Putin's Patriots

The loyalists supporting Putin across the globe

As Russia faces growing international isolation, loyalists within the 30 million-strong Russian diaspora are dedicated to defending, supporting and promoting Putin overseas. Vladimir Putin has made it clear that he wants Russia to reclaim its former glory: across the globe, Russians echo his sentiment, shutting down critics of the Kremlin. From jeering newspaper articles, to counter-protestors staring down protestors who condemn the jailing of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, Putin's international supporters are a force to be reckoned with.

Girls of Paadhai

Inside the South Indian refuge supporting women in their fight against forced marriage

In Southern India, many women must endure early marriage. The refuge charity Paadhai shelters the children and adolescents who are trying to escape this fate. Twenty-year-old Amulpriya’s mother was married at an early age to a man who turned out to be unable to provide for her or her family. Now after decades of poverty, she wants her daughter to follow the same path – early marriage. However, determined to get an education, and to lead a life unlike that of her mother, Amulpriya is supported by Sunitha, the shelter’s manager. This is Amulpriya’s story - and the story of numerous other girls and women desperate to overcome oppressive expectations, and forge a life of their own, unburdened by arranged marriage.

Bear-Like

Close encounters with bears in the remote Alaskan wilderness

At the far end of the Alaskan peninsula, filmmaker Roman Droux and researcher David Bittner experience astonishingly up-close encounters with grizzly bears. Follow a bear-family in its struggle for survival in the harsh wilds of Alaska, witness tense scenes of conflict, and discover the untamed lives of these wild creatures. Driven by a desire to explore the unknown, Bear-Like tells a personal story of wilderness, framed in breath-taking pictures of these unique animals.

Son of Fukushima

Rebuilding an ancestral home in the wake of nuclear disaster

Combining live-action and animation, Son of Fukushima tells the heart-rending story of a family profoundly impacted by not one but two nuclear tragedies: Hiroshima and Fukushima. Against the backdrop of the world’s largest radiological clean-up, the film follows the family for five years as they live through the unthinkable: a second nuclear disaster. This is a universal and deeply personal story about the inevitabilities of aging, the sacrifices made for those we love, and the relationship between man and nature.

Sheltered

Hope, despair and devoted care are all in a day's work at this animal shelter

In the busy world of the animal shelter, the loving bond between humans and animals is strained by the endless stream of abandoned dogs, cats and rabbits. Pets are life companions - but for some, they are also a dispensable status symbol. With attentive care and training by the passionate employees and dedicated volunteers, the hopeful animals are rehabilitated and prepared for the right match with a new owner. Not every story has a happy ending, but no matter how limited the resources are, the team fights on—even for the biggest misfits of them all.

By Rook or Left Hook: The Story of Chessboxing

Rocky meets The Queen's Gambit as brain and brawn are put to the test

Follow a self-defeating promoter from London and a self-promoting artist from Berlin as they fight for control of professional chessboxing, a sport which taxes mind and body through alternating rounds of chess and boxing. While Londoner and chessboxing aficionado Tim Woolgar toiled away and carried the financial burden to get the sport into the spotlight, Iepe Rubingh, the sport's inventor, used his status to garner all of the media attention at his events. As relations turned sour, Tim cut ties with Iepe and the two squared-off in a behind-the-scenes battle to decide who would become the 'Don King of chessboxing.' Broadcast hour version coming soon

The Witch of Kings Cross

Allegations of satanic rituals, obscene art and sex orgies in 1950s Sydney

Inspired by the work of Aleister Crowley, bohemian artist Rosaleen Norton advocated a pantheist vision of witchcraft, and a sexual magic freed from religious and moral rules. Eventually the relentless scandals led to the downfall of her high society lover. Told ‘in her own words’, the film weaves stylized drama and erotic dancers with never before seen artworks, diaries and scrapbooks. The Witch of Kings Cross is the fascinating portrait of a fearless woman outlaw railing against fearful conservative forces and an insight into the work of an uncelebrated genius. In today’s new wave of feminism, Rosaleen’s story has never been more pertinent.

Origin of the Species

Is a new era dawning for robotics?

Origin of the Species explores the contemporary world of android development with a focus on human/machine relations, gender and the ethical implications of this research. The film provides an insider look into cutting-edge laboratories in Japan and the USA where scientists attempt to make robots move, speak and look human. These scientists and their discoveries are contextualised with cinematic and pop culture references to underline the mythic, comic and uncanny aspects of our aspiration to create machines that are eerily similar to ourselves.

Siudy Between Worlds

Follow a flamenco prodigy and her troupe’s journey to make it in the Big Apple

They say if you can make it in New York, you can make it anywhere. Venezuelan-born flamenco prodigy Siudy Garrido and her dance troupe want to bring their production to a famed midtown New York stage and sustain a multi-month run. When the troupe finally attracts the attention of the New York Times' dance critic, will the coverage launch them to new heights, or will it sink their fledgling production?