Why is Cinema Important? (2024)

Freddie Mercury: The Great Pretender

Archive footage of interviews, concerts and personal material bring to light the solo performance work of Mercury, the lead singer of Queen.

The Ku Klux Klan: A Secret History

From its inception in 1866 to it's diminished but still vocal brotherhood in the modern era, this release takes a close look at the ways in which the Klan has evolved through such events as the Civil Rights Movement and affirmative action. In addition to informative interviews with such subjects as Hooded Americanism author David Chambers and The Fiery Cross author Craig Wade, this film also seeks to get the story from the inside by offering revealing interviews with Grand Dragon Edward Foster and Imperial Wizard Jeff Bary.

WWE: 50 Greatest Finishing Moves in WWE History

The 50 Greatest Finishing Moves in WWE History presents the most amazing, devastating, and bone crunching signature moves in this countdown-style production guaranteed to stir up controversy and banter among the WWE Universe. Which moves made the cut, and what is the greatest finishing move in the history of WWE? Find out here.

Seed Money: The Chuck Holmes Story

Seed Money is the story of Chuck Holmes, a San Francisco pornographer turned philanthropist. Holmes helped shaped and create gay identity in the years after Stonewall, and later became a major contributor to gay advocacy groups like the Human Rights Campaign and the LGBT Victory Fund, only to find later in life that while his money was welcome in philanthropic circles, he sometimes wasn't.

When Playboys Ruled the World

Produced by ITV Sport, When Playboys Ruled the World is a documentary that takes a look at the lives of 1970s legends Barry Sheene and James Hunt. First aired back in 2010, the documentary mixes period race footage, original interviews with Hunt and Sheene and conversations with friends and family. People like Stephanie Sheene, David Hunt, Sir Stirling Moss, Max Mosley, Murray Walker, Max Clifford and Kelvin MacKenzie provide an interesting perspective on how things were back then. If you haven't seen it already, get some cold beers and get ready to be transported back into a time that was magical...

The Freddie Mercury Story: Who Wants to Live Forever?

The last years of Freddie Mercury (1946-1991), rock legend and frontman of Queen, a band that conquered the world of music in the seventies and eighties: what was his lifestyle and the path that led him to a tragic death due to AIDS when he was only 46 years old.

The Humiliated

A very intimate look on Lars von Trier and his cast and crew, during the production of "The Idiots".

Le Big Bang Des Dinosaures

National Geographic - Le Big Bang Des Dinosaure

Reality Winner

A state of secrets and a ruthless hunt for whistleblowers – this is the story of 25-year-old Reality Winner who disclosed a document about Russian election interference to the media and became the number one leak target of the Trump administration.

Close-Up Long Shot

Hossain Sabzian and some of his associates discuss his character, his life-long obsession with cinema and his attitude towards the film he starred in, "Close-Up" (1990).

Torquato, Imagem da Incompletude

A reflection on the works and thinking of the last years of production by Torquato. Such as the magazine "Navilouca", the film "Terror da Vermelha", the column "Geleia Geral" and the controversial Cinema Novo X Marginal, among other passages important aspects of Brazilian culture in the 60s and 70s.

The Invisible Nation

The Algonquin once lived in harmony with the vast territory they occupied. This balance was upset when the Europeans arrived in the 16th century. Gradually, their Aboriginal traditions were undermined and their natural resources plundered. Today, barely 9,000 Algonquin are left. They live in about 10 communities, often enduring abject poverty and human rights abuses. These Aboriginal people are suffering the threat to their very existence in silence. Richard Desjardins and Robert Monderie have decided to sound the alarm before it's too late.

Ingrid Bergman: In Her Own Words

A personal and captivating account of the extraordinary life and work of Ingrid Bergman (1915-82), a young Swedish woman who became one of the most celebrated actresses in world cinema.

Speeding, of Course

70-year-old Timo makes the most of his short ride to work. Speeding up on a bicycle ends up in a ditch, but the adrenaline rush leaves a feeling of pleasure.

Voices from the Abyss

La Quebrada Cliff Divers in Acapulco, Guerrero, earn their living by diving 100 feet into the sea from a dangerous cliff as part of a thrilling show at La Quebrada. In Voices from the Abyss, we explore the nature of their dives through slow-motion footage, personal testimonies, and an original poem recited by the divers themselves.

Once upon a time... "I, Daniel Blake"

The documentary, filmed in England in autumn 2020, sheds light on the genesis and background of the social drama.

Tom Cruise: The Last Movie Star

Tom Cruise - actor, producer, daredevil. The face of Hollywood in the 1980s, after a mid-career meltdown, his future looked in doubt. But through a single-minded commitment to entertaining audiences worldwide, he has risked life and limb and fought his way back to the very top. In an entertainment world dominated by superheroes and fantasy franchises, he stands alone… the last movie star.

Imagine… Pet Shop Boys: Then and Now

Featuring exclusive access to their recent tour and their new album, this documentary reveals the fascinating world of Pet Shop Boys, Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe.

