Life by Design(2008)

Desert Utopia: Mid-Century Architecture in Palm Springs(en)

Southern California’s Coachella Valley, including the communities of Palm Springs, Palm Desert, Desert Hot Springs, boasts hundreds of extraordinary midcentury modern homes, public buildings and commercial structures. Modern designers such as William F. Cody, Albert Frey, William Krisel, John Lautner, Richard Neutra, R.M. Schindler, Donald Wexler, E. Stewart Williams left their collective mark on this desert paradise. Desert Utopia: Mid-Century Architecture in Palm Springs traces the history of modern architecture in Palm Springs from the first bold forays into modernist design to the preservation challenges facing the region today. Director Jake Gorst’s film features rare archival images and footage as well as interviews with historians, homeowners and the architects who helped create this mecca of modernism.

Clean Lines, Open Spaces: A View of Mid-Century Modern Architecture(en)

"Clean Lines, Open Spaces: A View of Mid-Century Modern Architecture" focuses on the construction boom in the United States after World War II. Sometimes considered cold and unattractive, mid-century modern designs were a by-product of post-war optimism and reflected a nation's dedication to building a new future. This new architecture used modern materials such as reinforced concrete, glass and steel and was defined by clean lines, simple shapes and unornamented facades.

Julius Shulman: Desert Modern(en)

Julius Shulman: Desert Modern focuses on Shulman's remarkable 70-year documentation of the renowned Mid-Century Modern architecture of the Palm Springs area/ Shulman, at the age of 97, describes with humor and insight his artistic intentions and the back-story to some of his most legendary photographs. He is joined by noted architectural historian Alan Hess and Michael Stern, co-authors of the book, "Julius Shulman: Palm Springs". Stern is also curator of the "Julius Shulman: Palm Springs" exhibition which originated at the Palm Springs Art Museum in February 2008. The flm showcases Shulman's inspired photography of the architecture of Richard Neutra, Albert Frey, John Lautner, E. Stewart Williams, Palmer and Krisel and William Cody, among others. E. Stewart Williams' Frank Sinatra House is featured, as well as Richard Neutra's Kaufmann House, one of the most famous homes in America, largely due to Shulman's iconic 1947 photograph.

Fernand Pouillon, Le roman d'un architecte(fr)

Constructing freestone buildings on the cheap, Pouillon made a name for himself at the end of the 1940s in Aix-en-Provence and Marseille, shaking up his peers who only dreamed of towers and concrete bars. In Algiers, until Independence, he built in record time thousands of homes for the poorest, real urban projects inspired by traditional forms. In the Paris region, to build comfortable buildings quickly and well, nestled in the greenery, he becomes a promoter: this too adventurous bet leads him to prison and retains his reputation. Not very explicit about this complex affair, but seduced by a contemporary architecture that combines technical inventiveness and ancient references, Christian Meunier films by multiplying the angles of view. Today's lively atmospheres are interspersed with archive footage, while Pouillon's writings are read off. Moved, his collaborators evoke a demanding and generous man, with an infectious passion.

Le Corbusier(fr)

Making a documentary on Le Corbusier is not easy, because he is undoubtedly the architect most familiar to the general public but also the most unknown. If most people know his great achievements, such as the Cité radieuse of Marseille, the pavilions of the Cité universitaire de Paris or the Tourettes convent, many are unaware of his works in Moscow, Rio de Janeiro or Chandigarh. Roy Oppenheim pays a vibrant tribute to Corbusier, dismissing the criticisms and darker facets of the character. It presents the career of this pioneering architect, as well as his thinking, the essential principle of which was aimed at the development of human beings and the balance of society. Light, space and greenery are integrated into his large futuristic cities, because according to him the eyes of the inhabitants should be drawn into the distance and not into their neighbor's bathroom.

