LITTLE EMPTY BOXES, 99min., USA

Directed by Max Lugavere, Chris Newhard

Little Empty Boxes is a feature length documentary from filmmaker Max Lugavere, who chronicles the last several years of his mothers' life as she battles a mysterious form of Dementia. As Kathy's world begins to deteriorate around her, Max consults with some of the world's leading experts in medicine to learn how diet and lifestyle affects our brain.

https://www.littleemptyboxes.com/

https://www.instagram.com/littleemptyboxes/

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WORLD WAR II: THE SHIPWRECKS OF TRUK LAGOON, 45min., Germany
Directed by Christian Wehrle
“World War II: The Shipwrecks of Truk Lagoon” is a 45-minute documentary that dives into the haunting underwater world of Chuuk Lagoon, a site of immense historical and ecological significance. Once a formidable fortress for the Japanese Imperial Navy during World War II, this tranquil Pacific lagoon now cradles a ghostly fleet of sunken warships and aircraft, remnants of the devastating Operation Hailstone. Through a blend of captivating underwater footage, historical insights, and expert interviews, the documentary unveils the stories of these submerged relics. It explores the ecological transformation of these wrecks into vibrant marine habitats, while also pondering the ethical considerations of diving in this underwater graveyard. The film invites viewers on a reflective journey, intertwining the lagoon’s war-torn past with its present status as a unique sanctuary for marine life, leaving a lasting impression of the intricate ties between history, humanity, and the natural world.

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555290403495

Get to know the filmmaker:

The motivation for creating “World War II: The Shipwrecks of Truk Lagoon” stemmed from my profound passion for scuba diving. Truk Lagoon had been at the pinnacle of my diving destinations list for over a decade. When I finally had the chance to dive there and witness its underwater marvels, I felt compelled to share this unique story with the world.

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BURTON ROCKS CALLING, 30min., USA
Directed by Burton Rocks
Burton Rocks’ health left him isolated. So, he started calling some of America’s biggest stars.
They answered.
Forty years later, Burton shares his fascinating collection of interviews for the first time.

Get to know the filmmaker:
Burton Rocks: I wanted to thank my parents for giving me the freedom of expression when I was so ill in my youth in hospitals. Today I am hoping this film inspires others.

You can sign up for the 7 day free trial at www.wildsound.ca (available on your streaming services and APPS). There is a DAILY film festival to watch, plus a selection of award winning films on the platform. Then it’s only $3.99 per month.

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WHERE THE ROPE ENDS, 70min., USA
Directed by Baylee Sinner
In her relentless pursuit of happiness, Nichole found herself drawn to the exhilarating realm of canyoneering. Little did she know that this new daring interest would lead to a life-altering 60-foot fall, during which she would catch a glimpse of the happiness she was chasing.

http://www.wheretheropeends.com/
http://www.facebook.com/wheretheropeends
http://www.twitter.com/wtredocumentary
https://instagram.com/wheretheropeends

Get to know the filmmaker:

I met Nichole in a 6-month yoga teacher training program. At the time, I was destressing from my commercial advertising job and she had just got in the accident and was in a wheelchair, and looking for a way to get outside of her body and connect with others. I learned more about her story and was fascinated with her as a person. Within 10 minutes of our first conversation, we started talking about making a film.

You can sign up for the 7 day free trial at www.wildsound.ca (available on your streaming services and APPS). There is a DAILY film festival to watch, plus a selection of award winning films on the platform. Then it’s only $3.99 per month.

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MITTI (Discovering Ikigai), 30min., Canada
Directed by Sangita Iyer
Mitti (Discovering Ikigai) is a story of young woman of colour in Canada who chose organic farming as her career choice. Through her story the film highlights the Japanese concept of Ikigai to inspire others, especially youth, to find their passion and purpose in life. The film also highlights environmental and sustainability challenges the world is facing and how ancient cultures considered Mother Earth with gratitude instead of a commodity. The film also attempts to break stereotypes we have about how/what a farmer looks like. The film poster has been conceived and created by at 12 year art enthusiast who seems to have discovered her Ikigai.

http://www.mettlefilms.com/
https://www.instagram.com/mettlefilms

Get to know the filmmaker:

Several reasons actually.
This is one of the topics I am passionate about because culturally I was raised to have a sense of gratitude towards Mother Earth who is considered a life giver, the one who nourishes and sustains us and is worshipped as a Divine Mother. As a mother myself, I believe knowing where our food comes from, learning how to grow our own food and being connected to nature is really important for our future generations because as a society we seem to be getting more and more disconnected from nature. When I formed my production company Mettle Films, it was born with a vision of making films for a cause. Films that are simple, yet thought provoking stories of people, places and things which could also be utilized as a learning resource by schools and parents. I also decided to tell this story to support a local young female farmer, and by showcasing her journey, my hope is to empower others to discover their Ikigai.

