Gift of the Game

Nebe patří nám(cs)

A documentary film about parachute training in the Voluntary Union of People's Aviation.

Ernest Hemingway: Wrestling with Life(en)

A&E's long-running biography series takes a look at one of the 20th century's most emblematic figures, Ernest Hemingway. Through a collection of still photography, narration by granddaughter Mariel Hemingway, commentary from author A.E. Hotchner and publisher Charles Scribner, and readings from Hemingway's writing (including personal letters and unpublished works) by Scott Glenn, the film takes us from the man's Midwestern childhood roots up through the tragic suicide that serves as a bittersweet exclamation on what is otherwise considered to be a life of profound accomplishment.

Armbryterskan från Ensamheten(sv)

The tiny village in the far north of Sweden called Ensamheten (Solitude) has sixteen inhabitants. They all share an unusual passion - armwrestling.

Kenya’s marathon stars in Europe(en)

For African athletes making money abroad is the big goal. But Kenyan marathon runners need to be careful – the industry is ruthless and only few make it. For years, sports managers have been bringing African athletes to Europe to run in marathons with promises of potential prize money and a top career. For many it’s a means of escaping poverty. But what price do the marathon runners themselves pay? Long-distance running is among the toughest disciplines in the world. Professional marathon runners battle over seconds in a race more than 40km long - seconds that are often worth huge sums of money. Running has become a business. The prize money for a major event can be in five figures. Participants have to be world-class athletes to win these amounts.

Maradona by Kusturica(en)

A documentary on Argentinean soccer star Diego Maradona, regarded by many as the world's greatest modern player.

The Keepers of the Streak(en)

The NFL has staged 48 Super Bowls. Four photographers have taken pictures at every one of them. In KEEPERS OF THE STREAK, director Neil Leifer tells the story of this exclusive club, made up of John Biever, Walter Iooss, Mickey Palmer and Tony Tomsic. With their cameras, they have captured football's biggest game of the year for almost five decades.

Thug Rose: Mixed Martial Artist(en)

The inspiring journey of professional MMA fighter and two-time world champion Rose Namajunas. The film documents her circuitous path to success and spotlights Namajunas' rare combination of ferocity, artistry, and vulnerability.

Churandy: De Eindsprint(nl)

She is an Umpire(en)

Liu Bo-Jiun is the first female international baseball umpire. “First” seems to be an honor, but in a male-surrounded baseball field, the first female must experience an unprecedented review. As she fixes her eyes on every pitch coming forward, people fix their eyes on every judgment she made. If judgments on pitches were personal out of technical aspects, how about those judgments on people? The game begins at three balls, two strikes and two outs. What about her?

The River Runner(en)

Legendary kayaker Scott Lindgren attempts to complete an extreme, unprecedented whitewater expedition 20-years-in-the-making. When a brain tumor derails his goals, he sinks into the darkness of his own trauma only to discover that healing, like any expedition, is not a destination but a journey.

Untold: Crime & Penalties(en)

They were the bad boys of hockey — a team bought by a man with mob ties, run by his 17-year-old son, and with a rep for being as violent as they were good.

Olympiada – Helsinki 1952(cs)

Action Directe(en)

French powerhouse climber Mélissa Le Nevé tries to become the first woman to traverse Action Directe, one of the most revered and challenging routes in the sport.

Air Force Elite: Thunderbirds(en)

The elite pilots of the Air Force Thunderbirds display exceptional skill, trust and courage during a high-stakes training season.

Step Into Liquid(en)

No special effects. No stuntmen. No stereotypes. No other feeling comes close. Surfers and secret spots from around the world are profiled in this documentary.

Tough Guys(en)

10 years before the debut of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. In 1979, Bill Viola and Frank Caliguri dreamed up a contest pitting barroom bigmouths against wrestlers, martial artists, boxers, bouncers and brawlers, billed as no-holds-barred new type of competitive fighting. When the fights succeeded beyond their wildest expectations, they were swept up in a chain of events that ended in the first mixed-martial arts ban in the nation. “Tough Guys” chronicles the inception of Caliguri and Viola’s first bouts and the colorful, crazy cast of fighters who made them a hit as well as the politicians who brought it all crashing down. The film brings to life a moment when the national martial arts craze was building to a crescendo as the economies of Pennsylvania steel towns were plummeting to levels of unemployment never seen, breeding desperate men looking for a chance to prove their worth and make some money in the ring.

Turbo(en)

A high-definition cinematic experience from Level 1 Productions, Turbo captures mind-blowing moments from the 2008 winter season. Spanning from the Midwest into Quebec, this project features Tanner Rainville, Justin Dorey, Ahmet Dadali and a host of other talented riders.

Ready(en)

Absinthe remains committed to documenting these amazing riders with the most timeless and stylish medium: Film. Following up to last year’s question ‘Optimistic?’, Absinthe answers with a crew of riders who overcome obstacles with spontaneity and skill in another full spectrum snowboard film that is down to have some more fun with snowboarding. Ready.

For Right Or Wrong(en)

For For Right Or Wrong is a documentary feature made in conjunction with Burton Snowboards, which profiles several of the companies sponsored riders in their various snow board disciplines; Pipe, Street, Free Ride and Big Air. A large part of the action takes place around the snowboard wunderkind Shaun White, as he prepares to compete in the 2006 winter Olympic Games in Torino, Italy. The other various narrative strands follow the different paths of the individual boarders as we see them in action and they talk about why it is they do what they do. The film also introduces Burton Snow Board founder and CEO of Burton, Jake Burton Carpenter.

Cold Fusion(en)

For the 52nd year, Warren Miller is back—with his best film ever! Join Cold Fusion’s world-class athletes as they embark on exciting adventures to such extraordinary locations as Kenya and Verbier, in search of the bluest skies and deepest powder. Warren Miller’s films have been astounding audiences for half a century—inspiring people of all ages to keep their snowriding dream alive—and this 52nd edition is no exception. Cold Fusion delivers the fiercest line-up of talented athletes as they set out on the most exotic, thrilling expeditions ever. But that’s not all! Witness two astounding never-before-seen world records! Complementing the on-screen excitement, Cold Fusion features a thundering soundtrack with electrifying artists like Dave Matthews Band and Foo Fighters. And of course, Warren Millernarratese the film, bringing you plenty of the wry humor that has made him famous. Cold Fusion is one downhill ride you don’t want to miss!