1. Agnes Martin: With My Back to the World
A groundbreaking documentary on the internationally renowned painter, designated by ARTnews Magazine one of the world's top-ten living artists. This documentary was shot over a period of four years, from 1998 through 2002, Agnes Martin's ninetieth year. Interviews with Martin are inter-cut with shots at work in her studio in Taos, New Mexico, with photographs and archival footage, and with images of her work from over five decades. It is a venue for Martin to speak about her work, her working methods, her life as an artist, and her views about the creative process. She also discusses her film, "Gabriel" and reads from her poetry and lectures. In keeping with Martin's chosen life of solitude, she alone appears in the documentary.
2. The Ceausescu Trial: A Stolen Revolution (Le Procès des Ceausescu : une révolution volée)
30 years after the fall of the Romanian dictator Ceausescu in 1989, we get a reconstruction of one of the most violent events during the fall of the communist regimes.</p><p> The investigation exposes the gray areas of a coup d'état sparked by the ex-communist elites under the guise of a people's revolution. And zooms in on the role of the media in the mock trial and execution of Nicolae Ceausescu and his wife Elena.
It has an average vote of 8 on TMDB.
3. Hackers Are People Too
A portrait of the hacking community. In an effort to challenge preconceived notions and media-driven stereotypes Hackers Are People Too lets hackers speak for themselves and introduce their community to the public.
It has an average vote of 6.4 on TMDB.
4. Broadway Cinema: The Heart of Filmmaking in Nottingham
A short documentary about one of the best independent cinemas in the UK.
5. When the Mountains Tremble (When the Mountains Tremble)
A documentary on the war between the Guatemalan military and the Mayan population, with first hand accounts by Nobel Peace Prize winner Rigoberta Menchú.
It has an average vote of 9.5 on TMDB.
6. Notarangelo the Soul Hunter (Notarangelo ladro di anime)
David Griecos documentary showcases the underappreciated photography of Domenico Notarangelo, and through it, tells the story of Matera, it's people and it's history.
It has an average vote of 10 on TMDB.
7. In Praise of Action
Documentary about stunts and their recognition in the film industry. Without their selfless contribution to film, the movies we know and love, would not be nearly the same. It is the art of ACTION that allows us to experience those thrilling moments Just as that famous Director's saying goes, "Lights, Camera. - ACTION!" There is an understood, yet UNSUNG value to the last of those three necessary components in film-making. Directors, Producers, and Studio Execs all know that the work of Stunt Professionals is an effective way to motivate people into the box offices and to help captivate an audience during Award Shows. Many people do not know that Stunt Professionals do not get an Academy Award, even though they are the ones who literally risk life for their life's passion. In Praise of ACTION makes a statement why Stunt Professionals are being forgotten in the biggest film awards ceremonies? This is the right time to talk about it.
It has an average vote of 10 on TMDB.
8. A Place in Time
The film takes a look at the daily lives of people in more than two dozen countries around the world during the course of a week. In the film, celebrity friends of Jolie visit orphanages, refugee camps and other areas of concern in an effort to raise awareness and encourage cultural understanding. It is an experimental documentary that seeks to capture both the diversity of life around the globe and the similarities of the human spirit by filming in many places in the world at precisely the same moment.
It has an average vote of 8.3 on TMDB.
9. Here and Elsewhere (Ici et Ailleurs)
"Here is a family of average French people in front of their television. Elsewhere, they are Palestinian fighters filmed before the massacres of Black September." . "We came here to study this: to learn, to learn lessons, if possible to record these lessons, to then broadcast them here, or elsewhere in the world. Almost a year ago, two of us came to investigate the Democratic Front. Then another went to Fath. We read the texts and programs. As French Maoists, we decided to make the film with Fath whose title is Until Victory. We let the Palestinians , during the film, themselves say the word: "Revolution". But the true title of the film is Methods of Thought and Work of the Palestinian Liberation Movement."
It has an average vote of 6.4 on TMDB.
10. Darwin's Nightmare
Africa in the sixties. The Nile perch, a ravenous predator, is introduced into Lake Victoria as a scientific experiment, causing the extinction of many native species. Its meat is exported everywhere in exchange for weapons, creating a globalized evil alliance on the lake shores. An infernal nightmare in the real world that wipes out Darwin's Theory of Evolution.
