Playlist
Amid the failing counteroffensive, a journalist follows a Ukrainian platoon on their mission to traverse one mile of heavily fortified forest and liberate a strategic village from Russian occupation. But the farther they advance through their destroyed homeland, the more they realize that this war may never end.
Jana spent her childhood between orphanages and streets of Tbilisi. While raising her 14-year-old daughter, Elene, as a single parent without an occupation, she decided to become a surrogate mother. She has to carry someone else's baby for 9 months in exchange for 14.000 USD, an unimaginable amount of money for Jana, of course, she's on board! Jana has already given birth to three babies out of two surrogate pregnancies and is pregnant for the third time. Although she is not living in the streets any more, she is still far from reaching her dream which is to have her own place to live in. It is unclear how many babies Jana needs to deliver to fulfil this dream. The amount of money that seems a lot at first, disappears between her pregnancies, then Jana needs to start the process again. As Jana's health deteriorates from pregnancy to pregnancy, she thinks of worst case scenarios. However, lacking other options, Jana sees surrogacy as the only way out of homelessness. Elene's future is a strong motivation for her to carry on through this emotionally and physically hard journey for as long as her health allows. Elene is growing up, so Jana isn't able to hide her pregnancies from her any more. Her relationship with Elene is the most precious thing for Jana and she is afraid to open up to her about surrogacy. She feels that Elene might judge her, because deep in her heart, Jana does judge herself.
"Agatha's Almanac" offers a sensuous and cinematic portrait of 90-year-old Agatha, who defies modernity and capitalism by leading a simple, self-sufficient life on her ancestral farm. There, she cultivates heirloom seeds passed down through generations, tending to a large garden that provides everything she needs. Crafted over six years on analog 16mm film with a small all-female crew, the documentary immerses viewers in Agatha's handmade universe, highlighting themes of sustainability, tradition, and resilience.
Dissident artist Ai Weiwei confronts modern totalitarianism through an unlikely canvas: directing Puccini's controversial opera Turandot in Rome. He transforms this century-old tale of power and prejudice into a mirror reflecting today's global crises, from pandemic politics to war.
A Palestinian grain miller in a Jordanian refugee camp safeguards her culture and shares her people's history through food prepared with love, longing, and sumud—the Palestinian spirit of steadfastness.
Alice, a trans woman, finds solace in surfing the waters of Maceió, Brazil. After losing her father, spurred on by the very real fear of discrimination and violence, she distances herself from the sport that helped her feel closer to him until she finds her community and, ultimately, her peace, a sense of freedom—and the joy of surfing once again.
In a conservative Pennsylvania town, a heated school board election becomes ground zero for America's culture wars. As Christian fundamentalists campaign to control the curriculum, battle lines form over book bans and LGBTQ+ rights, revealing deep divisions in American democracy.
With extraordinary access and urgent storytelling, Antidote anchors its timely narrative on whistleblowers and activists who have worked to uncover Vladimir Putin's deadly regime — and are now facing dangerous and fatal consequences for their courageous actions.
When does a democracy end and a theocracy begin? Apocalypse in the Tropics investigates Brazil's descent into religious fundamentalism during the Covid-19 pandemic and president Bolsonaro's leadership.
"Assembly" follows artist Rashaad Newsome as he transforms a former military facility into a visionary utopia. Featuring dancers, musicians, poets, and a non-binary AI named Being, the exhibition explores Black and queer identity, systemic injustice, and resilience. Performers confront marginalization through art, creating community and challenging oppression. With performances honoring Black trans women, the Black queer community's response to the AIDS crisis, and vogue fem as a global art form, Assembly highlights collective creativity's power to unite. Through immersive visuals and decolonization workshops, the film reveals how art fosters solidarity, strength, and liberation.
Responding to a particularly turbulent chapter in Haiti's history, marked with political unrest and gang violence, a group of fearless theatre artists choose to resist the climate of insecurity around them through live performance, showcasing the courage and resilience of the Haitian people.
The brother-in-law of Liberian dictator Charles Taylor becomes a courageous whistleblower against the dictator's regime. Risking everything, including his own family, he fights to bring Taylor to justice, confronting the legacy of fear and corruption that has shaped his life.
Rich, textured animation gives life to the story of a woman who was once told she was a "black stain" and who grew up believing darkness was her destiny. Now an adult, she reflects on her relationship to past hardships and trauma, giving new meaning to the darkness and transforming her sense of self.
