This is a film about the people living in the Alaotra region in Madagascar, and about the changes in their social and natural environments. This is also a film about the Bandro, the Alaotra gentle lemur (Hapalemur alaotrensis), that can survive only in the marshes surrounding the lake, and that is facing extinction due to these changes. This is also a film about research; on how to tackle complexity and grasp change. The AlaReLa (Alaotra Resilience Landscape) project aims to understand the various livelihood strategies of people like farmers or fishers, who use the lake, the marshes, and the land surrounding the lake to produce food and charcoal and other sources of energy. Follow us to some of Madagascar's hidden places - far away from the touristic centers - to find out what can happen when modern times seep slowly into traditional ways of living. What can be done to strike a balance between yesterday and tomorrow; between conservation and development?
The 1960s environmental movement inspired young scientists like E.O. Wilson, Cal DeWitt, and Theo Colborn, some of whom were raised within America’s largest religious group: evangelicals. Today, a new generation of scientist/evangelicals includes Katharine Hayhoe, Ben Lowe, and Corina Newsome. Can this new generation revive the reach and relevance of America's evangelical and environmental movements?
Sherlock Holmes, the fictional detective created by Scottish author and physician Sir Arthur Conan Doyle featured in four novels and 56 short stories first published in 1887. Most of these adventures featured the city of London. In this brand new program, we visit the London locations of the Sherlock stories that helped to bring the "consulting detective" to life.
At a time when transgender people are banned from serving in the U.S. military, four of the thousands of transgender troops risking discharge fight to attain the freedom they so fiercely protect.
Alzheimer's: Every Minute Counts is an urgent wake-up call about the national threat posed by Alzheimer's disease. Many know the unique tragedy of this disease, but few know that Alzheimer's is one of the most critical public health crises facing America. Because of the growing number of aging baby boomers, and the fact that the onset of Alzheimer's is primarily age-related, the number of Alzheimer's case is predicted to skyrocket in the United States. This will not only be a profound human tragedy, but an overwhelming economic one as well. Due to the length of time people live with the illness and need care, it's the most expensive medical condition in the U.S. Future costs for Alzheimer's threaten to bankrupt Medicare, Medicaid, and the life savings of millions of Americans.
In Portland Oregon, eight artists come together to participate in Scott McCloud's 24 Hour Comic Challenge, attempting to write, draw, and complete a 24 page comic, in 24 hours. With the smell of coffee and doughnuts lingering over a table filled with pencil shavings, director Milan Erceg delves into the personal lives of each of the participating artist to examine how and why they got into an industry that rarely rewards their passion with fame or money. Further exploring the business of comic art, Erceg peppers in interviews from an impressive list of nationally recognized comic book experts including, Scott McCloud, cartoonist and author of “Understanding Comics”, Paul Guinan creator of “Boilerplate”, David Chelsea, acclaimed graphic novelist, Mike Richardson, founder of Dark Horse Comics and many others. An inspiring look into the art world’s version of a marathon, 24 Hour Comic leaves the audience with a deeper appreciation for the artists who spend a life creating.
On LA’s Skid Row, a criminal court judge organizes a running club comprised of homeless, recovering and paroled men and women who seek to rediscover their sense of self-worth and dignity.
Since the 1930’s, sound gurus referred to as Foley artists have recreated the sounds that infuse a film with life. During a film’s post-production, Foley artists recreate sound that will match the moving image on-screen, using whatever objects are at their fingertips, from hundreds of pairs of old shoes to clunky old tools and squeaky mattresses. But how will Hollywood’s low-tech sound artists survive as digital technology consumes modern movie-making?
Restaurateurs, musicians, politicians-everyone loves hummus. A story of faith, community, and growth is told through the lens of a dietary staple and superfood, hummus! This documentary shows how food can bring people together.
Gema is unemployed. Her daughter Zoe dreams of having wings. Gema wants to fly with her, to get out of this place that asphyxiates, that feeds the fear. Both imagine an identical house painted in red, far away from the noise and close to themselves.
Curtis Duffy, a teen who fought and stole for the thrill, discovered his place in the kitchen after a home economics teacher nurtured his talents. After an unimaginable tragedy involving his parents, Duffy doubled down on his cooking career. Soon, his intense drive earned him accolades as one of the country's most renowned chefs. But as he began building his dream restaurant in Chicago, called Grace, Duffy found himself in another point of personal crisis: His laser focus cost him his marriage and two young daughters. For Grace is a documentary about food, family, sacrifice, and the journey from concrete box to opening night of one of the world's most acclaimed restaurants.
In the gritty streets of Guatemala City, "BBOY for LIFE" intertwines the vibrant world of breakdancing with the harsh realities of gang life. Following two determined dancers and a gang member, this true story reveals their struggles for identity, hope, and a brighter future.
In A Town This Size introduces an Oklahoma town and its long-suppressed tragedy of childhood sexual abuse. The abuser, a prominent and trusted former pediatrician is, through this film and for the first time, held accountable for the actions he cleverly perpetrated. Stories are told through poignant first-person interviews with his victims, their families and professionals. This film brings to viewers an unnerving familiarity with the lifelong devastation resulting from this kind of abuse. Covering events in the 1960s and 1970s and continuing into present times, these personal stories devastate, frustrate and inspire. In A Town This Size moves audiences to confront child sexual abuse as a primary social issue and presses for changes in state statutes of limitation.
On December 7, 1993, twenty-five people were shot on a commuter train headed from New York City to Long Island. Six people were killed, nineteen people were injured, many more were affected and continue to be to this day. This is their story.
This documentary tells the story of César, the oldest Mexican prisoner on death row in the United States. César has waited for his execution date for more than 30 years, always insisting that he is innocent. Los años de Fierro is a reflection on justice, imprisonment, punishment, guilt and brotherly love, through the eyes of César and his bother, Sergio.
Fixation is a documentary, focusing on the thrilling world of fixed gear cycling. This film captures the excitement and popularity of this growing sport from all perspectives. With the resurgence of this original form of cycling, we discover the appeal to having only one gear. Though technology has developed multiple speed bicycles, for faster and easier riding, both fixed and freewheel single speeds continue to have a strong following. The range of riders is vast, from professionals to the casual everyday rider. Their styles and motives are different, but their outcome seems to be the same: the freedom, the simplicity and the challenge of having one gear is what brings them back to the basics. We explore the full spectrum of this lifestyle: Messengers, Olympic Racing, City Riders, Bike Polo, Brakeless, Freestyle and more. "Fixation" showcases the different personalities of those involved with fixed gear cycling community, in San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Jose.
In this documentary we follow three girls in Norway living with skin diseases. Tonje's skin is growing 7 times faster than normal. Vilde is covered with vitiligo that makes her almost completely white. Sanna struggles with psoriasis and have been ever since she was young.
The unexplainable phenomenon known as Colony Collapse Disorder has left landscapes of empty beehives all across the US, threatening not only the beekeeping industry but our food supply. As scientists and beekeepers search for the cause, Colony captures the struggle within the beekeeping community to save the honeybee and themselves. Colony documents a time of unprecedented crisis in the world of the honeybee through the eyes of both veteran beekeeper, David Mendes, and Lance and Victor Seppi, two young brothers getting into beekeeping when most are getting out. As Mendes tries to save the nation's collapsing hives, the Seppi's try to keep their business alive amidst a collapsing economy.