Arabella Martinez: San Francisco Foundation Community Leadership Awards 2005

Gary Hemming, le beatnik des cimes

The American mountaineer Gary Hemming marked the era of the 1960s. The story of this "exceptional" character is intimately linked to that of the rescue of the two German mountaineers on the west face of the Drus, in 1966, a rescue which he had took the initiative. While the official emergency services of the EHM try to reach them from above, a pirate rope made up of Gary Hemming, René Desmaison, Lothar Mauch, Gil Bodin, Mike Brurke, François Guillot, the filmmaker Gérard Bauer organizes to join them from below and succeeded after a fierce struggle the rescue. The press seizes the event and elevates Gary Hemming to the rank of national hero. All the newspapers feature this big guy with a cool attitude, mismatched clothes, jovial smile and long blond hair on the front page. From then on, he was nicknamed: "the beatnik of the peaks".

Home Is Where the Heart Is

Visiting the home of Marija Janeković in Petrinja on 24th April 2013.

Beethoven's Symphony

After constantly moving, two students finally find the opportunity to start a family by adopting a stray dog.

Nude Beaches of California

Footage of nude and clothing-optional beaches in California set to a calming soundtrack.

To Kill What Lives Inside Me

At the end of summer 2021 boys spend their last lazy days together in a small town by the Volga River. Their childish routine of roaming streets, riding scooters and vaping will change so soon — only Slava stays in Yuryevets with his foster family, most of his friends are leaving to study or work in a week. Vlad dreams about a military career. He wants “to save lives” just like characters in his favorite computer games and to earn enough money for his poor parents who work in a local supermarket. At his birthday party the teens argue and try to dissuade Vlad but he has already made his choice. Hope there will be no war in the future — they say.

The Bohulano Family

Home movie collection of the Bohulano Family of Stockton, CA. Footage dates between the 1950s-1970s.

One Man Makes the Difference

Vladan Vasev aka VaXz, is a lover of basketball and all kinds of team sports from Bosilegrad, who completely single-handedly restored faith in the hardcore music scene in Serbia. When the performers on stage noticed his jumps and the way of dancing specific to hardcore music and inquired about the most loyal member of their audience, they learned an incredible story. In order to attend the concert, VaXz travels from Bosilegrad to Belgrade sometimes up to ten hours, and then returns, sometimes immediately after listening to the gig. In this film, we meet Vladan and what it is that inspires him about hardcore, but through his portrait we also get to know life in a small town like Bosilegrad, as well as the history of hardcore music in Serbia and how bands came together to honor their most loyal fan.

Life In Mediterranean Lands (California)

Pictures Southern California as the area in America most like the Mediterranean lands in climate. Shows that the two areas produce similar crops.

Femme

Thea’s life is changed when she receives an unexpected call from her childhood ‘friend’, May. Memories of the past with May shake Thea out of the mundane and into the queer London landscape; although it doesn’t immediately welcome her with open arms. Except in the form of Mimi, a liberated and fellow queer femme, who shows Thea the unconditional love and friendship that queer community is built off. Inspired by a true story, this heartfelt short film celebrates the magic of queer femme friendship and love.

Life in Hot, Dry Lands (California)

Tells the story of the fierce battle of survival waged by plant life, animals and human beings on the desert. Shows where the desert areas of the world are located and why they are barren wastelands.

The Stream XII

the documentary short "The Stream XII" by Hiroya Sakuri (Japan)

Return: Saving Turtles

RETURN follows the efforts of a family of former sea-turtle–egg poachers, now dedicated protectors, leading VIVEMAR — a community-based organization in Oaxaca, Mexico. Through their work, they safeguard one of the world’s most endangered sea turtle species during its nesting season along the Mexican coast.

Silent impulses

Silent Impulses is a documentary portrait of a young woman who openly deals with taboo sexual deviations. The film reveals her inner world, the way she deals with this issue and how it affects her relationships and perception of herself.

Birds and Billabongs

A record from the 1948 Arnhem Land Expedition lead by anthropologist Charles P Mountford that explores the abundant birdlife and waterways of Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory of Australia. Thousands of birds, both native to Australia and from around the world, find sanctuary in the billabongs of Arnhem Land, feeding on the fish, insects and flowers that flourish there. Apart from their beauty, the birds serve the useful purpose of helping to keep the balance of nature in the wilderness areas of Australia’s far north. Close photography makes it possible for some of the more interesting birds to be carefully studied. The film’s soundtrack is perhaps the most unique ever recorded, bringing us the thrilling sound of the voices of thousands of birds breaking the quiet of the virgin bush.

Grandpuits & petites victoires

Ariane Moffatt, Petites mains précieuses en studio

Firecracker Bullets

In this personal documentary, Indigenous comedian Chad Charlie goes to participate in the Standing Rock occupation and has a transformative experience. The film takes us on Charlie’s powerful passage of self-discovery, from the irreverent jokester to the culturally aware poet whose powerful spoken word piece encapsulates his realizations at the close of the film. In this blend of cinema, vlog, and social media with tons of humour, Charlie uses a real mix of formats (phone streaming, news footage, fly-on-the-wall documentary style) very effectively, and doesn’t try to work in a huge narrative or have a tidy conclusion. Like many who were there and endured violence by police against their peaceful marches, Charlie is still working through trauma and mental health issues he experienced from it. In his case, this journey has left him with a greater awareness of the ongoing injustices that Indigenous people must still contend with.

The Times of Harvey Milk

Harvey Milk was an outspoken human rights activist and one of the first openly gay U.S. politicians elected to public office; even after his assassination in 1978, he continues to inspire disenfranchised people around the world.

Giant Killers: The Story of the ELCO PT Boats

PT Boat Video by ELCO during World War II.

Escape 360

One man, one camera, one goal...to capture the essence of adventure. An experimental, often abstract new type of filmmaking process creating color rich visuals combined with a lush soundtrack that grounds the project. A unique cinematic experience.