Three generations of Venezuelans, bound by uncertainty amidst a country-wide economic crisis, share their lives of resilience. A lyrical mediation on the themes of loss and hope, and the strength to endure despite the ongoing challenges of daily life.
Amid migration grief and integration challenges, Manuel, a former doctor turned community leader, guides immigrant men in a life-changing program, forging resilience, belonging and solidarity.
In Prince Edward Island, Josée Gallant-Gordon is reinventing mental health care through her bilingual equine therapy centre, proving that with ideas, one person can transform their community.
Two Canadians, one Liberal and one Conservative, attend a U.S. convention focused on depolarizing politics, determined to engage in tough conversations for a healthier democracy.
The electronic monitoring has transformed Tehran into a digital panopticon, turning the nightmare of constant surveillance and control into reality. But what happens when the roles are reversed and the focus is turned on the surveillants?
Open a bottle of climate anxiety. Pour the contents into a hot pot under high pressure. Then add a teaspoon of horror, a tablespoon of anger and three drops of deep disappointment in humanity. Let it all come to a boil while you invite a group of scientific researchers who don't know each other, but know all about the fact that the end of the world is near. Let the scientists spice up the dish with their most suppressed feelings about climate change and the future of the planet. And last but not least, bring in a professional group therapist who isn't afraid of an awkward silence to get them to sit in a circle and share their feelings with each other.
Comedian Noam Shuster Eliassi creates a personal and political one-woman show about the struggle for equality in Israel/Palestine. When the elusive coexistence she's spent her life working toward starts sounding like a bad joke, she challenges her audiences with hard truths that are no laughing matter.
Genealogy, uncomfortable questions and reams of archival material are Tavares-Abel's tools in discovering the political truths of her family and the Dominican Republic. Election fraud and dictatorship are frighteningly topical. Activism suggests itself.
Two poets, one incurable cancer diagnosis. Andrea Gibson and Megan Falley go on an unexpectedly funny and poignant journey through love, life, and mortality.
Olivia, a young woman living abroad, returns to her hometown in Mexico in the hope of reconnecting with her past.
Used commonly on signage by the U.S. National Park Service, "Take only photographs, leave only footprints" is often seen as the umbrella code of conduct for all visitors to any of its 400+ majestic locations. But for many visitors to one in particular - Arizona's Petrified Forest National Park - the temptation to procure some of its glittery, colorful rocks as keepsakes has proven to be irresistible. Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on the party), that act and the retention of such treasures is long-rumored to be cursed – prompting the return of hundreds or more of these "souvenirs" each year. The letters which often accompany such submissions are maintained within the archives of the Park's library and, as one might guess, are often infinitely more colorful than whatever the returned specimen may be. With the grandeur of the Park as the backdrop, The Conscience Files tells of the woes and now (hopefully) redemptive journey of some of these notorious "return" visitors, in their words, as written.
As the first elected councilwoman of her Iranian village, Sara Shahverdi aims to break long-held patriarchal traditions by training teenage girls to ride motorcycles and stopping child marriages. When accusations arise questioning Sara's intentions to empower the girls, her identity is put in turmoil.
In a country where eligible men greatly outnumber women, three serial bachelors join an intensive seven-day dating camp led by one of China's most sought-after dating coaches, in what may be their last-ditch effort to find love.
During eight tumultuous days in 1988 at the world's only Deaf university, four students must find a way to lead an angry mob — and change the course of history.
Exploring the complex bond between two half brothers — one Indigenous, one white — traveling from the present in isolated Shamattawa to bustling 1980s Toronto.
Jens Stoltenberg had planned to step down after nine years in the powerful position of NATO Secretary General. The 65-year-old politician had packed his bags to go home to his wife in Norway, as he had promised her. But then Joe Biden called and asked him to stay another year. Because in a troubled world, an experienced leader is needed more than ever. With unprecedented access, we follow Jens Stoltenberg through his last year as Secretary General of NATO. And there's plenty to keep him busy, as he has promised Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj that the alliance will stand by Ukraine for as long as it takes. But the fear of the war in Ukraine spreading to the rest of Europe is causing tensions to rise between the 32 allied countries. Stoltenberg will need all his diplomatic skills to keep the member states together. Fortunately, the Norwegian politician has mastered the difficult art of compromise and understands the importance of a well-timed pat on the back. And when it comes to making deals with the likes of Recep Erdoğan and Viktor Orbán, the little details that can make all the difference.
