JØRGEN LETH (Denmark, 1937) is a true living cultural icon. Theatre, film and jazz critic, poet, writer, sports commentator, and anthropologist, having travelled to Africa, Southeast Asia, South America and India, and having written volumes on his observations. He is also a leading figure in experimental documentary filmmaking with several dozens of films in his filmography. His surrealistic short The Perfect Human (1967) was later famously explored in The Five Obstructions (2003), co-directed with Lars von Trier. The Erotic Man, Leth's docu-fictional account of his sexual encounters with women in third world countries, is a collection of scenes based on documents, letters, pictures and poems that depict man's erotic nature. The controversially reviewed film premiered at the 2010 Toronto IFF.
Cast: Alexander Gruszynski, Dan Holmberg, Adam Philp
Directed by: Jorgen Leth
At day, they are down-to-earth employees: wholesale meat buyers, ticket collectors, teachers, and representatives of other serious occupations. They are at an age when the twenties’ dream of becoming a rock star has come to an end. So their option is to resort to their potential of self-irony and... join the male synchronized swimming team. After all, it comes a bit close to being in a rock-band. The men are positive they have founded a unique troupe – the only all-male synchronized swim team in the world when they are forced to realize groups like this exist almost everywhere in the world – Japan, Ukraine, Netherlands, France, and elsewhere. Besides, the discipline’s first championship is drawing near.
Directed by: Dylan Williams
In which place of Finland is it possible to meet the greatest number of naked men? Obviously, in sauna, where men of various age, height, weight, and looks enjoy, live, and suffer a moment of physical and emotional nakedness. It is a moment of purification which at the same time is a ritual. A moment when such issues as love, death, birth, friendship - normally untouched in quotidian life – are discussed. A chance to realize the importance of sauna in the lives of Finnish men.
Cast: Timo Aalto, Pekka Ahonen, Aarne Aksila, Mauno Alasuutari
Directed by Joonas Berghäll, Mika Hotakainen
Scriptwriter: Joonas Berghäll, Mika Hotakainen
Perhaps the most inspiring movement of stylistic and ideological invention ever encountered in the history of the world cinema, the French New Wave crashed onto international shores when François Truffaut’s debut feature, The 400 Blows, premiered at Cannes in 1959, followed quickly by Jean-Luc Godard’s equally thrilling Breathless, based on a Truffaut story. Two in the Wave is a story of a friendship, an alliance of two of the foremost New Wave figures. As critics, they wrote for the the legendary Cahiers du Cinéma, and through the 1960s loyally supported each other in their filmmaking. The documentary poignantly melds revealing period footage of both men with scenes from some of their greatest films. History and politics separated them in 1968, but their friendship and their break-up embody the story of French cinema.
Cast: Etienne de Grammont, Nick de Pencier
Directed by: Emmanuel Laurent
Werner Herzog’s 3D masterpiece, exclusively shot inside the Chauvet caves of Southern France, vividly captures the oldest known pictorial creations of humankind in their astonishing natural setting. Always keen to explore the everlasting struggle between the forces of nature and humankind, Herzog’s appetite for controversy and pushing the boundaries here is as large as ever.
Cast: Werner Herzog, Dominique Baffier, Jean Clottes
Directed by: Werner Herzog
Blood Into Wine is a documentary focusing on multi-platinum musician Maynard James Keenan and his winemaking mentor Eric Glomski as they toil against the naysayers and elements in their quest to make exquisite varieties of wine in the hostile deserts of Arizona. The ostensibly unlikely farmer Keenan, the lead singer of famous rock bands, moved to Arizona in 1995 and has since produced high quality wines through his labels Caduceus, Merkin, and AZ Stronghold. Also featuring appearances form supermodel and actress Mila Jovovich, the film is an inspiring and humorous look at a truly enthusiastic spirit of winemaking.
Cast: Maynard James Keenan, Eric Glomski, Milla Jovovich, Tim Heidecker
Directed by: Ryan Page, Christopher Pomerenke
Inta is a bruesque, crusty woman who lives alone on the edge of a picturesque marsh. One day her solitude is intruded upon by the arrival of a documentary filmmaker. In his eyes Inta is an outstanding would-be film protagonist but the wild woman would rather put a curse on the importunate intruder than let herself be filmed. But the filmmaker's persistance finally succeeds in melting the ice of Inta's heart... just in order to break it soon afterwards.
Directed by: Ivars Zviedris, Inese Kļava
A new feature documentary from Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios, Passion Pictures and Red Box Films. Everything or Nothing: The Untold Story of 007. Directed by Stevan Riley (Fire In Babylon), Everything or Nothing focuses on three men with a shared dream – Bond producers Albert R. Broccoli, Harry Saltzman and author Ian Fleming. It’s the thrilling and inspiring narrative behind the longest running film franchise in cinema history which began in 1962
"Samsara" takes the form of a nonverbal, guided meditation that will transform viewers in countries around the world, as they are swept along a journey of the soul. Through powerful images pristinely photographed in 70mm and a dynamic music score, the film illuminates the links between humanity and the rest of the nature, showing how our life cycle mirrors the rhythm of the planet.
This is an epic tale of two gangs, like The Jets and The Sharks. But Girl and Chocolate aren't even gangs. Some of them act tough and some of them act like babies. But they are even more unlike the Jets and The Sharks in that they aren't even battling each other for territory. They really don't know what the hell they are doing. They don't have a feud, most of them really like each other so that is another thing they don't have in common with the Jets and the Sharks. What they do have in common with The Jets and The Sharks is they love to dance. And when I say dance, I mean SKATE. And when I say SKATE, I mean really good. From the directors that brought you Mouse, Yeah Right and Fully Flared, another chapter in this tale with no plot, no ending but beautiful inner battles acted out on a little board with wheels.
Behind the headlines, beyond the spotlight -- there's more to his story. Directed by Jon M. Chu, this documentary captures 19-year-old Justin Bieber unfiltered and brutally honest. In brand new interviews with Bieber, the movie reveals long-awaited answers to questions about his passion to make music, relationships and coming of age in the spotlight -- as well as never-before-seen concert footage, unprecedented behind-the-scenes access and special appearances from manager Scooter Braun, Pattie Mallette, Usher, Ludacris and many more.