Trans-Canada Journey(en)

A jetliner spans the miles, sheering through clouds to open sky and scenic vistas of the provinces below. Glimpses of town and country, of people of many ethnic origins, of a resourceful and industrious nation - impressions it would take days and weeks to gather at first hand - are brought to you in this vivid 1800-kilometer panorama.

Mid-Century(en)

A husband and wife's weekend in a mid-century modern vacation rental turns deadly when the husband discovers the owner is a psychopath with a backyard of buried secrets and designs on his wife.

A Human Position(no)

Long blue hours characterise summer nights in the sleepy Norwegian port town of Ålesund. Asta is a young journalist working for the local newspaper, where she is expected to report on local sports, historic preservation, and cruise ships. It is only when she stumbles across the strange story of a refugee’s forced deportation, that she finds new meaning in her work and life.

Wild Eyed and Wicked(en)

Lily Pierce is sick of being haunted. She decides to reconnect with her estranged father, a disgraced history professor, and learn how to draw upon a time of steel and blade when armor-clad knights rode out and dueled their monsters to the death.

Nikolay Dupak. About Vysotsky, Taganka and himself(ru)

Nikolay Dupak. Legendary director of the drama and comedy theater of Taganka. The story of his life is also the history of the country. Son of kulak victim of repression, he found himself at the age of 15 on the professional scene. He learned from Yury Zavadsky and Vera Maretskaya, he shot in the movies of the legendary Alexandr Dovjenko. Then it was the war. He served in the cavalry. Was heavily injured several times. After the war, he continued to study, worked for 20 years at the famous Stanislavsky Theater and, finally, almost 30 years at the Taganka. The blame, the dismissal from work, the ups and downs, all this has spanned the life of Nikolay Dupak.

Gerd Hansen, 55(de)

In the short documentary GERD HANSEN, 55 Jochen Hick talks about an aging gay masseur and the times before AIDS. The film was premiered at the International Short Film Festival Oberhausen in 1987 and received the Prize of the German Film Critics.

Piedone nyomában(hu)

Malviviendo: El Documental(es)

Fish Tales(en)

In this short film, champion fisherman Ernie St. Claire tries to catch a large salmon in Oregon's Rogue River.

Field Mass at Old Town Square(cs)

Short reportage

Amorous Man Shinji(ja)

A docu-drama depicting half the life of actor Shinji Kubo, who has appeared in over 800 pink movies, with laughter, tears, and plenty of eros. Although he fulfilled his promise to "become an actor" with his classmate Yoko, who was...

Fairport Convention and Matthews Southern Comfort(en)

Directed by renowned British film director Tony Palmer, this film captures the band at the Maidstone Fiesta during the summer of 1970 as they run through their set of the time. This included various jigs and reels, and the songs Sir Patrick Spens and Now Be Thankful. The film also features two songs from Matthews Southern Comfort, the band led by former Fairport Convention member, Ian Matthews.

The Horror Crowd(en)

Revealing, intimate documentary spotlighting the Hollywood horror community.

Rising Phoenix(en)

Elite athletes and insiders reflect on the Paralympic Games and examine how they impact a global understanding of disability, diversity and excellence.

I Never Quit: The Magnum T.A. Story(en)

At his apex, Magnum TA was a professional wrestling phenomenon, the biggest star in the National Wrestling Alliance in the mid 80s. After having troubles getting into the profession, Magnum TA persevered and when given his chance to shine he vaulted to the top of the professional wrestling world but in an instant on October 14, 1986 Magnum's life was changed forever in a near fatal car accident. While many would have given up and quit at the age of 27, Magnum TA never quit and reclaimed his life with the same motivation and determination that made him a wrestling superstar. Many in the world of wrestling ask what if this never happened to Magnum TA? This documentary takes you back to the scene where Magnum's life changed and you hear his breathtaking recollection of the accident and Magnum answers the question of what if. Also the documentary provides a career retrospective on the man who changed professional wrestling in a short period of time and a look into his life today.