of cities.
The stories of the Southern Appalachian mountaineers and their descendents, along with pieces of their everyday lives, have been painstakingly collected and preserved at the Museum of Appalachia so that their legacy can be shared with the next generation. But if Norris, Tennessee – where the museum is located – is to far to discover the rich history of the Appalchias, then perhaps Appalachia: A History of Mountains & People is the perfect alternative. The four-part series, narrated by Sissy Spacek, is the first series ever to chronicle the history of one of the oldest mountain ranges on earth and the diverse peoples who have inhabited them. The series weaves the insights of both the sciences and the humanities into a spellbinding portrait of one of the world’s great ecological treasures – The Appalachia Mountains.
Ten of Princess Diana’s most iconic dresses that her son William persuaded her to part with for charity are set to raise up to over £800k at an upcoming auction in the UK. But Princess Diana’s dresses were not the only thing that made her ‘fabulous and historic.’ In Diana: The Legend and Legacy of a Princess learn the story of the life and death of the British Princess, and her impact on the people of her country and around the world.
Single this Valentines? You’re not the only one. Watch young and trendy singles try to negotiate the dating game as its played in the “the city that never sleeps.”
Today is Maundy Thursday (also known as Holy Thursday), a Christian feast, falling on the Thursday before Easter, commemorating the Last Supper of Jesus Christ with the Apostles as described in gospels. The holy grail is the vessel which Jesus used at the Last Supper to serve the wine. The grail has influenced our society in three ways and on three different levels. These impressions of the grail are examined in “The Holy Grail”, an episode from the hit TV series that investigates ways in which modern society is impacted by both the legendary and not so legendary symbol.
It’s Valentines Day today! Get into the mood with Sex: How To Do Everything – a ten-part series featuring renowned sexperts Em & Lo. The two set out to whip your sex life into seriously seductive shape. Each episode is full of information, interviews and how-to demonstrations from various models illustrating a variety of different techniques, from the ordinary to the super-scandalous.
Following an online voting contest that ran from January 5 – February 8, Monopoly responded to the game’s fans by replacing the iron game piece to make way for a new one – a cat! The iconic tokens originated when the niece of game creator Charles Darrow suggested using charms from her charm bracelet for tokens. Find out more interesting facts about the game in Under The Boardwalk: The Monopoly Story, as it shows how the classic board game became a worldwide cultural phenomenon, and follows the colorful players who come together to compete for the coveted title of Monopoly World Champion.
On February 9, 1965, the first US combat troops were sent to South Vietnam to fight in the Vietnam War. While the war, and subsequent protests, helped shape this defining decade in American history, the images we have of it are almost exclusively from America’s and American soldiers’ point of view. Vietnam’s Unseen War features amazing, never-before-seen photos and personal tories of North Vietnamese war photographers as they relive their unforgettable experiences in the war, from the point of view of “the other”.
Last week a Renaissance-themed sale at Christie’s in New York raised $42.6 million, braking several record prices. It seems Renaissance art is making a comeback. Bielutin: In the Garden of Time tells the story of Nina and Ely Bielutin living in Moscow, growing old peacefully in their apartment , secluded in the middle of hundreds of Renaissance paintings. They tell whoever is willing to listen the amazing and epic story of their collection: nobility, love of art, inheritance and resistance to power.
Recently a federal judge in Ohio required owners of exotic pets to join private associations and to implant microchips in these animals. But is there really that many people with exotic pets? According to The Tiger Next Door there are thousands! In fact the phenomenon is so extensive, that experts now believe there are more tigers in private captivity in the U.S. than there are in the wild in the world. This doc follows the story of one man who has been keeping, breeding, and selling Bengal tigers from his backyard for over fifteen years.
February marks Black History Month – a month of remembrance of important people and events in the history of the African movement. Spanning four centuries on a joyful voyage of music and heritage, the documentary Seeking Salvation traces the history of the Black Church, its contribution to human rights and symbol of strength for the African American community, and it’s challenges now in a changing society.
The world’s most notorious bounty hunter, Dog, is back with an all-new series premiering this April. But is Dog The Bounty Hunter your typical bounty hunter? In the documentary Bounty Hunter: Dead Or Alive, real bounty hunters are followed night and day as they track down America’s most wanted criminals. Many of the Bounty Hunters are former criminals themselves, and know how a fugitive thinks, acts, and hides.
May 5th is International Midwifes’ Day. This training film from the 1950s provides an intimate look at “Miss Mary” Coley, an African-American midwife who assisted with the delivery of over 3,000 babies over the course of her lifetime. Filmmaker George Stoney followed Miss Mary for four months, and also recorded the various living conditions of her patients, as well as African-American families in 1950s Georgia.
On January 24, 1984 the first Apple Macintosh computer went on sale. A year later Steve Jobs had left Apple and began the niche computer company NeXT. This documentary takes place ten year later in a 1995 interview between Jobs and journalist Bob Cringely. During this “lost” interview Jobs was witty, outspoken, and visionary – a pioneer at the peak of his powers, already anticipating the digital future that one day he would shape, perhaps more than anyone else in this era.
The famous Michael’s Restaurant in Santa Monica, California has recently introduced a new menu to attract a younger and hipper crowd. Never heard of Michael’s? What makes it famous? Find out in The Kitchen! The doc gives you an unprecedented behind-the-scenes look at the restaurant and people who choreograph a delicate ballet of service, food preparation and wine over two busy nights.
January 15th marks the birthdate of Martin Luther King, Jr. On the third Monday of January each year, Martin Luther King, Jr. is commemorated with a federal holiday for his achievements, rightfully named Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. It also coincides with his birthday which is January 15th, 1929. In Man of Peace In a Time of War, a rare and candid TV interview with Martin Luther King, Jr. – unseen in 40 years – is the centerpiece. The documentary also featuring exclusive interviews with such notables as Jesse Jackson and Colin Powell that provide fresh insight into the life and personality of the late civil rights leader.
