Cinemafile

Filmed over eight years, this five-part documentary series from director Debra Granik combines a remarkable, against-the-odds story of grit, survival, and redemption with an incisive look at the harms of America’s prison industrial complex. After years in and out of prison, former drug dealer turned entrepreneur Coss Marte is determined to take control of his future by building Conbody, a New York City gym with a unique social purpose: to employ formerly incarcerated people like himself in an attempt to combat the high rate of recidivism. As Marte wages an uphill battle against the stigma of incarceration and the realities of a relentlessly gentrifying city where second chances are hard to come by, what emerges is both an inspiring portrait of a man on a mission and a powerful examination of a system that continues to punish people even after they have served their time.About the filmmaker - Debra Granik started working in film and video in the Boston grassroots media movement in the late 80’s. She studied politics at Brandeis University and her first forays into operating a camera and collaborating on political documentation were with Boston based media groups such as the Women’s Video Collective. While in Boston she had the good fortune to be able to take classes at Mass College of Art, Studio for Interrelated Media, which exposed her to a great variety of film work and traditions. At NYU, she made several short films, one of which, Snake Feed, garnered an award at Sundance, which led to involvement in the Sundance Screenwriting and Directing Labs. She expanded the story from Snake Feed into a longer script which formed the basis for the feature Down to the Bone, created with her producing partner, Anne Rosellini. Down to the Bone, was awarded the Best Director prize at the 2004 Sundance Film Festival. Her next film, Winter's Bone, was nominated for four Oscars, including Best Picture, and won the Grand Jury Prize at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival. Granik and co-writer Anne Rosellini were Oscar nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay. Her most recent film, Stray Dog, created with Tory Stewart is a feature length documentary.

Undeterred by armed soldiers, smooth-talking politicians, and riot police, journalist Amy Goodman has reported some of the most consequential stories of our time. Steal This Story, Please! is a gripping portrait of the trailblazer whose unwavering commitment to truth-telling spans three decades of turbulent history. From the frontlines of global conflicts to the organized chaos of her daily news show Democracy Now!, Goodman broadcasts stories and voices routinely silenced by commercial media. Oscar-nominated filmmakers Carl Deal and Tia Lessin (Trouble the Water, The Janes) take us behind the scenes with the warm, wisecracking granddaughter of an Orthodox rabbi — raised in a tradition of asking hard questions – as she navigates a news landscape reshaped by technology, corporate consolidation, and political assaults on truth itself. Urgent, provocative and unexpectedly funny, Steal This Story, Please! is both a call to action and a celebration of resistance, posing the question: what happens to democracy when the press surrenders to power?About the filmmakers - TIA LESSIN and CARL DEAL are award-winning filmmakers and collaborators. They made the critically acclaimed feature documentary, TROUBLE THE WATER, about survivors of Hurricane Katrina, which was nominated for an Academy Award and won the Gotham Independent Film Award and Sundance Grand Jury Prize. Their second feature, CITIZEN KOCH documenting the origins of the MAGA movement premiered in competition at Sundance and was shortlisted for an Oscar. Most recently, Lessin directed THE JANES, a film about the underground abortion service in 1960s Chicago, for HBO Original Documentaries, along with Emma Pildes. After its premiere in competition at Sundance, THE JANES won three Emmy Awards (Outstanding Documentary, Best Social Issue Documentary, and Best Directors), the DuPont Columbia Journalism Award, and was shortlisted for an Oscar in 2023. Lessin and Deal’s first film collaborations together were on Academy Award®-winning BOWLING FOR COLUMBINE and FAHRENHEIT 9/11, winner of the Palme d'Or (she as supervising producer, he as archival producer). They went on to produce Michael Moore’s CAPITALISM: A LOVE STORY, WHERE TO INVADE NEXT, and FAHRENHEIT 11/9.

In his award-winning feature film debut director Cole Webley drops us into the lives of a struggling family, a young girl and her brother are awoken by their father (John Magaro, Past Lives) as they load themselves into the car on an early morning in 2008. As they road trip across the American West, she discovers the truth about their seemingly spontaneous journey. A poignant, coming-of-age drama that premiered at the Sundance Film Festival.

