Maurice Simashko's Worlds

Director Alexander Golovinskiy
Kazakhstan
Runtime  60:00
Completion Date:

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This film is about Maurice Simashko, the participant of the Great Patriotic War and a man, in whom lived the history. One of the founders of school of new historical novel in Central Asia. Maurice Davidovich Simashko is author of 20 books, which released more than in 40 world languages. There are about 10 films were produced on his scripts.
Simashko is a national writer of Kazakhstan; he was honoured with the Presidential Prize of Peace and Spiritual Harmony, laureate of "Abay" literary prize for Russian translation of trilogy of Yesenberlin "Nomads". In 1999 Simashko was nominated by Writer's Union of Kazakhstan for Nobel Prize in literature with "Semiramide" novel about the Greatest Russian Queen Catherine II.

Tomorrow's Power

Director Amy Miller
Canada
Runtime 01:16:00
Completion Date:  October 28, 2016

TOMORROW’S POWER showcases three communities from around the world, in Gaza, Colombia and Germany, and their responses to the environmental and economical crises they face.

Alan Graham: The Man Behind Mobile Loaves & Fishes

Director Mark Leatherman
United States
Runtime 7:27
Completion Date:  October 28, 2016
First-time Filmmaker

As a young commercial real-estate developer, Alan Graham had his sights set on wealth. Then a profound inner transformation led him to begin serving food and clothing to the homeless on the streets of Austin, TX. This film follows his spiritual journey as he learns that serving the homeless means more than just providing them with food and clothing for a day; it requires a lifetime of dedication and generosity. Through the ministry he founded, Mobile Loaves & Fishes, Alan and his team have transformed the lives of hundreds of men and women living on the streets.

Hoda's Story

Director Johan Eriksson
Israel
Runtime 57:39
Completion Date: December 15, 2015

Twelve years in the life of a girl in Gaza who was blinded by a bullet. On 1 March 2003, 12-year old Hoda Darwish is hit in the head by a bullet while sitting at her desk in an elementary school in Khan Younis in the Gaza Strip. Hoda miraculously survives, but she wakes up from her coma asking when the daylight comes. The bullet blinded her. She struggles to come to terms with her altered life, doubting her will to live, amidst the endless violence in the Gaza Strip. Her family repeatedly brings her to Egypt in the hope that a medical operation would give back her eyesight. Her hope to be cured deprives her of the willpower to learn the techniques needed by visually impaired persons.

SKY'S THE LIMIT, the extrem painters.

Director JEROME THOMAS
France
Runtime  52:30
Completion Date: September 25, 2016
First-time Filmmaker

French documentary featuring extreme graffiti artists from worldwide, performing at monumental heights, with the sky as only limit.

Bal Ej: the hidden Jews of Ethiopia

Director Irene Orleansky
Israel
Runtime  01:36:17
Completion Date: July 31, 2016
First-time Filmmaker

Following the steps of the prominent Jewish-Polish scholar Jacque Faitlovich, a woman travels to discover and explore a sect of secret Jews in Ethiopia. Named Bal Ej, craftsmen, for their artisan skills, they have been persecuted by their Orthodox Christian neighbors who slandered them as evil-eyed and hyena-people and have been deprived of the basic rights such as ownership of land, the reason for adopting crafts such as pottery, weaving and iron smithery. Fearing persecutions, they appear Christians outwardly, and practice Judaism in strict secrecy. The synagogues are hidden deep in the mountains and had never before been visited by strangers. Some of their ancient traditions trace back to the Biblical times and have been completely forgotten by the rest of the world.The film "Bal Ej: the Hidden Jews of Ethiopia" lifts the curtains of hundreds of years and reveals the history, customs and culture of this remarkable community to the world.