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A powerful documentary about a father and the resilience of his daughter Christine Ortoll as she confronts mental illness, addiction, and the transformative power of support. Through her personal journals and the unwavering dedication of her loved ones, witness a journey of hope and the creation of a meaningful legacy by her father.

Interview with Christine’s father and producer Michael Ortoll, & director Tim Searfoss

https://www.onesecondatatime.com/

Director Statement

This is a film about family, about love, about wanting to escape your personal pain and finding yourself addicted to a substance that takes over your life. It’s a story about Christine Ortoll and the family and friends who love her.

This powerful film helps us understand why we fall for addiction, and hopes to humanize and de-stigmatize this powerful disease.

You can sign up for the 7 day free trial at www.wildsound.ca (available on your streaming services and APPS). There is a DAILY film festival to watch, plus a selection of award winning films on the platform. Then it’s only $3.99 per month.

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ROOMMATES, 9min., USA
Directed by J Brooke, Beatrice Alda
After completing lengthy prison terms (for murder and arson, respectively), two women forge a strong bond within a nursing home catering to the formerly incarcerated. Creating a positive present tense in the wake of complicated pasts, these survivors cling to simplicity, routine, and each other.

Get to know the filmmakers:

I (Beatrice) have a strong interest in prison reform. I had read a local CT article about this nursing home that serves the formerly incarcerated – and they are the only ones in the country doing so- filling an enormous whole in the realm of post-incarceration issues.

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SPARK IN THE MEADOW, 17min.,

Directed by Bernardita Llanos

Spark in the Prairie (La Chispa en la Pradera) focuses on law student Sofía Brito and her experience of sexual harassment by her professor, a renown attorney and member of the Supreme Tribunal of Chile. Sofia was his research assistant and was working with him on the three exceptions to legalize abortion in the country. Sofa was at a crossroad between women's reproductive rights and her own experience of gender and sexual discrimination by the very man who could move forward the decriminalization of abortion.

https://www.facebook.com/bernardita.llanos.52

https://www.instagram.com/talita1958

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FLOWING – MY DREAM OF MORE FREEDOM, 4min., Austria
Directed by Christine Sonvilla, Marc Graf
In “Flowing – My dream of more freedom” the river itself speaks to us about its dream of flowing wilder and freer again, thereby providing a home (again) to a diversity of species.

https://www.facebook.com/christine.sonvilla/
https://www.instagram.com/grafmarcphotography/

Get to know filmmakers Christine Sonvilla & Marc Graf:
Christine + Marc: The Dam Removal Initiative is an incredibly powerful tool in river conservation and restoration. However, it still needs more attention in the public and with decision-makers. That’s why we wanted to highlight how very much our rivers are craving for more freedom.

You can sign up for the 7 day free trial at www.wildsound.ca (available on your streaming services and APPS). There is a DAILY film festival to watch, plus a selection of award winning films on the platform. Then it’s only $3.99 per month.

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CHERUBIM, 17min., Ukraine
Directed by Evgeniy Matvienko
«VARTA» is a series of documentary novellas about the Ukrainian military, created by the authorial team of filmmakers called NEUTRINO. Since the full-scale invasion of russia of Ukraine, the team has been documenting the military events and telling the stories of our soldiers.

Get to know the filmmaker:
There is a war in the country, people are dying every day, our military are dying. I am tired of hearing about heroes only after their deaths, and I decided to change this, namely to make a film about the inner world of our fighters, and show the whole world their brave look, deep soul and sincere desire to live in peace. To document real people who resist evil and protect us, civilians. We want people to be able to see heroes when they are alive, not when they die, so that over time our generations can see those who have kept peace in our homes.

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MR. BULLOCH: CHICAGO’S DONUT KING, 5min., USA
Directed by Claude Edward Fethiere
This short film celebrates Mr. Buritt Bulloch the successful owner of Old Fashioned Donuts Incorporated, a business which has thrived in the financially blighted Chicago south side neighborhood of Roseland for over 50 years.

Get to know the filmmaker:
I was motivated to make this film because in a world were food is ordered on kiosks, and mass produced by machines, seeing Mr. Bulloch hand make delicious masterpieces every day is a breath of fresh ( baked,raised, and fried ; ) ) air. I wanted to celebrate Mr. Bulloch’s artistry, resilience, wisdom, and charm.

You can sign up for the 7 day free trial at www.wildsound.ca (available on your streaming services and APPS). There is a DAILY film festival to watch, plus a selection of award winning films on the platform. Then it’s only $3.99 per month.