Prête-moi ton docteur

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Michael Jackson's Journey from Motown to Off the Wall

Director Spike Lee chronicles Michael Jackson's early rise to fame.

Tchernobyl : Le Mensonge français

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You Know: Uncovering What Lies Beneath

A feature-length retrospective documentary on the making of “What Lies Beneath.”

Shoot for the Moon

A documentary about the trials and tribulations of being a entrepreneur and film maker in Finland from the makers of Iron Sky franchise.

DIY: The Rise and Fall and Rise of Punk

D.I.Y. is an extrospective dissection of Pop-Punk; from the SoCal garages of the 80’s to the enduring impact the genre has had on music, fashion, and culture.

A Cowboy in Lisbon

Tired of my city, I imagine the arrival of a cowboy in Lisbon.

The Private Voice of Hitler

Everyone knows the public archive footage of Hitler. But most of it is silent. What was he saying? Special computer technology enables us for the first time to lip-read the silent film.

Françoise Hardy : tant de belles choses

An idol of young people in the 1960s, Françoise Hardy agrees to be interviewed and candidly reflects on her successes, disappointments, and love life.

Empire of Dust

Lao Yang is head of logistics of the group. He is responsible for the equipment, building materials and food (mainly chickens) to arrive in the isolated Chinese prefab camp. The Congolese government was supposed to deliver these things but so far the team hasn't received anything. With Eddy (a Congolese man who speaks Mandarin fluently) as an intermediate, Lao Yang is forced to leave the camp and deal with local Congolese entrepreneurs, because without the construction materials the road works will cease. What follows is an endless, harsh, but absurdly funny roller coaster of negotiations and misunderstandings, as Lao Yang learns about the Congolese way of making deals.

The Making of All About My Mother

A documentary from 2012 on the making of the film, featuring interviews with Pedro Almodóvar; Agustín Almodóvar; actors Penélope Cruz, Marisa Paredes, Cecilia Roth, and Antonia San Juan; production manager Esther García; and author Didier Eribon.

The Thinnest Line

A fist-person story of the director of the documentary, who talks about the loneliness that entails living with an eating disorder and her vision now thar she is entering into adulthood.

Girls State

What would American democracy look like in the hands of teenage girls? In this documentary, young female leaders from wildly different backgrounds in Missouri navigate an immersive experiment to build a government from the ground up.

The Making of Volver

A short featurette about the emotions of the cast and crew while shooting Volver.

Atatürk - Father of the Turks

In the documentary, the life of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the last period of the Ottoman Empire, the War of Independence and the developments in the first years of the Republic of Turkey are told in parallel. The documentary prepared by Michael Adams consists of recordings made by the BBC in 1970 in Çanakkale, Samsun, Amasya, Sivas and Ankara, as well as historical footage.

Blackadder: The Lost Pilot

Sir Tony Robinson takes a journey back in time to find out where Blackadder really began, and to uncover the story of the previously-unseen pilot episode.

Brian Cox: Seven Days on Mars

With unique access to Nasa, Brian Cox follows Perseverance rover’s search for life on Mars during a critical seven-day period as it undertakes an epic journey across the red planet.

Impressions from the Shoot: Making Bad Education

A short featurette of behind the scenes footage from Almodóvar’s Bad Education (2004).

Making Parallel Mothers

A behind-the-scenes featurette of four sections: Art Design, Photography & Sound, Costume & Makeup, and Production Design.

La Grotte Cosquer, un chef-d'œuvre en sursis

A short distance from Marseille, at Cape Morgiou, in the depths of the Calanques massif, lies the Cosquer cave, discovered only about thirty years ago by a diver, Henri Cosquer. With its bestiary of hundreds of paintings and engravings - horses, bison, jellyfish, penguins - the only underwater decorated cave in the world allows us to learn a little more about Mediterranean societies 30,000 years ago. Today, threatened by rising water levels accelerated by global warming, this jewel of the Upper Paleolithic is in danger of being swallowed up. To save the cave from disappearing, the Ministry of Culture has chosen to digitize it. From this virtual duplicate, a replica has been made on the surface to offer the public a reconstruction that allows them to admire these masterpieces.

The Making of Pain and Glory

A B-roll behind-the-scenes featurette providing insight into Pain and Glory’s production, with interviews from Almodóvar and Banderas.

Sean Penn, l'enfant terrible de l'Amérique

Sean Penn is almost a living legend. His filmography paints a picture of an 'other America': the lower class, the oppressed and the outsiders. Whether as an actor or director, he turns all the great myths upside down.

In the Grip of Terror: Making Talk To Me

The cast and crew talk about making the film with some behind-the-scenes footage.

Answering the Call: Behind the Scenes of The Black Phone

Take a behind-the-scenes look into the most pivotal elements of THE BLACK PHONE production, including adapting the story and achieving the vision of director Scott Derrickson.

Tiny Things

The life and work of a retired model maker.

