Category: Documentary

“Adriatic” is the name of the documentary film on ethnic-linguistic Croatian-Albanian minorities historically present in Molise, starting as early as the fifteenth century following the Ottoman invasion of the Balkan Peninsula. The documentary has a dreamlike and narrative character. It contains two main chapters: the first dedicated to the Italian-Albanians, the second to the Italian-Croats. The necessary epilogue with which the documentary film ends, indicates the contamination as an essential element of that inevitable cultural process that has always characterized human history.
The exodus does not deprive the people of its identity, on the contrary, it is strengthened and reintegrated into the territory in which it lives, becoming a constituent part of it.
The Albanian and Croatian communities have contributed to enriching the territories in which they have settled by introducing customs, traditions, and above all the language: the most important element of the identity and sense of belonging of a people. Diversity and cultural contamination are often interpreted in a negative sense and not as a resource and mutual growth in contemporary society. Furthermore, the title of the documentary emphasizes the main and determining role of the sea in the history of these populations. A story that is repeated in today’s migrations caused by unstable socio-political conditions in the countries of origin. The link between Italy and the Balkans has ancient roots, dating back to the time of the Kingdom of Naples. The Adriatic is the bridge that unites the two shores: it brings salvation, hope and ensures a future.
“Adriatic” derives from an extensive work of recovering the historical memory of the ethnic-linguistic minorities of Molise and of enhancing their languages, customs and traditions. A work made possible thanks to the involvement of researchers, academics, scholars, teachers and musicians. The goal is to make known the reality of the Albanian and Croatian ethnic-linguistic communities that are located within the small region of Molise. It is a priceless heritage, not only for our territory, but also for the entire nation, bringing them to the attention of the States of origin such as Albania and Croatia. These communities are a collective good that must be preserved and encouraged so that they are not forgotten in history.

Nikita is 8, he is a worldschooler from Australia – he is traveling the World full time with his mother Oxana. While living in the mountains of Chiapas, among indigenous people with their bright culture, they met a real hero – Doctor Sergio Castro – a true Mexican humanitarian. Doctor Sergio has provided free medical help and building schools for local people of the poorest Mexican state of Chiapas for more than half a century. The local people of Chiapas are Mayan Indians of different ethnic groups. Each ethnic group has its own costumes, language, Catholic Patron Saint and traditions. The amazing doctor utilized this diversity, opening an ethnic Mayan museum which generated funds for to support his humanitarian work. Nikita and his mum became inspired by the unique personality of Doctor Sergio and decided to tell his story to the World. They followed Doctor Sergio and filmed him on his daily rounds. This film shows daily routine of the great contemporary humanitarian through the eyes of eight years old child.

Zanzibar, an island on the east coast of Africa, is a wonder and a myth. It used to be the biggest trading port in the Indian ocean, with Africans, Persians, Arabs, Indians living together for centuries in peace. The film aims to reveal the secret to cultural diversity and co-existence through the lens of an Omani Plantation owner, a painter, a Taarab singer.
Yusuf’s grandfather came to Zanzibar 130 years ago from Oman. He runs a biggest spice plantation with 30 types of spices, including 5000 cinnamon trees. A local painter, Hamadi’s great grandparents came to Zanzibar from Yemen in 1800. Amina, is the singer of a band, who plays a music genre mixing Arabian tones with Swahili lyrics, Taarab.

Zanzibar, seems to be a place for everybody.

A heart-warming exploration of photographer Tawfik Elgazzar’s community art project, Flash Hub, which provides free portraits for locals and passers-by in Sydney’s Inner West. The film celebrates individuality, cultural diversity and the joy of a photographer seeing his subjects smile.

Once upon a time in the forest of Kullu, there was a young girl named Janisha Marchal. This girl was happy whenever she played in the forest. The trees spoke to her, she was completely in tune with the ecosystem. However, the presence of fires began killing the trees and unchecked human greed ravaged the land. The trees communicate their message to Janisha as a warning for all of humankind: humans cannot keep burning the forests and cutting down the trees or else there will be irreparable consequences for people. This green paradise situated in the Himalayas is in grave danger due to the savage climate change caused by the neglect of men. This may be desribed like a fairy tale, but it is actually a documentary, and the fate of the Kullu forest is a very real concern.
The term “Buddhi” is a feminine vedict Sanskrit which is used to describe the force behind wisdom and awakening, thus giving the documentary’s title “TO WAKE”. Janisha, despite being five years of age, is wiser and far more in tune with nature than people may realize. Janisha and the women of the community she lives in have dedicated their lives to preserve the Kullu forest. They are environmentally aware on both a physical and spiritual level. Her people even go so far as to design an oven which burns fewer wood and emits less smoke emissions. Janisha wishes to impart and extend her wisdom to the people of her village, thus empowering them to save their ecosystem. However, Janisha has also seen the dark side of human ignorance: massive fires burning the magical forest she lives in, for no reason at all. The toll this takes on her reveals the almost symbiotic relationship between Janisha and the forest itself, as she is in tune with her surroundings on a deeply spiritual level. Janisha understands the forest, she feels its pain when burnt and decimated, and this is why she communicates her message and tries to spread the word before it is too late. Janisha represents the power of women as protectors of nature, women have always been more connected to the earth and Janisha is a clear example of a level of awareness that not many manage to achieve. Janisha is also highly empathetic with animals and other living beings, becoming a protector of life as a whole, for both flora and fauna and for all of humanity for it is all connected. Without the trees, there is no air, no water from the rains, no animals to keep the delicate equilibrium and finally there will be no more people on the face of the earth. Janisha was born with a nerve disorder known as “Erb’s Palsy” which has rendered her right arm immobile, this doesn’t stop her from becoming an ambassador, a teacher and a mentor for an entire generation of protectors and activists. Janisha is the heroine of an ongoing story; her battle as protector of the Kullu forest has just begun. Her name means “Go Darkness”, her destiny is to bring light to the world.