Best Documentary

Life in the African savannah can be difficult for animals. Welcome to a wild world where the law of the strongest reigns. Director: Laurent Frapat

Malcolm X, an influential African American leader, was assassinated on February 21, 1965, in Harlem. Born Malcolm Little, he faced racial oppression early in life and joined the Nation of Islam while in prison. He became a prominent preacher advocating for black independence but broke with the Nation after a pilgrimage to Mecca in 1964, promoting racial unity. Facing increasing threats from the Nation of Islam and possibly the U.S. government, he was ultimately killed during a speech. Despite his death, Malcolm X's legacy endures, inspiring movements for social justice and equality worldwide. Director: Ted Anspach

What if paradise exists as a place on earth? In this documentary, we travel to Australia’s East Coast. Director: Anne Viry-Babel Series: Somewhere on Earth

Declassified documents from the Cold War shine light into secret communications between the US and USSR during the tensions. Director: Clive Christopher Original title: Aliens Uncovered: Declassified

The moving film exposes the neglect of an elephant called Billy and chronicles a long campaign to free him from Los Angeles Zoo. It is narrated by iconic UK actress Virginia McKenna OBE. Director: Marshall Corwin

The true story of 2 enemies from the Iran-Iraq war; one saves the other's life on the battlefield, then they meet again by sheer coincidence 20 years later in Canada. Inspired by their miraculous reunion, Najah and Zahed face down their fears and post-traumatic stress and head back to Iraq and Iran to search for missing loved ones. Their journey takes them into the heart of present-day conflicts in a region ravaged by war and ISIS. Their journey is a surprising affirmation of humanity and redemption. Director : Ann Shin Year: 2017 Full documentary

A long journey in the overheated third-class carriage of a train hurtling through the Russian winter at the speed of a galloping donkey, in the company of a former Red Army tanker met by chance on the berth of the train in front and who becomes the commentator on things and people. The most unexpected characters rise and fall, dick, chatter, daydream, snore – and above all tell of their broken lives. Director: Stéphane Breton Original title: A Few Days Together

Before Area 51, hidden deep in the desert, the military discovered a hidden gem that helped them create Project Bluebook. Director: Clive Christopher

Twenty years ago, the destruction of the Buddhas of Bamiyan in Afghanistan shocked the world. Preserved for millennia, these statues disappeared in an instant, victims of the purifying madness of the Taliban. It was to be the start of a new trend: the deliberate destruction of historical artifacts. With Islamist groups in the Sahel, then the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, world heritage has paid a heavy price. The ancient sites of Palmyra and Hatra, the museums of Mosul and Raqqa and various religious monuments have been reduced to rubble. Since 2016, these acts have been recognised as war crimes by the International Criminal Court. Under the banner of UNESCO and ALIPH, the international community is now attempting to restore and reconstruct these witnesses of time and past civilizations. In Mosul, Iraq, the city museum and its collection of Assyrian art is slowly being restored with the help of the Louvre. The old minaret of the Al-Nouri mosque, a national emblem, is also being restored. Thirty kilometres away, at the Syrian Catholic monastery of Mar Behnam, the mausoleum of a saint that was destroyed by ISIS has been rebuilt. Today, through this rediscovered heritage, the entire population of the region is finding its roots. Director: Thomas Raguet

In the late 70s, the US government launched a message to our distant neighbors. Twenty years later, the response we received sparked the biggest UFO sighting in history. Director: Clive Christopher Series: Aliens Uncovered

When money drives almost all activity on the planet, it's essential that we understand it. Yet simple questions often get overlooked - questions like: Where does money come from? Who creates it? Who decides how it gets used? And what does that mean for the millions of ordinary people who suffer when money and finance breaks down? Fact-based and clearly explained, 97% Owned is a new documentary that reveals how the creation of credit and the mystery that surrounds it, is at the root of our current social and economic crisis. Director : Michael Oswald Cast : Ben Dyson, Anne Belsey, Noel Longhurst Original title: 97% owned

With exciting archive race footage, interviews, and expert commentary, "Racing Through Time - Maserati" traces all the history and drama from the exciting and illustrious past of this famous marque. Director: Jason Fenwick Series: Racing Through Time