Debut movie from Antón Álvarez, better known as C. Tangana in his musical facet. This movie, starring Yerai Cortés, revolves around a family secret that needs to be told.
When a Palestinian filmmaker based in Scotland unearths a rarely-seen Scottish film archive of Palestinian wild flowers, he decides to reclaim the footage. This tender essay film questions the role of image-making as a tool of both testimony and violence when connected to entanglements between people and land.
Amid persistent drought and a water conflict intensified by Afghanistan under the Taliban regime, Iran's once-thriving Hamun Lake region has become a desolate wasteland. Its sole resident, an elderly woman, survives by collecting dead fish from the dried-up lakebed. Blending animation and documentary, The Granny & Fishes warns of the devastating impacts of water wars and mass migration.
Amid the surge in anti-trans legislation that Chase Strangio battles in the courtroom, he must also fight against media bias, exposing how the narratives in the press influence public perception and the fight for transgender rights.
Every day like clockwork, two siblings alternate shifts caring for their elderly parents: one with Alzheimer's, the other diminishing with age. This meticulously crafted family snapshot asks how we can reconcile the needs of those we love with the pursuit a life true to ourselves.
Defying Iran's travel ban, a filmmaker chronicles his confinement in smog-choked Tehran after authorities raid his home and seize his work. Through dreams and memories, he imagines soaring above a city where everyone is equal in this boundary pushing, hybrid film.
Sophie Compton and Daisy-May Hudson follow the women as they return to Holloway Prison before it is demolished. Memories resurface as they explore the now-empty space, confronting their past and reflecting on how the building shaped their lives. The film gives each woman a platform to reclaim their stories and highlights the power of sharing and supporting one another as a form of healing.
How Deep is Your Love, follows intrepid biologists exploring the mysterious deep sea, where 70% of our planet lies hidden. As they uncover mesmerizing creatures and ecosystems thriving in darkness, a looming threat emerges: the prospect of deep-sea mining in this untouched wilderness. This film weaves wonder with urgency, challenging us to balance the drive for resources with the intrinsic value of an ecosystem. As we journey through this breathtaking realm, we are left to ponder how deep is our love.
Through powerful and poetic storytelling, I Dreamed His Name follows director Ángela Carabalí and her sister Juliana as they traverse Colombia's Indigenous farmlands to investigate the disappearance of their father. Thirty years ago, the Afro-Latino farmer became a victim of the violence enveloping the country during a period of civil unrest. Now, as Ángela and Juliana probe their missing parent's story, they encounter others who lost family members in similar circumstances. Gorgeous and intimate cinematography further illuminates the tenderness in each frame of Ángela Carabalí's moving documentary debut, a chronicle not only of loss but also of the love the sisters have for their family and for one another. —Kristal Sotomayor
For the last eight years, James has been looking after his mother, whose dementia makes her care increasingly challenging. As mother and son go through their routine, recorded voicemails provide a glimpse into the progression of the disease, underscoring the frustration, isolation and burnout that comes with intensive caregiving for loved ones. Mariam Zaidi.
A son fights corrupt officials while his mother tends their poppy farm in India. As authorities strike back at their lower-caste family, they must choose between keeping food on the table and standing up for what's right.
Labelled a terrorist and left disabled, a Sámi activist paid a brutal price in ??1982 while battling ??Norwegian authorities ????to protect his ancestral land. Masterfully blending archival footage and re-enactments, In My Hand retraces his battle and legacy, and challenges us to ask: Is it finally time to stop exploiting nature and start preserving it?
In the post–Roe v. Wade United States, scientists are on the cusp of a watershed moment in birth control—the introduction of new, viable male contraceptives. As we watch brave individuals fight to make medical history, Big Pharma's reluctance to invest in these new products remains a maddening obstacle to the groundbreaking prospect of changing family planning and gender politics forever.
Forced to flee Sudan for East Africa following the outbreak of war, five citizens of Khartoum — a civil servant, a tea lady, a resistance committee volunteer and two young bottle collectors, re-enact their stories of survival and freedom through dreams, revolution, and civil war.
From her now unofficial office in Vienna, Manizha Bakhtari remains Afghanistan's only female ambassador. As she fearlessly defies the Taliban's gender discrimination by enabling the secret education of girls, she becomes one of the most important voices for women in her country.
