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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Who wouldn’t want a pet? Aleksey takes care of 10 lions as pets and how he got them is extraordinary. He had to sell his Moscow apartment to rescue them from being euthanized in South Africa.

“I wouldn’t call it hunting, it’s just execution,” the Russian biologist says of the cruel pastime of ‘canned hunting’ which is popular there. From that point on, he took his compassion to the next level. With the help of his colleagues, he decided to create a ‘lion sanctuary’ in South Africa!

In Me and My Lions, we follow the steps of Aleksey in his journey with his majestic creatures, to see what challenges he faces in his quest to provide them with a safe and happy home.

Me and My Lions / 2021
#SouthAfrica

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The German authorities placed children alongside paedophiles for decades, as part of a disturbing ‘social experiment’ that took place in West Berlin, in the early 1970s.

Under the guidance of Helmut Kentler, a German psychologist and sexologist, homeless children were deliberately handed to convicted paedophiles, assuming they’d become caring foster parents. Kentler was lauded as a 'hero of the sexual revolution' back then.

“Every day with this man was a struggle to survive.” Decades on, Sven understood that his life was abnormal only after he left his foster family, at the age of 21.

Another victim named Marco, wonders why the criminals responsible for this horrific experiment have not yet been brought to justice. “Those responsible are still sitting in their offices or have retired.”

Survivors of the ‘Kentler Project’, Marco and Sven, are seeking compensation from the German authorities.

German Paedo-Files / 2020
#Germany

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‘Someone made a profit on the organs of those 'sons of Ukraine,' as they say. They might have simply suffered severe injuries at the time, but instead of helping them, they were simply cut open and butchered’, says Lieutenant General Vladimir Kononov, who has witnessed the Ukrainian government’s atrocities firsthand. Kononov argues that amendments to transplantation laws adopted by the Kiev regime, hinder the tracing of organ trafficking; they also put both the people of Ukraine and Donbass at risk of donating organs against their will. Watch the documentary to find out why there’s absence of a reaction from the international community to this issue.

Tanks for Kidneys / 2023
#Ukraine

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“The owner kept hitting me until the stick broke,” said Mohammed, a brickworker in Bangladesh, who had to endure pain and oppression so that his family could have a better life. Alas, speaking up comes at a high cost, both physically and mentally. It may even cost one… their own life.

Entire families in Bangladesh risk their lives working in appalling conditions, such as in brick kilns, which are far from being comfortable or safe. People use their bare hands to work, and have no rights. Nurul Amin used to be a worker in the brick factory before he got injured. “There is nothing here but suffering,” he said.

About 50 million people are trapped in modern slavery worldwide - nearly 28 million are under forced labor.

Brick Slaves highlights the never-ending abuse of workers in Bangladesh, who still harbour hopes that one day, their suffering will come to an end.

Brick Slaves / 2021
#Bangladesh

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'India before the British was the richest nation with the highest GDP in the world. And why did the hundred years of British rule bring it to a dismal low of some 50th ranking or late 30th ranking?' A teacher asks himself in an eye-opening documentary about India's colonial legacy. The impact British colonizers had on the country's economy and cultural heritage was devastating. Why are priceless artefacts illegally taken from India still held in museums and private collections around the world? Is there any chance to bring all these treasures back to the people they were stolen from?

Looted India: Cost of an Empire / 2023
#India

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This rare Soviet-era film presents a never-seen-before footage of Israeli 007.

As intelligence warfare was ramping up in Syria in the 60s, Israeli spy Eli Cohen managed to infiltrate the highest levels of the Syrian government and extracted some vital information.

During that time, the USSR was expanding its military assistance to Syria and the Mossad were able to keep tabs on that, thanks to the intel Cohen provided. Probably, no one expected that the Soviet experts would fish out the Israeli agent who was eventually executed by the Syrians. Sixty years later, a mysterious film found in Russia, gives us a glimpse of this elusive spy – providing never-seen-before footage of Eli Cohen.

Whether you're interested in the history of the Middle East, the world of espionage, or just a superspy story, Spyfall is definitely worth checking out.

Spyfall / 2021
#Syria

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