The Democratic Republic of the Congo, a country four times the size of France. If you want to travel from the capital, Kinshasa, to Kisangani, the third largest city, there is no road. This leaves only plane or boat. A journey of 1,750 kilometres along the Congo, the biggest river in Africa, but more importantly, one of the most dangerous in the world! The Gbermani provides a regular link between the two cities. Like all the other boats on the river, this one is special; it travels in convoy, pushing barges filled with goods and passengers. It’s not very big but it is fitted with two ultra powerful engines that allow it to push two barges and two whaleboats. It is a veritable floating city. A convoy of 1500 people, left to their own devices, without water, electricity, restaurants, medication or pharmacy. Along the river the buoys and navigation signs have long disappeared. The boat must sail by eye, trusting to an old chart dating back to the Belgian colonisation and the instinct and experience of the captain. And many dangers lie in wait for this boat. There are the water hyacinths, threatening to jam the propeller blades at any moment, mechanical failure—frequent on these old tubs—or sandbanks where the boat may run aground, etc. Aboard the barges, one passenger—a trained nurse—attempts to treat the children and, in particular, a man who has cut open his foot in an accident. She has little in the way of medication and no anaesthetics. Assisted by other passengers, she operates on the man fully conscious in an attempt to save his foot. On the other side of the coin there are some happy events, such as the birth of a child, named Gbermani, after the boat. A two-week long journey that stretches out to more than a month on the river of peril. Authors : Daniel Lainé, David Geoffrion

Winner of an international Emmy. Music elates, touches the soul and bypasses reason. Music is magic. But precisely this magic can turn it into an insidious weapon – for music and violence belong together. The brutal power of African war dances, the ferocity of Maori Hakas, the earth-shattering roar of US sound guns blasting Metallica at Taliban hideouts – the principle is always the same: aggressive sounds demoralise the enemy and whip the allies into a frenzy. In ’Songs of War’, we explore the extraordinary harmony between music and violence. Sesame Street composer, Christopher Cerf, always wanted his music to be fun and entertaining. But then he learned that his songs had been used to torture prisoners in Guantanamo and Abu Ghraib. He is stunned by this abuse of his work and wants to find out how this could happen. Cerf embarks on a journey to learn what makes music such a powerful stimulant. In the process, he speaks to soldiers, psychologists and prisoners tortured with his music at Guantanamo and find out how the military has been employing music as a potent weapon for hundreds of years. Director: Tristan Chytroschek

"Queen of the Savannah" explores the vital and often overlooked roles of female animals in the wild, challenging the common belief that males are the dominant leaders. The documentary showcases various female animals, including lionesses, cheetahs, baboons, elephants, and hippopotamuses, highlighting their strength, independence, and adaptability. It delves into their daily struggles for survival, emphasizing their critical contributions to their species and the ecosystem. By focusing on these resilient and resourceful females, the film offers a fresh perspective on the dynamics of life on the savannah. Director : Laurent Frapat

Johannesburg is considered the most uranium-contaminated city in the world. Waste dumps from around 600 abandoned mines sit next to residential communities, blowing polluted dust into homes and contaminating the soil and water supplies. To get a sense of the sheer extent of the problem, Martin Boudot and his team of researchers investigate. Equipped with a Geiger counter, they uncover some dangerous realities. Director: Martin Boudot

Including superb archive footage and interviews with Jaguar’s competition director, Raymond ‘Lofty’ England and ex-driver Duncan Hamilton, “Racing Through Time – Jaguar” is definitely one to watch. Director : Jason Fenwick Series: Racing Through Time

Nevada and New Mexico are the hotbeds when it comes to UFO sightings, but here we take a look into the top 5 cases that have taken place in Arizona. Director: Clive Christopher Series: Aliens Uncovered

Long forgotten or ignored, females have plenty of surprises in store. Obedient, submissive and always loyal? Think again! On Savannah Lane, we have many ways to care for our little ones. Director: Laurent Frapat Series: Wild Wives of Savannah Lane

