Hollywood’s Propaganda Factory / 2020
#USA

You’re probably used to seeing Russians presented as the bad guys in Hollywood movies. Ivan Drago from Rocky IV, Andrei Sator from Tenet, Yuri Komarov in A Good Day to Die Hard, even Boris and Natasha from Bullwinkle – the list goes on and on. But, Hollywood hasn’t always portrayed Russians as villains.

It’s hard to believe there was a brief moment in history when Hollywood actually produced pro-Soviet films, where Russians were shown in a favourable light. The Cold War put Hollywood on the anti-Soviet trail and is one example of how the industry serves America’s political interests. Love and hate upon request, rigid censorship, and vilification of political opponents - find out more in the documentary, Hollywood’s Propaganda Factory.

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A Bear’s Tale / 2023
#Russia

Andrey, a pilot from the Kaluga Region, was surprised to see a bear cub on the runway. He cried just like a human child, and Andrey had no choice but to adopt him. Now Mansur lives in a spacious forest enclosure near the airfield. He has his own pen and swimming pool. It’s hard to play with a 300 kg bear, but Andrey does! ‘A furry child!’, says Andrey, who treats Mansur almost like a person.

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Russia: 85 Adventures / 2023
#Russia

Why is an ascent of mount Elbrus, the highest in Europe, counted in hours? Why do future UFC champions train at high altitude? Why do you need butter to appease spirits in Buryatia? You’ll find all the answers, and more, if you join us. Russia is known for its many landmarks, but they have never been grouped into one journey before. The Russia Beyond project did just that. They travelled the country to experience unique adventures in every corner of Russia as part of their Russia: 85 Adventures project.

The film only dwells on 8 regions, but it sure is enough to fuel up the traveler's passion and check out all the sites and activities Russia has in store by visiting Russia: 85 Adventures website.

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Modern Chinese Artists Breathing New Life into Traditional Art / 2022
#China

Explore Chinese modern art scene! Liu Heng, the principal percussionist in Asia’s largest theatre, creates music with non-music objects and experiments with sounds. He shows his collection of instruments in his secret ‘cave’ in Beijing and shares his thoughts on what ‘Made in China’ means to him. Ceramist Xiong Kaibo from Hangzhou shows the entire process from molding to firing. He reflects on how porcelain remains a symbol of China. And finally, dancer Li Liangchen talks about the Han culture.

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Golden Gamble / 2017
#Philippines

The small Philippine town of Paracale is known for gold mining where independent miners risk their lives in search of the precious metal. They dive into mud-filled shafts with scuba gear and spend up to 6 hours underwater. ‘Submerged divers know they are practically half dead’, locals say. Miners get trapped in the pits or drown with no oxygen. However, it’s the only source of income for many local residents.

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Red Lights Out / 2021
#Germany

For many stressed-out Europeans, a brothel was the place to leave behind sad reality. However, in Germany, the Netherlands, and other parts of the EU prostitutes were among the first victims of the Covid outbreak.

Suddenly, lonely Europeans had no place to go for paid affection. In Germany, where the oldest profession was legalised more than a decade ago, prostitution has suffered the worst downfall in recent history. Many women’s rights advocates insist the crisis only revealed the wide-scale poverty and lack of social support that’s been known for a long time.

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Semirechye on Fire / 2016
#Kazakhstan

The rebellion in Semirechye was one of the bloodiest uprisings in the history of the Russian Empire. 100 years on, descendants of some of the conflict’s leading figures share previously unseen family archives and diaries, and relate the blood-chilling stories told to them by their grandparents.

Semirechye, or ‘the Valley of Seven Rivers’, was populated by Kyrgyz nomadic tribes. The first Russian and Cossack settlers came to the region in the mid-19th Century. When the Russian Empire gave the newcomers some of the land that previously belonged to the natives, it created tension in the region.

Then, World War I broke out. By 1916, the Russian Empire desperately needed more people to work on the home front and a decision was made to enlist the Kyrgyzs. However, the poorly organised process, together with corruption and a lack of information, led to protests. Many believed that the enlisted would be used as human shields.

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Ukraine: The Road to Schism / 2023
#Ukraine

‘Last month, several monks were killed in mortar attacks and in fires… It happens all the time’, says journalist Andrey Afanasyev. Orthodox Christianity in Ukraine is thousands of years old, and the faith was the major uniting factor. Any religious disagreements would deeply affect the society. This is why the Ukrainian nationalists chose to attack the religion to drive the Russian people away and remove every hint of Russian culture in Ukraine. Since 2014, Ukrainian nationalists mounted a crusade on the Orthodox churches and priests of the Moscow Patriarchy. This violates every possible law on freedom of conscience. How did it become part of Ukraine’s new reality?

