Rentals

Documentaries

Documentaries can be as expressive, surreal and experimental as any work of fiction. This collection explores a world made up of people and places, with films from Asif Kapadia, Kim Longinotto, Raoul Peck, Werner Herzog and more.

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Anselm Anselm

Biopic202394 minsDirector: Wim Wenders

Wim Wenders' stately and beautifully scored study of Anselm Kiefer.

Rent for £10.00

Occupied CityOccupied City

Documentary2023251 minsDirector: Steve McQueen

Steve McQueen’s cinematic commemoration of the Holocaust offers a multidimensional experience full of gravity and sublimity.

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Smoke Sauna SisterhoodSmoke Sauna Sisterhood

Documentary202389 minsDirector: Anna Hints

A remarkable and award-winning documentary exploring female solidarity through a soothing ancient tradition.

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20 Days in Mariupol20 Days in Mariupol

Documentary202394 minsDirector: Mstyslav Chernov

Vivid and harrowing account of life under siege, Ukrainian journalists try to fulfil their mission to capture what later become defining images of the atrocities of the 2022 Russian invasion.

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TishTish

Documentary202390 minsDirector: Paul Sng

An essential portrait of a major photographer whose work provides a key record of lives lived on the margins of 1980s Britain.

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This Blessed PlotThis Blessed Plot

Documentary2023105 minsDirector: Marc Isaacs

Lori, a female Chinese filmmaker, visits the historic English village of Thaxted where she finds the dead and the living curiously entwined, in Marc Isaacs playful mix of documentary and fiction.

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On the AdamantOn the Adamant

Documentary2022110 minsDirector: Nicolas Philibert

French master documentarist Nicolas Philibert takes an empathetic, celebratory in-depth look at a floating mental care centre and its regulars.

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Kokomo CityKokomo City

Documentary202373 minsDirector: D. Smith

A bold first feature about Black trans sex workers that buzzes with passion, energy and intelligence.

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Is There Anybody Out There?Is There Anybody Out There?

Documentary202387 minsDirector: Ella Glendining

Highlighting the importance of being seen, Ella Glendining invites us on a personal journey as she sets out to find others with the same rare disability as herself.

Rent for £3.50

I Am Not Your NegroI Am Not Your Negro

Documentary201694 minsDirector: Raoul Peck

Raoul Peck’s penetrating and acclaimed documentary reconstructs an unfinished manuscript by James Baldwin, chronicler of America’s Civil Rights Movement.

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SubjectSubject

Documentary202297 minsDirector: Camilla Hall and Jennifer Tiexiera

A thought-provoking dive into the ethics and potential exploitations behind documentary filmmaking.

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Riotsville, U.S.A.Riotsville, U.S.A.

Documentary202291 minsDirector: Sierra Pettengill

The mid-1960s in America saw a dramatic surge in uprisings and unrest. The government’s response was paranoid and cynical. Welcome to Riotsville.

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GundaGunda

Documentary202093 minsDirector: Viktor Kossakovsky

A unique and poetic documentary that invites us into the world of Gunda, a stoic sow trying to tend to a new litter of scrambling piglets.

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The DissidentThe Dissident

Documentary2020117 minsDirector: Bryan Fogel

When journalist Jamal Khashoggi disappears in Istanbul, his fiancée and dissidents around the world piece together the clues to a murder and expose a global cover up.

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The Most Beautiful Boy in the WorldThe Most Beautiful Boy in the World

Documentary202194 minsDirector: Kristina Lindström and Kristian Petri

Björn Andrésen reflects on his role in Luchino Visconti's classic Death in Venice, in this fascinating exploration of how childhood fame shapes a life.

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Lynch/OzLynch/Oz

Documentary2022109 minsDirector: Alexandre O. Philippe

Toto, I’ve got a feeling we’re not on Mulholland Drive anymore…

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The Painter and the ThiefThe Painter and the Thief

Documentary2020107 minsDirector: Benjamin Ree

Winner of the Creative Storytelling Prize at Sundance, Benjamin Ree’s (Magnus, LFF 2016) expertly plotted, genre-blending documentary explores the personal repercussions of an extraordinary art heist.

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TRAMPS!TRAMPS!

2022103 minsDirector: Kevin Hegge

Rising from the nihilistic ashes of the punk movement in the late 1970s, a fresh crowd of flamboyant fashionistas, who would later be christened the New Romantics, began to materialise on the streets of London, England.

