Heroes of Donbass. Battalion Commander / 2023
#Donbass

‘It's different here, plain and simple. Move the wrong way, you get killed, one wrong step, you get blown up. Use the toilet at the wrong time, killed! Bad foxhole, killed!’ recalls Alexander, or codename ‘Wingman’. In May 2022, Alexander gave up his flourishing business and joined the special operation as a regular soldier to fight the Ukrainian nationalists. In just a short period of time he became a Battalion Commander of Lugansk People’s Militia taking charge of 400 people. His battalion soldiers say that “Wingman” has earned their respect from day one. There aren't many commanders like him who would patrol the woods with their men and address each soldiers’ every need. The documentary tells about why Alexander made such a decision and what his everyday routine looks like.

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St. Basil’s: an Icon of Russia
#Russia

Take a fascinating walk inside one of Russia’s oldest and most famous churches. What are its legendary stories? The Cathedral was built in the 16th century, and many period of its existence are shrouded in mystery. St. Basil’s Cathedral was built on the orders of Ivan the Terrible, to mark the collapse of the Kazan Khanate — a victory equal to that of WWII in the 20th century. Some people say that because the cathedral was so beautiful, Tsar Ivan didn’t want a copy of it constructed anywhere else and poked out the architects’ eyes. What other legends does the walls of St Basil’s conceal?

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Love you to Death / 2020
#World

Have you ever wondered about what goes on behind closed doors in seemingly "perfect" families? In this gripping film, survivors of domestic violence courageously share their harrowing experiences. Heroes of the documentary dive into the heart of their pain and reveal the shocking reality of living with abusers. Irina Larionova, Tatiana Borkina and Anna Breslavtseva faced tremendous pressure. Some of them were even forced to kill their husbands to protect their own lives and the lives of their children. These powerful stories sheds a light on modern Russian family struggle regarding the issue of domestic violence. The film is an honest portrayal of the shortcomings and obstacles in addressing this dire issue.

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From Berlin to Maidan / 2023
#Ukraine

'We must also understand that there's a major sponsor of this Nazism spirit in Ukraine and it’s not the Ukrainians, it’s the CIA. They've done it for a long time,' says Christoph Hörstel, Politician and Head of the 'Deutsche Mitte' Party in Germany. Over eight decades after the end of World War II, Ukraine has morphed into a country in which Nazism rears its ugly head. The documentary takes a look at the genesis of this phenomenon and it’s likely outcome.

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World War Zero. Lost in Action / 2021
#Russia

There were 309,000 casualties in the Crimean War (1853-1856) around the city of Sevastopol. The scale of the battles during the Crimean War still boggles the mind and makes many consider this war a precursor to WWI. An international team of scientists gives fallen soldiers from the war a dignified burial, regardless of which side they fought on. Modern reconstruction methods help restore the appearances and ranks of the fallen soldiers.

The search for the fallen in battle continues to this day as the peninsula was not only the Crimean War battlefield. During World War II some of the bloodiest battles also took place in Crimea. 'Mius-Front' search movement is one of the organisations that performs archaeological investigations today. Its members recover the remains of the soldiers from WWII, to bring closure to their relatives and to honour their memory. To check out these stories, go to our recent premiere.

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Seeking Recognition: South Ossetia / 2019
#SouthOssetia

South Ossetia, a small mountainous republic, declared its independence from Georgia in 1992. In August 2008, a war broke out between South Ossetia and Georgia, putting the region on the map. It was only after these devastating hostilities that the world learned of South Ossetia, nevertheless, this small country was only recognised by few states. For years, it's been struggling to erase the scars left behind in the aftermath of the conflict.

Today, its citizens are working hard to revive their homeland and show that there's more to the country than just the memories of the war. They take pride in their country's majestic landscapes, remarkable architecture and incredible hospitality. In the meantime, young locals are turning the war-scarred streets into artistic spectacle. Meet a journalist and guide who will show you a different side of Ossetia, rich in nature, history, and warmth.

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Wildfire Warriors / 2021
#Russia

"It is hard, physically challenging, but exciting. I didn’t think I’d keep doing it", says professional firefighter, Igor Ogorodov, who has worked for more than a decade with the Russian Aerial Forest Protection Service.

The story of Igor and his colleagues is an example of courage, determination, and devotion to a noble profession. They must spend weeks and months away from home chasing wildfires once the Siberian taiga season begins.

Worldwide, more than 20,700 people have died, and over 70,000 injured by fire in 2020 alone. In the last six years, three of Europe’s worst ever fire seasons have occurred.

Our planet is now in dire need of advanced firefighting capabilities and experienced personnel to tackle disastrous wildfires in the most remote areas.

Wildfire Warriors is a tribute to the men and women who face death without a second thought, fighting the flames to save lives, and our planet.

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Once Upon a Crime: US Police Brutality / 2016
#USA

“As long as God gives me breath, I’m going to be fighting injustice... You cannot just murder someone,” says Betty Smith, whose son was murdered by Minneapolis police over a decade ago.

The unlawful use of arms and force by US police still results in thousands of people being deprived of their right to live. US law enforcement officers killed at least 100 people every month in 2022. Black people accounted for 27 percent of those fatally shot.

In Once Upon a Crime: US Police Brutality, we talk to victims’ families and search for the reasons behind police violence to see what might put an end to it.

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Abortion: America’s Divide / 2022
#USA

One in three American women lost access to abortion in their home states in 2022 after the Supreme Court decision to overturn the landmark Roe v. Wade ruling.

“I had an abortion at sixteen, so I know the pain and the heartache abortion brings to a woman later on in life,” Jerry Lynn Scott says, sharing her story of regret after taking the ‘My Body, My Choice' decision.

