Aim High: San Francisco Foundation Community Leadership Awards 2012

Forbidden City: The Great Within(en)

Amidst the grand walls of the Forbidden City, the film takes us on a deep journey through the ceremonial life of the Chinese emperor, unveiling the secrets and intrigues of concubines, eunuchs, and palace maids. As the West begins to influence China in the late 19th century, the dynamics within the city shift dramatically. The film highlights the preservation and restoration of invaluable treasures and paintings, culminating in the creation of the Palace Museum. With insights from renowned China scholar, Jonathan Spence, this is an intimate exploration of the rich cultural and historical tapestry that makes up the heart of ancient China.

The Test(en)

A Ghanaian maintenance technician at a Virginia retirement community dreams of becoming an American citizen to provide a better life for his family. With their future at stake, he enlists the help of two elderly residents to prepare for the biggest test of his life: the US Citizenship exam.

Aqui Favela, o Rap Representa(pt)

Armenia, My Home(en)

Experience spectacular aerial and ground views and cultural revelations of a country like no other in a virtual tour of Mount Ararat, Khor Virap, Yerevan, the Genocide memorial, and more. Narrated by Andrea Martin, the documentary features prominent voices from the Armenian diaspora including Eric Bogosian, Chris Bohjalian, Peter Balakian, Michael Aram, and others.

Coronavirus(en)

Struggling with fear, tension, and anxiety amid the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, a high school student reflects upon what really matters.

The Nervous System(en)

An educational film about the nervous system produced by Encyclopædia Britannica Films, an educational film production company in the 20th century owned by Encyclopædia Britannica Inc.

The Frog(en)

An educational film about frogs produced by Encyclopædia Britannica Films, an educational film production company in the 20th century owned by Encyclopædia Britannica Inc.

Capturing Memories(en)

Time passes, slips away, dissolves. But what if we could hold it for a moment? "Capturing Memories" is a dive into the essence of the inconsistent, an invitation to reflect on the importance of preserving moments before they are lost in oblivion. Through visual fragments, the documentary reveals how small scenes of everyday life carry echoes of the past and seeds of the future. In a world where everything passes, what really remains? This film is a tribute to the art of immortalizing the moment, to the beauty of seeing beyond the present and to the need to give meaning to what may one day become a memory.

Wake of '38(en)

Personal experiences of Northwest Ohio residents during the January 1978 blizzard that disrupted daily activities. Stories include the helicopter rescue of an expectant mother, effects on emergency services, and methods people used to survive without electricity and heat.

Versprechen Kernfusion? - Der Wettlauf um die Energie der Zukunft(de)

In October 2023, a European research team succeeded in generating an enormous amount of energy from very little fuel. A success that fusion research had been working towards for around 70 years. Now the competition for a fusion reactor has been reignited. What role can electricity from nuclear fusion play in the future?

Les secrets du mont Olympe(fr)

Odyssey(en)

Six California kids test their brains and talents against students in Odyssey of the Mind, a problem-solving competition requiring mechanical, creative and intellectual skills. With little money and zero adult participation, the teens build a robot to tell a story about bullying, exclusion and mental health. But how does their solution measure up?

The University of Sing Sing(en)

An inside look at the notorious Sing Sing Correctional Facility, where one of the U.S.’s only in-prison college programs, Hudson Link, offers long-time inmates an education – and a new lease on life.

Family album(es)

Sandra rummages in the fragments of her memory and photographs in order to reconstruct the portrait of the life and death of her brother.

Masturbation Conversations(en)

This documentary features candid studio conversations with people of diverse backgrounds from the Erika Lust community. They share personal experiences with self-pleasure, exploring why they masturbate, how their views have evolved, and what they were taught growing up.

The Profanity Peak Pack: Set Up & Sold Out(en)

This in-depth documentary short exposes how an irresponsible rancher in Washington State set up a pack of wolves living on public land in a remote forest to attack his cattle.

Megg - The Margin Who Migrate to the Center(pt)

Megg Rayara overcame obstacles that should not exist to get where she is. Get a Doctorate Degree is a very important victory not only for her, but also for the transvestite community. For the first time in Brazil, a black transvestite wins a Doctorate Degree. It is the margin that migrates to the center, taking all its history with her.

The Clinic(en)

Amidst a devastating opioid epidemic, a needle exchange and free clinic operates in the shadows of Fresno, California.

Nostradamus Decoded(fr)

Debunking the mythology surrounding the 16th century French prophet, Nostradamus.

The Shampoo Summit(pt)