Héritières
At the crossroads of musical documentary, art film and poetic essay, the film Héritières delves into the world of the musical project of the same name, which brings together more than twenty female performers of different ages and cultural origins around the theme of maternal legacy and the collective heritage of women across generations.
Archiving Ireland
A documentary exploring the importance of film preservation through the work of the IFI Irish Film Archive
Sonaggios
In the Sardinian town of Tonara, where the ancient art of crafting cowbells teeters on the edge of extinction, a family battles to preserve their heritage, passing down skills to a new generation while grappling with personal struggles and the pull of modernity. English subtitles.
Big Boss
The story of 95-year-old Aboriginal elder Laurie Baymarrwangga and her work to maintain the language and cultural traditions of the Yan-nhangu people of Murrungga.
Profiles Farmers: The Approach
The first of a documentary serie about rural France.
Death Name
A young Korean American woman yearns to learn more about her heritage, not knowing the further she digs, the more she reawakens a deadly family curse.
Tokyo Phoenix
In 150 years, twice marked by total destruction —a terrible earthquake in 1923 and incendiary bombings in 1945— followed by a spectacular rebirth, Tokyo, the old city of Edo, has become the largest and most futuristic capital in the world in a transformation process fueled by the exceptional resilience of its inhabitants, and nourished by a unique phenomenon of cultural hybridization.
Pop & Passion
The two-part documentary Pop & Passion tells of power and magic, but also of the pressure and excess that prevails in the pop business.
The Treasures of Marie-Antoinette at Versailles
Over time, Queen Marie-Antoinette, who was the most hated woman of her time, experienced a spectacular return to favor. Today, historians and curators show another character: an independent and loving woman in constant search of intimacy who knew how to keep her secrets; a woman with refined, feminine and modern taste who marked her time. At Versailles, in this sublime setting cut off from the world where she barricaded herself, Marie-Antoinette cultivated her own style and influenced, throughout Europe, the tastes of her time.
The Birth of Saké
Through the unrelenting winter in the north of Japan, a small group of workers must brave unusual working conditions to bring to life a 2,000-year-old tradition known as sake. A cinematic documentary, The Birth of Sake is a visually immersive experience of an almost-secret world in which large sacrifices must be made for the survival of a time-honored brew.
Before the Dawn
Valentin lives with his grandfather Cosmo, a man of fragile health but with a bright spirit and unshakable optimism. Over the course of an important day, Valentin faces decisive moments in which his grandfather’s light silently guides his steps toward maturity, in a story that unfolds as a tender chronicle of daily life.
Brahmotsavam
When a charming NRI girl falls in love with a wealthy businessman, she unwittingly sparks conflict within his large joint family. How will her lover find a way to marry her, while still ensuring that his large family remains happy and harmonious?
Tra la Terra ed il Mare
Ghuza da Sher
The story of Nisar Ahmed Khan, told through his children and the people he served, a spiritual guide whose followers still visit his tomb on his birth and death anniversaries. And alongside how his family spends a few days at the village keeping his traditions alive.
A Taste of Whale
In the Faroe Islands, hundreds of pilot whales are slaughtered each year in a hunt known as the “Grind.” This gruesome tradition has drawn outrage from activists, most notably the international conservation group Sea Shepherd, who routinely sail to the islands to try to block whaling boats. Yet the Faroese are equally determined to maintain their tradition, defending the practice as more sustainable and less cruel than getting meat from slaughterhouses. Director Vincent Kelner spends time with both Faroese hunters and Sea Shepherd crusaders, building to a nuanced look at a disturbing event with much larger implications for the way humans relate to other creatures.
Indian Crafts: Hopi, Navajo And Iroquois
This film explores the traditional crafts of Native American tribes, specifically the Hopi, Navajo, and Iroquois. It highlights the craftsmanship of Hopi basket weaving and pottery, showcasing their techniques and cultural significance. The Navajo's weaving of wool blankets and rugs, as well as their silver jewelry making process, is also detailed. Additionally, the film discusses the Iroquois tradition of carving ceremonial masks from basswood trees. Each craft reflects the unique heritage and artistic expressions of these tribes.
The Goddess on the Throne
Blending archival footage, haunting melodies, and digital reconstructions, Hyjnesha në Fron traces the echo of loss across Kosovo's turbulent history. A musical, visual essay shaped by absence, which resurrects physical memory through 3D reconstruction, showing how history persists even when its material proof has vanished.
Dry Wood
96-year-old clarinet master Grigoris Kapsalis, the last living musician of a generation that shaped the music of Epirus, has long been an integral part of the local village feast. In this final encounter at his home, he offers glimpses into a lifetime devoted to music; meanwhile, preparations for the annual feast begin in the village square.
Irpinia
Irpinia follows the journey of young West Indian dreamer Dudley as he makes his way to England in the 1960s. At 24 years old, Dudley boarded a ship named Irpinia in search of a better life in England, the so-called motherland. Now 86, Dudley reflects on the exciting journey at sea and the harsh reality that lay ahead of him.
Donald McKayle: Heartbeats of a DanceMaker
Celebrate the life and work of Donald McKayle, whose contributions as choreographer, dancer and teacher have enriched our nation's cultural heritage. Never before seen archival footage enhances the narrations of Della Reese and Harry Belafonte as they guide you through McKayle s contributions to his time. Sit in on a complete conversation between Reese and McKayle and view the entire, unedited interview with Harry Belafonte in the Special Features selection. As the passion and optimism of McKayle's choreography transcends racial and cultural boundaries, his body of work reflects his faith in the human spirit and his belief in the redeeming quality of love. This documentary includes excerpts from Rainbow Round My Shoulder, Heartbeats, Saturday s Child, District Storyville, They Called Her Moses, House of Tears, Minstrel Man and Libertango. Enjoy the Special Features complete performance of Angelitos Negroes done by two different artists (Marceline Freeman and Tamica Washington).