Die Halligen im Wattenmeer (2021)

Drifters

A silent film by John Grierson. It tells the story of Britain's North Sea herring fishery.

Sylt - Wellen, Wind und Watt

Endless beaches, dunes, heath and the Wadden Sea characterize the landscape of Sylt. Germany's largest North Sea island is also a paradise for numerous animal and plant species. Around half of its area is under landscape or nature protection. In spring and autumn, thousands of migratory birds stop here on their way between Siberia and East Africa. Sheep graze on the dike meadows, female seals give birth to their young off Sylt. And the Sylt Wadden Sea is one of the last large wilderness areas in Europe. But in winter storms hit the island. If the “Blanke Hans”, as the storm on Sylt is called, causes the North Sea to rage, it hits the island with tremendous force. Only a few places on the German North Sea coast are as exposed to the force of the sea as the west coast of Sylt. The documentary shows Sylt's nature in fascinating images. People who are particularly connected to the island and its nature are accompanied in their everyday lives.

Summer

Because he can't accompany his father, a German army officer, on his next deployment in Somalia, 15-year-old Tim has to move in with his grandmother on the North Sea island of Amrum. There, the cool skater from Berlin, who seems to magically attract problems, immediately loses his reputation as a freak and difficult outsider. Only chubby Eric, who suffers teasing and attacks from the surfer clique around rich Lars, stands by him. When Tim also falls in love with pretty Vic, Lars' girlfriend, a fight is inevitable.

Tsunami

A series of explosions carried out by an oil drilling platform in the North Sea causes little earthquakes and alarm the population of coastal areas closest to the epicenter.

Bis zum Ellenbogen

Achim, a risk-taking young shipowner, and Willi, an inventive bon vivant, collide in the Swiss Alps. The accident alone reveals the rifts that lie between their worlds. Only Sven, the peace-loving bank employee from Sylt, who takes them both in at his vacation cabin, manages to broker a truce with cheese and wine. However, by an unfortunate coincidence, Sven dies at a happy moment. Now Achim and Willi have a problem: what to do with the body? Before his death, Sven told them all sorts of things: about his boss at the bank and fresh bread rolls, a lot of black money and the key to it. While Germany is in the grip of World Cup fever, Achim and Willi travel with Sven's body from the Swiss Alps to the North Sea. On Sylt, the dead man is supposed to wave to his boss one last time before being buried at his elbow as requested. But there's a catch: black money doesn't stink, but Sven does!

The Riddle of the Sands

In the early years of the 20th Century, two British yachtsmen (Michael York and Simon MacCorkindale) stumble upon a German plot to invade the east coast of England in a flotilla of specially designed barges. They set out to thwart this terrible scheme, but must outwit not only the cream of the German Navy, but the feared Kaiser Wilhelm himself.

Black Island

The dark secrets of a seemingly peaceful island threaten to swallow up an orphaned student when he grows close to a mysterious new teacher.

Amrum

On Amrum Island in spring 1945, twelve-year-old Nanning hunts seals, fishes at night, and works the fields to help feed his family. When the war ends, his mother sinks into depression, and he must navigate new conflicts while struggling to find his own path.

Nordsee ist Mordsee

14-year-old Uwe lives in a suburban Hamburg housing estate. Besides trouble, the boy has not much to expect from his parents. To get his hands on some money, he prizes open vending machines, and to let out his frustration, he beats up "wogs". Among them is Dschingis, his nemesis. But one day, the rivals make peace. They become friends because they realize that they have the same problems and are driven by the same dreams and hopes.

Drift

Two women spend a weekend in the North Sea. One of them will soon return to her family in Argentina, whereas the other one will try to come a step closer to the ocean. She will cross the Atlantic Ocean on a sailing vessel. Time leaves the beaten track and the swell lulls to deep sleep. The sea takes over the narration. When the other one reappears, the wind is still in her hair while the ground beneath her feet is solid. She returns and the other one could ask: “Have you changed?”

The Boat That Rocked

When a group of rebellious deejays decides to defy the ban on government-censored music, they take to the seas to broadcast music and mayhem to millions of adoring fans.

North Sea Hijack

When terrorists take over two oil rigs, and threaten to blow them up if their demands are not met, an eccentric anti-terrorism expert volunteers his unique commando unit to stop them.

