Projects in categories: Documentary

Synopsis

The powerful story of how a new generation of black and brown activists are changing the social and political landscape in the capital and beyond. Following an exciting new breed of organisations as well as the young Londoners that are part of them. The London Black Revolutionaries, or ‘Black Revs’, have a predilection for dramatic, raucous, direct action. 'R Movement' challenge the idea of the ‘Staid and Serious’ political activist and 'The Black Dissidents' are a new organisation intent on furthering the fight against oppression along the lines of race, class and gender. A chronicle of the evolution of characters as they experience personal and political awakenings, breakthroughs and, at times, disillusionment. A unique and original glimpse into the rewarding but difficult path that must be trodden in the struggle for personal, social and political liberation.

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India’s largest crowdsourced documentary. The story of a single day, 10th October 2015. The film is a unique document, capturing a remarkable range of characters and personal reflections into what it means to be alive in India today, submitted by individuals from across the country.

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By the early 1980s, after two decades of violence and unrest, the situation in Northern Ireland took a sudden and profound turn inside the infamous Maze Prison. Seeking the right to be treated as political prisoners rather than common criminals, Irish Republicans led by Bobby Sands began a prison hunger strike that would draw international attention to the conflict. In the 66 days that he refused food, Sands would be elected to the British Parliament, put the Irish Republican struggle centre stage on the world news agenda, and pay the ultimate price for his political convictions. The film combines a powerful mosaic of archival materials, reconstructions and the illuminating accounts of former prisoners, commentators and key players in the drama. With Sands' evocative prison diary at its core, the film brings fresh insight to an iconic figure who single-handedly created a transformative moment in Ireland's history that had global aftershocks. (Hot Docs brochure) Hot Docs 2016 - World premiere

Synopsis

Ghana 2011. Inside a dusty roadside shack sleeps Paa Joe - the world renowned Grandfather of the fantasy coffin trade. He dreams of his bygone days – bringing money home in briefcases and work being shipped to galleries the world over. Now, he sleeps as the cars hurtle passed. There are no customers, no tourists – there are no coffins to make. His son, Jacob, dreams too, he dreams of returning his father to his glory days and rebuilding the family legacy together. Over the next four years they stand side-by-side, conquering love and death and embracing a life changing opportunity to travel to the UK to undertake an artist residency. It is the start of their future together – father and son, master and apprentice, Paa Joe & The Lion. Sheffield Doc/Fest 2016 - World premiere

Synopsis

Moazzam Begg has been detained under suspicion of terrorism in Pakistan, Afghanistan, Cuba and Britain. In 2002, in Bagram, he confessed to being a member of Al Qaeda. He has never been convicted of any crime. This is his first-hand account, a chronicle of the rise of modern jihad, its descent into terror and the disastrous reaction of the West. Sheffield Doc/Fest 2016 - World premiere

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Cult-pop raconteur Aidan Moffat, former frontman of indie band Arab Strap sets out to explore Scotland’s past by rewriting and touring its oldest songs. But he doesn’t count on running into 79-year-old force of nature Sheila Stewart, a travelling balladeer who upturns Moffat’s folk assumptions. He believes the old songs are ripe for updating. She does not. With Stewart’s wrath ringing in his ears, Moffat embarks on a road trip that finds him dressed for battle in a Highland graveyard, caught between feuding monster-hunters at Loch Ness, and singing in a dismissive farmer’s kitchen, before facing Stewart in his home-town of Glasgow for an unlikely final showdown, in this funny wee film about music and death. Glasgow Film Festival 2016 - World premiere

Synopsis

Documentary focusing on the work, both on screen and off, of director Ken Loach. Revolving around the 'battles' linked to his long filmography- ranging from the campaign to combat homelessness prompted by the 1966 film 'Cathy Come Home', to a right-wing press backlash over the Palme d’Or win for 'The Wind That Shakes The Barley' in 2006, to a fight with the censors over the language in 'Sweet Sixteen'. A provocative and revealing account of the life and career of one of Britain’s foremost filmmakers, produced as he turns eighty, looking back at over fifty years of filmmaking.

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The picture we frame of the past continuously changes and grows over time, slowly becoming less similar to the original experience. Returning to Blackpool, we visit people, places and memories as 24 hours in the ‘Vegas of the North’ unfolds.

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Consumed is a cinematic journey through the landscapes, mines, factories, and shipyards of Chinese production. Blurring the lines between documentary and fiction, a single worker narrates his story to the rhythm of industrial machinery, re-framing supply chains as a narrative performance at global scale.

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On a dusty hillside surrounded by olive trees, the children of Ketermaya play far away from the horrors of Syria. But life in the Lebanese refugee camp is far from easy. Disrupted education, the loss of loved ones, and the scars of war and chemical weapons weigh heavily in this extraordinary portrait of family and childhood innocence. An important corrective to narratives surrounding refugees, and a moving fable of hope and resilience in unimaginable circumstances

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The inside story of a group of men willing to risk all in the hunt for glory in the world’s toughest motor race: The 24 Hours of Le Mans. The undisputed “King of Le Mans” is the dashing German driver for Audi, André Lotterer. The three-time winner is a master at fighting off pretenders to his throne but, this year, will the hunter become the hunted? His main challenge is Porsche's Aussie Grit, Formula 1 favourite Mark Webber - back at Le Mans after a long absence and determined to win. Having failed to finish the race in three attempts and come close to death on the track, he wonders how many more rolls of the dice he might have... Focussing on the 2015 race, with unparalleled behind-the-scenes access, what plays out is a truly thrilling story of racing guts and glory with endless twists and turns for every team… This is racing seen as a battle for survival. Presented in 4k 3D and using state-of-the-art technology, this is racing shown on the big screen as it has never before been seen. As Steve McQueen said, "Racing is life, everything else is just waiting."

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An intimate view of the studio of American composer Laurie Spiegel (born 1945). Known for her electronic-music compositions and her algorithmic composition software, the film also reveals all manner of music and technology paraphernalia, from music scores to DIY inventions and quirky toy collections. The soundtrack features electronic music composed by Spiegel, with her voiceover musing on electronic music and the compositional process.