Narco-Song of Sinaloa / 2017
#Mexico

Sinaloa in Mexico has become synonymous with drugs and violence. The Sinaloa Cartel is the biggest cartel in Mexico and its reach extends far beyond Americas, into Asia and Europe. Criminal gangs control life in the state. In the deceptively quiet rural towns and villages, the film crew meets different people united by the reality that they live in a place run by drugs.

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Red Alert | Germany: Fall of an Empire? Episode 1 / 2022
#Germany

'I sat with people in the basement when the Ukrainian army shelled Gorlovka. I saw the houses near the frontline. All of Donbass was razed. There were mine shafts from which the dead had to be recovered; people whom the Nazis had thrown into these shafts alive,' recalls Liane Kilinc, chair of the Peace Bridge – Aid For War Victims foundation. She used to be a renowned German athlete, but what she is really admired for is the help she’s been offering the children of Donbass. They were the ones who suffered the most from the civil war that engulfed eastern Ukraine in 2014.

She and her team have been following the developments in Ukraine from day one. They saw the Nazi crimes and knew people were dying there. The shortage of food and clothing was appalling. In February 2015, she was asked if they could help with winter clothes, and they did. This is when the first truck with winter clothes and shoes was sent to Donbass.
What gives Liane energy and strength to do her job? Why might she face jail time for what she’s doing back in Germany?

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Dukhobors / 2013
#Georgia

The Dukhobors is an old Russian sect that has existed since the 18th century. Dukhobors reject all church rituals and don’t need priests or temples when they approach God. They also reject secular governments and practised pacifism. In the documentary, a young couple travels to a Dukhobor community in Georgia as they try to understand the life of the dissenters.

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Get Up and Touchdown / 2018
#Russia

The Valkyries are an American women’s football team from St. Petersburg, Russia. American football is rare in Russia, let alone among women. Still, the Valkyries compete in the toughest championship in Europe, the Finnish League. The players come in all shapes and sizes and from varied backgrounds, but all of them find this brutal sport to be their passion and inspiration.

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Cold War Weapons | Lasers: Episode 1 / 2022
#USSR #USA

Not so long ago, lasers were top-secret weapons. How much do you know about these technologies? Laser radiation can destroy objects at the speed-of-light. Can anything stop it? Is it possible to use a laser to take down a spacecraft in orbit? And what happened to the American spacecraft that passed over a secret Soviet test site where, according to the CIA, the USSR was testing laser weapons?

Watch the new episode Cold War Weapons to find the answers and see the destructive power of lasers in action! Stay tuned to follow a new episode each Monday.

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Abort Me Not / 2022
#USA

'My mother was 11 years old when I was conceived. My father was 21… and I am grateful. I am grateful that there were adults in the room. Adults with a mind, with a heart.' This woman was born after her mum was raped. She believes abortion is not an option. Despite being just a child herself, her mother bravely made the decision to keep the baby. She sees her life as a miracle and a blessing, and is very grateful to her grandmother. She supported her mother and convinced her 'what was growing in my mother’s womb was not some inanimate clump of cells'.

Is there any way to make the right decision in a situation like this?

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Sex and the Oil City / 2018
#USA

In 2006, the Parshall Oil Field was discovered in North Dakota, and oil companies joined a frenzied rush to extract the black gold.

Thousands of oil workers moved in to take high-paying jobs in the industry. Unusually high incomes, boredom and long working hours in a mostly male environment combine to create the perfect marketplace for traffickers selling sex and drugs. Police have been overwhelmed by an exploding crime rate.

The film crew meets victims of the sex trade and a survivor advocate who helps them escape the sinister underbelly of a new, oil-fueled Wild West.

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Another Italy / 2022
#Italy

'I hate the system that is causing problems all over the world and starting wars not only in Ukraine, but also in Argentina, Chile, Syria, Libya. These are all the same politicians from the US and NATO. They want people to die, to make money from it.' Amedeo Avondet is only 22, but he has already founded his own political party. His party unites Italians who strongly oppose the Italian government supplying Ukraine with weapons that are used against Russian soldiers and civilians in Donbass.

Whose interests does the Italian government promote? Why are the protests neglected? And why do many Italians think that Europe must ally itself with Russia? Watch our premiere to find out!

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Machete Boys of Congo / 2019
#Congo

They are only 15-17 years old, but they steal, do drugs, and terrorise their neighbours. Youth gangs are running rampant in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The delinquents are called Kuluna.

