In Japan, it is estimated that three men die alone every hour. This disturbing phenomenon has been growing so rapidly that it has earned a name, ‘Kodokushi,’ or lonely death.

The crisis has become prevalent enough that companies have emerged specializing in cleaning and sorting out the belongings after an unnoticed death, something family members used to do. Experts blame Japan's rapidly aging population and changes in traditional family customs.

To delve deeper, Dying Alone interviews elderly citizens and a kodokushi cleaning business owner. The insights reveal the heartbreaking reality of the situation and the complex factors that contribute to it.

Dying Alone / 2019
#Japan

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Why are the Tultepec people convinced they ‘have gunpowder in their blood’ and proudly consider themselves as the only nation to laugh at death?

Every year, the people of this Mexican town gather to celebrate the patron saint of fireworks makers, St. John of God, in a spectacular fireworks festival, which culminates in a ‘parade of bulls’- a massive structure that takes 2.5 months to make, and which is consumed in fire in five minutes!

“It’s like racing a Ferrari at 360 kph. There's no room for error,” says Antelmo, whose family has been in the dangerous business for over 200 years. Tultepec is known as the ‘capital of fireworks’, as 80% of the local economy is based on the production of fireworks.

Experience Tultepec’s dancing with fireworks at the burning of the bulls in the documentary, ‘Mexican Boom Town’.

Mexican Boom Town / 2018
#Mexico

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Did you know that child labour underlies the foundation of the glitter in your makeup?

One of India’s poorest states holds 60% of the world’s mica deposits. Hundreds of thousands of people in Jharkhand mine mica as their only source of income. Vinay's body is covered with scars from coming in contact with razor-sharp mica. “If we don't work, we don't eat,” he says sorrowfully.

This work is done illegally and is far from safe. The industry includes slave labor and often involves children as young as three to five years old. Despite bans and attempts to provide kids with education, up to 22,000 are exploited by mica mining companies.

Jharkhand‘s open secret is brought into the spotlight in the documentary ‘The Ugly Face of Beauty’.

The Ugly Face of Beauty / 2016
#India

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Have you ever wondered who is in charge of the Internet? Who should be able to judge what can or cannot be said online?

We are living in a time when censorship and double standards are rampant, and freedom of speech is under threat. At the same time, the social media giants have taken over the internet, and their power is effectively greater than that of governments. In fact, they can even go as far as to banish standing heads of states, as was the case with former US president Donald Trump.

“One wrong move and their page is deleted. You don't exist anymore. Puff, gone!” explains Lionel, a legal and media analyst in reference to the growing trend of censorship.

The documentary ‘Cyber Сensors’ attempts to explain how platform wars are impacting our reality.

Cyber Сensors / 2021
#World

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‘When I hand out hot meals, it makes me feel so warm inside, in my heart. I love it so much! I just can't describe how it feels’, says Sonya, a 14-year-old girl. Sonya's path to volunteering began when the Ukrainian army unleashed bombings upon her town. Constant shelling made it dangerous for residents to cook meals even in their own homes. Recognizing the dire circumstances, Sonya made a decision to join ‘Food for Life Charity’. Every day volunteers cook delicious meals and bread and travel to the most dangerous areas to give every resident an opportunity to have a meal.

Watch the documentary to see what brings Sonya and dozens of other kids joy and hope for a better future.

Young Hope of Donbass / 2023
#Donbass

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A discovery of mysterious craters in the Yamal peninsula has left scientists baffled and social media abuzz with wild theories of aliens and stray missiles.

Witnessed by Nenets reindeer herders who felt the earth moving and heard loud explosions, these massive holes, up to 30 meters deep, look like they were left by powerful blasts. The indigenous people have lived off the surrounding tundra for generations and believe the craters could be a sign of man's wrongdoing.

Since they first appeared in 2013, Russian scientists have located 17 of these holes and believe they are formed due to trapped methane and carbon dioxide escaping to the surface.

Are the researchers and locals close to solving the riddle of Siberia's giant craters? Find out in ‘Black Holes of Yamal‘.

Black Holes of Yamal / 2021
#Russia

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Can a simple ball help change one’s life forever, and for the better?

Rami Samaan, a Syrian army soldier, once had a big family and many friends. But, after a decade of war, all that was left was him and his mom.
When the war broke out, soldiers were unprepared to face the terrorists and the loss of comrades. Rami himself lost almost all of his friends and witnessed terrible things on the frontlines.

Overwhelmed by tragedies, Rami sought solace in an unlikely companion - a volleyball named Willy. Despite trust issues stemming from the loss of his friends, Rami developed a deep bond with Willy, who became his source of comfort and support.

Rami believes that everyone has a "Willy" of their own, something that they can turn to for strength in difficult times. In 'My Friend From War’, he tells us how this unlikely friendship helped him overcome the horrors of war.

My Friend From War / 2022
#Syria

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‘To be honest, I knew nothing about Mongolia. And when I first arrived, we went to the Gobi Desert, and I literally fell in love with this country because the nature here is incredibly beautiful. It just won't let you go, it's breathtaking’, recalls Elena, who moved to Ulaanbaatar more than 10 years ago. Many Russians have similar to Elena’s stories, together they formed a huge community in Mongolia. How do these people live and is it hard to fuse the two cultures together inside one family?