A romantic vacation goes awry when a volcanic eruption strands Bethany (Charli xcx) and her soon-to-be fiancé, Rob (Will Madden) in Warsaw, Poland. Bethany takes the explosive event as a sign to ditch her baggage, reunite with childhood friend Nel (Lena Góra) and traipse across lofts, clubs and back alleys, all the while becoming entangled in an emotional web that challenges her sense of self. From American maverick Pete Ohs, who wrote, directed, edited, photographed, and produced this dizzyingly charming European postcard, comes Erupcja, a delightful anti-romantic comedy about the pains and pleasures of being in love. About the filmmaker - Pete Ohs has been hailed by Indiewire as “a rising filmmaker well worth the attention,” Pete works as a director, producer, writer, editor and cinematographer. He has produced and directed five feature films in the past five years. In 2025, he was at Sundance with OBEX, a fantasy adventure feature he produced, co- wrote and shot. This was followed by THE TRUE BEAUTY OF BEING BITTEN BY A TICK, a genre-bendinghorror satire he directed, co-wrote and shot premiering at SXSW.About the filmmaker - Lead actor, Writer and Producer, Charli xcx is an iconic figure in the arts, having helped expand the landscape of popular music over the last decade by seamlessly traversing the underground and mainstream with her artistic output. Over the course of a trailblazing career, the multi-hyphenate creative has earned critical acclaim for her innovative style and entrepreneurial spirit and seen her forward-thinking approach reshape pop culture in the process. Her sixth album ‘BRAT’ was released last June and was the most critically acclaimed album of 2024, winning Charli five BRIT Awards and three Grammy Awards. On screen, Charli is producing and starring in A24’s ‘The Moment’, an original concept created by her and the first co-production venture from studio365. In addition, Charli is co-executive producing the score for the A24 film ‘Mother Mary’ with Jack Antonoff and will star in the Daniel Goldhaber remake of 1978 cult horror film ‘Faces of Death’ , Greg Araki’s erotic thriller ‘I Want Your Sex’, Cathy Yan’s upcoming independent film ‘The Gallerist’ , Julia Jackman’s period fantasy ‘100 Nights Of Hero’ , Romain Gavras’ satirical action ‘Sacrifice’ and Pete Ohs’ intimate drama ‘Erupcja’.

EVERY CONTACT LEAVES A TRACE is a thought provoking overview of our digital era. We mostly live in a time and place where real life connections become rarer, yet any personal encounter can leave a lingering trace. Over a lifetime, filmmaker Lynne Sachs has collected business cards, mementos of these initial meetings with strangers. Sachs selects seven cards from hundreds and throws herself into finding out how and why these brief yet vivid moments left an imprint on her consciousness. When she is able, she embraces clues and seeks out reunions. But when there is no trace, she gambles with imaginary histories and futures. A lifetime of tactile, face-to-face encounters reminds her of identities passed from hand to hand. Director Lynne Sachs joins us to talk about her imaginative hybrid film, that draws inspiration from a basic principle of forensic science, coined by Edmond Locard, a pioneer in the field that any trace can link a person to a place, another person or an object.About the filmmaker - Lynne Sachs is an experimental filmmaker and poet living in Brooklyn. Over the last four decades, she has created cinematic works that defy genre through the use of hybrid forms and cross-disciplinary collaboration, incorporating elements of the essay film, documentary, performance, and collage. Retrospectives of her work have been presented at Museum of the Moving Image, Sheffield Doc/Fest, DCTV Firehouse Cinema (New York), Buenos Aires International Festival of Independent Cinema, Cork Film Festival, China Women’s Film Festival, Costa Rica IFF, and Ambulante Festival of Documentary Film (Mexico). Selected films include Film About a Father Who, Your Day is My Night, A Month of Single Frames, Investigation of a Flame, and Which Way is East. Her books include Year by Year Poems (Tender Buttons Press, 2019) and Hand Book: A Manual on Performance, Process and the Labor of Laundry (punctum books, 2025). https://www.lynnesachs.com/

