The gun epidemic has become so intense in the USA, that schools and community groups are now looking away from prevention and towards preparation – tolerating mass killing as part of the fabric of American life. Measures like active shooter drills and arming teachers seem an unsavoury but necessary response to keep our loved ones safe. What impact do these militarised approaches have on children’s mental wellbeing? What kind of society will they build in the future? Told through the perspective of a European new mother, who is deciding to make a life for her young family in America, this candid and urgent documentary asks what is at stake during these frightening times.
In the pristine Bristol Bay area of Alaska, two sets of siblings are alarmed when they learn of plans for the proposed Pebble Mine in the vicinity of their homes. The Salmon sisters, Native Alaskans, work on the regulatory front – pushing the federal EPA to block the project, and remaining hyper-vigilant to political pressures that could shift at any moment. The Strickland brothers, independent fishermen who know they could be just one mine accident away from losing their livelihood, probe closed-door meetings to expose the truth behind what the developer tells the public. Together, the Salmons and the Stricklands remind us never to quit until Goliath has fallen.
'Too Hip For the Room' is a feature length documentary exploring the eccentric life and art of the little known jazz humorist Lord Buckley. Archival materials, intriguing presentations of Buckley's most mind bending audio performances, and insightful interviews with Whoopi Goldberg, Robin Williams, Jonathan Winters, Studs Terkel and many others weave together a portrait of a unique American persona. Part preacher, part hipster, Buckley sermonized on everything from hydrogen bombs to Jesus Christ. He counted both Al Capone and Laurence Olivier as fans. During his heyday, the kings and queens of comedy and jazz sat eagerly at his feet to hear the word of 'The Lord', yet he rarely if ever fill a nightclub. Lord Buckley may simply have been 'Too Hip For the Room'.
The Hunt for Lady Olive and the German Submarine follows the tenacious work of a dedicated team of historians, divers and researchers as they push to find the truth of the lost submarine and its crew, trapped inside over a century ago.
A documentary of the 4-man, hard rock band, BRAHMAN, as they celebrate their 20th anniversary in 2015. Rooted in "stillness and motion," the four members channel human beings' unlimited depth of thought, anger, and sadness into sound. It is also said there is a divine perfection to their overwhelming performances. This is the first time the members of such a band display their human side.
Jon Aes-Nihil's experimental documentary about iconic Beat author William S. Burroughs' experiences using a stroboscopic device, known as the dream machine, which simulates the electric pulses of the human brain to elicit hallucinations and dream-like imagery while the user's eyes are closed.
If you could spend one hour with an extraterrestrial, what would you ask them? Serena DC meets Darryl Anka. A man who claims to allow an E.T named Bashar to inhabit his body and share wisdom about our origins, E.T life and the future.
"The Wedge:” is a gripping documentary that dives deep into the heart-pounding world of one of California’s most treacherous surf spots. Nestled in Newport Beach, The Wedge is notorious for its colossal and unpredictable waves that challenge even the most seasoned watermen. The film features intimate interviews with five individuals who have faced the fury of The Wedge.
After an El Paso Walmart was rocked by one of the deadliest shootings in U.S. history, employees rallied against their company's continued sale of rifle ammunition.
The story of the cult horror empire through interviews with cast, crew, and horror icons such as Don Mancini, Brad Dourif, Jennifer Tilly, Catherine Hicks, Chris Sarandon, John Waters, Fiona Dourif, Perrey Reeves, Gerrit Graham, David Kirschner, and dozens more.
Focuses on memorable homes from movies and TV series, and includes interviews with residents of such properties to share the unique experience of living there while dealing with fan attention.
Karla is 26, the only female heir of a long tradition of Basque farmers and the first to leave the country in search of a different life. But when her mother dies, she has to come back and decide what to do with her future and the family legacy.
As tensions continue to spike between the United States & the Soviet Union, UFO sightings and the actions involved begin to take a turn. With abduction and other variations of close encounters did the President attempt to disclose that information in an unorthodox way, trying to warm humanity of what was to come!
On Halloween the streets were filled with little Draculas, Spider-Mans and Luke Skywalkers, thanks to Ben Cooper, Inc. Ben’s grandson reunites with former Ben Cooper, Inc. employees at their old factory to talk about the lasting impact of the costumes and many of their top licenses, including Star Wars, Universal Monsters, Batman, Masters of the Universe, Strawberry Shortcake and more.
When aspiring public defender Taylor Toynes notices his zip code in an article on the cradle-to-prison pipeline, he pivots to a career working with children, whose imaginations allow for a world in which zip codes don't determine life outcomes. I Am Somebody is part of a series of short documentaries about the roles of race, class, and upbringing in nonprofit leaders' personal and professional lives.
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