Russian Roots, Mongolian Life / 2023
#Mongolia

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Can the healing power of art prevent mental illness?

Lisa has long suffered from depression. Psychiatric treatment hadn't succeeded in dealing with her schizoaffective disorder. But then she found solace in painting. ‘When I don’t draw, I get worse,’ she says. Lisa is one of the so-called ‘outsider artists’ - individuals struggling with mental health issues - who have found a way to heal themselves through art.

‘PsychiARTry’ is a film that introduces this unique group. It provides insight into how art has empowered them to regain emotional balance and feel accepted.

PsychiARTry / 2021
#Russia

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What does it feel like to spend your whole life in an open-air prison?

Generations of Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza strip grew up under blockade with restrictions on movement and endless violence. Despite the dire humanitarian situation, they chose to protest and stand up for their right to live peacefully and return to what is now Israel.

On this day in 1950, Israel passed the Law of Return, which grants every Jew the right to migrate to and settle in Israel. Since then, illegal settlements have been expanding and Palestinians have been subjected to everyday violence in the occupied territories.

“We turn instruments of death into works of art” – Palestinian artist Majdi collects bullets used by Israeli soldiers and creates miniatures depicting Palestinians’ daily struggle. Many activists in the Palestinian resistance choose to express their anger and pain through drawing, dance, hip-hop, and sport.

Longing for Palestine: Art of Resistance / 2018
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The world’s ‘most polluted river’ is a major water source for Indonesians

The Citarum River has become a toxic swamp as a result of industrial wastewater, sewage, and domestic rubbish being dumped into it for decades. The river is home to hundreds of textile factories that spew out hazardous waste, turning the water various ominous shades.

Despite the toxic chemicals and heavy metals that end up in the river’s tributaries, canals, and reservoirs, the river remains the primary source of fish and drinking water for the 27 million people living within its basin. Alo has been fishing for trash in the Citarum for over 21 years, and all for pennies.

‘Deadly Waters’ unveils the textile industry’s dirty secrets along this Indonesian river.

Deadly Waters / 2019
#Indonesia

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What does a true Yakuza member look like? Are they the ruthless killers depicted in films, or is this all fantasy?

The Japanese Yakuza crime syndicates have long been among the largest criminal organizations in the world. However, their numbers have declined since the implementation of the Anti-Boryokudan Law in 1992. This has made it difficult for Yakuza members to even get credit cards or rent apartments.

Mr. Makoto joined the Yakuza because he was too lazy to work a real job. But being a gangster under these conditions takes a toll on family life—Mr. Makoto has been married three times and is now divorced and raising his son alone. He does not wish for his son to become a Yakuza member in today's society, as it is now too difficult.

Can these Japanese mafiosi lead normal lives?

Yakuza: Good For Nothing / 2017
#Japan

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“When there’s no food and all the children may die, selling one child to save the rest is a solution.”

Abdul Satar summarizes a harrowing situation. Parents hope to receive between $1,500 and $2,000 by selling their daughters, as boys are considered more valuable to the family.

Girls as young as eleven are married off as parents believe it's the only way for them to survive. While there are no official statistics, it's estimated that one in six girls in Afghanistan is married before the age of sixteen.

‘Don't Sell Me Mama’ showcases the devastating impact on the girls who have no say in the matter, and their heart-wrenching stories.

Don't Sell Me Mama / 2022
#Afghanistan

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Don’t let these pink outfits deceive you: these women can be tough. They are wielding sticks to stand up to abusers.

The 'Pink Gang’, also known as the Gulabi Gang, is a powerful movement in India led by Sampat Pal, a charismatic activist who teaches women to fight for their rights and protect themselves against domestic abuse.

Women under her protection are easily recognizable by their pink saris and sticks, which serve as a warning to any potential abusers. The movement not only teaches victims of domestic abuse self-defense but also offers counselling and support to help them regain their self-respect and independence.

Sampat Pal believes that education is the key force for change, and for women to move forward and live with dignity. ‘Girl Power: Hindi Style’ tells their inspiring story and shows the incredible impact of the Gulabi Gang on the lives of Indian women.

Girl Power: Hindi Style / 2021
#India

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Why did some African Americans leave the US for the Soviet Union?

Almost a century ago, hundreds of African Americans who struggled with racism and poverty moved to the Soviet Union. Even though slavery was abolished in the United States in 1865, African Americans still faced discrimination.

“Why did I make up my mind to move to Russia? I wanted to leave a country where I was facing discrimination, racism.” Francine Villa fled the US for Russia simply to escape racism, just like her grandfather did in the 1930s. Eventually, Francine and other black Americans have found freedom and a new homeland. Watch their story in ‘Black in the USSR’.

Black in the USSR / 2020
#USSR

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This mother of 44 children is the most fertile woman in the world. And she’s only 42 years old.

Mariam Nabatanzi was married off at the age of 12 and has given birth 15 times to twins, triplets, and quadruplets. She tried to find family planning options after her sixth child, but was advised by doctors to keep giving birth due to having "so many egg cells".

Mariam and her children now struggle to make a living in Kasawo village with little outside help. She blames her country's child marriage customs, which still persist despite government attempts to end them. She hopes to provide an education for all her children.

On World Population Day, the problem of child marriage in Uganda is explored through the eyes of Mariam and two underage mothers in ‘Mama Uganda’.

Mama Uganda / 2020
#Uganda

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