In La Scala: The Force of Destiny, Director Anissa Bonnefont, accompanied by cinematographer Martina Cocco, invites the audience into the creative hive that is La Scala during the final months of preparation, capturing the tensions, the stress, and the passion that span from the first meeting of the opera team all the way to the pull of the curtain as it raises above the stage. Every 7th of December marks the beginning of Milan’s legendary opera season at La Scala. Since 1951, the entire city stops and moves to the rhythm of the event known as, “La Prima”.In a spirited countdown, driven by conductor Riccardo Chailly and stage director Leo Muscato, the film follows every step of this extraordinary artistic creation. The contemporary music of Jack Bartman accompanies the masterful compositions of Verdi while the film's script is brought to life by chief editor Guerric Catala.About the filmmaker - Anissa Bonnefont is a French movie and documentary director who has her own production company in order to keep her artistic independence. She is known for her documentary Wonder Boy about the story of Olivier Rousteing (Balmain) which was nominated for the Césars and her movie La Maison starring Ana Girardot which is also nominated for the Césars 2023 in all categories.

SHUFFLE unravels a web of public policy and private interest preying on a desperate population for the sake of profit.In the wake of the opioid epidemic, insurance companies were now required to cover addiction and mental health treatment at the same reimbursement rate as other medical conditions, but without any of the regulations, a move that effectively monetized the 40 million Americans struggling with these issues. Shot over the course of three years, Shuffle follows three individuals trapped by the insurance-fueled cycle of treatment fraud spreading across the country. whose future depend not on getting into treatment, but on getting out alive. A journey of discovery and transformation, these personal stories provide the framework for a more public investigation with the help of an FBI informant, an insurance analyst and the former Executive Director of a Philadelphia-based treatment facility shuttered for fraud.About our Guest - Laura Helvey, mother of Daniel joins us for a gripping conversation on the living nightmare of finding out her son was an addict, then watching her son get caught up in the morass of revolving door rehab treatment, clinics that cared more about testing that effective treatment and then getting the worst news a mother can hear. And how she now an advocate to get politicians and community leaders to join her in the fight to hold this multi-billion dollar industry to account for their systemic corruption.

Twentysomething Anna (Alexandra McVicker) leaves her small, transphobic hometown to start a new life in the city with her sister when she quickly finds herself face-to-face with Gen (Avalon Fast), a confident young woman she’d first seen in visions. Gen, Anna learns, has supernatural powers—powers that the two of them share. Their bond of magic and romance is threatened when Gen inadvertently unleashes a demon in Danny (Jordan Dulieu), Anna’s one-time fling and neighbor, and the mysterious evil begins targeting—and feeding on—everyone close to them.About the filmmaker - After writing and directing a string of low-budget horror shorts in her teens, Maio Mackay—who begins every feature with the on-screen evocation of “A Transgender Film”—erupted onto the scene with her 2021 vampire horror-comedy So Vam, starring BenDeLaCreme and Etcetera Etcetera from Drag Race, which was released as a Shudder Original when she was only sixteen years old. Following her breakout, she helmed Bad Girl Boogey (2022), the explosive underground horror T Blockers (2023), which earned her the Emerging Talent Award from Outfest L.A.; musical horror-comedy Satranic Panic (2023); and queer holiday horror Carnage for Christmas (2024), with I Saw the TV Glow’s Jane Schoenbrun executive producing her forthcoming feature Our Effed Up World. The Serpent’s Skin is the 21-years-old trans Australian filmmaker's most ambitious film to date, combining her distinct filmmaking voice—known for channeling genre tropes through a trans lens, her innovative approach to aesthetics, and a unique wit—with a larger scope that leans into a darker storyline and a loving influence of 90s cult television like Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Charmed.