No place like home

Director Beston Zirian Ismael
Germany
Runtime  20:55
Completion Date: March 25, 2016

The 12-year-old Djudi had to flee with his family from civil war in Syria. Stranded in Turkey, they don't get any help from the Turkish authorities and so the family tries to make a living from selling snacks and water on the street...
A moving family portrait revealing the human implications of being forced to leave home.
I made this film when I was on vacation with my family in Istanbul. When I saw all the Syrian kids in the streets, I wasn’t able to just pass them by and made the spontaneous decision to make this film.

A Key for Peace

Director Christine Henry
Italy
Runtime  38 min 19 sec
Completion Date: Oct 2016
1ST TIME FILMMAKER

‘A Key for Peace’ is a documentary about encounters between Tibetan Buddhist Master T.Y.S. Lama Gangchen Rinpoche and Musical Director Omer Meir Wellber. Two great masters, each in his own field and a meeting of sentiments and understanding which led to the realization of the concert ‘Mantra Symphony for Peace’ performed in Italy by Raanana Symphonette Orchestra from Israel accompanied by an Italian choir.
The documentary follows the Raanana Orchestra arriving in Albagnano Healing Meditation Centre in Italy, meeting Lama Gangchen Rinpoche, rehearsing the Symphony of Tibetan Mantras written by young Israeli composer Oren Lok and finally performing the concert in Stresa, Lake Maggiore, Italy.
A Key for Peace is a moving encounter of diverse cultures and traditions coming together with open hearts to connect in peace through music.

The Puppeteers

Director ajit nag
India
Runtime 1 hr 15 min   
Completion Date: Oct 2016

OVER A CENTURY OLD WOODEN STRING PUPPETS, AVERAGE AGE OF THE PERFORMING ARTISTS BEING OVER 60 YEARS... 'BOMMALOLLU' (THE PUPPETEERS) IS A DOCUMENTARY FEATURE THAT TRACES THE UPS AND DOWNS OF THIS UNIQUE FOLK ART FORM 'WOODEN STRING PUPPETRY'. ORIGINATING FROM TELANGANA REGION OF SOUTH OF INDIA WAS IN ITS DARK AGES FROM 1975 TO 2000 AND FOUND ITS PLACE AND PATRONAGE, FOR A BRIEF PERIOD, THE FUTURE AGAIN LOOKS BLEAK..
THE CONCERN THAT THE NEXT GENERATION MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO WITNESS THE FOLK ART FORM, THE FOLK TALES, MYTHOLOGIES, STORIES OF LOCAL LEGENDS RICH IN TRADITION, NATIVE CULTURE AND ETHNIC TO THAT PLACE AND THE NEXT GENERATION OF THE ARTISTS NOT KEEN TO TAKE IT UP DUE TO VARIOUS REASONS LEAVES A DWINDLING FUTURE FOR THE ART FORM. THE UNDYING SPIRIT OF THESE ARTISTS CONTINUE THEIR JOURNEY WITH A RAY OF HOPE THAT IT MAY GO ON, EVEN AFTER THEY ARE GONE..

Gods behind mountains

Director Juergen Groh
Germany
Runtime 1 hr 20 min  
Completion Date: Aug 2015

“We want to be free, do the hunting and the gardening, and look after ourselves!”  With these words the freedom fighter Benny Wenda speaks for his nation: the native people of West Papua.  ‘Gods behind Mountains’ tells the story of an indigenous boy, Matheo, who is chosen by his fellow villagers, who have raised funds to send him to school in a city far away.  There, he learns a lot of the things his people didn´t know about: politics, economics and English. Matheo is a member of the Yali tribe who live in the mountains. After five years Matheo returns to his home village.

