Best Documentary

In Brazil, in the state of Para, a convoy of tanker trucks loaded with fuel plunges into the Amazon rainforest along a dilapidated track, illegally bulldozed. Their mission is to deliver diesel to gold miners who use water cannons and diesel engines to destroy one of the world’s most precious forests. Nearby, Cécilio and his family, indigenous Kayapo people, are driven out of their home as their ancestral territory is submerged by the artificial lake of the Bello Monte dam. Rendered homeless, they wander in search of a hypothetical shelter. This situation highlights the threat to this region, intensified by 200,000 kilometers of illegal tracks in the Amazon, revealed by satellites. These tracks, mainly in the states of Mato Grosso, Para, and Rondonia, provide access to isolated areas and are not marked on any maps. They enable colonists, often poor and desperate, to invade the forest in search of easy riches. These destructive practices follow only the law of the mightiest and quick profit. Farmers, landowners, and traffickers also enter the forest, ravaging it under the guise of development. They covet precious wood and gold. Over time, the Brazilian state legalizes these lands and paves the main tracks, but the deforested lands used for grazing quickly degrade into deserts within 10 to 20 years. Colonists and traffickers then take their bulldozers to create new illegal tracks, invading and burning millions of hectares for their cattle, further exacerbating the Amazon's agony.

He had made the French capitulate, brought Europe to its knees and launched the largest extermination operation in history by deporting millions of Jews. Adolf Hitler was willing to do anything to achieve his dreams of domination. To stop the dictator, the British forces, the French resistance fighters or the German opponents imagined numerous scenarios aimed at assassinating him. However, each attempt proved to be a failure. One of the most emblematic is that planned by a German officer Claus Schenk Von Stauffenberg during the plot of July 20, 1944 at the Wolfsschanze, the Führer's headquarters located in East Prussia. But the attempt only hurt him and resulted in a radical reduction in his public appearances. On a daily basis, Hitler was too well protected and his closest lieutenants were constantly on guard. Director : GUILAIN DEPARDIEU

More and more Americans are drawn to the wide open spaces of the American Northwest. But when some see it as a return to basics, others see it as an ultra-conservative bastion to be defended at all costs against progressivism and minorities.

Did Patrick Süskind have a true story in mind when composing his bestseller ‘Perfume: The Story of a Murderer’? This becomes one of the central questions of the documentary that tells the story of Giovanni Maria Farina. Farina was indeed the most famous perfume designer of the 18th century, the creator of ‘Eau de Cologne’ – once a unique fragrance, it has become a generic term for a certain type of perfumes. Farina’s client list was virtually the Who’s Who of the 18th and 19th centuries: Louis XV and Frederick the Great, Voltaire and Goethe – all yearned for Farina’s perfume. The obsession eventually led to an international trickery and a lawsuit – the trademark law did not exist back then. The film takes us through the most important stages in the life of the great perfume artist and follows his footsteps from Piedmont to Venice, Grasse, Paris, and finally to Cologne, where Farina’s descendants produce perfume to this day. Time and again, the traces bring us to Venice, at Farina’s time the gate to the Orient and the commercial metropolis for scents, spices and essences. It is here that the young Farina studies the perfume art. He masters his techniques in Grasse and finally becomes a royal court supplier. In 1709, his brother – responsible for the commercial part of the business – opens a shop in Cologne. Farina devotes his renowned fragrance ‘Eau de Cologne’ to his new hometown. Following the traces of the great perfume maker, the documentary discovers ever new parallels with Süskind’s Grenouille and further leads to another trace: Coco Chanel and her way to creating the most famous scent nowadays. Director: Ina Knobloch

September 11, 2001, 9:59 a.m.: a date and time that I will never forget. 9:59 a.m. is the time the South Tower of the World Trade Center collapsed... before my eyes. At the time I was 28 years old. I was a history-geography teacher for the French high school. These attacks changed my life. I decided to resume studies in France to... become a journalist. 20 years later I wanted to know what had become of those who were in or near the towers. After a long investigation and based on famous photos, I found some of these survivors. Miraculous for some. “9h59” is the story of a trauma. A trauma that changed the lives of thousands of Americans but also reshaped the destiny of the United States...until today. Director: Olivier Ponthus Production: Yemaya productions Directed by: Olivier Ponthus Production : Yemaya productions