Kuluna gangs exist in almost every Congolese city. Each group claims their own turf and fights other gangs for respect. They make money from racketeering, fencing stolen goods, and running small businesses. According to the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project, Kuluna gangs are often affiliated with local police. The documentary takes a look at the life of Kuluna gangs.

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The Beast of Zone 3 / 2017
#Guatemala

Zone 3, or Basurero in Guatemala City, is where all the trash from Guatemala City gets dumped. It’s an entire district where people actually work and live. Locals call it ‘the mine’ because they may come across gold, mobile phones and money. But there’s also a better than average chance of finding a severed head left by criminal gangs.

There’s another great risk. Mountains of trash can collapse and result in avalanches that sweep away everything in their path. Dozens of people can get buried alive in the refuse. Despite all the perils, locals can’t afford to leave. The giant dump, or as they call it, ‘the beast’, is their only way to survive.

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I Need More Space / 2018
#Russia

Fyodor Yurchikhin always wanted to become a cosmonaut. He worked as a senior engineer in Russia’s space programme and was finally accepted as a cosmonaut candidate at the age of 38. Fyodor completed five missions and spent 672 days in space. This documentary offers a glimpse into the everyday life of a cosmonaut.

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Cold War Weapons | Lasers: Episode 2 / 2022
#USSR #USA

Did you know that Star Wars wasn't limited to the world of films? It also was the name for the most ambitious military projects in the US. Is it true that American scientists tested a death ray? And what was the USSR's response to it?

Which laser technologies are left in history, and which are at work today? Though lasers were invented more than three decades ago, many facts about this weapon are still on the verge of fiction. Watch Cold War Weapons new episode to learn about the major strategic developments of the time and see them at work.

Stay tuned and don’t miss a new episode every Monday!

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Anna Halrpin Dance to Heal / 2017
#USA

Almost all her life, Anna fought cancer with the help of dancing. For 55 years, she had been teaching others to cope with their illnesses. She also used the concept of healing through dance to address global issues such as racism and world peace.

The dance helped Anna better understand the unity of the body and nature, making her an ardent environmentalist. Despite her illness, she did what she loved and helped people by giving all of herself.

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Skybound / 2017
#Russia

Aleksey Maresyev was a Soviet pilot during World War II. He was shot down in April 1942. His plane crashed in a forest, but Maresyev miraculously survived. Bleeding from wounds, it took him 18 days to reach safety in the nearest village of Plavni.

By the time he was taken to hospital, his injuries were so bad - both his legs had to be amputated. Nevertheless, Maresyev learned to use his prosthetic legs and returned to combat. The legendary pilot completed 86 combat flights and downed 11 Nazi planes.

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Granny Blade / 2021
#Russia

Galina decided to take up knife throwing at the age of 57. She checked coats at a local swimming pool when she heard a knife-throwing club had opened in town. Just one year of hard work earned her the world No. 1 noscript in 2008. She also became European Champion in 2013. She’s won more than 50 medals in France, Italy, and Czechia over the years. The local knife-throwing community considers Galina a legend and has great respect for her.

Today Granny Galya, as her fans lovingly call her, has left the professional sport. Instead, she leads a quiet life and throws a knife or two just for fun in her backyard.

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Syrian Tango / 2019
#Syria

Is there something you’d like to do, but something is holding you back? Rawnak from Latakia dares to dance despite conservative attitudes in Syrian society. Even though many frown upon their activities, she and her dance group organise flash mobs on the city streets. But Rawnak insists they have to do what they like.

The documentary, Syrian Tango, shows the creative scene in post-war Syria and tells stories of artists reviving it.

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Arctic Family: In Love With Cold / 2015
#Arctic

Franz Josef Land is the northernmost part of Russia. Included in the "Russian Arctic National Park", it boasts incredible wildlife - with walruses, whales, seals, and polar bears in abundance. The archipelago’s climate is severe, with temperatures falling as low as -52°C. Thick mists and strong winds are common all year round. In winter, the polar night lasts for 128 days, while in summer the sun doesn't set for 20 weeks. Those working here say there is no real colour in the Arctic - just different shades of white. Yet, the rough, monochrome glory and serenity of this remote place are captivating.

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Happy Never After / 2016
#UK

If you’re a Brit and married to a non-Brit, it could be difficult to bring your spouse to live with you in the UK. The British spouse must earn £18,600 a year for their other half to receive a working visa. Less than half of Britain’s population earns this much.

The laws are particularly tough on women with young children, with mums often having to choose between caring for their kids and attempting to earn enough to bring their husbands to the UK.  People based outside major cities also struggle to find work that pays well enough to meet the government’s threshold.

The documentary tells stories of four couples battling the UK Home Office.

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