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Sisters with TransistorsSisters with Transistors

Documentary202186 minsDirector: Lisa Rovner

The remarkable untold story of electronic music’s female pioneers, who embraced machines and their liberating technologies to transform how we produce and listen to music today.

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20 Feet from Stardom20 Feet from Stardom

Documentary201387 minsDirector: Morgan Neville

This moving documentary shines a spotlight on the backing singers behind some of the great musical hits of the 21st century.

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Notes on BlindnessNotes on Blindness

Documentary201687 minsDirector: James Spinney and Peter Middleton

James Spinney and Peter Middleton's highly original documentary uses cinematic interpretations and textured sound design to express a ‘world beyond sight.’

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Grizzly ManGrizzly Man

Documentary2005104 minsDirector: Werner Herzog

Werner Herzog’s bold documentary follows Timothy Treadwell, a fervent grizzly bear advocate who lives a perilous life amongst these magnificent creatures.

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Blue Bag LifeBlue Bag Life

Documentary202292 minsDirector: Alex Fry, Lisa Selby and Rebecca Hirsch Lloyd-Evans

Artist Lisa Selby’s audacious and powerful documentary portrait of a life touched by addiction is a deeply personal odyssey through love, artistry and selfhood.

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Human FlowHuman Flow

Documentary2017141 minsDirector: Ai Weiwei

Acclaimed artist Ai Weiwei artfully captures the bewildering breadth of the global migration crisis in this haunting and shocking documentary.

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HoneylandHoneyland

Documentary201986 minsDirector: Ljubomir Stefanov and Tamara Kotevska

When a nomadic family move in and break Honeyland’s basic rule, the last female wild beekeeper in Europe must save the bees and restore natural balance.

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RBGRBG

Biopic201899 minsDirector: Julie Cohen and Betsy West

Revelatory documentary on an unexpected hero - former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

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Dior and IDior and I

Documentary201490 minsDirector: Frederic Tcheng

An astonishing behind-the-scenes documentary following the famed fashion house’s new artistic director as he prepares his first collection.

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Diego MaradonaDiego Maradona

Documentary2019124 minsDirector: Asif Kapadia

The supreme football superstar is the latest subject for acclaimed filmmaker Asif Kapadia (Amy, Senna), as he deftly explores the complicated dynamic between Diego the man and Maradona the icon.

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ArcadiaArcadia

Documentary201879 minsDirector: Paul Wright

A folk horror wrapped up in an archive film, set to a soundtrack by Adrian Utley (Portishead) and Will Gregory (Goldfrapp).

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Hail Satan?Hail Satan?

Documentary201995 minsDirector: Penny Lane

An unexpectedly funny, charming and thought-provoking documentary about a group who celebrate difference, and challenge the link between religion and state in the US.

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MonsMons

War1926110 minsSilentDirector: Walter Summers

Arrival of the British Army in France

Rent for £1.00

Coal FaceCoal Face

Documentary193512 minsDirector: Alberto Cavalcanti

A striking and significant film from the early days of the British documentary movement, chronicling the work of British miners.

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By Our SelvesBy Our Selves

Animation & Artists Moving Image201580 minsDirector: Andrew Kötting

The latest psycho-geographical excursion from Andrew Kötting and Iain Sinclair

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A Story of Children and FilmA Story of Children and Film

Documentary2013101 minsDirector: Mark Cousins

Mark Cousins' personal and poetic exploration of the cinema of childhood, as told through 53 great films from 25 countries.

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Memory: The Origins of AlienMemory: The Origins of Alien

Documentary201993 minsDirector: Alexandre O. Philippe

The untold origin story behind Ridley Scott’s Alien, one of Hollywood’s most beloved and iconic shockers.

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African ApocalypseAfrican Apocalypse

Documentary202092 minsDirector: Rob Lemkin

Rob Lemkin’s harrowing yet urgent documentary shines a lens on the trauma and legacy of colonialism in one of Africa’s poorest nations, Niger.

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The RaftThe Raft

Documentary201898 minsDirector: Marcus Lindeen

Imagine Big Brother at sea, but with no evictions. Director Marcus Lindeen innovatively uncovers the human stories behind a 1970s social experiment, salaciously dubbed ‘The Sex Raft’.

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The Reason I JumpThe Reason I Jump

Documentary202182 minsDirector: Jerry Rothwell

Award-winning director Jerry Rothwell's compelling documentary is a rare cinematic and sensorial insight into the world of non-speaking autistic people.