A close-up study of radically different life forms that puts our own human scale in a new and thought-provoking light. Lichens are amazing organisms. A combination of a fungus and algae, two life forms that once upon a time decided to enter into symbiosis with each other. Fungi have difficulty photosynthesising and algae have difficulty incorporating sugar. Therefore, their union is beneficial for both parties. Or in other words: It is better to live together than to live alone. 'Lichens are the Way' is a loving and thought-provoking close-up study of radically different life forms, and of what happens when we turn our attention to beings and life forms outside our own scale. Czech Ondřej Vavrečka shot his radically imaginative, organic film in Canada, where lichenologist Trevor and his partner have created a home together in the symbiotic spirit of the object of their studies.
In 1983, a disabled Californian woman named Elizabeth Bouvia sought the "right to die," igniting a national debate about autonomy, dignity, and the value of disabled lives. After years of courtroom trials, Bouvia disappeared from public view. Disabled director Reid Davenport narrates this investigation of what happened to Bouvia.
As millions die each year from superbug infections, a Chilean scientist makes it her mission to find new antibiotics in the salt lakes of the Atacama Desert. Through microscopic imagery and staggering vistas of the landscape, we take in the urgency of the scientist's work and the scale of the battle as lithium mining poses a serious threat to the region's delicate ecosystem.
What's the emotional toll of compulsively consuming war imagery on your smartphone? For a group of Gen Z Ukrainians living in Berlin, compassion fatigue and an embrace of absurdist humour are the all-too-relatable byproducts of this uniquely twenty-first century phenomenon.
Charming and fearless, Charlotta abandons a secure full-time heathcare job to pursue her dream of becoming a comedian, jeopardizing her relationship with her family. Can she reconcile her responsibilities as a wife and mother with her drive for comedic success?
In 1987, Marlee Matlin became the first Deaf actor to win an Academy Award and was thrust into the spotlight at 21 years old. Reflecting on her life in her primary language of American Sign Language, Marlee explores the complexities of what it means to be a trailblazer.
In northern India's Dehradun, an all-women police unit tackles troubled marriages with unexpected wisdom and authority. Inside the bustling station, couples confront domestic turmoil while the officers balance tough love with surprising moments of humour.
As Russia launches its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, primary schools across Russia's hinterlands are transformed into recruitment stages for the war. Facing the ethical dilemma of working in a system defined by propaganda and violence, a brave teacher goes undercover to film what's really happening in his own school.
Set against the Alps's astonishing beauty, the left-wing director's evolving relationship with his Cuban activist boyfriend, whose disillusionment has shifted his politics to the right, offers a candid portrait of the turmoil and transformation that can arise when love mixes with politics.
A South Korean filmmaker uncovers the erased existence of her aunt who died by suicide before graduating college. As she confronts family secrets and dating violence, she exposes generations of patriarchal damage inflicted on women expected to live as "good daughters."
Monica grew up in a big, inseparable, devoutly Christian Chinese-Indonesian family, for whom togetherness was perceived as happiness. Moving away from home as an adult, Monica finds love and acceptance in their new, chosen family. But when their inner child shows up in therapy, Monica is challenged by the complicated reality of simultaneously feeling the saddest and happiest they have ever been.
During the isolation of the pandemic, Daniella experiences memory lapses about her stillborn child. Seeking comfort, she revisits voice messages exchanged with her midwife, Gisele, during her pregnancy. Through arresting performance art and musical compositions, Daniella expresses and releases her grief in connection with the bodies of water that surround and heal her.
Ready, sex, go: Dive into the underground sex party scene of New York City.
Revisit the pivotal moments and courageous actions that ignited Canada's 2SLGBTQ+ movement. From early struggles to landmark victories, this powerful reminder of how quickly rights can be taken away highlights the ongoing fight for justice and equality.
Struggling with depression and social anxiety, Paul has found refuge in serving women who invite him to clean their homes. By sharing his gently eccentric routines on social media, he combats loneliness and takes it one day at a time.
Katie struggled with her physical and mental health for decades—until she discovered the benefits of plunging into the frigid waters of the sea. Now part of a swimming community, she finds empowerment and friendship as she confidently darts through kelp forests on the ocean floor in this heartwarming animated film about isolation, community and the healing power of water.
