Talib Shah Hossaini, a 37-year-old Afghan filmmaker and asylum-seeker, lives in Moria on the Greek island of Lesbos – the biggest refugee camp in Europe until it burnt to the ground in autumn 2020. One year into his life in the camp, Talib Shah finds himself on the verge of losing hope. Instead of giving up, however, he decides to shoot a film called Picnic − an insider’s look at the lives of thousands of refugees stuck in a place sometimes described as a humanitarian disaster. Exploring topics such as dreams versus reality, art as a means of survival, or the current immigration policies in Europe, the film invites us to become better acquainted with the people who will soon be our neighbours.
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A semi-fictional correspondence between two women: one goes to Iran in 1979 to topple the Shah; the other experiences the onerous years of Ceaușescu’s Romania. Their biographies run in parallel via images of everyday life and videograms of revolution.
An extraordinary soup kitchen in Milan – the Refettorio Ambrosiano – run by internationally renowned chef Massimo Bottura and 40 of the world’s best chefs including Ferran Adria, Rene Redzepi, Alain Ducasse, Daniel Humm and many others. All food served was made from the food waste of Expo Milano 2015. The film also tells the compelling story of several of the refugees and homeless the Refettorio served.
Our power grid is at grave risk of shutting down completely. An orchestrated physical attack, electromagnetic pulse attack (EMP), cyber-attack, or geomagnetic disturbance (GMD) could shut down our electricity grid for as long as one calendar year or longer. Our electric utility companies have not implemented sufficient precautions to protect our grid, yet they are aware of the dangers. Our state and federal officials are aware of the threat a shutdown poses, yet they haven’t passed any legislation that deals with the threat. This documentary helps us understand the threat, why it has become a threat, and demonstrates how we can fix this problem.
Live concert by Pink Floyd in Piazza San Marco, Venezia, in 1989, performing: Shine On You Crazy Diamond, Learning To Fly, Yet Another Movie, Round And Around, Sorrow, The Dogs Of War, On The Turning Away, Time, The Great Gig In The Sky, Wish You Were Here, Money, Another Brick In The Wall, part two, Comfortably Numb, Run Like Hell.
In 2005, a small group of scientists and filmmakers agreed to leave everything behind for more than a year to sail to the Antarctic and live in isolation. Following in the path of the greatest explorers, expedition leader Jean Lemire and the crew of the Sedna IV dedicated themselves completely to measuring the threat posed by global warming in a place where Earth is particularly vulnerable. The resulting film, is a record of their incredible 430-day journey that inspires equal measures of fear and admiration. Alternating between captivating images of beauty and serenity, and spine-tingling sequences where the ship’s crew finds itself on the edge of catastrophe, this is an expedition where danger and wonder are inextricably linked.
Genuine New Zealand treasures Isey and James invite us into their lives in the week leading up to Isey’s 100th birthday! A Northland celebration of life and aroha like no other!
Documentary tracing how human understanding of the jet stream – a ribbon of fast moving air high in the atmosphere – has grown. It has been responsible for bewildering effect on bomber pilots during the Second World War, turbocharging modern transatlantic flyers, the infamous 1987 hurricane and devastating floods. Scientists believe this powerful weather phenomenon is now changing its pattern of behaviour and could have an even bigger impact on our climate and the way we live our lives. Interviewees include Sir Brian Hoskins, University of Reading and Kirsty McCabe from the BBC Weather Centre.
John John Florence puts his career on the line against Kelly Slater to qualify for surfing’s debut in the 2020 Olympics.
At first glance, the Hudson appears to be just another industrial river. Tree-lined riverbanks are interspersed between cultivated land, bridges, shipping docks, private homes and marinas, factories, chemical plants and brickyards. But go a little deeper and you begin to see sandbars, marshes, waterfalls, lakes and surging rapids. The Adirondacks. The Catskills. Thousands of acres of untamed habitat transform and amaze us with each changing season. It is arguably one of America’s greatest secrets and untold stories. The majestic bald eagle, symbol of the United States, becomes our guide and cinematic touchstone. We will follow the eagle, from courtship to parenting, while moving down the river towards the Atlantic exploring the richly diverse and changing habitats and the profound beauty and challenges to wildlife that come with the changing seasons.
Public Sex, Private Lives is an intimate look at the professional and private lives of porn performers Lorelei Lee, Princess Donna, and Isis Love. Capturing moments of joy and struggle, this film follows the characters as they navigate their lives as artists, daughters, mothers, writers, and women who have made careers in the adult industry. Asked to defend their choices to their families, communities, and even the United States Government, these women share their unique motivations and shifting visions for the future.
Australian born Nick Vujicic was born without arms or legs, but that has not stopped him from leading a full life. Now, 32 and founder of the Los Angeles-based nonprofit Life Without Limbs and a motivational speaker, he gives hope to those born with disabilities. Married with a 2-year-old son, Vujicic is the subject of a short documentary, “Born Without Limbs”, to be aired on TLC on June 17. He shares his inspirational story with NBC’s Sudan Donaldson James.