But recent scientific research has revealed that more than 450 different kinds of animals engage in homosexual activity. Saint Thomas Productions has taken the results of this research, and combined it with never-before-seen footage, to produce this compelling and groundbreaking documentary. ANIMAL HOMOSEXUALITY explores the various ways homosexuality is expressed in the animal kingdom through courtships, affection, sex, pair-bonding and parenting among many species including dolphins, killer whales, seals, penguins, Japanese macaques and many more. It is also revealed that in the natural world homosexuality does not necessarily cause marginalization. Within some species, most notably dolphins, same-sex pairs often mate for life. With the help of scientific research, international stock footage and location shoots all over the world, Saint Thomas exposes a phenomenon that has gone unnoticed until now and re-examines the fundamental paradigms of nature. Directed by: Bertrand LOYER, Jessica MENENDEZ and Stéphane ALEXANDRESCO

Seven young people recount their passion for poetry written in Yiddish during the interwar period, a time of tremendous creative momentum in Yiddish culture. The poetry of these years was universal and intimate at the same time, in relation to all the literary and artistic movements of the time. These poets were polyglots and moved from one country to another. "Yiddishland" was not a country but a language. The protagonists of my film, some Jewish, others not, also move between countries and languages. Everyone will talk about their personal relationship to Yiddish and to a poet they particularly like. For these young people, this Yiddish poetry does not only belong to a Jewish past, but it allows us to situate ourselves in the present. The film will be shot in different cities and in a plurality of languages. Director : Nurith Aviv Script: Nurith Aviv Cast: Migle Anusauskaite, Valentina Fedchenko, Tal Hever Year: 2020 Full documentary

Welcome to Paris, the famous city with a great reputation in fashion and money. Cabaret show, great French stylist, luxury perfume... Nothing escapes this full reporting on the city of lights.

Gavriel’s time is running out. As a little boy he was still able to run and play football. Now he’s 15 and wheelchair bound, and his muscles are getting weaker all the time. Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy has so far been seen as incurable. But for the first time there are grounds for hope because of a new tool from the genetic laboratory: ‘Crispr’ enables scientists to alter the genomes of all living organisms faster, more economically and more precisely than ever before. “Crispr" will revolutionise medicine, says paediatrician Ronald Cohn. He’s working in Toronto on a new therapy that could save Gavriel and thousands of other children along with him. ‘Crispr’ can also be used to give plants completely new characteristics: resistance against pests or drought. In the US the first Crispr plants are already in the fields. Even some organic farmers see new opportunities in the innovative breeding method and have doubts whether the total rejection of genetic engineering they’ve espoused till now is still justified. Othersare warning about new dangers. They’re afraid of opening Pandora’s Box and interfering with evolution. The new technology, after all, could not only cure diseases and produce new seeds, but also create designer babies in the future. For the first time, genome interventions are possible, which until now have been merely utopian dreams or horror scenarios. Just how great are the opportunities and the risks? The film looks for answers in Germany, the US and Canada. After more than a year’s research, visiting geneticists, physicians, patients and plant breeders, filmmaker Claudia Ruby reveals what is already happening in laboratories and clinics, in greenhouses and trial fields without the knowledge of the public at large. The film interviews both supporters and opponents, who are all agreed on one thing at least: an intensive public discussion is urgently needed. Because ‘Crispr’ can dramatically affect all our lives. Director : Claudia Ruby

In March 2002, a state TV station in China was hijacked by members of outlawed spiritual group Falun Gong. Their goal was to counter the government narrative about their practice. In the aftermath, police raids sweep Changchun City, and comic book illustrator Daxiong (Justice League, Star Wars), a Falun Gong practitioner, is forced to flee. He arrives in North America, blaming the hijacking for worsening a violent repression. But his views are challenged when he meets the lone surviving participant to have escaped China, now living in Seoul, South Korea. Combining present-day footage with 3D animation inspired by Daxiong’s art, Eternal Spring retraces the event, and brings to life an unprecedented story of defiance, harrowing eyewitness accounts of persecution, and an exhilarating tale of determination to speak up for political and religious freedoms, no matter the cost. Eternal Spring: The Heist of China´s Airwaves brings to life with stunning animation, the heist, and its repercussions. Director : Jason Loftus Original title: Eternal Spring