People We Come Across(2021)

We the Guinea Pigs(en)

As the use of plastic has gained ground in our lives over the years, there has been an inexplicable increase in a number of diseases and disorders amongst the population. In this film as part of the Why Plastic? series, we meet leading researchers looking into the reasons for these disorders. We also follow case studies of people suffering from various health conditions thought to be caused by exposure to certain every day materials including plastic. Are these people the victims of unfortunate coincidences - or is there an explanation?

Africa Light / Gray Zone(en)

"Africa Light" - as white local citizens call Namibia. The name suggests romance, the beauty of nature and promises a life without any problems in a country where the difference between rich and poor could hardly be greater. Namibia does not give that impression of it. If you look at its surface it seems like Africa in its most innocent and civilized form. It is a country that is so inviting to dream by its spectacular landscape, stunning scenery and fascinating wildlife. It has a very strong tourism structure and the government gets a lot of money with its magical attraction. But despite its grandiose splendor it is an endless gray zone as well. It oscillates between tradition and modernity, between the cattle in the country and the slums in the city. It shuttles from colonial times, land property reform to minimum wage for everyone. It fluctuates between socialism and cold calculated market economy.

Poisoned: The Dirty Truth About Your Food(en)

Through revealing interviews with experts and victims' families, this gripping documentary examines the problem of deadly foodborne illness in the US.

Come Find Me(en)

After the collapse of the Communist regime in 1989, over 100,000 children were discovered living in Romanian orphanages. Follow Nori Vito, one of those orphans, as she journeys from her adopted American home to Romania and Greece to find the family she lost almost 30 years ago.

Angel Applicant(en)

A sick man discovers empathetic wisdom on how to cope with his deadly autoimmune disease within the colorful expressive works of the late Swiss-German modern artist, Paul Klee.

Vaccination(en)

A glimpse into the routine of a busy Covid vaccination service in the north of England.

Das Voynich-Manuskript - Die geheimnisvollste Handschrift der Welt(de)

It is the world’s most mysterious manuscript. A book, written by an unknown author, illustrated with pictures that are as bizarre as they are puzzling — and written in a language that even the best cryptographers have been unable to decode. No wonder that this script even has a part in Dan Brown’s latest bestseller “The Lost Symbol”.

Without Mercy(de)

The animated documentary - a mix of live-action footage and animation - tells of the brutal everyday life in the orphanages of the 60s / 70s. Often led by Christian orders, more than one million children were physically and physically abused here. The anonymous protagonist tells of her childhood and her very personal struggle against the nuns' arbitrariness and their ruthless authority.

Haulout(ru)

On a remote coast of the Russian Arctic in a wind-battered hut, a lonely man waits to witness an ancient gathering. But warming seas and rising temperatures bring an unexpected change, and he soon finds himself overwhelmed.

Dying for the Other(en)

Dying for the Other is a video triptych, documenting the lives of mice used in breast cancer research and humans suffering from the same disease. In order to produce this video, da Costa documented scenes of her own life during the summer of 2011 and combined them with footage taken at a breast cancer research facility in New York City over the same time frame.

Unter Die Haut - Was macht Aluminium in Impfungen?(de)

The documentary breaks through the big taboo surrounding the safety of vaccinations and opens up a public discussion that is long overdue. The investigative documentary deals with a highly sensitive topic without pandering to the prejudices of anti-vaccination activists.

Impfen – Pro und Contra(de)

Do we want to have our child vaccinated? If yes, when and against which diseases? Parents are faced with these questions soon after the birth of their child. In 2016, three renowned pediatricians and adolescents provided information about the benefits of individual vaccinations as well as side effects and risks: Georg Soldner, Dr. Martin Hirte and Dr. Steffen Rabe.

Break Free - Two People. Two Years. One Dream(de)

When Lena and Ulli start the engine of their old Land Rover, Lady Terés, they have a plan: to drive from Hamburg to South Africa in six months. What they don't know yet is that they won't ever get there. Two totally different characters, jammed together in two square meters of space for almost two years, they experience what it really means to travel: leaving your comfort zone for good.

TB: Return of the Plague(en)

TB is the most deadly infectious disease in history - it has killed over a billion people in the last 200 years. Multi-BAFTA winning film-maker, Jezza Neumann travelled to Swaziland to make this very intimate account of the crippling effects of MDR-TB. We witness victims from two families battle with the disease over the course of a year.

Angkor et Les Mystères de L'Empire Khmer(fr)

Easter Island: Sculptors of the Pacific(fr)

Les super pouvoirs de la musique(fr)

What's the point of music? You might be tempted to answer that it's an enjoyable pastime or an art form, but nothing really essential. For the first time, a documentary shows the opposite. Music is a biological necessity for human beings: it helps build our brains. In recent years, the discoveries of international neuroscience researchers have revolutionized our understanding of the impact of music on our brains. This film is a behavioral and neurological investigation whose ambition is to unveil the mystery of music's powers in our lives.

Unrest(en)

When Harvard PhD student Jennifer Brea is struck down at 28 by a fever that leaves her bedridden, doctors tell her it’s "all in her head." Determined to live, she sets out on a virtual journey to document her story—and four other families' stories—fighting a disease medicine forgot.

Das Rätsel der gefälschten Mumie(de)

Inside the Mind of a Dog(en)

Embark on a delightful journey into the world of dogs in this documentary that reveals scientific and emotional insights about our lovable BFFs.