The Plugs(NaN)

NARC. Mini-Doc – Outside The Mainstream: The North East’s Alternative Scene(en)

The final episode in our Mini-Docs series comes from musician and writer Jake Anderson, who explores the niche music genres which find an increasing audience in the North East. On a mission to discover outside-the-mainstream sounds and the driving forces behind their creation, Jake chats with musicians Me Lost Me, SQUARMS and Mariam Rezaei, along with some of the major players keeping these sonically-engaging sound makers doing what they’re doing, including Simeon Soden from Kaneda Records and Lee Etherington of TUSK. This mini-documentary features reflections on some of the most unique acts in the North East, what genre boundaries actually mean and artists’ hopes for the future of the North East’s alternative scene. This is an Art Mouse film for NARC. TV, written and directed by Jake Anderson.

Crocodile in the Yangtze(en)

Crocodile in the Yangtze follows China's first Internet entrepreneur and former English teacher, Jack Ma, as he battles US giant eBay on the way to building China's first global Internet company, Alibaba Group. An independent memoir written, directed and produced by an American who worked in Ma's company for eight years, Crocodile in the Yangtze captures the emotional ups and downs of life in a Chinese Internet startup at a time when the Internet brought China face-to-face with the West. Crocodile in the Yangtze draws on 200 hours of archival footage filmed by over 35 sources between 1995 and 2009. The film presents a strikingly candid portrait of Ma and his company, told from the point of view of an “American fly on a Chinese wall” who witnessed the successes and the mistakes Alibaba encountered as it grew from a small apartment into a global company employing 16,000 staff.

Hi, Mr. Gehry, I'm Marc From Arenys(ca)

IT-bubblan som aldrig sprack(sv)

Covers the rise of the Swedish IT sector in the 90s and how the industry kept growing despite the bubble bursting.

Just for Kicks(en)

Just for Kicks is a 2005 documentary film about the sneaker phenomena and history. It includes self confessed "sneakerheads" like Grandmaster Caz, Reverend Run, and Missy Elliott. It tells the story of the legendary Nike Air Force One's, or as they are called in New York "Uptowns." Also about the beginning of Air Jordans. The documentary also tells the story of how hip-hop pioneers DJ Run, Jam Master Jay, and DMC had everyone wearing Adidas Superstars with their smash hit "My Adidas."

Shoot for the Moon(en)

A documentary about the trials and tribulations of being a entrepreneur and film maker in Finland from the makers of Iron Sky franchise.

The Donut King(en)

Cambodian refugee Ted Ngoy builds a multi-million dollar empire by baking America's favourite pastry: the doughnut.

Hero's Journey: Myth or Delusion(en)

A librarian explores the mythical landscape of a timeless storytelling concept and reveals a revelation about a critical key stage.

Out of a Jam(hi)

Recognizing the abundance of fruits available and poor socioeconomic condition of the women of Himachal Pradesh, Linnet Mushran sets up a small jam factory. Today it’s at the brink of becoming a pvt ltd company, and it’s run completely by a remarkable group of village women.

Return to Cuba(es)

After 18 years living in Italy, the Cuban Barbara Ramos returns to live in her homeland. In the town of Santa Clara, she discovers through the projects of family and friends what has changed in Cuba but also what has not and will likely never change. Shot over a period of three years - the time it took Barbara to build her dream house - RETURN TO CUBA chronicles her life in the wake of Raul Castro's liberal reforms and reconciliation with the United States of America. A light-hearted yet energetic movie positively demonstrating that finding happiness is possible in today's Cuba!

Meow Wolf: Origin Story(en)

When a group of young DIY artists in Santa Fe can’t find a door into the art world, they blow open an entirely new portal with their grit, passion, and tenacity. Within just a few short years – and with a little help from George R.R. Martin – this group called Meow Wolf ultimately hits a cultural nerve and garners massive, unexpected success with their exhibit, House of Eternal Return.

Mining Review 2nd Year No. 4(en)

The majestic rebirth of Manchester's Bradford Colliery and other stories.

The First Year(en)

The First Year tells the inside story of Jamie Driscoll’s first 12 months as the new North of Tyne Mayor.

Ian James Made(en)

Ian James has been creating leather goods for nearly a decade, but only recently realized his dream of opening his own shop. When James got laid off during the COVID-19 pandemic, he took the plunge and opened his namesake boutique in San Francisco. James calls the shop—which includes both custom pieces and items that can be bought off the shelf—a “safe space for black people,” where culturally relatable creativity blooms in a gentrifying neighborhood.

The Two Eighty Project(en)

Chris Renfro doesn’t just grow and harvest grapes on a hillside high above San Francisco’s Highway 280 to make delicious local wine. He is dedicated to building a sustainable food community that nourishes every member of the local economy and ecosystem. With the 280 Project’s mission to reclaim space, realize opportunity and revitalize community, Renfro brings both passion and vision to the notion that land ownership is a powerful path to self-determination.

Live this Loudly: Afatasi(en)

Afatasi The Artist is a San Francisco based mixed-media conceptual artist and futurist. Her artwork—which includes textiles and fine art tapestry, small paintings and murals, metal work and clothing design—is a continuous exploration of the intersectionality of race, culture, gender, class, and geopolitics. “I like to create these things because there were so many who weren’t allowed to live this loudly,” Afatasi says, "and I know how much better the world would be if they had.”

Dreamer Boyz(en)

For Joseph Broussard, having his Dreamer Boyz apparel featured in San Francisco retail stores is a dream come true. Specializing in mystic-themed hoodies, t-shirts and beanies, Broussard’s clothing represents “consciousness, hustle, drive and ambition.” Broussard built his business to honor his late mother, brother and his city. With a kinship for “visionaries, free spirits and free thinkers,” and a growing presence in San Francisco shops, Broussard is showing his community that there’s no limit to how big you can dream.

Thunder Man: The Don Aronow Story(en)

An insight to Don Aronow - King of Powerboats. Don Aronow born in 1927 in Brooklyn New York, left New Jersey in 1961 to relocate in Miami. From being a huge success in the construction industry, he went on the being a legend as a powerboat designer and racer. Of the World's most recognized racing boat companies, Don Aronow established five; Donzi, Formula, Magnum, Cigarette and US Racing Team. As the US and World Powerboat Champion several times over, his friends, clients, business partners, enemies and competitors were many. Designing and manufacturing powerboats for Presidents, Princes and the privileged, Aronow gained popularity with women and indeed their husbands. As businessman, Aronow applied a no questions asked policy. If the money was there, a boat would be supplied, "I don't care who you are but I will give you the boat if you have enough cash to pay", was a term used by Aronow. Allegedly Aronow, did business on both sides of the law.

Beate Uhse - Eine deutsche Karriere(de)

Documentary about Beate Uhse.

Entrepreneur(fi)

Entrepreneur is a universal nature documentary about Finnish entrepreneurs. This warm and carnevalistic film portrays humans in the middle of ordinary everyday survival. The main protagonists come from two totally different kinds of landscapes, from two diffent time zones. There is a scenery of contemporary modern society and just a few hundred kilometres away we find a rural and nostalgic universe with forgotten people and land.Our first protagonists are Fellini-like family, going from village to another, trying to sell meat from a small meat truck and also run a tiny funfair business. The father, the mother and their four children are working together and trusting only in themselves, not in the help of society. While countryside family is counting coins, the other pair of entrepreneurs, the two well-educated women from the capital area, have invented a vegetable protein product called Pulled Oat, and have become millionaires. But have they also made a world a little bit better?