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MAKING USA ENAMEL, 17min,. USA
Directed by Regan Vasquez
The documentary “Making USA Enamel” takes viewers on a three-year journey to bring colorful enameling to US soil—in the middle of a global pandemic, too. Meet the people of Lodge Cast Iron who helped create USA Enamel™ in this documentary by Regan Vasquez, featuring interviews with leadership and employees from across Lodge, as well as footage from Lodge foundries and the enameling facility.

http://lodgecastiron.com/
https://facebook.com/lodgecastiron
https://twitter.com/lodgecastiron
https://instagram.com/lodgecastiron

Get to know the filmmaker:

In January of 2020, I had been working for Lodge Cast Iron a little over a year and was approached about this documentary. The film explores this, but essentially, USA Enamel was something our company had wanted to do for so many years and I was so excited to be given the opportunity to share that story with our audience. This isn’t a space that many people know too much about so the chance to highlight the people behind this product was very cool. I had no idea we’d be living and working through a global pandemic soon after—plus, so many other obstacles would come our way during the process—but as a team we kept persevering and finally ended up where we are today with a product line we’re so proud of and a documentary, too! I’m really grateful I was able to give such visibility into how something that we use in our home every single day was made.

You can sign up for the 7 day free trial at www.wildsound.ca (available on your streaming services and APPS). There is a DAILY film festival to watch, plus a selection of award winning films on the platform. Then it’s only $3.99 per month.

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KARIBU NYUMBANI, 12min,. UK
Directed by Matthew Williams-Ellis
“Karibu Nyumbani” translates as “Welcome to my Home” in Swahili. Guides in the Maasai Mara have a deep-rooted pride, knowledge, and love for wildlife. This film encapsulates that passion from the perspective of George Osono, a guide in Mara North Conservancy, who completely embodies this spirit of caring for nature.

https://www.matthewwilliams-ellis.com/karibu-nyumbani

Get to know the filmmaker:

I had a month in Kenya and knew I wanted to produce a film in that time, but arrived with no specific narrative in mind. After speaking to the guides (and George in particular), I was struck by their genuine love, knowledge and passion for wildlife. Their desire to protect and conserve the animals that call the Maasai Mara home deserves recognition and I think often goes under appreciated. They are the ones who see the animals everyday and are often the first to alert charities if for example lions are found having been speared by humans. They are at the forefront of and are true ambassadors of conservation.

You can sign up for the 7 day free trial at www.wildsound.ca (available on your streaming services and APPS). There is a DAILY film festival to watch, plus a selection of award winning films on the platform. Then it’s only $3.99 per month.

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GOODBOY, 40min., USA

Directed by Ashley Mosher

When a woman’s beloved dog, Kenya, is diagnosed with terminal cancer during the Pandemic, the adventurous photographer attempts to outrun the dog's death and stumbles into the haunting childhood memories of her dying Father. Facing the painful decision on how to handle Kenya’s life, she must reconcile her fear of death and learn herself how to sit, stay, and heal.

http://www.ashleymosher.com/

https://www.facebook.com/validandrequired

https://www.instagram.com/validandrequired/

You can sign up for the 7 day free trial at www.wildsound.ca (available on your streaming services and APPS). There is a DAILY film festival to watch, plus a selection of award winning films on the platform. Then it’s only $3.99 per month.

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GAY BODY OF MUSIC, 31min., USA
Directed by Daniel Beliavsky
The life and work of American composer David Del Tredici

Get to know the filmmaker:

My focus in documentary filmmaking is on living composers who are often in the late stages of their careers and have decades of experience upon which to reflect. Specifically, I’m interested in creating a document wherein composers have the platform to communicate their artistic legacy. I started my career in music as a classical pianist, and the majority of my repertoire was by composers who had died decades or centuries before me. Any interpretations of their music were through the teacher-student chain and never directly from the composers themselves. Accordingly, my motivation for this film, like the ones before it, has been to give composers a voice to directly and without compromise communicate their musical desires, goals, and contexts to the current and next generation of performers and audiences.

You can sign up for the 7 day free trial at www.wildsound.ca (available on your streaming services and APPS). There is a DAILY film festival to watch, plus a selection of award winning films on the platform. Then it’s only $3.99 per month.

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SANKOFA CHICAGO: THE UNTOLD, 102 minutes, USA
Directed by Vanessa Wright
Sankofa Chicago: The Untold is a powerful documentary that is the second part of a three-part series exposing the inadequacies of American History curriculums in Chicago Public Schools, a problem across the US. It highlights the overlooked contributions of Black and Brown people in American history. It explores methods of enhancing the current History and Social Science curriculum and alternative avenues for incorporating this vital history into other academic disciplines. The film stresses the significance of accurate representation and continuous learning, inspiring viewers to question conventional narratives and seek a more comprehensive understanding of American history.

http://www.sankofachicago.com/

Get to know the filmmaker:

The motivation behind creating “Sankofa Chicago: The Untold” stems from a twofold source of inspiration. Firstly, the positive feedback received from the previous installment in the series, “Sankofa Chicago,” encouraged the pursuit of this sequel, affirming its potential to resonate with and educate a broad audience. Secondly, I was motivated to create “Sankofa Chicago: The Untold” because my two kids are currently studying social science and history in the Chicago Public School system. I felt a strong need to investigate what they were learning and explore various ways in which they could be exposed to their history, mainly black history and the histories of other ethnic groups.