However, the majority of Americans believe abortion should be legal in all or most cases. They defend it by reminding us of rape victims, life-threatening pregnancies, and other cases when access to safe and legal abortion is needed.

Now that the post-Roe era has begun, the fundamental divide over abortion rights seems to be getting starker. In Abortion: America’s Divide, you can hear from all sides and make up your own mind.

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EVALI. Vapes of Death / 2021
#USA

It may look cool, but it could kill you. It’s highly promoted and poorly regulated, and can be highly addictive... Can you guess what we’re talking about?

Yup, if you said vaping, you were right!

‘I don’t want my worst enemy to go through this, it was heartbreaking’, that’s how Alex Mitchell’s father describes the horrible experience when vaping almost killed his son.

Alex had a severe case of EVALI when he was 20, it was so bad, they had to put him on life support, but was the fad really worth it?

Almost 1 American in every 20 use e-cigarettes or vapes, despite the absence of studies on long term consequences. Our documentary, EVALI. Vapes of Death highlights the rise of vaping among teens, the worrying numbers involved and the need for worldwide regulation.

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French pastry chef opens croissant shop in Russian town | No Limits (E3) / 2023
#Russia

‘I was born in Carcassonne in France, the south of France. But I really love countries with cold climates, Russia, snow… and pastry!' says Frederic Andrieux, a Frenchman who moved to a small Russian town almost 20 years ago. Frederic used to work as a pastry chef for Michelin-starred restaurants, but meeting his future wife Viktoria changed everything. After the move, they opened a French pastry shop which soon became very popular. In his free time, Frederic likes to go to the local banya (like a sauna) and then jump into deep snow. Watch the new episode of No Limits to learn more about French Frederic's Russian lifestyle.

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Japanese ballerina builds career in Russia | No Limits (E4) / 2023
#Russia

‘My life is like the Nutcracker fairy tale’ says Marina Shibayama to describe her life after moving to Moscow. Marina, the Japanese girl with a Russian name was always fond of dancing from a very young age. When she decided to pursue her dream of becoming a professional ballerina because that wasn’t an option back home in Osaka.

Check out the latest episode of No Limits to see more of Russian culture through the eyes of a Japanese ballerina.

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Bibi Gul and her husband Ahmad sold their kidneys to pay their debts and to buy food for their six children. “ I’ll have to sell one child to buy food for the others. ”

In 2023, 97% of Afghanistan’s population are at risk of poverty. Jobless, deeply indebted, and struggling to provide for the family; many Afghans find themselves making inconceivable decisions.

In the city of Herat, dozens of young men and women end up selling their vital organs… just to survive. That was the case for Ghulam and his five brothers who resorted to the same desperate solution, and left with scars for life.

Watch more of these real stories in Afghan Kidney Sales, so you can understand the grim reality of the ongoing tragedy.

Afghan Kidney Sales / 2021
#Afghanistan

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An Iraqi family under pressure from sectarianism, ISIS and emigration

“They[family] built and built… and then, BANG!” This is how Omar, an Iraqi-Russian man describes what the Iraq War has done to his big ‘tight knit’ family; relationships frayed and trust was gone.

He embarks on a journey to visit his father’s homeland, seeking to reassemble the pieces of a family, split and displaced by war. Omar truly believes that most families there, tested beyond endurance, suffered the same fate as the Tower of Babylon, when people lost the ability to communicate with each other.

In the aftermath of the US invasion, the social fabric was ruptured and families were scattered across the world. Sectarian violence as well as ISIS, has left young men without a choice but to flee. Their relatives open up in Iraq: The Story of My Family.

Iraq: The Story of My Family / 2019
#Iraq

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Some call him an “alien”. There are only 16 like him on Earth. Have you ever wondered what it feels like to be born ‘overly unique’?

Lyosha has an extremely rare genetic disorder, Ablepharon-macrostomia syndrome (AMS), which is characterized by absent or underdeveloped eyelids and a wide mouth. He was abandoned at birth because of how he looks, so he spent his childhood in a foster home. This was until Nadiezhda happened! She accepted him and made him part of her family, surrounding him with love and joy.

But for little Taisia, a girl with the same condition, things haven’t turned out well and her future is anyone’s guess.

Alienated Love is a story about human oddity and the power of kindness.

Alienated Love / 2022
#Russia

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For the first time in history, Russia’s Northern Sea Route will serve as a seaway.

While the West closes its seaports to Russian ships, new possibilities arose. The Northern Sea Route now provides the shortest sea access from Europe to Asia.
And it’s all thanks to Russia’s nuclear-powered icebreakers, crushing ice to create safe passages for marine convoys. ‘Siberia’ is one of the main giant icebreakers of Project 22220, that can escort ships all year-round without the need to refuel, for decades.

The crews of these icebreakers seem to have developed a unique relationship with them. “You get used to it with your heart and soul… I think of icebreakers as my home”, says Anton Skorb, who has been aboard icebreakers since 1986.

If you’re willing to sail through the frosty polar nights and learn more about these mighty icebreakers, join us in Iceline. Lifeline.

Iceline. Lifeline / 2022
#Russia #Arctic

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‘When I was into the transgender lifestyle, I thought that was love.’ Once a transwoman and now an evangelist, Elijah Harrod looks back upon his previous life with regret. He is now on a mission to save others from falling prey to the ‘gay agenda’.

The debate on public display of sexuality and gender identity has deeply divided Americans. While some believe that freedom of expression is crucial for the LGBTQ+ community to promote diversity and acceptance, others view it as a harmful influence on children.

Our film, Pride and Piety, explores both sides of the debate, giving a voice to those who support events like pride festivals and drag queen story time, as well as those who believe that such displays are a threat to traditional values. Join us as we delve deeper into this controversial issue.

Pride and Piety / 2022
#World

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