Yesterday it was announced that the infamous “Doomsday Clock” will remain at five minutes to midnight for the year 2013. The symbolic clock is a represents the threat of humanity’s imminent destruction from nuclear or biological weapons. The closer the clock is to midnight, the closer it’s estimated to be a global disaster. In 1953 the clock was at it’s closet approach to midnight (11:58PM) due to the United States and the Soviet Union both conduction thermonuclear tests. It is around this time that Atomic Filmmakers chronicles Hollywood’s Top Secret Film Studio that that photographed hundreds of nuclear weapons tests and other classified projects. The Atomic Filmmakers created a visual legacy that will be studied for years to come and will serve as an important reference for one of the most dangerous times in world history.
On January 17, 1945 the Nazis began the evacuation of the Auschwitz concentration camp as Soviet forces closed-in. Of the thousands of men and women imprisoned under behind the wires of the German concentration camps such as Auschwitz, some found the strength to fight back. They collected evidence about German crimes in the camps, sabotaged equipment, prepared uprisings and even tried to spread typhoid to their guards. Against the Odds tells this story through the testimonies of a group of courageous Poles that took part in this resistance movement.
camps.
As Brazil gets ready to host the 2014 World Cup, prostitutes have begun signing up for free English classes organized by the Association of Prostitutes. The group’s president, Cida Vieira, says the classes are meant to help prepare prostitutes to better communicate with foreign clients. Though this may seem strange to some, prostitution in Brazil is legal and more accepted than in other countries. Programas offers an inside look into the world’s oldest profession – Brazilian style, where women offer a unique service known as “Programa”. Not simply sex, but friendship and companionship. Meet some of the world’s most sensual women and learn about their lives in this revealing documentary.
This past Monday was the 43rd annual Earth Day! Originally founded as an environmental awareness event in the United States in 1970, Earth Day has become a worldwide affair to demonstrate support for environmental protection. The day provides the opportunity for positive actions and results! Filmmaker Andrew Nisker presents an eye-opening doc about the products we use to clean our homes and bodies. It explores the life cycle of everyday household products to prove that we are drowning in sea of toxicity!
New research suggests the real King Arthur was actually a tribal chief in Dark Age Scotland. Because the real Arthur lived around the turn of the sixth century, a time of oral tradition, original accounts were embellished over the centuries so as to become legend. King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table has became a famous tale around the world. In Awaking Arthur the origins of the Arthurian Legends are retraced from megalithic times to the historical King Arthur and the modern renaissance of Celtic culture.
With the new year, everyone has resolution they’d like to accomplish – many with the desire to get (back) in shape. And Yoga is an ever-increasing “body and mind” option people are turing to. Yoga has transformed from an ancient spiritual practice into a competitive, commercialized, multi-million dollar industry. And for a practice rooted in renunciation, yoga sure is making some people very rich. Can yoga survive this war between the sacred and the profane with its good karma intact?
Under a new Obama administration rule put forth yesterday, illegal immigrants who are immediate relatives of American citizens will have an easier path to permanent residency, affect as many as 1 million of the estimated 11 million people unlawfully in the US. A Better Life examines the effects of American immigration policy by documenting the experiences of three Mexican immigrants in the Chicago area. The film focuses primarily on Gus, and uses his story among others to approach this complex social and political crisis. In the US, Gus found stable employment, married an American woman and started a family. But he was ultimately deported in 2003.
In just two days the 2013 Dakar Rally will commence, with drivers and riders set to take across the plains and hills of South America. The Rally has traditionally been run in West Africa but has moved inrecent years due to security threats. 7915 KM takes place on the trail of the 2007 Dakar Rallye in West Africa, encountering the variety to be found in Africa’s present in Morocco, Sahrawi Republic, Mauritania, Mali and Senegal. The doc demonstrates the extent of this distance, which is the result of political and economic conditions, and also the ideas and prejudices to be found in both Europe and Africa. Keeping the sobering reality in mind, this doc creates a homage to humanity and slowness which questions deep-seated perceptions and the role of Europeans in numerous, presumably African, problems.
It’s Mother’s Day this weekend. Being a mother is no easy task– especially a when you’re a mother of 17! In “Family Portrait in Black and White,” we follow Supermom Olga Nenya as she raises 17 foster children in a Ukrainian village on her own.
Kwanzaa is a week-long celebration honoring African heritage in African-American culture, and is observed from December 26 to January 1. But are African American males becoming extinct? Will future generations of African American women not be able to find husbands? These are but a few of the questions explored in Vanishing Black Male.
December is National Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month. In Reindeerspotting: Escape From Santaland, Jani, a 19-year-old drug addict living on social welfare, is a prime example of what excessive drugs can do to a person. Tired of his life in a remote city in Finland, he decides to travel by train to various parts of Europe before being sent to imprisonment for several petty crimes.
On December 20, 1996 Apple Computer bought NeXT Software in a $400 million deal, bringing former Apple CEO Steve Jobs back to the company he cofounded, and started the path to Mac OS X. MacHeads follows the story of the Macintosh community and its unconditional devotion to Apple.
Today is Maundy Thursday (also known as Holy Thursday), a Christian feast, falling on the Thursday before Easter, commemorating the Last Supper of Jesus Christ with the Apostles as described in gospels. The holy grail is the vessel which Jesus used at the Last Supper to serve the wine. The grail has influenced our society in three ways and on three different levels. These impressions of the grail are examined in “The Holy Grail”, an episode from the hit TV series that investigates ways in which modern society is impacted by both the legendary and not so legendary symbol.
Mayan have predicted that December 21, 2012 will be the day the world will cease to exist. In The Nature of Existence filmmaker Roger Nygard roams the globe to the source of each of the world’s philosophies, religions, and belief systems. He interviews spiritual leaders, scholars, scientists, artists, and others who have influenced, inspired, or freaked out humanity in an attempt to discover the nature of our existence.
