In this Special Jury Award winner from Sundance, Bing Liu films his friends Zack and Keire over a decade, capturing their skateboarding antics against the backdrop of their faded, blue-collar Illinois hometown. For all three, the community formed via skateboarding has offered refuge from volatile home lives. As they face the increasing responsibilities and complexity […]
23-year-old activist Nadia Murad has a horrifying personal story to tell. But her ability to relate it is a rare beacon of hope for her minority community of Yazidis. They were targeted by ISIS for systemic rapes and genocidal violence. As one of the few Yazidis who speaks to the Western press, Nadia carries their […]
Oscar-nominated for three documentaries, Wim Wenders (The Salt of the Earth, Pina, Buena Vista Social Club) trains his camera on the Argentine pontiff who has led the Catholic Church since 2013. His namesake, Saint Francis of Assisi, is famous for his love of nature, his devotion to the poor and his efforts to make peace […]
For six decades, Quincy Jones has made lasting musical contributions across genres from jazz and soundtracks to pop and hip hop. This intimate portrait by the filmmaking duo of Rashida Jones (his multitalented daughter) and Alan Hicks (Keep On Keepin’ On) follows the now 85-year-old producer over three years on the road. He shares reflections […]
This vital portrait of Ruth Bader Ginsburg traces her history from trailblazing ACLU lawyer to becoming an outspoken, dissenting liberal voice on the conservative-leaning Supreme Court. The film also portrays a moving love story between Ruth and her husband, Martin Ginsburg. He was far ahead of his time in supporting his wife’s career. As the […]
As reproductive rights grow more embattled, award-winning filmmakers Annie Sundberg and Ricki Stern (Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work, The Devil Came on Horseback) trace the legacy of the Supreme Court’s landmark Roe v. Wade decision. One surprising revelation is how much abortion rights were supported by Republicans in the 1960s. The film “reminds us […]
Director Rudy Valdez’s sister, Cindy, a married mother of three young girls, long ago left a drug-dealing ex. Despite this, she receives a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison under conspiracy charges related to his crimes. Over a period of ten years, Rudy’s camera captures the moments in his nieces’ lives that Cindy […]
Sundance Directing Award winner Sandi Tan weaves a tale of youthful talent, guerilla filmmaking and a decades-long mystery solved. Tan was obsessed with indie film as a teenager growing up in Singapore. Under the tutelage of a mysterious older mentor, Georges, she filmed her original script, Shirkers, during a summer break, only to have Georges […]
In 1980, a complete coincidence brought together identical strangers Bobby Shafran and Eddy Galland, 19 year olds who realized they were separated at birth. The subsequent press coverage led to the startling discovery of a third young man, David Kellman. They were actually identical triplets, each adopted by a different family. Instant media sensations, the […]
Oscar-winning filmmaker Morgan Neville (20 Feet from Stardom) tells the story of Fred Rogers, an ordained Presbyterian minister who influenced generations of children via his essential public television program, Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. Stressing unconditional love and acceptance while speaking honestly with children, the pioneering host and his cast of lovable neighbors and handmade puppets gently […]