This document delves into the global diamond industry, highlighting its struggle with globalization. From the diamond dealers of Antwerp to the mines of Botswana, it traces the journey of diamonds as a prime material in jewelry making, affected by global shifts. The story focuses on the Taché family, diamond traders for three generations, who moved from Lebanon to Antwerp in the late 1950s. The narrative explores the evolution of the diamond cutting industry, moving from skilled artisans to high-tech machinery, emphasizing Antwerp's historical role as a diamond trading hub. It also examines the shift towards countries with cheaper labor, like India, where a significant portion of diamond cutting has moved. The document captures the essence of the diamond trade's impact on global economies, from the rich mines of Africa to the bustling markets of India, illustrating how diamonds remain a vital part of luxury trade and national economies worldwide Director: François Rabaté

30 minutes without intervention, he would have died.

Can games change the world? Today public spaces and entire cities are being designed, planned and played through the medium of games. Director: Anders Eklund

Denis Law, a humble Aberdeen native, overcame a hereditary sight problem to become a football legend. As part of Manchester United's iconic trinity with Bobby Charlton and George Best, Law's extraordinary goal-scoring prowess earned him a place in football history. This authorised biography, featuring insights from Sir Alex Ferguson and others, highlights Law's journey from barefoot beginnings to Britain's most expensive player. His lasting impact is commemorated in the famous Trinity statue outside Old Trafford, symbolising his status as a football great. Director: Robin Bextor

Burning deserts, massive moutains ranges, the state of Nevada in the American West is an uncompromising land. It is also the place that hosts the Burning Man festival, but also crazy Las Vegas and the cowboy tradition of the old West. Director: Scott Schneider Original Title: Somewhere on Earth: Nevada Follow us on social media : Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/BestDocumentaryTV

"Coastal Fire: A Common Diary" depicts the emotional fallout from the 2016 US presidential election on a personal and societal level. Documentary footage and dreamlike imagery combine to capture the zeitgeist of a population teetering constantly on the edge of revulsion and resolve. Director: Susan Maughlin Wood

It will be a case of “welcome to my world” as our first contributor moves in with a single-parent household to witness first-hand the challenges they face. A second contributor will live in a carer’s household to experience what life is like for a carer; and a third will find themselves living in cramped conditions with a family whose main breadwinner is trying to support their family on welfare. Series: Could You Survive on the Breadline?

00:00 The Stevenson Path (France) Follows the footsteps of the Scottish writer Robert Louis Stevenson. The author of Treasure Island wandered through the Massif Central in southern France with his donkey Modestine and in 1879 published the first ever travelogue written: Travels with a Donkey in the Cévennes. Director: Rolf Lambert 51:34 Along the Amalfi Coast, Italy Along the Monti Lattari, the Milk Mountains, old trails connect beautifully situated coastal towns with rich ancient history. Steep stairways lead through terraces where the famous Amalfi lemons - used for Limoncello liqueur production - are grown. Hiking the Amalfi Coast, Bradley experiences Italy at its best. Directors: Bernd Girrbach, Rolf Lambert 01:41:49 Through Andalusia, Spain Springtime is perfect for hiking in Andalusia. At the southern most tip of Spain, bushes and flowers are in blossom, meadows are green und temperatures are moderate. A long distance hike connects the so-called "white villages" of Andalusia, which still show the presence of the Moors, Islamic conquerors that came from Africa. Directors: Rolf Lambert, Dimitrios Kisoudis 02:32:08 The Cornwall Coast Path (Great Britain) Once a path of smugglers shipwreck plunderers, runs along England's rugged south-west coast, past castles, harbors and gardens from the Victorian era. Director: Jörg Daniel Hissen 03:22:32 The Dingle and Kerry Ways, Ireland In County Kerry, Bradley Mayhew combines two of Ireland's most beautiful hikes. The Dingle Way offers steep cliffs and stunning views of the Atlantic, while the Kerry Way intrigues with Ireland's highest mountains. Bradley passes Celtic ruins, explores islands off the coast and pubs along the path. Director: Jörg Daniel Hissen 04:12:50 Through the Gorges of Crete (Greece) A long-distance path that spans the entire island of Crete. What's great: the gorges end up directly at the sea. Combining hiking and swimming, Greek food and the Cretan spirit of resistance, the route is a hidden gem for hikers. Director: Kim Rigauer 05:03:05 The Lech Trail, Austria/Germany The trail follows the last remaining wild flowing river of the Northern Alpes - the Lech. It starts in the cragged Lechquellen Mountains in the west of Austria, passes scenic high-altitude pastures before descending into the Lech valley of Tirol. It takes Bradley one week to reach the city of Füssen in southern Bavaria, where the trail ends. Director: Bernd Girrbach 05:53:21 The Dry Stone Route (Mallorca, Spain) Leads through the Serra de Tramuntana with superb views of the sea. The stone path follows ancient postal and riding routes, which have been laid 'dry' (without any mortar or cement) since the 13th century. Director: Rolf Lambert 06:43:37 The Saint Olav Ways, Norway Following the St. Olav Ways, Bradley passes Norway's wild and vast landscapes on the way to the city of Trondheim, where Norway's King Olav was buried in 1030. King Olav unified the country, converted the Vikings to Christianity and was later canonized. In medieval times, the Saint Olav Ways were as important as the pilgrimage route of Santiago de Compostela. Director: Rolf Lambert 07:33:56 The Saar-Hunsrück Trail (Germany) A brand-new trail that was designed especially for hiking in 2007. It begins where the borders of Luxembourg, France and Germany meet and is very trendy among young hikers. Director: Bernd Girrbach

