In Rignano, Ghetto residents implored me: “Do not display our lives in these precarious houses. This despair is not yours to show.” Yet, their profound misery was the first thing I saw and my initial, conflicting urge to document.

There are not many fish left in the Mediterranean Sea, and both fishermen and dolphins are fighting for survival. This film clearly shows the consequences of overfishing and unsustainable tourism in the island of Stromboli through two of the last guardians of a world that is disappearing. This i...

South Africa's "Brotherhood of the Hunt" campaign brilliantly redefined HIV testing. It turned a clinical procedure into a masculine rite of passage. Men were encouraged to "hunt" their status, framing the test as an act of courage and responsibility. This culturally savvy approach shattered stig...

Exploring Myanmar's recently opened Myeik Archipelago, this documentary showcases 800 pristine islands. Now a top-ten destination for travelers and divers, the film is a beautiful homage to this natural environment and its native inhabitants, the Moken people.

In Jakarta, young punks escape authority for freedom, their stigmatizing tattoos a permanent break with society. "A Punk Daydream" intertwines documentary and fairy-tale as Eka and his friends navigate a future marred by corruption and pollution. They feel a kinship with the Dayak people, another...

Leni Riefenstahl claimed her art transcended politics. Yet her iconic films, Triumph of the Will and Olympia, glorify Nazi power and Aryan ideals. In Mueller's documentary, her steely perfectionism and denials persist, but the evidence within her frames tells a different story.

In Brazil, the Spiritist movement is growing at a phenomenal rate. Followers believe that direct contact can be made with dead loved ones. In this film, we see the work of one of Spiritsm's proponents, Fernando Ben, as he claims to receive messages from a deceased man. Grief stricken relatives cl...

In the city of Gävle, Sweden, there is an annual fight between local custodians and mischievous pagans for the spirit of Christmas. Each year since 1966, local business owners have paid for a 40ft straw goat to be made and displayed in the main square for the Holiday season. In 37 of those years,...

In Rio, an elderly man lovingly prepares his curió, an endangered songbird, for a prestigious singing contest. This cherished tradition spotlights a profound bond, but also casts a complex shadow, as the very birds celebrated for their beautiful songs are vanishing from the wild.

In Marc Isaacs’ film, diverse London arrivals seek better lives: an aspiring Irish singer, a lonely ex-builder, a Kashmiri hotel worker, a Jewish WWII refugee, and a retired German stewardess. Blending humour and heartbreak, it’s a deeply affecting, non-polemical study of immigration.

In 2012, Kochi, Kerala launched Asia’s biggest contemporary art show. Filmmaker Hattie Bowering follows artists battling no power, dengue, heat, and labor issues to open the historic Kochi-Muziris Biennale. A rare, refreshing look inside the artistic process. 

Rio Brazil is a city where racism and inequality are alive and well despite much of its population having ancestral connections to slaves and a 53% of its population identifying itself as 'brown'. Today, women of colour such as Ludmilla must fight to empower themselves in the face of judgment and...

In a haunting recurring dream, Khalo Matabane sees his own body in a coffin. To unravel its meaning, the filmmaker seeks answers from both a psychologist and a traditional South African sangoma, exploring the psyche across two worlds.

Post-apartheid, townships remain: under-resourced, largely-black communities. Residents describe cramped conditions, scarce amenities, and safety concerns, revealing a legacy of enduring inequality.

Controversial Mayor Geng Yanbo demolished 140,000 homes in Datong to relocate half a million people, aiming to restore ancient walls and pivot to tourism. His radical vision sought to combat pollution and revive the economy through culture, outlining a complex blueprint for China's urban future.

China’s top drama academy stages “Fame” as a Broadway collaboration and senior showcase. Over eight months, five single-child generation students grapple with parental pressure, corruption, and personal anxiety. Through the musical, they confront social realities and forge their own paths to succ...

Award-winning filmmaker Daisy Asquith unlocks a long-buried family secret in Ireland. With her mother, she investigates her grandmother’s hidden pregnancy, a forced adoption by nuns, and a mysterious father. Their raw, emotional journey confronts centuries of Catholic shame, culminating in a powe...

While the British perceive Calais as the gateway to Europe or a place to buy cheap alcohol, others see it as the last frontier in the quest for a better life in England. This character-driven film follows the lives of refugees and migrants who have come from afar only to be stranded so close to t...

In a London tower block, filmmaker Marc Isaacs sets up in the lift. His informal chats with residents yield unexpected results—capturing multicultural Britain with humor and moving moments.

Comedian Mike King performs for US & Kiwi troops in Afghanistan, witnessing their rebuilding & security roles. He experiences the war's terror firsthand when an “indirect airstrike” siren sends them scrambling for shelter. A stand-up gig like no other.

Despite increasing smoking bans, New Zealand's Māori community is disproportionately affected. 46% of Māori are regular smokers (vs. 21% non-Māori), causing 31% of Māori deaths. "Dying For A Smoke" investigates this crisis, featuring personal stories like Natasha's, who started young. The anti-sm...

Nestled on Waiheke Island's eastern shore is Connells Bay. Here, art enthusiasts John and Jo Gow have created the renowned Connells Bay Sculpture Park. They masterfully unite art and nature, crafting unique spaces for a stunning collection of site-specific sculptures.

Join Leee John of Imagination exploring St Lucia’s magic! We venture to the majestic Piton Mountains, the drive-in Sulphur Springs volcano, and vibrant music festivals. The journey also features an exclusive interview with the island's Prime Minister. A unique cultural adventure awaits

Rich kids now flock to exclusive favela parties, with tickets over $25 barring locals. From a bar on the tourist route, watch the stark divide between residents and these new visitors.