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A person stands on a balcony with their arms crossed, surrounded by graffiti-covered walls. Behind them, a cityscape with various buildings in different states of construction and maintenance is visible. The contrast between the neglected foreground and the bustling city background highlights a narrative of urban resilience and perhaps social issues. The sunlight casts shadows, adding to the gritty ambiance of the setting.

The Cities I Live In

Newly settled in Belfast, a filmmaker tells his infant twins about his life journey. They see him leaving one violent place for another, longing for places that he will never see again, and hoping they will not carry his curse.

A hand with the palm facing forward and fingers slightly apart, set against a backdrop of a rock surface with natural lines and crevices. The lighting is soft and dim, suggesting either early morning or late afternoon, with warm tones that give the skin a reddish hue, contrasting with the cooler tones of the rock. The focus is on the hand, which is centered in the frame, while the rock surface in the background is slightly blurred. The composition is simple and evocative.

There’s Not Much We Can Do

In this personal essay documentary, the director reflects on getting diagnosed with endometriosis through observing the invasive Japanese Knotweed. While the plant is treated with urgency, the disease is met with inaction, prompting us to question the very things we consider “natural” in the first place.

Two individuals are sitting close together on a high ledge, looking out over a desert-like landscape with sand dunes stretching towards the horizon. The sky is a warm, hazy orange, possibly indicating either sunrise or sunset. The companionship between the two figures is emphasized by one person's arm around the other, suggesting a moment of shared experience or reflection in a vast and tranquil environment.

Madeleine

Each week, two friends born 67 years apart share their life stories in the living room of a seniors’ residence. When Raquel finds a way to bring Madeleine with her on a road trip to the sea, the result is a journey that plays with reality and fiction and brings a reflection on life, death and the certainty that there is always something to learn along the way.

A person is standing in the center of a street with one fist raised high. The individual is wearing a dark beanie, a t-shirt, and jeans, and has a serious expression. The street is lined with various commercial buildings and cars are visible in both directions. The context of the raised fist, a symbol often associated with solidarity and support for a cause, suggests a moment of protest or statement. The image captures a sense of defiance or activism.

Detroit Will Breathe

In the summer of 2020, Detroiters faced unprecedented police violence as they took to the streets to protest the killings of Black people across the country. Detroit Will Breathe provides an unprecedented look into the actions of the police and examines what it means to be part of an integrated movement fighting for Black lives.

Four individuals are seated around a dining table in a dimly lit room that suggests a vintage or historical setting. The warm glow from the windows, adorned with patterned stained glass, provides natural light. The room is decorated with patterned wallpaper, and there are traditional furnishings and decorations, including a cabinet and a clock on the wall, which contribute to the room's old-fashioned ambiance. The scene has a calm and intimate feel, with the focus on the people at the table, possibly engaged in conversation over a meal.

Demon Box

After festival rejections, a director revises his intensely personal short film about trauma, suicide, and the Holocaust. He transforms the film into a painful, blunt and funny dissection of itself, and of his own life. Ten years in the making.

Guests in attendance, Q&A with Sean Wainsteim

A person with shoulder-length bright red hair stands in the foreground, smiling slightly, with a blurred city skyline in the background. They are wearing a black top, and the overcast sky suggests a muted daylight setting. Below the skyline, there's a glimpse of a highway with moving vehicles, bordered by greenery. The focus on the individual with the cityscape backdrop creates a juxtaposition between the person and the urban environment.

Winn

After miscarrying her baby in prison due to shackling, Pamela Winn becomes an activist, leading thousands to support – and pass – the 2019 Georgia Dignity Act, which outlawed shackling of pregnant and postpartum inmates. Winn follows Pamela’s journey from prison to the halls of the state Capitol, from incarcerated person to outspoken law-changer, from powerless to empowered.

A woman stands outside a brick building, holding a box of Playtex tampons and a long printed receipt. They are smiling at the camera, dressed in a cozy, textured beige jacket with a navy blue top visible underneath. Their curly hair is pulled back from their face, and they wear round earrings.

Periodical

Periodical tells the unexpected story of the human body by exploring the marvel and mystery of the menstrual cycle, from first period to last. Lina Lyte Plioplyte’s innovative documentary uncovers shocking truths, challenges taboos, and celebrates the end of centuries of societal stigma.

Related VIRTUAL WORKSHOP: Period Poverty & Advocacy | Tuesday, Jan 30 at 7:00PM EST – Pre-register now!

Two puppet-like figures with painted faces and exaggerated makeup are positioned close together against a bokeh background with purple and blue hues. The figure on the left has black hair and pink makeup, while the one on the right has bright green hair and darker makeup around the eyes. The facial expressions are fixed and stylized, with a handmade quality to the crafting of their features.

Blush – An Extraordinary Voyage

For 18-year-old Finnish–Kosovan Fatu, a simple visit to the grocery store feels as nerve-racking as a lunar expedition. For the first time in his life, he’s wearing makeup in public. Luckily his best friend Rai, a young woman on the spectrum of autism, is there to ferociously support him through the voyage.

An individual, likely a mature adult given the visible gray beard and wrinkles, is aiming a laser gun. The device is held up to their face, and their focused gaze is directed towards the target. They are wearing a gray beanie and a dark jacket, and the background is softly blurred with a clear sky, indicating an outdoor setting during the day. The device’s detailed mechanics are visible, emphasizing a the advanced technology.

Eco-Hack!

Deep in the Mojave desert, an unconventional field biologist wages a high-tech war against ravens – laser cannons, drones, exploding turtle shells – in a last ditch effort to save the last few desert tortoises from extinction.

A dog stands atop a vast landscape of debris under a hazy sky, with the sun low on the horizon casting a warm glow over the scene. The landfill is littered with varied waste, and the dog's silhouette is outlined against the bright backdrop of the sun. The atmosphere appears calm yet somber, with the desolation of the waste and the solitary figure of the dog creating a poignant contrast.

Plastic Fantastic

Our planet is permeated with plastic particles. This film follows several people who deal with the disposal of plastic, as well as its production. In the process, the system that causes the mountains of plastic to grow becomes apparent.

Ajjigiingiluktaaqtugut (We Are All Different)

What does it mean to be Inuk? Historically depicted as welcoming and friendly people in remote snowy landscapes, in reality, Inuit live across the globe. Using antique wind-up bears, layered animation, and analogue techniques, McIntyre constructs an animated documentary in an exploration of identity and belonging by Inuit, both in and outside of community.

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