Leaving to Remain (2023)

Acasă, My Home

In the wilderness of the Bucharest Delta, nine children and their parents lived in perfect harmony with nature for 20 years – until they are chased out and forced to adapt to life in the big city.

O Baripen

The TV biopic maps the fate of Roma writer Elena Lackova in an intimately personal way. As viewers, thanks to the author's authentic voiceover and preserved archive footage, we delve into her memories of the Holocaust and the communist dictatorship in the context of the play Burning Gypsy Camp. We uncover the circumstances of growing up in a gypsy settlement, her first literary achievements, and her struggle to combine her personal and professional life. We also get to know her life story through her great-granddaughter and actress Alžbeta Ferencova, known as Zea or the serial Iveta (dir. Jan Hřebejk, 2022). The parallel between the life of the writer and that of her great-granddaughter, who also embarked on an artistic career and broke down stereotypes about the role of Roma women in society, creates a timely and transferable story. A crucial motif of the poetic film is also the unprecedented emancipation of the writer for the time.

Dajori

The protagonist of Dajori (mother in Romani) is forty-five-year-old Marie Hučková, who lives with her husband in Varnsdorf. After her younger sister Iveta ends up on the streets with her nine children, she decides to take her own fate and theirs firmly into her own hands and attempts to break out of the vicious circle of poverty that characterises their hometown. This sensitive film, which captures three years of a newly formed family's life together, follows the small joys and daily challenges of caring for others and asks whether a mother's love can overcome the dysfunctional system in which socially excluded localities find themselves.

Citizen Miko

Miko is a truck driver, his father is Romani, and above all he is a man who wanted to help those in need. When the Czech government was looking for reasons not to take in a few dozen children from Greek refugee camps after the chemical attacks on Syrian civilians in 2018, Miko took justice into his own hands and, together with the Czechs Helping initiative, prepared facilities for child refugees. However, government officials gave priority to political interests. Will parliamentary elections and a change of ministries save the situation? An unflattering but accurately portrayal of the Czech Republic as a country that will only offer a helping hand when it is worthwhile.

The Third End of the Stick

Otherness in otherness. What does it mean to be different in a community that is itself excluded from society? The documentary follows the fate of Roma who have become a minority in a minority society. Roma gays and transvestite search for their living space and dream of working abroad. A legless father of five longs for a wheelchair. A Roma grandmother sacrifices her life for the health of her beloved grandson. Will Emil, a Roma man who has found faith in God, be able to save his son from alcohol? Four stories from the poorest Roma settlements in Slovakia aim to break down prejudices between the Roma community and the white majority.

The Unpromised Land

Sabina has traveled from Romania to the small Swedish town Holmsund with her Roma brothers. They work in a garage and Sabina is looking for a job. Elin, born and raised in Holmsund, is in the church singing at the graduation ceremony. A summer is about to start and Sabina will get to know Elin. Together they will revolt against the old ways and find something new in each other. At the same time the society around them collapses in fear and Elin’s dad becomes insane by sorrow. Because there is a madness in the Swedish idyll.

The Gypsy Camp Vanishes Into the Blue

This colourful, music-filled and sensual melodrama based on early stories by Maxim Gorky tells the fatal love story between the beautiful and rebellious girl Rada and the handsome horse thief Zobar. The story is set in early 20th century Bessarabia, now part of Moldova, then belonging to the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

The Garbage Helicopter

Somewhere in Sweden, a gigantic dumpster breaks free from a heavy chain suspended underneath a big helicopter. The dumpster hits the ground with a formidable crash and the garbage spouts out into the surroundings. Meanwhile, an aging Roma woman wakes up in her house with an extremely strong desire to get her old wall clock back.

The Marco Effect

When a homeless Romani boy is arrested at the Danish border for possession of a missing public servant's passport, police inspector Carl Mørck and Department Q are tasked with finding the connection.

Meat Loaf - A Celebration Of Life

A short film tribute about the musician Meat Loaf, released by his family in 2023 on the anniversary of his death.

Greed Energy

Greed Energy illustrates the adverse effects the Obama administration’s “Fast-Tracking” of large scale renewable energy projects.

Un voyage sonore en Roumanie : A travers les temps et les mondes

From Bucharest to the remote villages of the Carpathians, from the national composer Georges Enesco to his contemporary heirs, a journey in the footsteps of Romanian musical traditions. “Romanian popular music forms an imposing whole, a precious treasure from which our composers draw their inspiration,” said Georges Enesco, trained on the violin by a Gypsy teacher. Punctuated by quotes from the composer and interpretations of his works, this documentary sets out in search of a treasure of many nuances, which continues to liven up village festivals and influence the young Romanian scene. From the scores of Dan Dediu, one of today's greatest composers, to the folk songs of the Maramures, a journey to discover this fascinating mosaic of musical cultures.

Wild Women

At the beginning of winter, a filmmaker retires for six months to a hermit's cabin in the middle of the forest, cut off from the world and its means of communication. Through the words of four women she has filmed previously, all of whom have dedicated their lives to different forms of spirituality, she embarks on a mysterious inner adventure, on the edge of solitude and nature. A journey that invites us to connect with the world in a different way.

Town Business

After a "diplomatic mission" into a neighboring town Kell returns to his town to see that his not so bright team of idiots have screwed up everything.

Black Sunshine Baby

Family memories and personal art movingly portray author and motivational speaker Aisha Chaudhary's journey with an immune disorder and terminal illness.

