Akiko Takakura is one of the last survivors of the atomic bomb explosion of Hiroshima. During Obon she receives the spirits of her parents and is haunted by memories. Akiko’s childhood consists of constant rejections and beatings. Finally Akiko experiences fatherly love in the midst of Hiroshima’s ruins.
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 […]
US PREMIERE The Other Rio offers a warm and lucid look at the ingenious ways in which a community finds happiness and harmony against the odds. Surviving a harsh existence in Rio de Janeiro, 100 families live as squatters in an abandoned government building in the shadow of the 2016 Olympics’ Maracanã Stadium, under the […]
NYC PREMIERE 83 year old John Arnao, a 23 year veteran of the NYPD, uses his love and skills from a lifetime of woodworking to craft beautiful works of art. In a world where everyone uses social media and technology to pass the time, this is the way John chooses to use his while leaving […]
NYC PREMIERE After surviving a fire that results in the amputation of his arms, a young actor named Prince must come to terms with being “differently-abled”. Through his powerful and honest performances, he is able to find healing in his art, allowing him to form deep connections with his audience and the world around him.
NYC PREMIERE Northern New Mexico: an area hard hit by the opioid crisis and still reeling from the 2008 recession. Exploring a community with few public resources and a depressed population, The Providers profiles three healthcare providers working for El Centro, a safety-net clinic network covering 22,000 square miles that serves those without agency, health insurance or […]
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 […]
NYC PREMIERE Surrounding Ghana’s Lake Volta — the largest man-made lake on Earth — is an active child-slavery industry. Sold by desperate families and abused by fishing masters, some 20,000 children work in perilous conditions. Activists like Stephen Kwame Addo, who escaped from such a fate himself, work to rescue as many children as possible and rehabilitate […]
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 […]