For six decades, Jimmy Grashow's intricate woodcuts and fantastical sculptures have graced museums and galleries, iconic album covers and over a thousand publications. As Jimmy approaches 80, he is given the commission of a lifetime that proves to be both exhilarating and daunting. As he obsessively carves his magnum opus, Jimmy searches for the meaning behind this profound and sacred piece to which he devotes every moment. But life is full of surprises and Jimmy is faced with a difficult decision. Navigating through the unexpected twists and turns with humor and trepidation, he experiences the true agony and ecstasy of being an artist. JIMMY & THE DEMONS is an unforgettable reminder that life can be a chaotic struggle, but the power of love, kindness and courage is undeniable. Award winning director Cindy Meehl (Buck, The Dog Doc) joins us to talk about getting to know Jimmy Glashow and his beautiful circle of friends, family and his amazing array of talented artists he counts on to make his unforgettable vision come together. About the filmmaker - Oscar short-listed filmmaker Cindy Meehl is an award-winning director and executive producer known for her feature film documentary work. She founded Cedar Creek Productions in 2008 and directed Buck, her debut film about renowned horse whisperer Buck Brannaman. Premiering at Sundance in 2011, Buck won the U.S. Documentary Audience Award and was shortlisted for an Academy Award. Meehl also directed The Dog Doc (2019), about Dr. Marty Goldstein, a veterinarian known for his unconventional healing practices, that premiered at Tribeca and was released in 2020. Her latest directorial venture Jimmy & The Demons, follows celebrated artist James Grashow’s marvelous adventure of creating his magnum opus. The film premiered at Tribeca in 2025 and won several jury awards in festivals around the country.

Winner of Best New Narrative Directors and Best Cinematography in a Narrative Film at the 2025 Tribeca Film Festival, Esta Isla (This Island) follows Bebo, a teenager from a coastal Puerto Rican town, living with his brother in a public housing complex. They fish for a living, but their growing desperation drives them to illegal dealings that promise easy money. When a job goes wrong and blood is spilled, Bebo flees with Lola, a wealthy girl seeking to escape her troubled reality. As they navigate the labyrinthine mountains, they encounter remnants of a fading way of life, contrasting with the violence that follows them. As hitmen close in, Bebo must confront his choices and decide if redemption is possible, or if the sea will be their final escape.About the filmmaker - Raising awareness about issues pertaining to women, sexuality, and spirituality within the Caribbean, Lorraine Jones Molina is a Puerto Rican filmmaker who strives to use the medium as a tool for activism and healing. Winner of two Suncoast EMMY awards for a documentary feature film and a science television show, she has also produced several award winning short films throughout the Caribbean and New York. Lorraine is the Co- Founder of the art film production company Experimento Lúdico.About the filmmaker - Cristian Carretero, an Emmy Award-winning filmmaker from Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, earned his B.A. from Sarah Lawrence College and studied film at FAMU before obtaining an MFA from New York University in 2015. His films, primarily social dramas, explore contemporary issues in Puerto Rico and the Caribbean, focusing on social and environmental challenges. His works have been featured and awarded internationally at venues such as BAM Cinematek, Anthology Film Archives, and the Montreal Film Festival. Co-founder of Experimento Lúdico, Carretero collaborates with clients like National Geographic and The Intercept, and teaches workshops at the University of Puerto Rico.

For over a decade, Dr. Steve Boyes, conservation biologist and National Geographic Explorer, has been in search of a mysterious, elusive herd of Ghost Elephants in the highlands of Angola, deep within its forests. From acclaimed director Werner Herzog (“Grizzly Man”), GHOST ELEPHANTS follows Boyes on an epic journey as he sets out with some of the best master trackers in the world, in pursuit of an animal long believed to be a myth. GHOST ELEPHANTS is a lyrical tale of survival, reconnection and the enduring power of ancient knowledge in the face of modern loss. Complementing the film is the coffee table book “Okavango and the Source of Life” by Steve Boyes, releasing March 3 in tandem with the documentary.About the filmmaker - (Director / Writer / Narrator / Producer) Born in Munich in 1942, Werner Herzog grew up as a child in a remote valley in the Bavarian mountains. Until age 11, he did not even know of the existence of cinema. He started to develop film projects from age 15 on, and since no one was willing to finance them, he worked the night shift as a welder in a steel factory during the last years of high school. He also started to travel on foot. He made his first phone call at age 17 and his first film at 19. He dropped out of college where he studied history and literature. Since then, he has written, produced, and directed some 80 films, has published books of prose staged about a dozen operas, acted in films, and founded his own Rogue Film School. For more info, visit www.ghostelephants.com.