My motivation stems from a personal passion for uncovering untold histories. Throughout my life, I’ve been intrigued by the idea of delving into the hidden narratives of our past. Sharing these stories can enrich my children’s education and contribute to a more inclusive and comprehensive learning experience for everyone. As a parent, I’m acutely aware that we don’t always have complete insight into what our kids are learning, which further fueled my desire to provide a glimpse into their education, shed light on why it matters, and explore alternatives for teaching history.

You can sign up for the 7 day free trial at www.wildsound.ca (available on your streaming services and APPS). There is a DAILY film festival to watch, plus a selection of award winning films on the platform. Then it’s only $3.99 per month.

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MANUFACTURING THE THREAT, 82min., Canada
Directed by Amy Miller
For the first time ever, a feature-length documentary is examining the issue of agent provocateurs and entrapment in Canada’s national security apparatus. Manufacturing the Threat is a thrilling and emotional film, which examines a deeply disturbing episode in Canadian history, when an impoverished couple was coerced by undercover law enforcement agents into carrying out a terrorist bombing. Further, viewers learn that this case is far from unique in the context of Canadian intelligence.

Get to know the filmmaker:

It’s an extremely important topic that has not been covered in a feature documentary to date so I felt a sense of responsibility to ensure there was at least one film that took on the subjects.

You can sign up for the 7 day free trial at www.wildsound.ca (available on your streaming services and APPS). There is a DAILY film festival to watch, plus a selection of award winning films on the platform. Then it’s only $3.99 per month.

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This short documentary explores the troubles surrounding sexual violence among post-secondary students. It highlights the increase in reported incidents of sexual assault among young students, causing concern and anxiety among the student community in different institutions. We follow experts from the Toronto Metropolitan University's Sexual Violence Support (C3SVS), who provide coping services as well as the University of Toronto's PEARS Project, which investigates the underlying causes of this epidemic, exposes misconceptions, and examines how a culture of silence and victim-blaming has perpetuated the problem even beyond the pandemic.

https://www.horizondocproductions.com/

https://www.instagram.com/horizondocumentaries/

You can sign up for the 7 day free trial at www.wildsound.ca (available on your streaming services and APPS). There is a DAILY film festival to watch, plus a selection of award winning films on the platform. Then it’s only $3.99 per month.

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FREEDOMTOWN: NOT SO BLACK AND WHITE, 15min., USA
Directed by Morteza Rafiei
Freedom Town: Not So Black And White takes viewers on a journey to explore the tension between activism and police forces around George Floyed’s death amidst the 2020 pandemic chaos. Through two filmmaker lenses, we follow an activist and former cop over 2 years as they navigate their respective worlds.

Get to know the filmmaker:
As a Middle Eastern individual and my creative partner is African American, we embarked on creating a movie that sheds light on our country’s challenges during the pandemic and the impact of George Floyd’s tragic death. Coming from the Middle East, where I sought freedom upon arriving in this country, witnessing how the police treated their own citizens was truly bewildering. It was astonishing to see the similarities between some of the protests in America and those I had experienced in Iran. With our film, we aimed to delve deeper into the reasons behind the mistreatment of African Americans while also giving voice to the perspective of the police.

You can sign up for the 7 day free trial at www.wildsound.ca (available on your streaming services and APPS). There is a DAILY film festival to watch, plus a selection of award winning films on the platform. Then it’s only $3.99 per month.

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FROM MY EYES, 98min., USA
Directed by Darrick Landreneau
When a freshman embarks on a journey to film everyday of college, he discovers that growing up might be harder than he ever imagined.

https://instagram.com/frommyeyes/

Get to know the filmmaker:

Honestly it was a mixture of my love for film and a God idea. I’d been suffering from a real lack of ideas during my first month of my Freshman Year at LSU. I had a camera (Sony NEX-VG10) and a lifetime supply of inspiration and drive… but no ideas. So I’m a Christian and one day on my way to math class I started praying for an idea, a big idea. I can take you to the exact spot where this thought just infected my brain, “Why don’t you film college?” My initial thought was, “yea right”, but over the next week God opened doors and provided a way for me to start filming. On October 16th, 2012 I picked up a camera not knowing what the story would be but curious enough to find out.

You can sign up for the 7 day free trial at www.wildsound.ca (available on your streaming services and APPS). There is a DAILY film festival to watch, plus a selection of award winning films on the platform. Then it’s only $3.99 per month.

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