It Might Get Loud - Poster for guitar documentary starring Jack White, Jimmy Page and The Edge

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Sex Art - Trailer for new documentary

Outside the everyday sexual iconography of mainstream media and advertisement, some artists are pushing the boundaries of public perception related to sex and sexuality. Many of these artists are accused of something we’ve come to call “obscenity.”

What is "obscenity?" and why has the word become so closely tied to sex?

Sex Art is a feature documentary about artistic representations of sex in contemporary America. The film catalogues the work of various artists, from photographers and painters to burlesque dancers and porn directors. Sex Art offers a look at the personalities and artistic ideologies behind the art on the wall.

Due out on 12th August

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Second Skin - MMO Documentary

Second Skin takes an intimate, disturbing look at three sets of computer gamers whose lives have been transformed by online virtual worlds. An emerging genre of computer software called Massively Multiplayer Online games, or MMOs, allows millions of users to interact simultaneously in virtual spaces. Of the 50 million players worldwide, 50 percent consider themselves addicted. From individuals struggling with addiction to couples who have fallen in love without meeting; from disabled players whose lives have been given new purpose to gold farmers, entrepreneurs and widows, Second Skin opens viewers’ eyes to a phenomenon that may permanently change the way human beings interact — and with possibly devastating consequences.

Dan Bustard sacrificed everything to his MMO addiction. Dan, once a prosperous businessowner with a luxurious house, car and loving fiancé, ended up living in his nephew's empty basement, playing his game 20 hours a day and using soda bottles as toilets. Fearing death or destitution, Dan enrolled himself in The Safe Haven, a rehab center for online gamers. It proved to be “the worst mistake of my life. After fleeing The Haven, Dan returned to his nephew’s house only to relapse into his old habits. Gradually, he began a slow recovery, on his own terms. And as he begins to regain his old life, his nephew sinks deeper and deeper into his own MMO addiction, more severe than Dan’s, and with far more severe consequences.

Kevin Keel met Heather Cowan on the Peaks of Everfrost, in the virtual world of Norrath. The two fell in love as a knight and a cleric slaying dragons. After blindly declaring their love online, they met for the first time in reality in October. Four months later, Kevin drove halfway across the country on Valentine's Day to move in with Heather. With the backdrop of various married couples who met in MMOs, viewers follow Heather and Kevin as they translate their virtual-world relationship into the real world. Can the two continue their actual relationship with the success of the fantasy-land relationship they’ve had thus far?

Fort Wayne, Indiana, is home to a thriving MMO community that lives, works and games together. Andy is a seasoned MMO gamer who currently raids nightly in World of Warcraft along with his wife, Karalee. Their neighbors, Anthony, Chris and Matt, converted their living room into the Fortress of Dorkitude, where they also play MMOs for 40-plus hours a week. They are part of a larger group of gamers, most of whose members work together at a cell phone company, live in close proximity, hit bars on the weekends and play WoW constantly. Fort Wayne introduces viewers to this phenomenon and takes them deeper into it. Watching the group interact is watching MMO culture spoken, without the avatars.

Alongside these three strands, Second Skin ventures to China to explore the world of Gold Farming: sweatshops where millions of Chinese workers spend 20-hour days playing MMOs to earn virtual gold that is sold for real money. The movie also addresses virtual worlds through the lens of the disabled, who live out much richer lives through these online spaces, as well as guilds, massive groups of gamers who meet inside the games and are often closer than family.

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Yoo Hoo, Mrs Goldberg - The Most Famous Woman in America You've Never Heard Of - Documentary Trailer

Yoo-Hoo, Mrs. Goldberg is a humorous and eye-opening documentary about television pioneer Gertrude Berg, who played the loving Molly Goldberg. Directed by Aviva Kempner, Peabody Award Winner for “The Life and Times of Hank Greenberg”.

Gertrude Berg had a popular radio show and became the first lady of television. She combined social commentary, family values and lots of humor to win the hearts of America. Berg was the creator, principal writer and star of “The Goldbergs” a popular 1930’s radio show and a 1950’s weekly situation TV comedy, about a Jewish family living in New York City.