The Burning Sea

An oil platform dramatically goes down on the Norwegian coast, and researchers try to find out what happened when they realize this is just the start of something even more serious.

Flow and Ebb

Crab fishers Fred and Malte have never talked about their feelings. After a stroke of fate Fred experiences a mental breakdown.

Hell on Wheels

Year after year hundreds of thousands of fans line the route of the Tour de France, cheering on their heroes and willing them to victory, while millions of viewers worldwide tune in on their televisions. Academy Award-winning director Pepe Danquart, fascinated by the spectacle of the three week race, chose to focus on the courage, the pain and the fear of the riders of the Tour. Training his lens on German superstar sprinter Eric Zabel and his loyal domestique Rolf Aldag, Danquart captures the thrill of the race and the teamwork behind the stars of the peleton. He also shines light on the Tour's supporting cast - the director sportifs, masseurs, and, of course, the wildly enthusiastic fans. Reveling in the stunning landscape - from the Alps to the Pyrenees to the Massif Central to Paris - and with a nice dollop of Le Tour's history, HELL ON WHEELS transcends the sport it celebrates to reveal an astonishing human endeavor.

The Living Desert

Although first glance reveals little more than stones and sand, the desert is alive. Witness moving rocks, spitting mud pots, gorgeous flowers and the never-ending battle for survival between desert creatures of every shape, size and description.

Metallica: Some Kind of Monster

After bassist Jason Newsted quits the band in 2001, heavy metal superstars Metallica realize that they need an intervention. In this revealing documentary, filmmakers follow the three rock stars as they hire a group therapist and grapple with 20 years of repressed anger and aggression. Between searching for a replacement bass player, creating a new album and confronting their personal demons, the band learns to open up in ways they never thought possible.

The Corporation

Since the late 18th century American legal decision that the business corporation organizational model is legally a person, it has become a dominant economic, political and social force around the globe. This film takes an in-depth psychological examination of the organization model through various case studies. What the study illustrates is that in the its behaviour, this type of "person" typically acts like a dangerously destructive psychopath without conscience. Furthermore, we see the profound threat this psychopath has for our world and our future, but also how the people with courage, intelligence and determination can do to stop it.

Colombia in My Arms

After 52 years of armed conflict the FARC guerrillas are about to hand over their arms in exchange for political participation and social inclusion of the poor. Ernesto is one of them. The much celebrated Colombian peace agreement throws Ernesto and the polarised society around him into chaos in which everyone is afraid of the future and their own survival.

Kelet

Kelet is a twentysomething black trans woman, whose greatest dream is to be on the cover of Vogue magazine. For the Finnish-born and Manchester-raised Kelet, such models as Naomi Campbell and Iman served as role models giving her strength – and during the darkest times, kept her alive. After coming out, then 19-year-old Kelet was cut off from her family and she moved back to Finland on her own.

Lady Time

Sirkka-Liisa died alone with no one left to miss her. Elina happened to buy her home after her death and ended up with all Sirkka-Liisa's possessions from books to photos. What would happen If Elina threw all her things away?

Lost Kubrick: The Unfinished Films of Stanley Kubrick

He is considered by many the greatest film director the medium has ever known. Yet in a 45-year career, Stanley Kubrick's films number only a dozen. That he strove for perfection is well established. What is less known is that he lavished years of energy on several films that never saw the flickering light of the silver screen. Through interviews and abundant archival materials, this documentary examines these "lost" films in depth to discover what drew Kubrick to these projects, the work he did to prepare them for production, and why they ultimately were abandoned.

Rock Hudson: Dark and Handsome Stranger

Rock Hudson was a virile screen idol who was the epitome of clean-cut masculinity. He was one of the first Hollywood celebrities to die of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, providing the killer virus with a famous face amidst the American AIDS paranoia of 1985. 2010 is not only the 25th anniversary of his death but would also have been his 85 birthday. The film investigates the many film roles Rock Hudson played, against the more intimate and private world of Roy Fitzgerald.

Stevie Van Zandt: Disciple

Stevie Van Zandt, known as New Jersey's most famous consigliere to Bruce Springsteen and Tony Soprano, takes center stage. Featuring a wealth of never-before-seen footage, this documentary traces Van Zandt's career as a producer, musician, songwriter, activist, actor, and more, from the clubs of Asbury Park, N.J. to arenas and stadiums, to the Bada Bing Club and the Underground Garage.