December is International Safe Toys and Gifts Month. But do we really have to worry about buying dangerous gifts this holiday season? The Toxins Return follows the toxic trail from field worker – to customs official – to high street shopper. Barbie, H&M jeans, and everyday corn are just some of the products recalled due to controls on the use of dangerous chemicals. How much can we trust the products in our homes?
As the fiscal cliff negotiations continute, there seems to be little movement on the core issue – higher taxes on the wealthy. We all know the mega rich pay much less tax than the rest of us but just how do they do it? Tax Me If You Can tell the story of Heinrich Kieber, a Liechtenstein bank employee who stole thousands of incriminating documents and sold the information to Western governments. A thrilling investigation into the world of large-scale tax fraud.
Bhutan is gearing up for their 2nd General Elections in early 2013. It’s been five years since Bhutan has become a parliamentary democracy. Bhutan: The Birth of a Democracy offers background information about the country’s transformation, the first monk elections and provides an insight into this nearly unknown society and its beliefs.
Every December 1st is World AIDS Day, an opportunity for people worldwide to unite in the fight against HIV. Out of Control is the first national network television documentary to examine how and why AIDS has become overwhelmingly a Black epidemic–not in Africa or the Third World, but right here in the United States. This preventable, treatable disease is killing thousands of Black Americans each year. But until this program, no one was paying attention.
On December 7, 1972, Apollo 17 was the sixth and final lunar landing by a manned spacecraft. Apollo 17: Last Footprints On The Moon looks at this historic mission through the eyes of those who participated in it., including Commander Eugene Cernan, Lunar Module Pilot Harrison Schmitt, and Command Module Pilot Ron Evans.
December 10th marks the death of Alfred Nobel, the Swedish chemist (and inventor of dynamite) who used his fortunes to institute the Nobel Prizes. The Atheism Tapes is a collection of off-the-record interviews with some of todays great minds, including Nobel Prize winning physicist Steven Weinberg, who discuss their personal intellectual journeys and offer illuminating analysis of nontheism. A topic that’s sure to spark some discussion at the diner table this Holiday season!
Toronto’s been buzzing ever since the Maple Leafs have entered the play-offs for the first time in 9 years. No matter which team you’re rooting (or booing!) for, be sure to check out this documentary on the beloved sport, which features interviews with Wayne Gretzky and Sidney Crosby amongst others, that takes a look at how the culture of hockey has and continues to be ever-changing.
From the globally renowned Beijing Palace Museum and the China Red Sandalwood Museum, China’s museums are entering a fresh era. Around 100 new museums are now opening each year in China. Project 798: New Art In New China is one of the most comprehensive and original movies about the Chinese Contemporary Art scene. The film explores Chinese society and culture along with different forms of artistic expression, ranging from oil painting to cutting-edge performance art, through the eyes of the artists themselves.
During the last Thursday of every November the United States celebrates Thanksgiving, commemorating the early settlers of america and giving thanks and “praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens.” But by some it is seen as a celebration of the conquest and genocide of Native Americans by European colonists. In The Lost Spirits, the last surviving native Americans on Long Island is the focus. The film chronicles their struggles as an indigenous people to maintain their identity amidst relentless modernization and a heartless beauracracy.
Black Friday, the day following America’s Thanksgiving, is traditionally the beginning of the Christmas shopping season, and typically the busiest shopping day of the year. Consumerism has become the cornerstone of the post-industrial age. The documentary Consumed takes a whirlwind tour through the “weird mental illness of consumerism”, showing how our insatiable appetite has driven us into “the jaws of the beast”.
In the 2012 elections, it appears that Democrats won the popular vote for House seats by a narrow margin, So how did Republicans expand their margin to win the second-biggest House majority in 60 years? Gerrymandering. Why bother stuffing ballots when you can just draw districts? For the first time, Gerrymanddering exposes the most effective form of manipulating elections short of outright fraud.
On November 9, 1924, Robert Frank was born in Zürich, Switzerland. Frank went on to become an important figure in American photography. and in 1958 his phonebook “The Americans” transformed the landscape of contemporary photography and became well-recognized for his fresh and skeptical outsider’s view of American society. The book is considered a defining work of photographic art in the 20th century. Fifty years later, French director Philippe Séclier decided to follow in his footsteps, retracing his path step by step. An American Journey: In Robert Frank’s Footsteps is a 15,000 mile odyssey through contemporary America, moving between past and present, photography and cinema.
This week, militants in the Gaza Strip have pounded Israel with rocket fire, killing three people as the Israeli military moved-in with air raids and naval attacks on militant targets. With Israel threatening to invade the Palestinian territory, the heaviest fighting between Israel and Hamas since Operation Cast Lead shows no signs of letting up. Operation Cast Lead in Gaza wasn’t covered by the media due to military embargo. In Concrete, this untold war story through the voices of the young soldiers who took part in Cast Lead in 2009.
While Veterans Day celebrates the service of military veterans, many forget those who were Prisoners Of War or those who went Missing In Action. In Among The Missing, families of those who were POW/MIA in Vietnam organized an activist movement which went on to pursue a question which still haunts America nearly decades later: were soldiers left behind in captivity after the Vietnam War?
This Sunday is Veterans Day, honoring armed service veterans. Following the journeys of four veterans from three generations of wars, The Good Soldier attempts to defines what being a good soldier means. Is it killing without hesitation, never asking questions and accepting innocent casualties as “collateral damage”? Told from the soldier’s point of view, this might be the most affecting film you’ve ever seen.
“Movember” is the month-long event of growing ones mustache to raise awareness about prostate cancer to “change the face of men’s health.” But mustaches aren’t just month-long ventures for some men. In Splitting Hairs a group of unique character compete in the World Beard and Moustache Championships, competing against some of the “best” beards and moustaches in the world.