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David Lynch: The Art LifeDavid Lynch: The Art Life

Documentary201688 minsDirector: Rick Barnes, Olivia Neergaard-Holm and Jon Nguyen

An exquisitely textured and reflective documentary about Lynch as a visual artist.

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Amazing GraceAmazing Grace

Documentary201989 minsDirector: Alan Elliott and Sydney Pollack

Aretha Franklin, at the height of her powers, returns to the music which nurtured her prodigious talent.

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Bros: After the Screaming StopsBros: After the Screaming Stops

Documentary201897 minsDirector: David Soutar

Matt and Luke Goss take on the big screen – and each other – in this candid documentary charting the reunion of 80s pop sensations Bros; an affectionate portrait that generates more than a touch of Spinal Tap-esque hilarity.

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20,000 Days on Earth20,000 Days on Earth

Documentary201493 minsDirector: Iain Forsyth and Jane Pollard

The myths and minutiae of musician Nick Cave are explored in the course of this fictional portrait, following 24 hours in the life of a cultural icon.

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78/5278/52

Documentary201792 minsDirector: Alexandre O. Philippe

This superb, in-depth documentary devotes 90 minutes to analysing one of cinema’s most famous sequences – the shower scene in Psycho.

Rent for £2.50

The Spirit of '45The Spirit of '45

Documentary201395 minsDirector: Ken Loach

Ken Loach's stirring polemical history explores the immense forces that built Britain's Welfare State from the rubble of the Second World War.

Rent for £1.00

Miss Thompson Goes ShoppingMiss Thompson Goes Shopping

Documentary195823 minsDirector: David Gladwell

From the visionary British director David Gladwell, this 1958 short contrasting rural and urban life is based on the poem by Martin Armstrong.

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An Accidental StudioAn Accidental Studio

Documentary201993 minsDirector: Bill Jones, Ben Timlett and Kim Leggatt

Charting the rise of one of Britain's most distinctive film companies, HandMade Films, producer of classics such as Life of Brian, The Long Good Friday and Withnail and I.

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Ex Libris: The New York Public LibraryEx Libris: The New York Public Library

Documentary2017206 minsDirector: Frederick Wiseman

An immersive journey into the New York Public Library with great documentarian Frederick Wiseman.

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CollectiveCollective

Documentary2019109 minsDirector: Alexander Nanau

When burn patients begin dying from non-life-threatening injuries a group of investigative journalists uncover a vast healthcare scandal, in this gripping Romanian documentary.

Rent for £2.50

A Bit of ScarletA Bit of Scarlet

Documentary199671 minsDirector: Andrea Weiss

Mapping how British film and TV depicts the gay and lesbian lifestyle, Andrea Weiss raids the archives for her funny and persuasive documentary.

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A Century of Australian CinemaA Century of Australian Cinema

Documentary199668 minsDirector: George Miller

Mad Max director George Miller explores the tradition of film production in Australia.

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Grace Jones: Bloodlight and BamiGrace Jones: Bloodlight and Bami

Documentary2017115 minsDirector: Sophie Fiennes

Grace Jones is laid bare in this intimate and electrifying insight into the fascinating world of a pop-cultural phenomenon.

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The Rape of Recy TaylorThe Rape of Recy Taylor

Documentary201791 minsDirector: Nancy Buirski

Nancy Buirski's vital documentary revisits an unjustly forgotten chapter of American history; the story of an immensely brave woman who refused to be silenced.

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Night of the FilmmakersNight of the Filmmakers

Documentary199551 minsDirector: Edgar Reitz

From the director of Heimat, a mini-epic about the history of German cinema.

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Hitchcock/TruffautHitchcock/Truffaut

Documentary201580 minsDirector: Kent Jones

Kent Jones’ excellent documentary about a historic encounter between two cinema greats.

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WhitneyWhitney

Documentary2018120 minsDirector: Kevin Macdonald

Stunning revelations and captivating reminiscences paint a picture of the extraordinary life of singer Whitney Houston, in this in-depth portrait by acclaimed filmmaker Kevin MacDonald (Touching the Void, Marley).

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Searching for Sugar ManSearching for Sugar Man

Documentary201286 minsDirector: Malik Bendjelloul

The BAFTA and Oscar-winning documentary sensation uncovers the mystery behind Sixto Rodriguez, a forgotten musical hero of apartheid-era South Africa.

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The Man from Mo'WaxThe Man from Mo'Wax

Documentary2018116 minsDirector: Matthew Jones

The exhilarating, no holds-barred story of Mo'Wax records founder James Lavelle, one of the most enigmatic yet influential figures in British music culture.