Across Asia, millions of football fans passionately support their teams, with no idea that often the outcome of the match would have been decided long before the game begins. A sophisticated network of match fixers have an iron grip on the game, players on low salaries are vulnerable to bribes and coaches who raise questions are removed by team owners. This film compiles evidence of corruption across Asia, and follows the trials of a British coach doing his best to steer an Indonesian team to success in an environment which doesn’t necessarily want him to succeed. Director: Suridh Hassan

Why are the conditions in Europe's prisons getting worse? There are now 62,673 prisoners in French prisons, 4,000 more than six months ago. With overcrowding, issues like suicides are increasing in French jails. The nation was even rapped by the European Court of Human Rights for treating prisoners with indignity. With such fall in grace, do other prisoners of countries of other nations have hope? Category : Crime & Investigation - Social/Human Stories - Society Year of production : 2020

This seminal film tells the story of two women with opposing political views fighting for their different versions of a democratic future for Tunisia, the country that sparked the Arab Spring. Over the course of Tunisia’s critical post-revolution years, we follow journalist Emna Ben Jemaa, who envisions a country governed by free speech and without the corruption of the former regime. In contrast, Jawhara Ettis of the Islamist party Ennahda works towards a Tunisia guided by Islamic principles. On a public level, both women must navigate how females are treated in their society, while in their own homes they must make difficult choices to balance their public political roles with marriage and motherhood. Both know the stakes are high and the ever-present threat of Islamic extremists means their fragile political process could break down at any moment and all they’ve worked for could be lost. Through the intertwined stories of Emna and Jawhara, the unresolved tensions of the Arab spring are laid bare. A Revolution in Four Seasons gives both a comprehensive review of this crucial period as well as an intimate look at what these sometimes painful compromises mean for those living in a country struggling to define itself. Director: Jessie Deeter

In the USA, more and more American children are being given guns for their birthday or for Christmas. Despite the increasing numbers of grieving families the powerful gun lobby continues encouraging citizens to arm themselves. Shotguns and assault riffles designed with children in mind are available at gun fairs and even in the supermarket for less than 100 dollars. But there is a backlash and people are starting to organise to protect themselves and their families. They are demanding stricter controls on gun purchase but so far their work has been in vain. In 2013 Barack Obama attempted an ambitious reform but the bill was vetoed by a Congress in the thrall of the NRA. Should the right to bear arms apply to children? Director: Chantal Lasbats