January 15th marks the birthdate of Martin Luther King, Jr. On the third Monday of January each year, Martin Luther King, Jr. is commemorated with a federal holiday for his achievements, rightfully named Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. It also coincides with his birthday which is January 15th, 1929. In Man of Peace In a Time of War, a rare and candid TV interview with Martin Luther King, Jr. – unseen in 40 years – is the centerpiece. The documentary also featuring exclusive interviews with such notables as Jesse Jackson and Colin Powell that provide fresh insight into the life and personality of the late civil rights leader.
This March 2nd, to celebrate National Reading Day – an annual event that celebrates and encourages – reading – we present Anne Perry Interiors. Anne Perry is a leading authors of our time, specializing in crime novels.. But her books hide a very real tale of murder and everlasting regret. Since she was 15 years old, Anne has carried an awful secret, a story of a young murderer forever trying to get beyond her terrible deed. This intimate documentary enters the inner sanctum of Anne’s reclusive life.
It’s happening in the suburbs of New Jersey and in small towns like Norton, Massachusetts. Kids are searching for faith – and you won’t like what they’re finding. Witchcraft, vampirism, Satanism — it’ attracting teens who are desperate to find a spiritual centre. Rituals, sacrifice, murder!
Five percent of the world’s population have had the experience of awaking paralyzed while a supernatural entity climbs onto their chest suffocating them. These attacks have been known to erupt in epidemics, resulting in mass panic, post-traumatic stress disorder, and sudden unexplainable death. The Nightmare is a fascinating exploration of this phenomenon that suggests that the only difference between hallucination and the supernatural… is belief!
Nearly thirty years after it was reportedly stolen, the head from a statue of Agrippina the Younger has been recovered today. Agrippina was the mother of Rome’s most notorious emperor – Emperor Nero. Nero’s Golden House takes an investigative looks at the emperors home – once the most ostentatious building on earth – in an attempt to distinguish fact from fiction. Was Nero as bad as they say – or worse? Or was he actually an inspired artist and designer unfairly maligned through the centuries? Is Nero’s “Golden House” one of the unrecognized architectural wonders of the world?
Featuring footage never seen before from William S. Burroughs trip to Denmark in 1983, Words of Advice is an interesting complementary bio-pic to both the man and the Beat generation and showcases Burroughs talent as a performer.
The conditions in Iran after the revolution had progressively grown worse in areas of women’s rights and civil liberties. Rather than live under these conditions, Mehrangiz Kar, a lawyer, decided to challenge the court and push for reform. She has become an outspoken critic of the government.
This week marks the anniversary of Robert E. Lee’s death in 1870. The Confederate Army General had suffered a stroke two weeks before on October 12, 1870. Lee Beyond the Battle is a doc about the the man and less the General, from his early career to his role in the South after it’s defeat.
October 4 – 10 is World Space Week – a celebration of the men and women pioneers who risked their lives to further human kinds reach and influence, charting the mysterious expanse of space, This film explosives the inherently dangerous occupation of astronauts, who in the face of an unforgiving hostile environment, and relentless life threatening pressures, endured almost certain death in the pursuit to conquer the unknown.
NASA’s Apollo program was dedicated to “landing a man on the Moon and returning him safely to the Earth” and was first accomplished on the Apollo 11 mission in 1969. Apollo 11: First Steps On The Moon profiles the historic mission through the eyes of all three astronauts and several top NASA officials who participated in it.
Six Days In Roswell is a record of one mans hilarious journey in search of the unknown in the town of Roswell, New Mexico – famous for extra-terrestrial encounters and government cover ups.
In Iran, women have to live with the widespread mistreatment of women and the double standards that permeate Iranian women today. In a country where prostitution is banned and adultery is persecuted, for some of these women making a living is an extremely dangerous business.
The conditions in Iran after the revolution had progressively grown worse in areas of women’s rights and civil liberties. Rather than live under these conditions, Mehrangiz Kar, a lawyer, decided to challenge the court and push for reform. She has become an outspoken critic of the government.
In Cuba, Santo Domingo, and Cambodia, sexual tourism has become a booming industry. Women and children prostitute themselves to survive in an economically ravaged country.
On the night of September 19, 1961, Barney and Betty Hill were driving through the White Mountains of New Hampshire when they noticed that a bright light in the sky was following them. The next thing the couple remembered was driving away at top speed, filled with intense fear, two house later. Gradually they realized that something had happened during those two hours of missing time… The White Mountain Abductions investigation the story Barney and Betty Hill – the world’s most famous case of alleged alien abduction.
The recently released documentary 2016: Obama’s America, had been criticized as propaganda to swing voters. This was also the case in 2004 when Michael Moore released his Anti-Bush doc, Fahrenheit 9/11. Fahrenhype 9/11 plunges a big needle deep into Michael Moore’s Fahrenheit 9/11 to discover if it is a healthy dose of dissent, or shameful cowardice. See how America has been lied to about the cause of 9/11 and about the truth of Islamic fascism. While Moore describes his films as more “Op-Ed” pieces than docs, it’s interesting to see a ‘counter’ argument via film. Is this medium and format the new debating ground vs. the town hall or stump?
In late September 1940, after seven years of exile, Walter Benjamin (literary and social critic, philosopher, and essayist) crossed the Pyrenees in a desperate attempt to escape the Nazis. Forced to spend the night at a local hotel in the town of Portbou, Walter Benjamin was found dead, the next morning. Who Killed Walter Benjamin… reaches for answers among the suspicious circumstances of his death. This documentary is not just a reconstruction of a death, but the living portrait of the scene of the crime.
May 4th is International Firefighters’ Day– what better way to pay tribute than to learn more about these brave heroes and what they do? Imagine getting 200 calls a day– that’s 160,000 calls in a year! The firefighters of The Bronx are the most active firefighters in the world. Over the course of two weeks, Patrick Chauvel’s documentary sheds light on common causes behind fires, and how they are combatted by these everyday heroes.
