Stories about facing authorities and the criminal justice system. (TOTAL RUNNING TIME: 77 MIN) Weedman | Director: Brian Scully A cannabis activist opens a marijuana-themed cafe across from Trenton’s City Hall to test the city’s weed laws—with unexpected consequences. (USA, 18 MIN) The Sunny Side Up | Director: Peter Kilmartin Both Sunny and Peter served on death row for […]
In the wake of the tragic February 14 shooting at their school, Marjory Stoneman Douglas drama students and their teacher harness the power of theater and music to heal themselves and their community. Courtesy of HBO Documentary Films
Bruce Franks Jr., a 34-year-old Ferguson activist and battle rapper who was elected to the overwhelmingly white and Republican Missouri House of Representatives, must overcome both personal trauma and political obstacles to pass a bill critical for his community. Courtesy of MTV. Co-presented by Film Fatales, NYWIFT & ROOFTOP FILMS
2019 SHORT LIST: CINEMATOGRAPHY AWARD This extraordinary portrait of African elephants focuses on the matriarch Athena as she leads her extended family on an epic journey in search of water. The sensitive story appeals to all ages with suspense, humor and hope. The stunning cinematography captures a whole ecosystem, from the majestic giant tusked mammals […]
NYC PREMIERE Jennifer Siebel Newsom’s latest film is a timely look at the deep roots of systemic inequalities that have made possible the ever-widening income gap that threatens the fabric of our democracy. Cultural critics, academics and other notables explore the gendered nature of core American values—with “masculine” traits like individualism, power and money prioritized over […]
NYC PREMIERE The effects of climate change on Africa’s Sahel region are devastating: desertification, famine, conflict and migration. Yet hope lies in the Great Green Wall, an ambitious reforestation project spanning the continent aimed at revitalizing ecosystems and restoring economies. In this story of resilience and self-determination executive produced by Fernando Meirelles, Malian musician/activist Inna […]
Acclaimed photographer and filmmaker Lauren Greenfield (The Queen of Versailles, Generation Wealth) continues her exploration of extreme wealth with the most political work of her career. Filmed over five years, this portrait of Imelda Marcos chronicles her efforts to exert control in the Philippines through support for President Rodrigo Duterte and the candidacy of her […]
NYC PREMIERE Iceland, famed for lush landscapes and stunning scenery, is a mystic country where many believe in magic, trolls and elves. Among them is Ragga, a colorful environmentalist and respected seer, who whispers with elves, providing a conduit to these otherworldly neighbors. When economic development threatens sacred volcanic rocks where many elves live, Ragga […]
NYC PREMIERE Plastic, a seemingly indispensable product, has wrought all sorts of innovations, but at what cost? The plastic industry’s success depends on consumers discarding the product and purchasing new items, creating an endless supply of litter that lingers forever. Filmmaker Deia Schlosberg’s incredibly detailed investigation into the plastic-production pipeline will shock, horrify and forever […]
As the festival honors the late D.A. Pennebaker, we present a special screening of a new DCP of this rare classic. In 1971, Pennebaker filmed an event at New York’s Town Hall exemplifying the crosscurrents of feminism. On stage, Norman Mailer engaged in a debate with Female Eunuch author Germaine Greer, lesbian journalist Jill Johnston, […]