Severn and Somme the life of Ivor Gurney WW1 poet and composer

Director DIANA TAYLOR
United Kingdom
Runtime  52:00
Completion Date: October 2012

This film tells the life story of Ivor Gurney WW1 poet and composer 1890 to 1937.Gurney was gifted at an early age and studied music at the Royal College of Music in London.He enlisted for WW1 and it was whilst he was in the trenches the Somme that he composed some of his finest war poems which were published as Severn and Somme. POst war he continues his studies a the Royal College of Music and began to write his orchestral pieces as well as many songs O Severn Meadows. HIs compositions were influenced by the love for his native countryside around the River Severn and his horror of WW1 on the Somme. During his time at war he was gassed, shell shocked and shot and this affected his mental health which declined so much that he was sent to a mental asylum where he died in 1937.Though music and poetry this film tells the tragic story of one of England's most talented composers and poets. IT also shows a contrast between the beauty of the River Severn and the horror of the River Somme, which in turn reflect s his life .The film also reflect on the mental health of those who returned from war deeply mentally scarred by their experiences.

Strange Storms and Symphonies

Director DIANA TAYLOR
United Kingdom
Runtime  44:00
Completion Date: July 2014

This film is about the life of George Lloyd Cornwall,s most prolific composer. He wrote three operas by the age of 27 and just as he was becoming well known ww2 broke out. George enlisted in the navy , and he served on HMS Trinidad a convoy ship in the north Atlantic.Badly injured in the war he slowly convalesced and started a horticultural business , he composed music everyday but his work was not recognised.Then suddenly the americans discovered George lLoyds music and he began to record his 12 symphonies . his concertos ,and his band music. Travelling he world he conducted his music with many orchestras. His Symphonic Mass is reputed to be the finest mass of the 20th century. THe film sets the composer in the beautiful landscape of Cornwall which inspired many of his compositions.

Paradijs Glaswater

Director Fifi Visser
Netherlands
Runtime  61:00
Completion Date: March 2016

She is smart, has a great sense of humor and a magical view at the world. Unfortunately she is also deaf, and dumb, and spastic. That's why she draws her life. In Showers in Paradise, Fifi Visser portrays a woman who communicates through her drawings. By crawling under her skin, the viewer finds out how Marianne Schipaanboord experiences and enriches her silent world. A small story in the Zeeland countryside, where not so very long ago a handicap was just a punishment of God. Marianne slowly but surely draws her way out of her straitjacket. Though her work is appreciated in Zeeland, the invitation to an Art Fair in Paris comes as a pleasant surprise to Mrs. Schipaanboord.

The Songs of Old Europe – Ancient Belarusian Folk Songs

Director Volya Dzemka
United States
Runtime 01:00:06
Completion Date: April 9, 2016
First-time Filmmaker

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Our film provides an intimate, rare look into a very different world that has been isolated for centuries, the world of Belarusian folks songs, which were kept alive for thousands of years and are still performed today by Belarusian villagers, but vanish rapidly with disappearance of the village life and their carriers.

A Bastard Child

Director Knutte Wester
Sweden
Runtime 57 min
Completion Date: Jun 2016

In 1909, in an undemocratic Sweden, a bastard child is born and given the name of Hervor. Her mother is unmarried, due to which she is called a ”whore' and is driven from her home. Hervor grows up at shelters and orphanages, unwanted, rejected by society. As an adult she spends her life struggling for social justice. In old age she tells us her story. Director Knutte Wester brings his grandmother's memories to life thought hand-painted animated images and has us witness someone being rejected in order to unite others. A story that all too often still repeating itself.

Something About Life

Director Nebojša Slijepčević
Croatia
Runtime 30:00
Completion Date: April 23, 2016

There are eight underaged girls living together in the last house of a small village in Slavonia, trying to change their lives around with some help from the caretakers. The girls are growing up together, they take care of the household and manage the estate. Every week they get a visit from a professional drummer Branko Trajkov Trak who teaches them the art of drumming. But a newcomer, 14 years old Ivana, refuses to play drums. Why?

Islands Of Forgotten Cinemas

Director Ivan Ramljak
Croatia
Runtime 35:00
Completion Date: February 15, 2016

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A poetic documentary about the lost film culture in the small villages on the Croatian islands during the second half of the last century. Six witnesses of the time are remembering their favorite films and events related to their viewing and screening experiences, which marked their lives.