Berg received the first Best Actress Emmy in history, paving the way for women in the entertainment industry. Berg was polled as the second most respected woman in America after Eleanor Roosevelt.

The Oprah, Martha, and Rachael Ray of her day, Berg was a media trailblazer with popular audio and television shows, a cookbook, jigsaw puzzles, advice column, and a clothing line for modern women of her time.

Yoo-Hoo, Mrs. Goldberg Trailer from Aviva Kempner on Vimeo.

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Prélude au sommeil (Prelude to sleep) - Documentary about Electro-Pop Pioneer

Prélude au sommeil (Prelude to sleep) is a film about the life & work of Jean-Jacques Perrey, electro-pop music pioneer. It also features Gershon Kingsley, Angelo Badalamenti, Michel Gondry, Air, Jean-Emmanuel Deluxe and Joel Chadabe. Directed by Gilles Weinzaepflen (aka Toog).

Prélude au sommeil

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Best Worst Movie - Trailer for Troll 2 documentary

When 11-year-old Michael Stephenson and dentist George Hardy were cast in Troll 2, they were surely destined for stardom. Unfortunately, combining low-budget production with an amateur cast, an Italian director no one could understand, and a script about vegetarian goblins resulted in a train wreck of a film that became widely regarded as the "worst movie ever." Twenty years later, thanks to a new generation of viewers who value a "so bad it's good" aesthetic, Troll 2 has become a cult phenomenon. In Best Worst Movie, Stephenson follows Hardy and the rest of the cast as they reunite to greet adoring fans at Troll 2 screenings in major cities across North America. Can Hardy return to dentistry after signing autographs in packed movie houses and receiving hundreds of hits a day on MySpace? Discover the heart and soul behind one of the most beloved straight-to-video flops ever.

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The Windmill Movie - Documentary about a life

Filmmaker Richard P. Rogers tried for twenty years to make a documentary about his own life. He died in 2001, leaving the project unfinished, until his widow, acclaimed photographer Susan Meiselas, commissioned his former student Alexander Olch to make a film out of the pieces. Starting in the Hamptons, in the town of Wainscott, the film weaves Rogers' footage into a journey through childhood memories, a less than encouraging mother, a family background of privilege, and Rogers' persistent, dogged attempts to document his own life. Rogers' friend, actor and writer Wallace Shawn, joins in the process, as the film investigates the differences between documentary and fiction, and tells the tragic story of Rogers' life.

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Beetle Queen Conquers Tokyo - Trailer

This documentary delves into the ineffable mystery of Japan's age-old love affair with insects. A labyrinthine meditation on nature, beauty, philosophy and Japanese culture that might just make you question if your 'instinctive' repulsion to bugs is merely a trick of western conditioning.

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Herb and Dorothy - Documentary trailer

Herb & Dorothy tells the extraordinary story of Herbert Vogel, a postal clerk, and Dorothy Vogel, a librarian, who managed to build one of the most important contemporary art collections in history with very modest means. In the early 1960s, when very little attention was paid to Minimalist and Conceptual Art, Herb and Dorothy Vogel quietly began purchasing the works of unknown artists. Devoting all of Herb's salary to purchase art they liked, and living on Dorothy's paycheck alone, they continued collecting artworks guided by two rules: the piece had to be affordable, and it had to be small enough to fit in their one-bedroom Manhattan apartment. Within these limitations, they proved themselves curatorial visionaries; most of those they supported and befriended went on to become world-renowned artists including Sol LeWitt, Christo and Jeanne-Claude, Richard Tuttle, Chuck Close, Robert Mangold, Sylvia Plimack Mangold, Lynda Benglis, Pat Steir, Robert Barry, Lucio Pozzi, and Lawrence Weiner.

