This documentary is a manifesto for today’s youth, addressing the societal forces that have shaped and held back their generation. It shows how young people can deploy their strengths to revolutionize the system as they confront both the US political crisis and the global environmental crisis.
Sensational and shocking stories from Hollywood are not always fiction. Beyond anything a screenwriter could imagine, and with cast of famous stars and celebrities, this documentary goes behind the scenes to explore the real-life stories of murders in Hollywood. From the silent era to the present day, out-of-control passions, burning hatreds, and the driving greed for gain have pushed many of the rich and famous over the edge into violence - to commit bloody murder or end up as the victims of murder.
What are the limits of free speech? Troll Storm is the story of a Jewish woman in Montana, Tanya Gersh, who was the victim of an unrelenting social media campaign of antisemitism and her decision to fight back in court. “The second I decided to fight, I started to heal,” she says in this powerful film. And although the crux of this story takes place several years ago, the new swarm of antisemitism currently crossing our country makes this story feel extremely relevant. Gersh uses interviews with a holocaust survivor as a brutal reminder of where we could end up again if this culture of hate is not faced by our country. In Accept the Call (WFF 2019) director Eunice Lau’s latest film, the parallel between Europe before the rise of the Nazi party and what happened to Gersh is frightening. – Sabina Barach
The story of the man who gave up being king in order to marry the woman he fell in love with. The dramatic relationship between Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson is what you can call a forbidden romance in the real definition of the word - a king and a twice-divorced American woman who were ready to show the world that love really does conquer all. Having each other gave them the courage to face all of the consequences that came with their decisions.
The queen of quirky and record-breaking female artists in the music industry, a slice of pure Americana. With her kooky style and witty lyrics, she's a true pop star for the millennium. She's renowned for her unconventional style; always bright, sweet and humorous. From her kooky outfits to her giant sweets themed stage tours. Perry's early fashion and style has raised eyebrows. However, she's very upfront about showing off her figure and has no problem using her looks to help promote her music. Throughout her career, Katy Perry has sold more than 18 million albums and 125 million singles globally, making her one of the best selling music artists of all time. Best-loved for her relationship with her fans and her passion for current affairs. She continues to be a role model and an ally and proceeds to speak up for what she truly believes in. She achieved her intention to evolve as an artist but has always managed to stay true to her original, unconventional and quirky Californian girl.
Algren will spotlight the hard-knock life and authentic creative legacy of one of the most underrated writers of the twentieth century, Nelson Algren. Algren's brutally honest portrayal of the American underclass and his hard-nosed lifestyle became his pathway to compassion. Through interviews with Algren contemporaries, experts, and "literary soulmates," as well as through the photography of Algren's friends, Art Shay and Stephen Deutch, the film will tell his story. It will celebrate his tremendous contribution to and influence on American letters, and push Algren, champion of the marginalized, out from the margins.
By the time Johnny Cash released his iconic “Man in Black” album in 1971, the international superstar was broken down, hollow-eyed, and wrung out - often torn between Jesus and the “Cocaine Blues.” This tells the true story of a music legend’s spiritual quest, and his ultimate return to an “unshakeable faith.”
A true story of a courageous boy who becomes a legend. Living a dream that wouldn't die; his passion empowered him to historically change the course of baseball. Facing challenges on every front he conquers all with his belief and determination; a true hero. A life changing story!
From New York City to the farmlands of the Midwest, there are 50,000 Chinese restaurants in the U.S., yet one dish in particular has conquered the American culinary landscape with a force befitting its military moniker—“General Tso’s Chicken.” But who was General Tso and how did this dish become so ubiquitous? Ian Cheney’s delightfully insightful documentary charts the history of Chinese Americans through the surprising origins of this sticky, sweet, just-spicy-enough dish that we’ve adopted as our own.
Why won’t Disco die? Might it contain hidden depths? Politically correct revisionists are trying to recast disco as a misunderstood culture of protest. Through interviews with Gloria Gaynor, The Village People, Kool and the Gang and others, along with a goldmine of stock footage and speculative reenactments, The Secret Disco Revolution presents a comic-ironic investigation into disco and its mysterious longevity.
Obsessive egg thieves rob the nests of rare birds while a UK national police initiative named “Operation Easter” tries to stop them. Money is not a factor for these bandits. They are motivated by both their passion for the beauty of the egg as well as the thrill of the chase. Thousands of eggs confiscated in police raids have been found strapped under beds, beneath floorboards, and in secret rooms. With unprecedented access to the most notorious and inconspicuous perpetrators, Poached delves into the psychology of these wildlife criminals as they confront their obsession. Ultimately showing when passion turns to obsession, it can destroy the very object of one’s desire.
In "My Promise to PJ" Daniel Baldwin takes you on his journey across the world to fulfill a promise. A promise he made to his friend (PJ) Patrick Michael Raynor JR. That promise was should PJ become 2 years sober, that they would run with the bulls together in Pamplona, Spain to celebrate PJ's sobriety. Tragically, that day never came, and after 3 years of sobriety, PJ died of a surprise drug overdose. Haunted from the loss of PJ, Baldwin decides to get in shape and run with the bulls to honor the promise he made to his beloved friend. Along the way you see the emotional aftermath that drug addiction has on a family that tries to cope with the loss of their son, brother, nephew and friend.
From the makers of Console Wars comes the origin story of the GameStop stock market phenomenon, featuring exclusive access to the original players who lit the fuse on a historic amateur investor uprising. Spotlighting the human side of a sensational business drama, this documentary is a David vs Goliath tale about ordinary people waking up to the power they have in numbers.
John Farnham: Finding the Voice tells the untold story of an Australian music icon. In this first authorised biopic, we follow Farnham’s life from the quiet suburbs of Melbourne to ‘60s pop fame, through incredible highs and lows, and ultimately to record-breaking success as ‘Australia’s Voice’. John Farnham was 38 years old when Whispering Jack was released. Nobody ever questioned that Farnham could sing -- but the challenge to find his artistic voice and become Australia’s most trusted and beloved performer took half a lifetime. Whispering Jack is still the highest selling Australian album of all time, and this powerful documentary tracks the personal and public journey that has made Farnham Australia’s greatest and most beloved musical artist.
An inspirational insight into the spectacular art at the center of this annual celebration, BURNING MAN: ART ON FIRE follows the unpredictable journey of the artists who defy reason to bring their massive installations and sculptures to the punishing Nevada desert. Filmed just after Burning Man’s legendary founder suddenly died, the community of artists is challenged by impossible timing and blinding dust storms. This richly cinematic, multi-character narrative unfolds over months as they imagine, build and ultimately burn the extraordinary main structures in this temporary city of dreams…a poignant and uplifting feel-good movie!
Echoes of the Invisible interweaves a mosaic of profound quests: a blind man running alone from the lowest point in the western hemisphere to the highest mountain peak in the U.S.; artist Rachel Sussman’s struggles to photograph the oldest continuously living things on Earth; journalist Paul Salopek’s 21,000-mile walk retracing the migration route through which our ancestors first discovered the planet; astronomers and physicists attempting to see into the furthest depths of time; and monks probing the most extreme environment of all - the human heart. They discover, in their own way, something that transcends all that divides us in a world lost in the speed and noise of the digital age.