Emmy Award-winning director Andrew Goldberg's latest documentary WHITE WITH FEAR sheds light on the decades-long strategy of politicians and media outlets to amplify racial divisions and white victimization narratives for power and profit. Told by the operatives in the rooms where it happened, WHITE WITH FEAR is an explosive deep dive into the decades-long quest by America’s conservative political machine to amass power by exploiting racial fault lines and stoking narratives of White victimization. WHITE WITH FEAR is a potent journalistic undertaking that unearths the hidden political playbook and key operatives behind these efforts. With revealing first-person access to figures like Hillary Clinton, Steve Bannon, Rep. Jamie Raskin, former Fox News reporter Carl Cameron, The Lincoln Project co-founder Stuart Stevens, and other leading experts, WHITE WITH FEAR offers an urgent and eye-opening look at how racial bigotry is weaponized to undermine democracy. Award winning director and producer Andrew Goldberg joins us for a conversation on the state of the American “experiment” in democracy, and how we might find a way to forge a more “perfect union”.About the filmmaker - An Emmy-Award-winning investigative producer, Andrew Goldberg has directed 14 prime-time documentary specials for PBS/public television, and both long and short-form segments for outlets like CBS News Sunday Morning, ABC News, Live From Lincoln Center, and National Public Radio. His work includes The Armenian Genocide, Jerusalem: Center of the World, They Came to America, Proud To Serve: The Men and Women of the US Army, In addition to many other national PBS films including A Yiddish World Remembered (2002, Emmy Award Winner), Out in America (2010), The Iranian Americans (2012) and others, Goldberg has written and produced for Good Morning America, NOW With David Brancaccio, and National Public Radio’s All Things Considered with Robert Siegel. He was previously a regular contributor to CBS News Sunday Morning’s Nature segment, and Live From Lincoln Center

Currently available on NETFLIX, MATTER OF TIME is a compelling documentary chronicling the fight to cure Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB), a rare and devastating genetic disease. Set against the backdrop of a powerful benefit concert organized by Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Vedder in Seattle, the film weaves together personal stories of patients and families, the scientific breakthroughs propelled by their advocacy, and the strength of a global community refusing to accept the status quo. Far more than a concert film, Matter of Time captures the emotional and physical toll of EB, the radical model of venture philanthropy driving progress, and the belief that art, science, and love can fuel a cure. With an original score by Broken Social Scene and candid interviews from all sides of the movement, the film is a rallying cry for what’s possible when people come together—with urgency and heart—for something bigger than themselves. Director Matt Finlin stops by to talk about the Vedder family contribution to something that feels increasingly doable, and getting to know Deanna, Eli, Charlie, Rowan, Garrett and the researchers who have dedicated their work to ending the crippling impact of Epidermolysis Bullosa.About the filmmaker - Matt Finlin is a Toronto-based director and producer known for crafting ] ] emotionally resonant stories that intersect art, social impact, and cultural memory. With a background in both documentary and commercial filmmaking, Finlin has spent over a decade building a body of work that reflects his deep interest in human connection, creative expression, and the power of storytelling to inspire real-world change. His first feature-length documentary, The Movie Man, premiered at the 2024 Santa Barbara International Film Festival and was praised for its heartfelt portrayal of a small-town cinema owner’s life, legacy, and love of film. Distributed by Mongrel Media, the film went on to screen at festivals across North America and aired on TCM and PBS. Finlin has collaborated extensively with Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Vedder and EB Research Partnership, using film to amplify awareness around Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB) and accelerate efforts to find a cure.