Projects in categories: Documentary

Synopsis

Herman Wallace, Albert Woodfox and Robert King spent almost a century between them in solitary confinement in Angola, the Louisiana State Penitentary. They are known as the Angola 3. Herman and Albert are still in solitary confinement after thirty six years in solitary confinement. How could this be?

In America. Today. In The Land Of The Free... Is a documentary feature that examines the story of these extraordinary men who appear to have been targeted by the prison officers for being members of the Black Panther Party because they fought against the terrible conditions and systematic sexual slavery that was rife in the prison. They were subsequently convicted of the murder of a prison guard. There was no physical evidence against them and the main eye witness was bribed and promised his freedom by the warden in exchange for testifying. After years in the oblivion of solitary confinement, this year has finally seen dramatic developments of the Angola 3. This documentary tells the on going story of the case of the Angola 3.

Synopsis

A major documentary which tells, through their letters, diaries and entirely original colour archive footage, the remarkable story of the people of South East Asia who fought three wars over three decades to gain their freedom.

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The 1960's saw the closure of hundreds of psychiatric hospitals when people gained more and more awareness of lobotomy, lobectomy, electroshock therapy, insulin therapy, and when the discovery of Thorazine prompted patients' release to the community. After the onset of de-institutionalization, there has been an almost deliberate effort to bury the history of these places.

Ian Ference, an amateur photographer has visited dozens of derelict insane asylums - mostly by breaking into the guarded premises - in order to resurrect the memories of those forgotten patients.

Insanity Vault follows Ian through one of his crazy adventures in Connecticut.

The team arrives at Norwich State Hospital early morning and sets up for a long walk in the nearby forest and along a disused railway line which leads to the abandoned buildings. They progress in a military like operation towards the safety of the tunnels, carefully avoiding the patrol.

Ian sets up base camp in one of the halls, which was originally used as a non violent building. Walls are crumbling and fallen plaster covers the ground several inches deep in some corners. Discarded documents and artefacts are scattered around.

The forensic ward, which housed the guilty for reason of insanity and the violent patients, is disturbingly beautiful. Sun rays finding their way through the barred windows, contrast with the sternness of the corridors. In some rooms, the roof has even collapsed.
 

Synopsis

Vanessa and Maurice, an African-American couple with five kids, leave Alaska for Las Vegas in search of a better life. Filmed over four years, it is a story of love and family set against the turbulent backdrop of economic boom and bust.

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Irene, a feisty 92 year old with Alzheimer’s, doesn’t want to be put into a home for the elderly. A personal film about three generations of women coming to terms with a difficult decision.

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A short documentary about a man whose struggle to overcome daily obstacles has produced an astonishing universe of outsider science fiction.
 

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In 2008 an independent production company set out to make the micro-budget feature film Just For The Record.

Armed with a stellar cast of top TV actors, the world’s most advanced digital camera and a quirky location to die for - what could possibly go wrong?

A lot, as it happens.

A year after the film has been abandoned, the cast and crew reunite for a series of interviews about the ill-fated production. It’s a constant round of accusations, recriminations and humorous anecdotes as everyone tries to answer the central burning question: Why did the film fail and whose fault was it?

Synopsis

At the start of the bitter Winter War the Soviet Red Army invaded Finnish-Karelia forcing thousands of civilians deep into Finland.

Teenagers Annikki, Inkeri and Hilkka left their families to drive cattle through deep snow and hostile lands. A lifetime later they look back on their adventures.
 

Synopsis

Le Donk is an improvised comedy, shot over five days by Shane Meadows and starring Paddy Considine. It is based on a character Paddy has created called Donk: a failed drummer and now a roadie. 

Fifteen years ago Donk seemed to have it all, but now his life is shit. His ex-partner is pregnant with his child and much to his dislike living with her new boyfriend. He is taking UK rapper Scor-zay-zee with him on a road trip that he hopes will change their lives.

Synopsis

The myth of Ernest Hemingway frames this journey from a rifle club in Britain to the savannah of southern Africa. Filmmaker Joseph Matthews has never fired a gun before, but makes a surprising discovery about his own attitude to shooting that leads him into the disturbing world of big game trophy hunting.

From Hemingway to present day the film examines whether there is anything we can learn about masculinity from these men who seek their thrills from the power a gun gives to its bearer.

Synopsis

Little Matador  is a feature length documentary about children bullfighters in Mexico. Kids as young as eight are trained to kill bulls ten times their weight. The film follows three children who are fighting not just the bull but their own demons;

Michelito is ten. The adored child of a matador Dad, Michelito has killed over two hundred bulls. ‘Picasso was born to paint, Mozart to make music – and Michelito to be a matador,’ says Dad. Can Michelito fulfil his father’s dream to become the youngest matador in history?

Joel is nine. Neglected by his mum and step-father, he finds paternal love in the ring. Matador Ismael becomes Joel’s surrogate father and guardian angel. But if Ismael moves to Spain for his own career, what will happen to Joel?

Andrea is twelve. She started bullfighting when her father moved to America. Andrea has disowned her dad – who has found a new woman - and vows to save her mum from poverty by becoming a superstar bullfighter. But will Andrea ever get over her terrible nerves every time she enters the ring?

Little Matador is an extraordinary testimony to the lengths these kids will go to realise their dream.

Synopsis

Abiyot runs for money, every weekend at a different race. He left Ethiopia to try and relaunch his running career in the US.

With every aspect of his daily routine centered on his training, his footsteps not only dictate the rhythm of his life, but also become the pervasive rhythm of the film.