After thirty years of meticulous collecting and buying, the Vogels managed to accumulate over 2,000 pieces, filling every corner of their tiny one bedroom apartment. "Not even a toothpick could be squeezed into the apartment," recalls Dorothy. In 1992, the Vogels decided to move their entire collection to the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC. The vast majority of their collection was given as a gift to the institution. Many of the works they acquired appreciated so significantly over the years that their collection today is worth millions of dollars. Still, the Vogels never sold a single piece. Today Herb and Dorothy still live in the same apartment in New York with 19 turtles, lots of fish, and one cat. They've refilled it with piles of new art they've acquired.

Herb & Dorothy is directed by first time filmmaker Megumi Sasaki. The film received the Golden Starfish Award for the Best Documentary Film and Audience Award from the 2008 Hamptons International Film Festival. It has also received Audience Awards from the 2008 SILVERDOCS Film Festival and the 2009 Philadelphia Cinefest. Palm Springs International Film Festival named Herb & Dorothy one of their "Best of Fest" films in 2009.

This looks great and what a story.

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The Cove - Trailer for harsh dolphin documentary

The Cove tells the amazing true story of how Louie Psihoyos, Richard O’Barry and an elite team of activists, filmmakers and freedivers embarked on a covert mission to penetrate a hidden cove in Japan, shining light on a dark and deadly secret. The mysteries they uncovered were only the tip of the iceberg.

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Not Quite Hollywood - Red Band Trailer

Not Quite Hollywood is the wild, untold story of "Ozploitation" movies - a time when Australian cinema got its gear off and showed the world a full-frontal explosion of sex, violence, horror and foot-to-the-floor, full bore action! Jam packed full of outrageous anecdotes, lessons in maverick filmmaking and a genuine, infectious love of Australian movies, "Not Quite Hollywood" is a fast moving journey through Aussie genre cinema of the '70s and early '80s - an unjustly forgotten cinematic era unashamedly packed full of boobs, pubes, tubes... and even a little kung fu.

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It Might Get Loud - Documentary featuring Jimmy Page, Jack White and The Edge

Directed by Davis Guggenheim this documentary explores the history of the electric guitar through interviews with and performances by Jimmy Page, Jack White and The Edge.

It looks like it could be excellent and it is out on 14th August.

Source: /Film

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Beautiful Darling - Trailer - Candy came from out on the island-

Beautiful Darling, a documentary film, pays tribute to the short but influential life of an extraordinary person -- the actress Candy Darling, born James Slattery in a Long Island suburb in 1944. Drawn to the feminine from childhood, by the mid-Sixties James had become Candy, a gorgeous, blonde aspiring actress and well-known downtown New York figure. Candy's career took her through the raucous and revolutionary Off-off-Broadway theater scene and into Andy Warhol's legendary Factory. There she became close to Warhol and starred in two Factory movies that still shock and amuse today: Flesh and Women in Revolt. Candy used her Warhol fame to land further film roles, and her admirer Tennessee Williams cast her in his play Small Craft Warnings. She dreamed of becoming a Hollywood star, but tragically died of lymphoma in the early Seventies, at only twenty-nine.

Candy's beauty, humor, and early death, the guts it took to live as a woman, the glamorous parties and the famous friends -- most of all the strength of will she demonstrated in her remarkable act of self-creation -- moved those who knew her in her lifetime and continue to gather fans today. It's a story of wild, creative times and of audacious people, but one that has a theme inspiring for anyone, anywhere: whatever the obstacles, be true to yourself.

Director: James Rasin

Cast: Andy Warhol, Holly Woodlawn, John Waters

Release: 11 June 2009

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The Thorn in the Heart - Michel Gondry's new documentary has been picked up by the Beastie Boys' Oscilloscope Laboratories

Oscilloscope Laboratories announced today that it has acquired North American distribution rights to Michel Gondry's documentary, The Thorn in the Heart ("L'Epine dans le Coeur"), a personal look at the life of Gondry family matriarch, his aunt Suzette Gondry, and her relationship with her son, Jean-Yves. The Thorn in the Heart had its world premiere screening in the official selection at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival. Oscilloscope will open the film in theaters, with a DVD and digital release to follow.