Being LGBT is criminalised in Muslim-majority Malaysia. Trans man Faris and his punk band still travel the country playing gigs and protesting on the streets. A documentary portrait of courageous people, humorous friendship and the spirit of punk.
River of Grass is a poetic meditation on the Florida Everglades's fugitive past, present, and future inspired by the late feminist environmentalist Marjory Stoneman Douglas's 1947 book of the same title .
Selena Quintanilla — the "Queen of Tejano Music" — and her family band, Selena y Los Dinos, rose from performing at quinceañeras to selling out stadium tours. The celebration of her life and legacy is chronicled through never-before-seen footage from the family's personal archive.
An online vigilante, self-described as the "Creeper Hunter," seeks out potential sexual predators and ambushes them in videotaped confrontations, exposing them to the court of public opinion. Ultimately, his actions land him in a legal battle to justify his ethically questionable actions.
Boca Chica, Texas. Hemmed in by the Gulf of Mexico and the Rio Grande, the village is defined by the rhythmic sound of the waves. But this wild country is in the midst of irreversible change. For the swamps have been drained, the beaches closed and the homes bought out: the shadow looming over the beach is that of a 50-story rocket, being readied for launch into space.
Vasectomies – these are the men who made the cut. In this animated documentary short, guys discuss their experiences and thoughts about getting "the snip."
Spreadsheet Champions follows six students as they put their Excel-lent skills to the ultimate test in Microsoft's most prestigious and difficult category. A heartwarming tale of formulas and friendship, Spreadsheet Champions reveals the far-reaching influence of spreadsheets in today's world and the power of young minds to shape our future. Who will triumph, who will fail, who will EXCEL?
A physician grapples with family trauma and his father's legacy as a famous shaman and spiritual healer when he crosses paths with a devout believer who claims his father saved her life.
The playful and inventive They're Here places the viewer within a community of New Yorkers who have had close encounters with UFOs and reexamined their lifestyles as a result.
In late 2021, Chile experienced its most violent anti-immigrant protest, sparked by an unprecedented influx of migrants from Venezuela. This evocative cinematic experience examines contrasting perspectives around the migrant crisis that is driving anger and violence towards the migrants.
Why do they jump despite the danger? A diverse group of cliff divers in Mexico poetically relate the thrill of taking that leap into the water.
Within the first month of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, more than 12.5 million people were forced to flee their homes and 5 million fled the country altogether. Documentary filmmaker Antonin Peretjatko returns to Lviv with Andrei, who has left with his family for France, to retrieve Andrei's personal belongings and to explore his own roots, but most importantly to record eyewitness testimony from people who have remained in Ukraine. Part reportage documentary and part poetic road movie with an aesthetic style reminiscent of the early French New Wave, Voyage Along the War tries to share with the viewer what everyday life looks like in a war-torn country.
A project to document life inside a Greenlandic prison evolves into an intimate journey of healing as two women united by trauma—a filmmaker and a convicted murderer—discover how small acts of compassion can lead to the profound release they desperately seek.
In Northern Ireland's underground car community, daring spirits share deep bonds built on their passion for high-speed diffing. Amid a mental-health crisis, they navigate challenges both on and off the road, chasing adrenaline as an outlet for their personal struggles.
The film takes place in the desolate Kazakh steppe, on the grounds of a former nuclear testing site, where two ecologists conduct research to identify radioactive areas unfit for habitation. Nearby, an eyewitness to the nuclear tests writes down his personal memories, while his son struggles to save his sick daughter. Through the intimate story of three generations of one family, the film reflects on humanity's collective history and the dire situation facing our future. The steppe serves as a metaphor for our planet, now perilously close to becoming a vast nuclear wasteland.
In rural Kenya where women lose their homes after their husband's death, a widow rises as a fierce advocate to help other widows reclaim their rightful property and provide a home for their children.
Forty years after her arranged marriage as a child, Hawa finally begins an independent life and to be literate. However, with the return of the Taliban to power, her dreams, along with those of her daughter and granddaughter, are shattered as they face new struggles.
When filmmaker Areeb Zuaiter lost her Palestinian mother, she lost her connection to Gaza. With all the memories from her childhood destroyed, she sets out on a quest to connect with a young man she sees in a video doing parkour among ruins in Gaza. With Ahmad as her guide, she explores life in Gaza, and rebuilds her memories of her mother and her childhood. In this time when Gaza and its people are being devastated every day, here's a portrait of a tormented city and the perseverance of its people.