Showcase of the best FILMS in the world today.
Audience Award Winners:
Best Feature Film: The Ones Left Behind: The Plight of Single Mothers in Japan
Best Long Form Short Film: SWIM THROUGH
Best Short Form Short Film: CNTRL
Best Spiritual Film: HOW TO THRIVE
Best Sound & Music: BEYOND THE BEAT
Best Editing: BRING BACK THE WHISTLE DOG
Best Cinematography: THE USELESS GLASSBLOWER
Best Human Interest Film: I CAN FLY
Best Direction: GEARHEADS
Best Culture Film: WE ARE GURUNG
Watch the Audience Feedback Video for each film:
HOW TO THRIVE, 96min., Australia, Documentary
Directed by Duy Huynh
Is there a secret formula to happiness? Positive psychotherapist Marie McLeod takes 7 people on a transformative journey to learn the secret formula to happiness The film’s premise is; if we offer the science of happiness to people experiencing struggle; what difference would it make? Is happiness a learnable skill and can we teach people skills to live a happy, healthy and meaningful life? With unprecedented access; the result is an intimate, heartfelt and hopeful film that offers a rare glimpse into the lives of 7 people who make incredible transforms as a result of learning ‘How to Thrive?’
http://www.howtothrivefilm.com/
https://www.facebook.com/HowToThriveFilm/
https://www.instagram.com/howtothrivefilm/
WATCH HERE – The audience feedback video of the film!
BEYOND THE BEAT, 62min,. USA, Documentary
Directed by Fletcher Barnes, Henry Davis
After decades of civil war in Northern Uganda, three best friends start a creative arts festival to inspire hope for a better future.
In the district of Kitgum, Uganda – hope is a scarce resource. After a 20-year civil war, the region is still healing from decades of brutal violence and government oppression. Using therapeutic tools like yoga, painting, dance, and music – three best friends start an arts festival called Beyond the Beat. Now in its 4th edition, the event is sparking a movement of hope in Northern Uganda. The story of its improbable existence evokes a larger conversation on “art” and its unique potential to heal and transform communities worldwide. More than just a film, Beyond the Beat is sparking a global movement of people transforming their pain into art.
http://bluemarb.com/beyondthebeathttps://instagram.com/bluemarbleday
WATCH HERE – The audience feedback video of the film!
SWIM THROUGH, 32min., USA, Documentary
Directed by Robert Whitney
The story of FORCE BLUE’s Inaugural OCS (Ocean Conservation School), the Gold Star children who participated and the Special Operations Veterans who served as their instructors.
http://www.forceblueteam.org/
https://facebook.com/forceblueteam
https://twitter.com/forceblueteam
https://instagram.com/forceblueteam
WATCH HERE – The audience feedback video of the film!
The Ones Left Behind: The Plight of Single Mothers in Japan, 78min., Japan, Documentary
Directed by Rionne McAvoy
This documentary depicts the theme of “hidden poverty” that has occurred in-spite of Japan’s rapid economic growth in such a short period of time immediately following World War II. The film covers the suffering and hardships of single mothers, which has never been depicted before, from various angles, and unravels the causes of the unequal social background that people are unaware of.
http://onesleftbehind.com/https://www.instagram.com/onesleftbehind
WATCH HERE – The audience feedback video of the film!
CNTRL, 6min., Canada
Directed by Marco Ciardullo, Alex Laframboise
Musical evolution and cultural development have worked in tandem for decades. Electronic music and its subgenres represent the idea of unification through a single art form, orchestrated by a Disc Jockey (DJ). This documentary explores the sonic journey of Michael Medeiros, a Toronto born newcomer to the DJ scene and the community that surrounds electronic dance music. Michael’s position in the scene highlights his personal pursuit to promote the core values of Electronic music, while beginning a new chapter in his career through his efforts to produce and release Electronic music. Through conversation with his mentor, Patrick, an involved member of the club scene in the early 90s, an understanding of this genre’s roots and the growing impact it has on different communities, can be contrasted with Michael’s current presence and where he feels he lies. This is CNTRL.
https://www.bftv-docs.com/2022-cntrl.html
https://www.instagram.com/cntrl_documentary/
WATCH HERE – The audience feedback video of the film!
BRING BACK THE WHISTLE DOG, 18min., Canada
Directed by Bob Simpson
Fast food menu items come and go, but none have ignited lasting passion quite like Canadian restaurant chain A&W’s Whistle Dog. This “hot dogumentary” profiles diehard fans fighting the good fight to bring back the iconic dog.
WATCH HERE – The audience feedback video of the film!
THE USELESS GLASSBLOWER, 15min., Germany
Directed by Holger E. Metzger
A fascinating short documentary on a traditional glassmaker deep in the southern German Black Forest, and his thoughts and feelings about what this 7000-year-old craft has taught him about life.
WATCH HERE – The audience feedback video of the film!
I CAN FLY, 12min,. USA
Directed by Leslie Dektor
Formerly Homeless, Fannie Mayfield speaks for the speechless and gives us pause to feel and think in perspective.
WATCH HERE – The audience feedback video of the film!
GEARHEADS, 7min. USA
Directed by Dan Abrusci
Gearheads follows the story of Browner Sound, a company that has been producing high-quality audio gear for over 10 years. Through interviews and conversations with the founders, We get an inside look into the development process and the passion of the people behind the product. Gearheads offers an engaging story of how an idea became a reality, and how the business has grown and become what it is today.Gearheads follows the story of Browner Sound, a company that has been producing high-quality audio gear for over 10 years. Through interviews and conversations with the founders, We get an inside look into the development process and the passion of the people behind the product. Gearheads offers an engaging story of how an idea became a reality, and how the business has grown and become what it is today.
https://vimeo.com/manage/videos/794167446/f5cf380070
WATCH HERE – The audience feedback video of the film!
WE ARE GURUNG, 40min., Japan, Documentary
A Gurung village at the foot of the Himalayas in Nepal.
In that village, there is a custom that marriage is decided by parents.
A marriage proposal comes to a girl…
WATCH HERE – The audience feedback video of the film!
Documentary Film Festival. Los Angeles & Toronto 