On September 11, 2001 the world trade center was attacked. Seeing 9/11 tells the story of the people all over the world claim to have had dreams of the event before they happened. These weren’t average dreams. In many cases, the dreamers were disturbed enough by what they saw to write it down or tell someone, who would later confirm the dream took place before 9/11.
Narrated by Oscar Winning Actor Kevin Spacey, America Rebuilds is an emotional and compelling portrait of the process toward recovery and reconstruction of the World Trade Center. A behind-the-scenes look at the strategy meetings of the various construction forces as they attempted to put together the largest array of construction forces in NYC History.
Jhan Moskowitz, one of the founders of “Jews for Jesus”, the best known Jewish evangelism agency in the world, has passed away today. Jews of Iran is an intimate and rare exploration of the world of Messianic Judaism and Jews who believe in Jesus. Filmed in Toronto, Canada for a period of five years, the film follows members of the city of David congregation as they try to carve out a life for themselves in their Jewish community, by following what many Jews believe to be Christian Dogma.
Today marks the opening day of The Toronto International Film Festival, one of the biggest film festivals in the world! In Let’s All Hate Toronto, filmmakers Albert Nerenberg and Rob Spence follow a character named “Mister Toronto” as he launches a coast-to-coast Toronto Appreciation tour. Along the way, the crew will encounter everyone from those claiming to be “recovering Torontonians” to folks who have vowed never to set foot in the city cited by the United Nations as the world’s most culturally diverse. Could this seething resentment be something as simple as envy, or have the denizens of this worldly metropolis truly done something to offend their embittered fellow countrymen?
This Saturday and Sunday, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania also know as “The Mushroom Capital of the World” will hold The 27th Annual Mushroom Festival. Torontonian director Ron Mann’s documentary, Know Your Mushrooms, is a must-watch for anyone planning to attend! The film follows uber myco visionaries Gary Lincoff and Larry Evanson a hunt for the wild mushroom and the deeper cultural experiences attached to the mysterious fungi. It’s educational, entertaining and downright fun(gi)!
Recently, Palestinians living on the West Bank trying to break their dependence on Israel for energy has resulted in a new solar powered vehicle. The Human Turbine follows the residents of the Palestinian village of Susia, as they attempt to harness wind and solar energy for the benefit of their community. In the process we get to know extraordinary individuals.
In stranger news, Elvis Presley’s underwear, stains and all, will be sold at an auction in Manchester, England, in October. They estimate the briefs could fetch up to $15,000. This Elvis phenomenon has its roots in his birthplace, Tupelo, Mississippi. In Elvis: Return to Tupelo, Elvis’ influences that would inspire both his music and personality are revealed through Interviews, recordings, photographs and rare home movies.
Let’s twist again! Tickets are now available for legendary singer and performer Chubby Checker’s “Twisting Thru the Decades” concert in downtown DeLand, Florida. During the show, Checker will lead the attempt to break the Guinness Book of World Records for “the most people twistin’ in the streets at once.” Twist, the documentary by Ron Mann chronicles the evolution of rock and roll dance, and features archival footage and interviews from Checker during his hay day.
Jean-Michel Bertrand invites us behind the scenes of a solitary shoot,
up in the mountains. His first quest: to see the eagle, to find its
nest, to follow it, to live with it – without being seen. It’s holiday
time in Europe, and for many in N.America. For many, France is about
Paris and all the savoir faire that goes with it. Flirting with Heights
reveals the natural beauty to be found in France beyond the cities.
August 23, 2012 marks the opening days of Toronto’s BuskerFest – Ontario’s largest street performer’s festival, which raises money for epilepsy research. If BuckerFest is too far from home, watch Buskers – a one-of-a-kind documentary that goes deep inside the hidden world of street performers. Discover shocking and inspired street acts from around the world!
On January 17, 1945 the Nazis began the evacuation of the Auschwitz concentration camp as Soviet forces closed-in. Of the thousands of men and women imprisoned under behind the wires of the German concentration camps such as Auschwitz, some found the strength to fight back. They collected evidence about German crimes in the camps, sabotaged equipment, prepared uprisings and even tried to spread typhoid to their guards. Against the Odds tells this story through the testimonies of a group of courageous Poles that took part in this resistance movement.
camps.
Recently, a new study conducted by The American Psychological Association shows that psychotherapy is an effective option for treating people with certain mental or behavioural conditions, but it is being under-utilized. In Their Hands follows the psychotherapy of vulnerable people who’ve been destroyed by acts of torture. They want to stop the pain, and protect their family from violence that sleeps in them, they want to be understood and recognized. heir therapies are a policy therapy for all of us.
There’s been some backlash to US Republican Congressman Steve King’s recent opposition of a federal law that would ban animal fighting. The Beast Within pursues the reasons for man’s drive to have animals fight against each other. It picks up the trails of our martial instincts that lead into various cultures.
In August 1942 the joint World War II American-Canadian commando until knowns as the “The Black Devil’s” began their strict and physically demanding training schedule. In Devil’s Brigade, a select group of present-day Canadian and US soldiers go back in time to face the grueling training and hardship the original brigade faced in Montana.
Toronto’s International Film Festival (TIFF) has just announced their line-up of films to be screened. While audiences often only recognize the creativity of directors, filmmakers and fans know the importance and contribution of a great film editor. Edge Codes celebrates and illustrates the evolution of editing through the history of cinema while exploring how it has come to shape our perceptions of the world around us.
Our love affair with dolphins began with “Flipper” the movie, released 41 years ago on August 14. It ended in a multi-million dollar industry of abuse. From the dazzling sea shows where dolphins are driven to suicide, to an annual dolphin slaughter in a small cove in Japan, “Saving Flipper” reveals the nightmare behind the dolphin’s indelible smile. If you liked the Cove, you’ll enjoy this insightful doc that takes another look at the industry.