Rebel Without a Crew: The Robert Rodriguez Film School

25 years after making his independent film "El Mariachi" for only 7,000 dollars, filmmaker Robert Rodriguez recreates the experience with his micro-budget film, "Red 11," this time documenting his process in order to teach other artists how they can make their dreams a reality.

Herod's Lost Tomb

National Geographic follows archaeologist Ehud Natzer in his discovery of the tomb of Herod the Great.

Before, during and after the Pinchcliffe Grand Prix

Remo Caprino loosely and grippingly tells the story about the making of the now beloved norwegian movie, the production itself and the cultural impact it has had for almost 40 years.

Closer To God

People have different ideas on how to get closer to God. The makers of this fascinating Swiss documentary follow two Pakistani men. One is a dervish or mystic, undertaking a life-long pilgrimage with heavy metal rings on his legs. He walks through the desert until his feet are raw, praying at every shrine he comes across along the way. The other is the custodian of a centuries-old musical tradition, for whom the idea of God lies in self-knowledge, insight and harmony with the environment – a harmony that he strives to achieve through life-long study and passing on his knowledge to new generations. In Pakistan, it is impossible for them to act together as the risk of attacks means any large meetings are prohibited. The film follows the men as they visit impressive holy sites, as well as in their everyday conversations, and provides a beautiful, sideways look at Pakistani society.

Nietzsche Sils Maria Rochedo de Surlej

Bressane (together with his partner Rosa Dias and young filmmaker Rodrigo Lima) guide us through the beautiful Swiss Sils Maria, where Nietzsche spent no less than eight summers. In his letters, Nietzsche indicates which spots brought him to a different understanding of philosophy. He discovered, beyond the philosophical text, a source for ideas in the pure air, in the mountain landscapes, in the water of the lakes, and in the age-old forests.

The Mission of Herman Stern

This is the true story how one person made a difference in the lives of over 125 people by rescuing them from Nazi Germany. In 1903 Herman Stern arrived in America at the age of 15. He could not have imagined, 30 years later, he would be helping others come to America to escape persecution from his home country of Germany. There has been very little written about Herman Stern and his goal to save relatives, extended family and even strangers from possible death and persecution in the 1930’s in Nazi Germany. This project focuses on Herman Stern’s leadership skills and desire to help all in society as well as his civic and economic contributions to North Dakota. Video Arts Studios has produced an award winning video documentary as well as an accompanying lesson plan for schools, which have been distributed electronically to North Dakota schools via the ND University Systems. The video has also been made available to North Dakota libraries, museums and service organizations.

Psycho Skate

This VHS video features tons of rare footage of guys like Tony Hawk, Christian Hosoi, Rodney Mullen, Gator, Mark Gonzales, and many more of the late 1980's biggest stars.

Chicago Blow-Out

The NSA Chicago Blow-Out contest video included footage of Tony Hawk, Steve Caballero, Lance Mountain, Monty Nolder, Micke Alba, Ken Park, Mark Rogowski, Christian Hosoi, Kevin Staab, Mike McGill, Rodney Mullen, Jeff Grosso, Chris Miller, Jeff Kendall, Steve Steadham, Steve Schneer, Rob Roskopp, Tom Groholski, John Gibson, Rick "Spidey" Demontrond, Jim Gray, and more.

Deep Blue

Deep Blue is a major documentary feature film shot by the BBC Natural History Unit. An epic cinematic rollercoaster ride for all ages, Deep Blue uses amazing footage to tell us the story of our oceans and the life they support.

Comet: A Great British Air Disaster

The De Havilland Comet was the world's first passenger jet airliner. But less than two years into service, two aircraft blew up in mid-air, killing all aboard. PM Winston Churchill ordered an assemblage of experts to discover what went wrong - in the process, inventing many of the air crash investigation techniques still used today.

Becoming Home

a story of lives, friendship, griefs and dreams of six young men and women who are stateless.’ They hope that everyone will be treated equally as human beings.

Britain's Viking Graveyard

Archaeologists believe that a massive grave in a vicarage garden in Derbyshire may be the last resting place of a vast army of thousands of warriors that invaded Britain in the ninth century.

Whispers of Concrete

In recent years, the Marga Marga Province has witnessed a drastic change in the visual and sound landscape due to urban expansion. Faced with the observation and the need to explore the territory that seems more and more alien and less and less our own, the film functions as a material resource and support for plastic reflection on living in the midst of capitalist progress.

Mariah Carey: The First Vision

Mariah Carey's The First Vision, gives viewers an inside look at Mariah on the cusp of her meteoric rise to superstardom. This 1991 film contains early music videos, behind-the-scenes footage, an interview and songs from her very first live performance at New York's intimate Tatou Club.

The Magic Maker

Famed magician Adam Trent breaks the number one rule of magic and puts magic in the hands of everyday people to help them with the biggest and most emotional moments of their lives.

Carnikavas kalnu karalis

A documentary about Latvian professional road racing cyclist Toms Skujiņš.

Jackson

With a single abortion clinic remaining in the state of Mississippi, the city of Jackson has become ground zero in the nation's battle over reproductive health-care. Jackson is an intimate portrait of the interwoven lives of three women in this town. Wrought with the racial and religious undertones of the Deep South, the lives of two women are deeply affected by the director of the local pro-life crisis pregnancy center and the movement she represents.

Midnight Return: The Story of Billy Hayes and Turkey

The real life story of Billy Hayes and Midnight Express.

Karolyi

A look at Martha and Bela Karolyi's remarkable story that traces generations of gymnastics' most memorable tales, moments and champions.