Space of Pure Thought

Philosopher Jan Jõemets embodies all Estonian humanitarians of 1990s. While flying too high and being too free he burned his fingers and now the viewers can decide themselves whether Jan has enouth will and power to rise from the ashes. Only Jan's friend Margus Ott has survived in today's desinfected and chlorinated pool of education among the former philosophy students of the School of Humanities. The documentary points out the commercialization of today's higher education and suffocation of free thinking. The protagonists' journey reveals how educational system attempts to cast creative thinkers into similar moulds.

Pensionnats catholiques de Guyane, la blessure

Plot unavailable

The Keys to Freedom

To mark the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War, Wim Wenders shot a short film that takes us to the most secret place in Europe at that time: a map room in a school in Reims, France, which served as a war room for the Allies. On May 7, 1945, Nazi Germany surrendered there and the world war ended.

Ayrton Senna

The BBC's award winning documentary looking at the impact the death of Ayrton Senna had upon the world of motor racing. Featuring interviews with key people from Senna's life in motor sport.

Otherness

A documentary that collects the diverse voices of the lesbian community in Catalonia. A genealogy which comprehends four generations, and a very intimate journey through intertwining lives, allowing us to understand what is it like to exist within a world made of heterosexual structures whilst belonging to the LGBTIQ+ collective. Otherness is an emotional and contemporary material bringing to the screen other possible lives we might never have thought of.

Artificial Roles

Artificial intelligence is taking on different roles in the filmmaking space. The questions we must ask ourselves are: what are the pros and cons of this advancement? How can we work with it, and what power do we have as human beings in the face of this technology?

My Freedom

30 years of freedom = 30 authors = 30 minutes of films. A unique project of Reflex magazine and Czech Television, which in honor of the 30th anniversary of the Velvet Revolution reflects many forms and understanding of freedom. Various personalities of the Czech cultural sphere have made their minute films.

Joachim Barrande – ztracená moře

Plot unavailable

Ondřej Sekora – Práce všeho druhu

Plot unavailable

The Passions of Louis Malle

A documentary portrait of the legendary French film director Louis Malle featuring many of his collaborators including playwrights David Hare and John Guare, his brother Vincent Malle, his wife Candice Bergen, the Observer film critic Philip French and a myriad of the movie stars, actors and actresses he worked with.

Fascism on a Thread: The Strange Story of Nazisploitation Cinema

Feature length documentary on the cult sub-genre featuring interviews with Dyanne ‘Ilsa’ Thorne, Malissa ‘Elsa’ Longo, filmmakers Sergio Garrone, Mariano Caiano, Rino Di Silvestro, Liliana Cavani, Bruno Mattei, and many more.

Disco Europe Express

Despite its Afro-American origins, the history of disco music, the soundtrack of the seventies, would be inconceivable without a handful of legendary European music producers who conjured up some of the biggest world-wide hits in the anonymity of their studios.

Flat Pack Pop: Sweden's Music Miracle

Journalist James Ballardie explores the uniquely Swedish songwriting formula created by record producer Denniz Pop, discovering how the biggest chart hits of the last 30 years have been inspired by the myths and legends of this Land of the Midnight Sun.

The Cutting Edge

Yûichirô Miura, the man who skied down Everest, journeys to an 8,000 foot mountain in the midst of a frozen antarctic wasteland to experience the incomparable thrill of skiing where no one has skied before.

Hamlet Within

A radical cinematic investigation into the myth of Hamlet, the avenging prince of Denmark, William Shakespeare's creature; his origins and his unending influence on many diverse cultures.

Call Me Miss Cleo

Follow the rise, fall, and reinvention of controversial and revered '90s television psychic Miss Cleo. Featuring interviews with celebrities and those closest to the self-proclaimed voodoo priestess, this documentary explores the many layers behind a complicated and charismatic figure.

Watching My Name Go By

Watching My Name Go By is a 1976 BBC documentary on the birth of graffiti in New York City, and the fight to both prevent it, and expand it's artistic value. In 'Watching my name go by' kids in New York have a unique kind of occupation - sitting on the subway stations ' watching my name go by'. Eleven to 17-year olds compete to see how many times they can 'get their names up ' in a colorful way - a kind of graffiti cult game which has its own rules and regulations. It's illegal and dangerous-some New Yorkers think it's a kind of ' art others think it's disgusting.