With American politics playing a big role in the news lately, The American Ruling Class is a must-see. In the them of our ‘otherness’, this documentary on the cusp of mockumentary will resonate with the ‘other 99%’ as well at the 1% ruling class. With some outstanding cameo appearance by America’s elite, the film explores America’s most taboo topics of class, power and privilege in a nominally democratic republic.
August 6, 1945, a B-29 named the Enola Gay dropped the first atomic bomb on a city, Hiroshima. In seconds some 70,000–80,000 perished. The Spirit of Hiroshima takes a look at this tragedy through the eyes of those who lived through it, and those who live in the city now.
Mitt Romney’s recent comments about Palestinians has stirred up quite the debate about the culture of Palestine and Israel. Our them of ‘the other’ features Loving Sophia is a eerie documentary about a Moldavian immigrant to Israel, Sophia, during 1990s. The move left Sophia unstable and yearning for more and she rapidly descends from rock singer to drug addict to prostitute. A chance encounter with filmmaker Ohad Itach leads not only to a powerful film, but to the possibility of moving forward.
During the last week of July 1943, The Battle of Hamburg occurred – a campaign of air raids that has become known as one of the heaviest assault in the history of aerial warfare. In this dramatic four-part documentary series we hear the frightening tales of the Bomber Boys who flew in some of the most critical battles of the World War II and follow a new generation of young recruits as they undergo training to become Bomber Boys.
To continue with our “living history” Quest series, we bring you Quest For The Sea. Two modern families experience life as it was lived in a 1937 rural Newfoundland outport fishing community.
With gypsy-punk rockers Gogol Bordello currently on a non-stop tour this summer, it seemed appropriate to feature Gogol Bordello Non-Stop this week. One of today’s most notorious and revered live bands, this doc follows Gogol Bordellow around the world as they spread their liberating libertine musical gospel.
With Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes reaching a divorce settlement this week, the rumours surrounding the Church of Scientology’s part in the split continues to dominate the buzz. This week we bring you Scientology: The Ex Files, a jaw-dropping investigative look at this organization.
In July of 1897 news of gold being discovered in the Klondike reached Seattle and San Francisco. This sparked a stampede of would-be prospectors to the Yukon. The journey to the Klondike was laborious and involved traveling long distances and crossing difficult mountain passes, usually with heavy loads. In Klondike: The Quest For Gold, a group of ordinary Canadians relive the gold rush in the style of the real turn-of-the-century gold seekers.
The lost star of experimental UK documentary filmmaking, Watkins is better known for his political-horrors predicting the crackdown on protest and counter-culture. In this film about the famous artist, he approaches the themes of suppressed creativity and freedom a new way – using the Trojan horse of an artist biopic to get ideas of transgression through art onto screens. A study of depression and the creative process, this is no boring trudge through talking heads reflecting on The Scream, it’s something much stranger. The Scream is on view at the MoMA in New York until April 29th!
Last week a Renaissance-themed sale at Christie’s in New York raised $42.6 million, braking several record prices. It seems Renaissance art is making a comeback. Bielutin: In the Garden of Time tells the story of Nina and Ely Bielutin living in Moscow, growing old peacefully in their apartment , secluded in the middle of hundreds of Renaissance paintings. They tell whoever is willing to listen the amazing and epic story of their collection: nobility, love of art, inheritance and resistance to power.
On July 9, 1962 Andy Warhol’s Campbell’s Soup Cans’ exhibition opened at Ferus Gallery in LA, marking the West Coast debut of pop art. Our first pick this week, Painter’s Painting, follows Andy Warhol as well as other New York painters such Barnett Newman, Hans Hoffman, and Frank Stella, gaining valuable insight about their artwork – from Abstract Expressionism, to Hard Edge and Color Field painting to Pop Art.
The lost star of experimental UK documentary filmmaking, Watkins is better known for his political-horrors predicting the crackdown on protest and counter-culture. In this film about the famous artist, he approaches the themes of suppressed creativity and freedom a new way – using the Trojan horse of an artist biopic to get ideas of transgression through art onto screens. A study of depression and the creative process, this is no boring trudge through talking heads reflecting on The Scream, it’s something much stranger. The Scream is on view at the MoMA in New York until April 29th!
In the mid-19th century, Hudson’s Bay Company’s vast territory became the largest component in the newly formed Dominion of Canada. To celebrate Canada this year, we are proud to present Quest For The Bay, a “living history” series that follows eight adventures as they attempt to relive the epic 1200km journey undertook by the Hudson’s Bay Company fur traders of the 1840s, travelling from Winnipeg to the Hudson Bay.
Today in 1919 the International Labour Organization was founded by the United Nations. In 1969 the organization even received the Nobel Peace Prize for improving peace among classes and pursuing justice for workers. “Into Our Own Hands” is about the employees of a bankrupt lingerie factory who decide to take it over by forming a cooperative. But with this new-found freedom also comes many struggles. As their project takes shape, they come up against their boss and the reality of the marketplace. Their little enterprise becomes a theater where fundamental economic and social issues are played out amidst the bras and panties!
June 22 – July 1, 2012 marks the date of the annual Pride Week, a celebration of diversity amongst the LGBT community in the Greater Toronto Area. It is one of the largest organized gay pride festivals in the world. God Only Knows, our second pick this week, looks at the lives of a gay minister and a religious-right family and how their personal values collide when they agree to exchange places to debate same-sex marriage.
During the last Thursday of every November the United States celebrates Thanksgiving, commemorating the early settlers of america and giving thanks and “praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens.” But by some it is seen as a celebration of the conquest and genocide of Native Americans by European colonists. In The Lost Spirits, the last surviving native Americans on Long Island is the focus. The film chronicles their struggles as an indigenous people to maintain their identity amidst relentless modernization and a heartless beauracracy.
