The Harlem Children’s Zone Initiative has transformed the lives of several generations of children and led a revolutionary educational and social experiment to break the cycle of poverty and violence. This inspiring and timely film uses an extraordinary archive to document its history. From serving one block in the 1990s to ultimately reaching 97 blocks, […]
WORLD PREMIERE | Overprotected and overdirected, American children are wilting under the weight of well-meaning parents. In the pursuit of keeping them safe and creating an impressive resumé of extracurricular activities to wow admissions boards, over-parenting smothers children across socioeconomic classes. This thoughtful film follows education professionals and reformed helicopter parents who seek and offer solutions […]
WORLD PREMIERE | Ballet lovers of all ages won’t want to miss this sneak preview of the pilot episode of On Pointe. The six-part Disney+ docuseries captures a season in New York City at the School of American Ballet. We watch students ages 8 to 18 follow their dreams to launch careers. For many, that starts with […]
MACK WRESTLES DIR: Erin Sanger, Taylor Hess Mack Beggs, a gifted wrestler from Euless, Texas, struggles against the outside forces that stigmatize transgender athletes. Courtesy of ESPN Films. (USA, 25 MIN) In person: Taylor Hess and Erin Sanger SONG OF PARKLAND DIR: Amy Schatz In the wake of the tragic February 14 shooting at their school, […]
LEARNING TO SKATEBOARD IN A WARZONE (IF YOU’RE A GIRL) DIR: Carol Dysinger In the war-torn city of Kabul, a class of young girls from disadvantaged neighborhoods learns to read, write—and skateboard—in director Carol Dysinger’s love letter to a place she has filmed in for the last fifteen years. Courtesy of Lifetime Films/A&E IndieFilms. (USA/UK, […]
On bucking the system. (TOTAL RUNNING TIME: 78 MIN) Deborah Harry Does Not Like Interviews | Director: Meghan Fredrich Blondie’s Deborah Harry endures years of superficial and demeaning questions from journalists before turning the tables. (USA, 17 MIN) The Art of Making Money: This Guy Has Balls | Director: Nathan Truesdell A man attempts to use his handmade art […]
Short stories from and about New York City. (TOTAL RUNNING TIME: 78 MIN) A Great Day in Hip Hop Revisited | Director: Nelson George A look back at a historic day in music history, September 29, 1998, when Gordon Parks gathered over 200 hip hop artists to recreate the famed “A Great Day in Harlem” image. (USA, […]
Dr. Ruth Westheimer may be over 90 years old, but she’s lost none of her energy, humor or candor on sexuality. This delightful documentary traces her remarkable life, from being saved as a German Jew by the Kindertransport to training as a sniper with the Jewish paramilitary Haganah. Director Ryan White was on the 2014 […]
2019 SHORT DOCUMENTARY WINNER Meet Robert “Birding Bob” DiCandido. Friendly Central Park bird walk leader to some, archnemesis to others.
A music and art project gets instruments back into the hands of Philadelphia students.