Fight The Power Stories of Activism
THE BIG SCARY “S” WORD
Dir/Prod: Yael Bridge
Prod: Morgan Spector, Eden Wurmfeld
A comprehensive exploration of the long-debated and misunderstood ideology of socialism, increasingly attracting both supporters and detractors in a polarized America. Co-presented by The New Republic.
DOWN A DARK STAIRWELL
Dir/Prod: Ursula Liang
Prod: Rajal Pitroda
The death of an unarmed Black man by a Chinese-American NYPD officer sets off a complex fight for justice by two marginalized communities.
NASRIN
Dir/Prod: Jeff Kaufman
Prod: Marcia S. Ross
An immersive portrait of human rights attorney Nasrin Sotoudeh, currently serving a 38-year prison sentence for representing women who protested Iran’s mandatory hijab law.
SHUT UP SONA (US Premiere)
Dir: Deepti Gupta
Prod: Sona Mohapatra
Indian singer Sona Mohapatra uses her powerful voice not only to entertain, but to speak out against sexism within the Indian music industry.
SINCE I BEEN DOWN
Dir/Prod: Gilda Sheppard
Prod: June Nho Ivers, Saman Maydani
Despite serving life without parole as a consequence of a harsh three-strikes law, Kimonti Carter has worked to transform inmates’ lives through education.
UNAPOLOGETIC
Dir/Prod: Ashley O’Shay
Prod: Morgan Elise Johnson
Fed up with misdeeds committed by Chicago law enforcement and a political system unwilling to hold anyone accountable, two passionate young Black women take action.
YOUTH V GOV (World Premiere)
Dir/Prod: Christi Cooper
Prod: Olivia Ahnemann
Young activists from across the nation file a groundbreaking lawsuit against the United States for endangering their constitutional rights by creating the climate crisis.
Portraits Profiles Of Singular Individuals
9/11 KIDS
Dir/Prod: Elizabeth St. Philip
Prod: Steve Gamester
This insightful look into race and class in America profiles the lives of the schoolchildren who were with President George W. Bush the morning of the 9/11 attacks.
DUTY FREE (World Premiere)
Dir/Prod: Sian-Pierre Regis
Prod: Meredith Chin
As his recently laid off mother struggles to find a new job at the age of 75, the filmmaker takes her on an adventure to help her reclaim her life.
FRANCESCO
Dir/Prod: Evgeny Afineevsky
Prod: Den Tolmor, Eric Esrailian, Teri Schwartz
Oscar-nominated filmmaker Evgeny Afineevsky (Winter on Fire) looks at the pressing challenges of the 21st century through the eyes of Pope Francis.
IN SILICO (World Premiere)
Dir: Noah Hutton
Prod: Kellen Quinn, Taylor Hess, Jesse Miller
Director Noah Hutton embarks on a 10-year project following a visionary neuroscientist’s quest to build a computer simulation of a brain.
LESSONS OF LOVE (US Premiere)
Dir: Malgorzata Goliszewska, Kasia Mateja
Prod: Anna Stylińska, Izabela Łopuch
After 45 years, 69-year-old Jola leaves an unhappy marriage to live life on her own terms, but is she ready to open her heart to a new love?
MEDICINE MAN: THE STAN BROCK STORY
Dir: Paul Michael Angell
Prod: Vladimir V. Daniel, Victor Buhler
The story of Stan Brock, an unassuming British nature television host turned founder of Remote Area Medical, which provides free healthcare to those in need.
NO ORDINARY MAN
Dir: Aisling Chin-Yee, Chase Joynt
Prod: Sarah Spring
American jazz musician Billy Tipton, long viewed as an ambitious woman who passed as a man in pursuit of a music career, is reframed as a transgender icon.
RED HEAVEN (World Premiere)
Dir/Prod: Lauren DeFilippo, Katherine Gorringe
In this prescient exploration of self-imposed quarantine, six volunteers embark on a one-year mission in a Mars simulation to further research for space exploration.
TRUTH TO POWER: BARBARA LEE SPEAKS FOR ME
Dir/Prod: Abby Ginzberg
An inspiring portrait of Congresswoman Barbara Lee, a true pioneer of American civil rights, and the lone voice in opposition to the authorization of military force after the September 11th attacks. Co-presented by The New Republic.
TWO GODS
Dir: Zeshawn Ali
Prod: Aman Ali
In Newark, NJ, a Black Muslim casket maker takes two troubled teenage boys under his wing to teach them the meaning of tradition, hard work, and forgiveness.
WEED & WINE
Dir/Prod: Rebecca Richman Cohen
Two small farming families—one that grows cannabis in California and another that produces wine in southern France—experience parallel joys and challenges.
Jock Docs Films About Sports
BIG VS SMALL
Dir/Prod: Minna Dufton
Prod: Heidi Richert
A profile of Joana Andrade, a fiery big wave surfer who finds herself confronting personal demons in order to continue on her path to success.
THE LAST OUT
Dir/Prod: Sami Khan, Michael Gassert
Prod: Jonathan Miller
Three talented Cuban athletes leave everything behind to pursue the ultimate dream of Major League Baseball, but face exploitation and unfulfilled promises.
LIFT LIKE A GIRL (US Premiere)
Dir/Prod: Mayye Zayed
In a dilapidated corner of Alexandria, Egypt, promising young athlete Zebiba and her community of young female weightlifters train for championship gold.
OFF THE ROAD
Dir: José Permar
Prod: Daniela Silva, José Luis Villanueva, Wendy Muñiz, Guillermo Zouain, Oz Rodríguez
In this modern-day western musical, the slow-paced lifestyle on Mexico’s Baja Peninsula is given a turbo boost by the Baja 1000, the largest off-road motorsport race in the world.
End of Part 5