This week’s second pick, Kiri Wai: Inner Skin, coincides with The Tattoo Honolulu Exhibition at the Honolulu Museum of Art. Kiri Wai: Inner Skin is the story of Bruce, a young man on an identity quest that began in his adolescence when a Māori tattoo artist began a moko on his skin. Bruce submerges himself in the Māori culture and the moko’s place in other cultures. Is the art tattooed on Bruce’s skin a reflection of his identity? Does the moko reveal his deeper nature and artistic identity?
On June 22, 2009, Eastman Kodak Company announced that it will discontinue sales of the Kodachrome Color Film, concluding its 74-year run as a photography icon. As a tribute to film, this week’s pick is Brakhage, a documentary about Stan Brakhage. Brakhage is considered one of the most important figures in 20th century experimental film and has redefined cinema with scratching on film, collage film, the use of multiple exposures, and painting directly onto celluloid
On June 17, 1972, five men were arrested for breaking and entering into the Democratic National Committee (DNC) headquarters at the Watergate complex in Washington, D.C., and the Nixon administration’s attempted cover-up of its involvement. The scandal eventually led to the resignation of Richard Nixon in 1974. Millouse, made in 1971, before the Watergate schandel, is biography in irony – the career and successes of Mr. Nixon from 1946 through “Six Crises” to the days of Kent State.
Six Days In Roswell is a record of one mans hilarious journey in search of the unknown in the town of Roswell, New Mexico – famous for extra-terrestrial encounters and government cover ups.
Our third pick of the week is a French documentary about the birth of a new party – The New Anticapitalist Party in France, by renouned ‘lefty’ and political leader Olivier Besancenot. We selected this film as a segue from the unrest in Quebec by students fighting against tuition hikes and mostly likely an overall feeling sweeping youth, and the unemployed that things are out of whack – people have fewer opportunities, power and money are consolidating leaving out more masses and restricting the mobility that once made N.America the place people came to move up! A Harvey Korman told Mel Brooks in History of the World “Sir, your people are revolting”. “You said it……” says Brooks (King Louie), and indeed today people from the middle East to France to Quebec to the Occupy movements are revolting!
This week in Ontario, Canada the government passed anti bullying legislation aimed at protecting youth. This is in the shadow of some unfathomable experiences of youth committing suicide because they can’t stand the abuse from peer or peers. While I can’t begin to fathom the depth of despair a parent who’s experienced this, as one couple said, they hoped that this legislation will be some measure of consolation for their sons death. Our pick of the week is The Bullies Playground.
A new release documentary, Marley hit the theatres and can be found on VOD. For a side of Jamaica other than Bob Marley and a profile on the country that produced the legend our 3rd pick of the week is Man Free! Learn what being free means in Jamaica. I think the West might consider adopting this more laid back philosophy.
This weekend is the 19th annual Ukulele Festival of Northern California! Unless you have been living under a rock with no internet connection, you’ve probably either come across numerous ukelele viral videos, caught a show by Britain’s ukelele orchestra or might have enjoyed a mini-concert in Toronto’s subway system. However it might have happened, by now you are probably aware that ukeleles are more popular than ever! Mighty Uke is a must-watch to understand the history of this instrument, as well as the movement that has brought it back to life and made it the centre of attention all over the planet.
As the fiscal cliff negotiations continute, there seems to be little movement on the core issue – higher taxes on the wealthy. We all know the mega rich pay much less tax than the rest of us but just how do they do it? Tax Me If You Can tell the story of Heinrich Kieber, a Liechtenstein bank employee who stole thousands of incriminating documents and sold the information to Western governments. A thrilling investigation into the world of large-scale tax fraud.
Summer is the time of road trips. And there is no better way to travel than in a sweet looking ride. Tales of The Rat Fink examines the life of famed hot rod & custom car designer Ed “Big Daddy” Roth. Roth brought a truly artistic and imaginative interpretation to hot-rod design. The eccentric figure will be remembered as a key figure in the Kustom Kulture movement in Southern California.
The accordion might just be one of the most under-appreciated instruments. It may come as a surprise to you then, that June is the Accordion Awareness Month. Why not celebrate with this week’s pick. Eccentric musicians, form The Accordion Tribe and connect with each other and their audiences through the power of music.
On May 2, 2011, Osama Bin Laden was killed by U.S. special forces, putting an end to the pursuit of the FBI’s Most Wanted Man. Mohammed Sifaoui’s documentary focuses on Bin Laden’s methods that led to his escape from the U.S. military through the Tora Bora Mountains and to Pakistan, ten years prior to his capture and death. Features undercover footage from training camps, and evidence that proves that we shouldn’t always believe what we hear on the news.
This week we saw Google’s doodle pay tribute to Bob Moog, creator of the Moog synthesizer and music pioneer. Our 2nd doc pick of the week is also on innovation in music – but on performance and composition, not electronics. Imagine the Sound by Ron Mann profile’s the scions of Jazz behind the innovative and controversial free jazz movement, including Cecil Taylor and Bill Dixon.
There are several rifts within Israel. A growing battle between ultra Orthodox Jews against the rest of Israelis. And another pits politics and the army against certain settlements where religious groups refuse to leave their settlement in the occupied lands. Our 3rd pick of the week is The Hilltops looks at this growing dynamic in Israeli society in the context of a great movement towards peace.
With Summer quickly approaching parents will be fervently researching camps for the precious darlings, and a few lucky adults, or erh, I mean grown kids will head off to Monster Camp! Fans of role playing games, comics and SciFi, get your geek jones with Monster Camp our first pick of the week.
Playing to a sold out audience at the Toronto Jewish Film Fest, we’re pleased to present Kafka’s Last Story to complete the puzzle of the author’s thought to be lost tome after WWII.
President Obama came our yesterday stating “Same sex couples should be able to get married”. Not Quite The Taliban presents the prevailing and changing(?) views of gays in Muslim / Arab culture.
