THE ABSENTEES
WORLD PREMIERE A story of thousands of Rohingyas–a people persecuted at home and abroad–told through the voice of Raees, a refugee in Dubai.
Middle East
P.S. JERUSALEM
US PREMIERE Filmmaker Danae Elon grew up in Jerusalem as the daughter of writer Amos Elon, then relocated to New York City. In this film, she chronicles what happens when she and her husband Philip, a French-Algerian Jew who never lived in Israel, move their family to Jerusalem. Shot over three years, the film captures […]
MOTLEY’S LAW
2015 VIEWFINDERS COMPETITION WINNER NYC PREMIERE More than five years into her practice as a defense lawyer in Kabul – the first and only Western lawyer, not to mention the only woman, licensed to work in the Afghan courts – no- nonsense attorney Kimberley Motley finds herself at a crossroads. Though originally motivated to provide […]
SPEED SISTERS
US PREMIERE Demolishing stereotypes while avoiding wrecking their cars, the Speed Sisters are the Middle East’s first all-female race-car team. Demonstrating high-octane talent, and the marketing savvy to draw attention to their camera-friendly lineup, this diverse, engaging group competes in Palestine’s makeshift motor sports circuit across the West Bank, overcoming Israeli checkpoints and restrictive societal […]
ALL RISE
WORLD PREMIERE The United Nations’ International Court of Justice resolves international disputes through dialogue rather than warfare. Modeled on the ICJ, the Jessup is a prestigious simulated court competition that offers a sneak peek at the international leaders of the future. All Rise profiles seven passionate international law students, representing Jamaica, India, Palestine, Russia, Israel, Uganda […]
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE
WORLD PREMIERE In the face of disturbing statistics of military veteran suicides and an epidemic of PTSD, it’s undeniable that America’s soldiers are in the midst of a mental health crisis. Through the stories of several struggling vets, Tom Donahue frankly explores why the military was not better prepared for the impact of combat in […]
EMBEDDED
NYC PREMIERE Sebastiano’s passion is documenting war. But at what cost? His award-winning photographs from Syria and Afghanistan are widely published. His girlfriend, Gessica, who is proud of him, fears for his life constantly and struggles to understand Sebastiano’s drive to work in combat zones. This short documentary is a mixture of compelling verite and […]
E-TEAM
Katy Chevigny and Ross Kauffman’s breathtaking film chronicles the dangerous but life- affirming work performed by the Human Rights Watch Emergency Team, or E-Team, a compelling group of intrepid investigators willing to enter hostile territories to document crimes against humanity that might otherwise go unreported. Allowing outside filmmakers to follow them for the first time, […]
VESSEL
NYC PREMIERE Moved by the plight of desperate women in countries with restrictive reproductive rights, Dutch physician Rebecca Gomperts founded Women on Waves, which uses laws governing international waters to bring much-needed abortion and contraceptive services to those with no other recourse. Despite a quagmire of legal, religious, political and logistical obstacles, Gomperts and her […]
CAIRO DRIVE
2014 VIEWFINDERS COMPETITION WINNER NYC PREMIERE Cairo Drive expertly balances humor, frustration and a distinctive sense of fatalistic irony to offer a view of Egypt unseen in recent documentaries about the Arab Spring. Shot before, during and after the revolution, Sherief Elkatsha’s entertaining film explores Cairo from the street level through the perspectives of its […]