Michel examines Suzette's years as a school teacher and her life in rural France. During the course of filming the documentary, Michel unearths new family stories and uses his camera to explore them in a subtle and sensitive way. The film was produced and financed by Partizan Films.

Michel: "So I called up my best friend Etienne and told him, 'Guess who's distributing my documentary about my aunt?' and he said, 'who?' and I said, 'MCA from Beastie Boys' and Etienne said, 'The Beastie Boy bought your Aunt's documentary?! Get the f*** out of here!' and I said, 'Yeah!!!'"

Adam Yauch, head of Oscilloscope Laboratories said, "Michel is one of the most innovative and creative people in the world. So it's great to see him making a sincere doc on a subject that is so close to his heart."

Source: Movieweb
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Mighty Uke - Trailer for ukulele

MIGHTY UKE is a feature documentary that travels the world to discover why so many people of different nations, cultures, ages and musical tastes are turning to the ukulele to express themselves, connect with the past, and with each other. From the Redwoods of California through the gritty streets of New York, from swinging London through Tokyos highrise canyons to Hawaii, ukers tell the story of the peoples instrument: The Mighty Uke.

Check out the official site

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Paris, Not France - Trailer for Paris Hilton Documentary

PARIS, NOT FRANCE provides an intimate and provocative look at the world’s first new media star - Paris Hilton. Shot in London, New York, Tokyo, Los Angeles and Las Vegas, the film explores the business of being Paris Hilton, and the human being that lies beneath the public persona. Adria Petty’s documentary attempts to explore how the Paris phenomenon came to be, and how it defines this moment in culture. With additional commentary from the Hilton family, friends and media experts ranging from Donald Trump, Camille Paglia, Jeff Vespa of WireImage, Richard Johnson of Page Six and more, the film poses the ultimate questions - What is so fascinating about Paris Hilton? And why are we such a celebrity obsessed culture?

I think I'll be giving this one a miss.

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Waiting for Armageddon - Trailer

America's 50-million strong Evangelical community is convinced that the world's future is foretold in Biblical prophecy - from the Rapture to the Battle of Armageddon. This astonishing documentary explores their world - in their homes, at conferences, and on a wide-ranging tour of Israel. By interweaving Christian, Zionist, Jewish and critical perspectives along with telling archival materials, the filmmakers probe the politically powerful - and potentially explosive - alliance between Evangelical Christians and Israel...an alliance that may set the stage for what one prominent Evangelical leader calls "World War III."

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Witch Hunt - Second Trailer

A documentary produced and narrated by Sean Penn, regarding a series of false child molestation convictions in Kern County, California in the early 1980s.

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All About Actresses - Trailer

Maïwenn sets out to resolve her own identity as a tortured actress by making a documentary about the lives of a bevy of other French actresses, including Charlotte Rampling, Karin Viard, and Julie Depardieu. As she quests for "the real" person behind the glory (or lack thereof) on-screen, the interior insecurities of these divas make Maïwenn's own vulnerabilities clear—or maybe her eagerness to reveal them to the camera is just part of the making of her juicy documentary. In this amusing psychological portrait of actresses, Maïwenn herself is possibly the most surprising case study, treacherously slipping from the position of an actress to a director: falling in love with one of her actresses and subjected to their wrath when they realize they don't have center stage in the doc. Indeed, Maïwenn has taken it for herself.

Fiction and reality blur as real-world footage of everyday life and divulging interviews are juxtaposed against fantastical musical sequences full of glossy colors and sparkling costumes. Following her 2006 directorial debut Forgive Me (2006), nominated for two César Awards, Maïwenn continues to indulgently, fascinatingly, and obsessively explore her place in the world—where she is always cast as the star.

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Witch Hunt - Documentary Trailer

The trailer for Witch Hunt which chronicles the unraveling of a small town's justice system.

The main characters in this film were working class mothers and fathers who all were wrongly convicted of child molestation.

They served lengthy prison time and were ultimately exonerated.

All of the convicted were recklessly pursued by the same District Attorney who remains in office today.

The documentary is narrated by Sean Penn.

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