Projects in categories: Documentary

Synopsis

A young Nigerian girl recounts her experiences of being fostered into a white British family. Based on original documentary interviews with 16-year-old Yemmi, this short animation film takes us on an emotional journey from the urban deprivation of Hackney, to suburban Bournemouth as she searches to reconcile her split cultural identity and express her complex feelings toward both her birth mother and native Africa.

An uplifting tale of contemporary relevance in which hope and youth triumph over adversity.

Synopsis

On October 12th 1978, New York Police discovered the lifeless body of a 20 year-old woman, slumped under the bathroom sink in a hotel room. She was dressed in her underwear and had bled to death from a stab wound. The woman was Nancy Spungen, an ex-prostitute, sometimes stripper, heroin addict, and girlfriend of Sex Pistols' bassist Sid Vicious. In a trial by tabloid newspapers Vicious was pronounced guilty before noon the following day. But the case never had the chance to be brought to trial, and a number of New York cops weren't convinced. Less than six months later in a flat in New York's Greenwich Village, Sid, himself aged only 21, died of a heroin overdose. For the next 28 years the assumption was that Sid did it - case closed.

Over time, the death of Sid and Nancy has passed into rock legend and has only added to the controversial and notorious image of the Sex Pistols and punk music. At the request of Sid's mother, who committed suicide in 1996, rock author and punk expert Alan Parker has devoted himself to discovering what really happened in room 100. Parker has re-interviewed 182 people, re-examined NYPD evidence, and gone back to his original interviews with Sid's mother.

Synopsis

Synopsis

It wasn't exactly a promising childhood. An impoverished father at fifteen, Daniel joined the family business, becoming a drug dealer despite watching his two brothers jailed for the same crime. But when his mother narrowly escapes a prison sentence, and moves the family from North Carolina to the South Bronx, Daniel is given a fresh start. At Taft High School, one of the most violent, notorious high schools in the nation, Daniel discovers that education can give him a future away from poverty and crime. Mature beyond his years, and increasingly articulate, he becomes a dedicated student, not only is he the first of his family to graduate high school, but he wins a scholarship to one of the most elite universities in the US.

Just as he thinks the world is his oyster, Daniel falters. A fish out of water he feels alienated not only by his white classmates, but even more so by his middle-class black ones. Filmed over nine years by director Daniela Zanzotto, and narrated by Daniel himself, this is a remarkable portrait of a self-believer determined to steer his own path in life.

Synopsis

Director Adrian Wills, known for his sensitive portrayal of artists and their work, documents the adventure of the Beatles and Cirque du Soleil joining forces to produce the live show Love. Traveling between London, Montréal and Las Vegas, his team tracks the human story behind the production - from its beginnings in Abbey Road Studios to its historic opening night.

Inspired by the energy of cinéma vérité, All Together Now presents dozens of revealing incidents and encounters. Using archival material as well as intimate interviews with Sir Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, Yoko Ono Lennon and Olivia Harrison, Sir George Martin, Giles Martin and Dominic Champagne, this feature- length documentary is a privileged glimpse of the artistic process from within the creative circle.

Synopsis

Buried under concrete and controversy on the outskirts of Dublin lie the remains of Ireland's pop star priest - Father Michael Cleary. In 1991 as a student Alison Millar moved into his house and started filming him. Fifteen years on, using her unseen archive, this film is the story of the secret life of a man who fooled her, his family and an entire nation.

Synopsis

An intimate portrait of a modern indigenous Maya city, its people, tradition and ritual. Filmed over the course of eight years in the highlands of Guatemala. A vibrant living culture and how it adapts to and embraces the modern world.

In Tz’utujil and Spanish with English subtitles and voice over.

Synopsis

'Poor People are allowed to have the same dreams as anyone else.' Boot Polish is a magical short film about a shoe shine boy Babar who becomes emotionally involved with a courtesan.

A detailed behind this scenes documentary. Shooting in Lahore Pakistan. This film follows the directors trek from England to Pakistan and the number of difficulties he faced trying to make a short film. The Documentary covers a wide range of stories and social issues including poverty, and humantarian issues.

Synopsis

Forget about nuclear missiles, the decisive weapon of the twentieth century is the car bomb. With shocking footage of car bomb attacks and penetrating interviews with car bombers, ex- CIA agent Baer reveals how the century of the car turned into the century of the car bomb.

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Synopsis

Director Joe Jenkins argues that military conscription is no longer physical, but financial, with each of us conscripted through our taxes. Filmed over five years, Contempt of Conscience follows UK campaign group the 'Peace Tax Seven' as they fight to redirect the proportion of their taxes destined for military spend to peaceful means. Placing conscientious objection in an historical and social context, the documentary combines striking visual archive with the engaging struggle of the group, taking us on a journey from their inception, to the arrival of the bailiffs, through the British High Court and beyond.

Synopsis

Tracey Emin calls him an artisan and Christina Aguilera says she is having a love affair with his work and she'll always be a fan. Meet Stephen Webster, the bad boy of jewellery design and subject of Devil In The Detail, a revealing new documentary by Kiken Films.