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 […]
WORLD PREMIERE Veteran educator Peter Bergson established the Natural Creativity Center on the outskirts of Philadelphia to offer an alternative to dehumanizing formal education. His unconventional method of “unschooling” favors self-motivation, empowering students to direct their own learning. After 30 years of success with suburban children, Bergson finds his philosophy and methods—and the assumptions they […]
Concierge Yves Deshommes practices his violin behind the front desk of a Manhattan office building.
WORLD PREMIERE Operation Infektion is a New York Times Opinion documentary that begins in the Soviet Union in 1959, when one of the world’s greatest disinformation engines was born. By way of animation and riveting interviews with Soviet disinformation agents, the series reverse-engineers the KGB playbook that concocted viral lies in a pre-Internet era. The film pulls […]
In 1963, more than 250,000 students boycotted Chicago’s public schools to protest racial segregation. Combining period footage with reflections from participants, ‘63 Boycott links the past with present-day concerns around inequality in the education system. Courtesy of Kartemquin.
NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE In the aftermath of the infamous Delhi gang rape, one man works to change the way Indian boys view females. Harish and his nonprofit are devoted to educating impoverished male youth like Ved to respect women and girls. Despite the progress the activist makes in combating toxic masculinity, Harish struggles to find […]
WORLD PREMIERE Three young Indian women in a conservative Muslim town seek to change their futures through education and self-determination. The opportunity to continue their schooling has opened up the possibility of a different future for Karishma, Apsana and Samira, but even as they prepare for final exams, their families threaten to pull them back […]
WORLD PREMIERE Since 1996, the wonderfully diverse students of a Queens public high school have staged an elaborate mock presidential election for an entire semester, simulating the American electoral process against the backdrop of the real one. In 2016, Ukranian-American Daniel hams it up as a cocky Donald Trump, while Pakistani-American Misbah, an observant Muslim, […]
Students in The Documentary Project at Columbia Journalism School learn to write, film and narrate the stories of our time, from deadline reporting to profile writing and documentary features. Successful candidates have leveraged their work to include magazine features, NPR radio stories and newspaper articles. Columbia’s showcase includes: The Lifehouse (USA, 31 min., Heba Elorbany, […]