One of Europe's longest rivers, the Danube originates in the Black Forest and flows through ten countries. In its headwaters, however, the river does not flow freely any longer: it is chopped up into a chain of reservoirs, used for transportation, cooling power plants and supplying energy – and with devastating consequences: in spring 2013, the high water resulted in cracked dams and destructive floods. Many have speculated about the reasons. By exploring how its current lives and functions, the film gives a voice to the river itself. In Germany, a 70-km stretch of the Danube has not been modified by man – yet. However, a fierce quarrel is ongoing: should it be turned into a waterway or preserved as the Bavarian “Amazonas”? As of yet, its future is undecided. Here, the river has preserved its seasonal changes in the water level, which have defined the landscapes and life in the valleys for thousands of years. Many plants and animals have come to be dependent on this repeated seasonal change, of them beaver is perhaps the most typical. Only in a wetland one can find such a dense mosaic of various contrasting biotopes: water and land, wet meadows, forests and dry grassland build a complex network of habitats in a limited space, making it one of the most bio-diverse places in Central Europe. Here, in the area where the Danube flows freely, live two-thirds of all Bavarian bird species and more fish species than in Germany’s two next-biggest rivers combined. Migrating birds like this stretch of the Danube for its mudflats, and even in winter the current doesn’t freeze, providing a retreat for countless water birds. The floods of 2013 have shown that the river needs space – for humans and wildlife. The 70-km stretch of the Danube portrayed in the film counts as one of the last unspoiled river areas in Central Europe with its rare animal and plants species – a precious piece of Europe’s natural heritage. Director: Jürgen Eichinger

Director Nelly Ben Hayoun-Stépanian finds an unlikely companion in the late political theorist Hannah Arendt as she embarks on a world tour across sixteen cities—looking for the origins, mechanics and power dynamics behind knowledge. The film investigates the act of thinking in the twenty-first century, as well as fears associated with it. It features a long list of some of the most interesting minds of our times: political activist Noam Chomsky, Pussy Riot’s Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, Arendt’s students: Arjun Appadurai, Leon Botstein and Richard Bernstein, Japanese Living National Treasures: Bunraku puppeteer Kanjuro Kiritake II, Kimono master Takayuki Takahashi, former Lord Mayor of Sheffield Magid, and many more. Director: Ben Hayoun-Stépanian

The World Conservation Union (IUCN) lists the Cat Ba langur as one of the most critically endangered primates in the world. In the past, poaching was a great threat to their survival: from over 2,500 individuals in the 1960s, the population declined to more 50 individuals today. Low reproductive output further endangers their survival. In 2000, the Cat Ba Langur Conservation Project was started. Since then, for the first time in decades, the population of the langurs has increased. Former poachers joined the conservationists’ team. Today, every individual is important for the survival of the species. That is why two females, living isolated on a small island, need to be brought back to the main population. The international rescue operation begins: a team of American, Australian and German researchers, together with local helpers, plans the translocation like a military operation. They risk their lives to sedate the animals, navigate boats in the pitch-black night, and perform medical examination in a temporary jungle surgery. It’s an exciting and exhausting venture! But finally we see the two langurs making their first steps into a hopefully good future. Director: Hannes Schuler

Documents the lineage of Adolf Hitlers descendants, focusing on William Patrick Hitler, the nephew of Adolf Hitler. Cataloguing his attempts to use Hitlers celebrity in the early years, his involvement during WWII and subsequent disappearance from public life. Director: Emmanuel Amara

For centuries, the human race has viewed certain people as experimental subjects. For the better as with the rabies vaccine or penicillin, but also for the worse with the Nazi camps... How can we define what is acceptable in terms of experimentation on human beings? When does the medical procedure become a threat to the patient? Is the South used today by the countries of the North as a testing ground?

In this documentary we explore the world's most fascinating landscapes with hot-air balloons. Breathtaking adventures await the balloonists in the endless vastness of the Gobi Desert, in the snow-covered mountain-sides of the Alps or at the steep rock faces of the Venezuelan Tepuis. Emotional human encounters, exotic cultural experiences and thrilling nature adventures are promising ingredients for a dynamic, exciting and entertaining series about the special life of ballooning enthusiast and their quest for the “Great Picture”. 00:00 The World's Greatest Balloon Adventures 01:14 Kenya 51:43 Mongolia 01:43:13 Sri Lanka 02:33:51 The Alps 03:24:11 Venezuela Directors: Annette & Klaus Scheurich

100 years ago the greatest battle the earth has ever seen began in the Somme region of France. More British and Canadian soldiers would die in this one single battle than in all of World War II, yet it is a relatively unknown event today. Soldiers' Stories brings a 'grunt eye view' of battle to life using original, never before seen 3D stereoscopic images from the time. Painstakingly remastered for 15/70 mm film format these powerful and haunting images are brought to the screen for the first time ever. The Soldiers' Story is a universal and timeless story. In the film the realities of war are retold by modern combat veterans who relay their own stories of today in order to speak for the veterans of the past. Director: Jonathan Kitzen