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Granny Fight Club / 2017
#Kenya

There’s a bizarre superstition popular among young men in Nairobi’s biggest slum. They believe having sex with an older woman can cure HIV and lift curses. Elderly women, known as shushus, walk in the streets in fear that they’ll fall victim to rape.

A local woman conducts training sessions that teach the grannies to hit back and say ‘NO’. These self-defence classes empower women to feel confident and stand their ground, while giving them a respite from their daily chores.

Besides sexual assaults on seniors, the neighbourhood suffers from rampant HIV and endemic poverty, with most people living on less than a dollar a day.

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Witch-hunt in Congo / 2023
#Congo

“I could not believe it was a plan to kill my mother. I thought, 'Let's run if they're planning murder'. They coordinated the murders with the commandant. He gathered a group and promised them beer. They spoke so calmly, like it was no big deal”, says Makuta Ngaundaundaunda Norper, a man from South Kivu, a Congolese province. His mother was accused of being a witch. After her husband died, his family tried to find a way to take over all the land and property. The accusation of witchcraft became a convenient excuse to get rid of an objectionable relative. To declare someone a sorcerer or a witch locals must address the Mujakazi. Who are they and why do they pretend to be prophets and messengers of God?

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Ebola: Surviving Survival / 2018
#SierraLeone

The Ebola virus is rare, but severe and deadly for humans. The first major Ebola outbreak occurred in Western Africa in 2014-2016, killing thousands of people. Ebola outbreaks still happen, with the most recent claiming lives of 55 people in Uganda.

But there’s an unexpected after effect of Ebola virus for survivors - stigmatisation. Communities often reject those who had Ebola out of fear that they still carry the infection. The outcasts lose their homes, work and families. The documentary shows this less talked-about side of the disease outbreaks.

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Water: Donetsk's Lifeline / 2023
#Donbass

‘Remember, this station is a priority target for the enemy. Hear the blasts? Ukrainians try to bomb this station to cut water for all of Donbass’, says Adrien Bocquet. Adrien is a ballistics expert, but he went to Donbass to work as an independent journalist. Adrian has already exposed the truth about Kiev’s fake news from Bucha. For that, Ukrainian nationalists attempted his murder, inflicting on him 38 knife wounds. However, it didn’t stop the journalist from returning to Donbass after recovering. Now he travels to the water reservoirs and dams to reveal that Ukrainian armed forces target infrastructure. As filtration and pumping stations across Donbass were shelled, people have been without water for almost a year and their only hope are volunteers. Tune in for the premier to see how these people supply water to the locals at their own peril.

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Brighton Beach, Back to USSR / 2020
#USA

Brighton Beach, or Little Odessa, is a microcosm of Russia in New York City. Its residents are mostly immigrants from the former Soviet Union who have preserved their culture and habits very well in Brooklyn.

If you walk into a local grocery store, you can find gingerbread from Tula, borscht, rye bread, and buckwheat. Apart from the tastes of home, Russian culture is readily apparent from the Cyrillic signs and newspapers, the goods in the markets, and even the fur coats worn by babushkas. Brighton Beach is also home to Runglish, a bizarre mixture of Russian and English.

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Back to Sleepy Hollow, Kazakhstan / 2015
#Kazakhstan

Kalachi is a small, sleepy rural village in Kazakhstan. But ’sleepy’ is much more than an idyllic denoscription, it’s literal! Dozens of villagers were affected by a mysterious illness that causes sufferers to drift off for days. Other effects are memory loss, weakness and headaches. The cause of the illness remained a mystery for months until researchers conducted medical examinations of all local residents. This video is the second part of the documentary, Sleepy Hollow, Kazakhstan.

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Fishing for Herself / 2016
#Russia

Do you ever dream of living like a hermit, far, far away? Anya, 30, lives a reclusive life on the remote Sakhalin Island at the far eastern end of Russia. Anya grew up in a children’s home and became a fisherwoman when she left. Apart from fishing, Anya is an avid hockey player and a cat enthusiast.

She stays aloof and shows resentment towards the people, especially women, who mistreated her in the past. However, her sullen shell conceals a sweet personality.

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(Atlantic) Ocean's Eighteen / 2014
#Russia

The Shtandart is a copy of the 1703 Peter the Great's frigate. Its crew is made up of people from different countries, professions and backgrounds. What they all have in common is a passion for adventure and a desire to challenge themselves. They have all decided to fulfil their dream of a maritime journey. The film features their voyage across the Atlantic Ocean.

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