It has an average vote of 6.938 on TMDB.
11. I'm Thinking a lot of Thoughts Right Now
In "I'm Thinking a lot of Thoughts Right Now," four friends embark on an unforgettable journey to California, where they not only discover the beauty of friendship amidst the stunning landscapes but also explore the depths of their own sexualities. Shot through three different cameras, the film captures their candid conversations, heart-to-heart moments, and exhilarating adventures as they navigate both the scenic vistas and the complexities of their identities. Through laughter, tears, and self-discovery, they learn that being good friends means accepting each other for who they truly are, embracing their individual paths, and supporting one another unconditionally.
It has an average vote of 10 on TMDB.
12. Islamorada Scramble
A portrait of life in Islamorada, Florida, its unique residents, and the unprecedented changes that have begun taking place.
13. Capital Zero (Capital Zero)
(Capital Zero)
It has an average vote of 10 on TMDB.
14. Living on One Dollar
How do 1.1 billion people around the world live on less than one dollar a day? Four young friends set out to research and live this reality. Armed with only a video camera and a desire to understand, they spend just 56 dollars each for 56 days in rural Pena Blanca, Guatemala. They battle E.Coli, financial stress, and the realization that there are no easy answers. Yet, the generosity and strength of their neighbors, Rosa, Anthony and Chino gives them resilient hope. They return home transformed and embark on a mission to share their new found understanding with other students, inspiring and challenging their generation to make a difference.
It has an average vote of 6.4 on TMDB.
15. Lobão – Decadence Avec Elegance (Lobão – Não Há Estilo Sem Fracasso)
"Lobão - Não Há Estilo Sem Fracasso" investigates the artistic career of Lobão, one of the most famous musicians of brazilian rock in the 80s. From some interviews with people such as Edgard Scandurra, Liminha and Marcelo Sussekind, this short movie shows various points of view about music industry and it presents hits of Lobão such as "Das Tripas Coração" and "Mal de Amor".
16. What We Remember (Woran wir uns erinnern ...)
Nine very private encounters with different people of the post-war generation and their memories of childhood and youth. Among others, the guitarist and singer Peter "Caesar" Gläser and the actress Christine Harbort. Roland Steiner asked his contemporaries about - "What we remember ...". All interviewees are as old as the state they live in. Nine CVs from the GDR are described. They have different professions, from skilled worker and scientist, nurse and saleswoman, actress or rock musician, even a minstrel is included. They remember what shaped them: Family, school, birthdays and hot summers, the happy moments and their own failures.
17. Essay on color and its absence (Ensaio sobre a cor e sua ausência)
An experiment and a dialogue about recording, the act of filming and the colors available to whoever points the camera somewhere.
18. Evicted City (Ma cité évincée)
Montreal — one of the few remaining affordable cities in North America — is now in the midst of an unprecedented housing crisis. An intimate portrait of socio-political resistance, this multilayered film explores the human impact of real estate speculation on the cities of tomorrow.
19. Pussy Riot: Rage Against Putin (Pussy Riot, rage against Poutine)
Pussy Riot make a comeback after a long absence to stand with Ukraine. Their story and their struggle are told through archival footage and interviews with the group’s members.
It has an average vote of 8 on TMDB.
20. Killer Volcanoes
Documentaries by Katia and Maurice Krafft feature some of the amazing footage shot by the renowned volcanologists, who perished in 1991 while filming a volcano in Japan. The duo documented more active and erupting volcanos than any other scientists in the world, and their dedication shows in Deadly Peaks and Killer Volcanos, two educational films that capture the scientists on the edge of a hot ash blast and floating on a lake of sulfuric acid. The films visit Mount Kilimanjaro and examine some of the less-known dangers such as carbon monoxide gas that builds under crater-formed lakes. They also take an in-depth look at the eruption of Mount St. Helens and the lengths to which people will go to save their communities. Venturing to places where most people would never dare, the Kraffts gave their lives to promote the study of volcanos and left behind a legacy of courage in the name of science. --Shannon Gee