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Truman and Tennessee: An Intimate ConversationTruman and Tennessee: An Intimate Conversation

Documentary202186 minsDirector: Lisa Immordino Vreeland

Creative dual-portrait documentary of Truman Capote and Tennessee Williams, two of the greatest figures in 20th Century American Literature.

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AltmanAltman

Documentary201496 minsDirector: Ron Mann

An illuminating documentary about American cinema’s maverick genius Robert Altman, featuring unseen home movies and extensive interviews.

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Searching for Ingmar BergmanSearching for Ingmar Bergman

Documentary201899 minsDirector: Margarethe von Trotta

Internationally renowned director Margarethe von Trotta examines the filmmaker's life and work with his closest collaborators as well as a new generation of filmmakers.

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The 8thThe 8th

Documentary202195 minsDirector: Aideen Kane, Lucy Kennedy and 1 more

Impassioned and urgent documentary tracing the dramatic story of Irish women and their fight to overturn one of the most restrictive abortion bans in the world.

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Bombshell: The Hedy Lamarr StoryBombshell: The Hedy Lamarr Story

Documentary201789 minsDirector: Alexandra Dean

Fascinating documentary about the glamorous Hollywood star who was also a genius inventor of military technology.

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The Alcohol YearsThe Alcohol Years

Documentary200050 minsDirector: Carol Morley

Carol Morley's exploration of Manchester in the early 1980s, and the five years of her life she lost to alcoholism.

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The Nine MusesThe Nine Muses

Documentary201292 minsDirector: John Akomfrah

John Akomfrah mixes archive material, literary and musical quotations and newly shot silent footage in a wry, rapt meditation on memory and migration.

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BillieBillie

Documentary201998 minsDirector: James Erskine

Part film-noir, part tragedy, this mesmerising documentary uncovers the true life of the legendary Billie Holiday.

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Ryuichi Sakamoto: CodaRyuichi Sakamoto: Coda

Documentary2017101 minsDirector: Stephen Schible

A graceful, intimate study of the legendary Japanese musician, composer, actor, writer and activist.

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EnnioEnnio

Documentary2021156 minsDirector: Giuseppe Tornatore

A definitive portrait of Ennio Morricone, the legendary composer responsible for some of the most memorable film scores of all time.

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CunninghamCunningham

Documentary201993 minsDirector: Alla Kovgan

This eye-popping portrait of great American choreographer Merce Cunningham celebrates the centenary of his birth.

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Almost HeavenAlmost Heaven

Documentary201772 minsDirector: Carol Salter

Carol Salter's award-winning portrait of a young Chinese woman training to become a mortician is a tender and reflective elegy on death and the fragility of life.

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National GalleryNational Gallery

Documentary2014181 minsDirector: Frederick Wiseman

The inner workings of London’s National Gallery are laid bare in this absorbing, forensic examination by revered filmmaker Frederick Wiseman.

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The KingmakerThe Kingmaker

Documentary2019101 minsDirector: Lauren Greenfield

The matriarch of the Marcos dynasty hopes to see her maternal delusions validated and political power restored, while Philippine activists fight for transparency and democracy, in this captivating study by Lauren Greenfield.

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Ingrid Bergman: In Her Own WordsIngrid Bergman: In Her Own Words

Documentary2015114 minsDirector: Stig Björkman

An illuminating portrait of the pioneering actress, crafted from her unique personal archive of home-movie footage, letters and diary extracts.

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76 Days76 Days

Documentary202093 minsDirector: Weixi Chen, Hao Wu and anonymous

A raw and intimate documentary that captures the struggles and human resilience in the battle to survive the pandemic in Wuhan, China.

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Laurent Garnier: Off the RecordLaurent Garnier: Off the Record

Documentary202193 minsDirector: Gabin Rivoire

Exhilarating documentary exploring the birth and rise of techno music through the eyes of one of its pioneers.

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My Scientology MovieMy Scientology Movie

Documentary201699 minsDirector: John Dower

Louis Theroux investigates the secretive world of the Church of Scientology, armed with his characteristic deadpan wit.

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My GenerationMy Generation

Documentary201886 minsDirector: David Batty

Michael Caine takes us back to swinging London in this engaging documentary on the 1960s cultural revolution, featuring over 50 interviews with the key players.

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The Velvet Queen: Snow LeopardThe Velvet Queen: Snow Leopard

Documentary202192 minsDirector: Marie Amiguet and Vincent Munier

An adventurer and one of the world's most renowned wildlife photographers attempt to track the most elusive of big cats, in this stunning documentary scored by Warren Ellis and Nick Cave.