Let the Festivities Begin: Manifesting Midsommar

A featurette where Ari Aster and the cast break down the story and give us a behind the scenes look at the making of the film. It gives a fascinating look inside Ari Aster’s mind, and the detail put into production.

Samurai Beyond Their Dreams: Becoming the Best in the World

In December 2021, Hideki Kuriyama began devoting his days to one singular goal: hoisting the championship trophy at the 2023 World Baseball Classic. How did he mold his players into one of the best and strongest Samurai Japan teams in history? A close-up documentary that looks back on Samurai Japan's path to becoming world champions, along with valuable behind-the-scenes footage captured by the team's dedicated crew.

Mythos Amalfiküste - Liebe, Laster, Dolce Vita

The Amalfi Coast is not only one of the most scenic regions in Europe. In the last century, it became a fashionable meeting place for stars, artists, the rich and famous, and the towns of Amalfi, Ravello and Positano became the stage for dazzling stories. Off the coast, the island of Capri beckons as an Eldorado for forbidden desires and lust for life.

The Making of Boiling Point

Director Philip Barantini talks through how the short became a feature-length film, alongside details on the production.

Director’s Journal: Making The Invisible Man

Tracks Leigh Whannell’s directing process on reimagined horror classic The Invisible Man.

Druzhba: The Friendship Pipeline

"The Pipeline of the Century -- How Soviet Natural Gas Came to the West" by director Matthias Schmidt shows touching personal memories. The production is a treasure trove of material in which previously unpublished visual material about the construction of the century and its builders can be seen. Writer & Director Matthias Schmidt ; A Co-Production by LOOKSfilm and MDR in Cooperation with ARTE

Des Amandiers aux Amandiers

A free and intimate portrait behind the scenes of Valeria Bruni Tedeschi's creation. In front of the camera, she transmits to today’s young actors the memory of the 1980s.

Where is the Final Destination?

A single tree that has witnessed events, a girl who loves Forough, and a boy who reads Sohrab.

Porto Rotondo. The Invented Village

On the occasion of the sixtieth anniversary of the founding of Portorotondo (1964 – 2024), the documentary tells the story of this locality established by two Venetian brothers, Nicolò and Luigino Donà dalle Rose. Enamored with Poltu Ridundu, they transformed a perfectly round body of water into one of the most renowned tourist destinations in the world. Through interviews with illustrious figures such as writer Marcello Fois, Nicola Pietrangeli, Enrico Vanzina, and Carolina Rosi, the documentary explores the social, economic, and cultural revolution that completely transformed Gallura during the years of the economic and tourist boom.

STRATA INCOGNITA

STRATA INCOGNITA, is a trans-scalar and trans-temporal journey across the geographies that articulate soil as an agro-industrial infrastructure, but also as an ecosystem and a somatic archive of crimes, memories and myths.

Dream Girl: The Making of Marilyn Monroe

How did Marilyn Monroe become one of the greatest sex symbols of all time? What drove a prudish little Californian girl, who was not especially pretty nor exceptionally talented, to become this incredibly striking platinum blonde superstar? How did she become the icon capable of balancing innocence with raw sensuality, whilst continuing to captivate the masses to this day? How did she achieve this? And what price did she pay?

Hurley

In the world of 1970s car racing, Hurley Haywood was cool, calm and collected. A five-time 24 Hours of Daytona winner, three-time Le Mans winner and Trans-Am champion, Haywood was a Hollywood archetype: a strikingly handsome man brought up by a good Midwestern family. Yet Haywood was often overshadowed by racing partner and volatile mentor, Peter Gregg—the Batman to his Robin—whose abrupt suicide in 1980 shook the sport to its core. And yet Haywood had secrets of his own. Despite multiple encounters with women, some that included public appearances alongside Penthouse models, he remained elusive about his personal life. With deft use of archival footage and exclusive interviews featuring actor and fellow racer, Patrick Dempsey, Hurley reveals a greater insight into Haywood’s tightrope walk between career and sexuality, while posing the question—will motorsport ever be ready for openly LGBT racers?

Senses of Cinema

As notions of civil rights transformed across the world, so was the screen landscape reformed by the ascension of grassroots film movements seeking to challenge the mainstream. Some aspired to push form to its limit; others worked to destabilise what they saw as a homogenous industry, or to provoke questions around gender, sexuality, migration and race.

The Tuskegee Airmen: Return to Ramitelli

Narrated by Country Music Superstar Darius Rucker. We return to Ramitelli airfield in Italy to chronicle the legacy of World War II's famed Tuskegee Airmen, African American pilots who helped break stereotypes and helped win World War II with their incredible fighter escorts of American bombers.

Geniale Frauen - Malerinnen von der Renaissance bis zum Klassizismus

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We Are X

As glam rock's most flamboyant survivors, X Japan ignited a musical revolution in Japan during the late '80s with their melodic metal. Twenty years after their tragic dissolution, X Japan’s leader, Yoshiki, battles with physical and spiritual demons alongside prejudices of the West to bring their music to the world.