The lead singer of “Against Me” one of the biggest punk-rock bands in North America, just came out as a transgender and said he will continue to lead life as a woman. Aravani Girl presents a view of ‘lady men’ within the cultural mosaic of India.
27 years ago the war in Vietnam finally ended and the north took over South Vietnam. At the height of the war, chronicling America’s increasing involvement in a costly and unnecessary war, at the cost of almost a million lives across all sides.
As the first of May celebrate May Day, a labor holiday and celebration of workers rights, human rights and the fight for justice and dignity for all members of society, not simply the privileged. Persona Non Grata is a biopic doc about Frans Wuytack, a leading activist for social change, made by his son, doc filmmaker Fabio Wuytack.
On this day in 1455 the Jews fled Spain, escaping the Inquisition and fleeing to neighboring Portugual and the colony of Brazil, amongst other places. History’s Ultimate Nomads picks up this journey and exodus from the Inquisition and in to the new world!
72 years ago one of the bloodiest battles of World War Two was taking place in Monte Cassino, Italy. The town previously most renouned for its 1500 year old monastery until, the U.S. Airforce destroyed it in 1994. The battle raged for several months and finally concluded in May of 1944 with significant losses for both sides. This doc by filmmakers Maciej and Jedrzei Jonasz highlights the contribution of the Polish Allied forces along with the multinational armies assembled to topple the Germans on their way to take over Rome.
In the USA it’s National Donate Life month and in Canada it’s National Organ and Tissue Donation Awareness Week. Kidneys on Ice uncovers organ trafficking in light of a shortage of available organs in developed nations, as predicted, at the expense of those less fortunate in developing nations. If you needed another reason to fill out your organ donation card, hopefully this doc might help you save a life.
This past Thursday was Yom Ha’atzmaut, commemorating the Israeli Delcaration of independence in 1948. I Was There in Color is an extraordinary, never before seen story of the birth of Israel… in color! The historic found-footage was shot by Fred Monosson, a Jewish-American businessman from Brookline, Massachusetts who died in 1972. Until this discovery of his film, the history of Israel was captured only in black and white. Now, for the first time, Israel’s history is told in color!
Today is Yom Hoshoah, Holocaust Memorial Day. We have two picks this week covering the Holocaust with a particular theme – separation – life – and reunion. – Vienna’s Lost Daughters reunites eight women with the city they were forced to leave and with others they lived through the camps with, most of whom are living in NY today. Survival and a life made in spite of a lost childhood.
April 22nd is Earth Day. Our pick this week from the Green aisle is Anima Mundi – an interesting glimpse in to Permaculture. In a world with limited resources, finding and building a sustainable existence is paramount. Why not start today?!
Black Friday, the day following America’s Thanksgiving, is traditionally the beginning of the Christmas shopping season, and typically the busiest shopping day of the year. Consumerism has become the cornerstone of the post-industrial age. The documentary Consumed takes a whirlwind tour through the “weird mental illness of consumerism”, showing how our insatiable appetite has driven us into “the jaws of the beast”.
Spring is a time of rebirth and renovation. But as the days grow
longer, remember to consider just what kind of impact your lifestyle
is having on the nature around you, and globally. Who better to learn
from when it comes to going green, but Woody Harrelson. Ron Mann
directs as Woody travels down the Pacific coast in a hemp-fuelled van
as he meets some of the people living responsibly
Our international pick of the week is “24 City,” a documentary about
China’s industrialization and urbanization. News about China’s
presence on the international scale occupy media outlets daily, but
what is life like for average Chinese citizens? Three generations,
eight characters: old workers, factory executives and yuppies, share
their stories which are the History of China.
For well over a decade, researchers have been ringing the bell on the
severity of climate change our planet is currently undergoing. But
seeing really is believing sometimes; especially when it comes to
capturing just how immense the change is. Follow a renowned team of
cinematographers and scientists through the North West Passage, and
see for yourself why icebergs are fast becoming our most precious and
important natural resource.
Whether it’s Sudan, Jordan or Zimbabwe, refugees in these countries have also been in the news recently, and with good reason, becoming one is one of the hardest things that anyone can ever experience. Palestine in the South is the hopeful story of a small community of Palestinian refugees that have made of La Calera, Chile, their unexpected home. As told through the eyes of Basem, a newly arrived member, this doc explores the advantages and challenges of starting over on the other side of the world.
Bhutan is gearing up for their 2nd General Elections in early 2013. It’s been five years since Bhutan has become a parliamentary democracy. Bhutan: The Birth of a Democracy offers background information about the country’s transformation, the first monk elections and provides an insight into this nearly unknown society and its beliefs.
The first Wednesday of every March is World Math Day, a day dedicated to promoting math and as an exciting subject and to counter negative attitudes. As our way of promoting math, we present you with Clouds Are Not Spheres, a math film about fractal geometry, a language created by Benoit Mandelbrot for our natural world. The man himself explains this groundbreaking discovery in this exciting documentary.
To a world that has become unfamiliarized with the notion and implications of nuclear war, recent international headlines plagued with North Korean nuclear threats seem surreal and almost impossible. Kimgjongilia is a refreshing reminder of the cult-like patriotic fervour that dominates this country’s identity -a mass illusion that is only possible under complete totalitarianism and numerous human rights violations- as well as a fascinating glimpse inside one the world’s most isolated states.
KONY 2012 became the most watched viral video ever in just a few days.
Inspirational to some, and extremely skewed to others, it shed light
on an issue that is rarely brought up in public discussions, and even
less so in political debates in the Western world. But before the
world knew about Joseph and KONY, there was Emmanuel Jal and hundreds
of thousands of child soldiers like him. Emmanuel’s story spans well
over twenty years, from his escape from Sudan, to an eventual return
to a homeland devastated by decades of killing and destruction. Jal
rose from ruthless child soldier, to refugee, to rap star where he
finds his own redemption and life mission through a message of peace
that represents one of the 21st centuries’ most inspiring and hopeful
journeys. More info and where to