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DreamcatcherDreamcatcher

Documentary201498 minsDirector: Kim Longinotto

Kim Longinotto’s inspirational documentary about Brenda, a Chicagoan charity worker who helps vulnerable prostitutes leave the industry.

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Dreams of a LifeDreams of a Life

Documentary201191 minsDirector: Carol Morley

The power of kinship is explored in Carol Morley’s drama-documentary, drawn from real life and resonant with the way we live now.

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Night Will FallNight Will Fall

Documentary201475 minsDirector: André Singer

An unforgettable, compelling account of the production and subsequent restoration of a withheld film recording the liberation of Nazi concentration camps in 1945.

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Real BoyReal Boy

Documentary201672 minsDirector: Shaleece Haas

A 19-year-old trans man navigates family, friendships, and the challenges of young adulthood.

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The Lovers & the DespotThe Lovers & the Despot

Documentary201698 minsDirector: Ross Adam and Rob Cannan

Discover one of cinema’s strangest stories: a film director and his star are kidnapped by Kim Jong-il to make movies in the world’s weirdest state.

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Self MadeSelf Made

Documentary201184 minsDirector: Gillian Wearing

Artist Gillian Wearing’s ‘documentary’ observes seven people creating (fantasy?) identities in collaboration with a drama teacher. Raw and revealing.

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We Went to WonderlandWe Went to Wonderland

Documentary200872 minsDirector: Xiaolu Guo

British-Chinese filmmaker Xiaolu Guo follows her ageing parents' journey to the West as they visit Europe. A rare chance to see one of Guo’s most personal films.

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Fahrenheit 11/9Fahrenheit 11/9

Documentary2018128 minsDirector: Michael Moore

Michael Moore paints a fiery portrait of life in Trump’s America. Populist, provocative and piercingly captivating, this is Moore’s clarion call to action.

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Of Time and the CityOf Time and the City

Documentary200874 minsDirector: Terence Davies

Brilliantly mixing archive film and music, Liverpool-born director Terence Davies reflects with wit and wisdom on a times of change, for good or ill

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SwandownSwandown

Documentary2012107 minsDirector: Andrew Kötting

Filmmaker Andrew Kötting and writer Iain Sinclair embark on a quest from Hastings to East London by pedalo.

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100 Years of Polish Cinema100 Years of Polish Cinema

Documentary199661 minsDirector: Pawel Lozinski

A history of Polish movies perceived by cinemagoers of all ages.

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Conquest of the DarkConquest of the Dark

Documentary195527 minsDirector: Douglas Clarke

After losing his sight in an accident at work, George Newman is reduced to despair. Little does he know that solace lies in the town of Torquay...

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My Journey through French CinemaMy Journey through French Cinema

Documentary2016193 minsDirector: Bertrand Tavernier

Director Bertrand Tavernier guides us on a fascinating voyage through French film history, from the 1930s through to the '70s.

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Around India with a Movie CameraAround India with a Movie Camera

Documentary201873 minsDirector: Sandhya Suri

Archive footage tells the emotionally-resonant story of life across India pre-1947.

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Cyclists AbroadCyclists Abroad

Documentary195715 minsDirector: Tony Thompson

A British Cyclists' Touring Club party explores 1950s Salzburg and the Austrian Tyrol in this lesser known British Transport Film.

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John McEnroe: In The Realm Of Perfection John McEnroe: In The Realm Of Perfection

Documentary201895 minsDirector: Julien Faraut

Mastery, showmanship and the art of filming tennis are laid bare in an entertaining, innovative archive documentary that’s like no sports film you’ve seen. 

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YpresYpres

War192579 minsSilentDirector: Walter Summers

Battle film made as a memorial to the dead of WWI, documenting events at Ypres using reconstructed and genuine footage.

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Laboured PartyLaboured Party

Documentary197520 minsDirector: Stephen Dwoskin

An unsuspecting Labour Party canvasser stumbles onto an experimental film set and is drawn into a strange atmosphere of uninhibited abandon.

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Lotte Reiniger's ArtLotte Reiniger's Art

Documentary197017 minsDirector: John Isaacs

The short documentary gives us a wonderful insight into the enchanting animated film world of Lotte Reiniger.

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Around China with a Movie CameraAround China with a Movie Camera

Travelogue201569 mins

Explore China in the early 1900s with this programme of rare and beautiful travelogues, newsreels and home movies.

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