"One nation. Under girls."
What would American democracy look like in the hands of teenage girls? In this documentary, young female leaders from wildly different backgrounds in Missouri navigate an immersive experiment to build a government from the ground up.
Faith Glasgow
Self
Cecilia Bartin
Self
Nisha Murali
Self
Brooke Taylor
Self
Emily Worthmore
Self
Maddie Rowan
Self
Tochi Ihekona
Self
What would American democracy look like in the hands of teenage girls? In this documentary, young female leaders from wildly different backgrounds in Missouri navigate an immersive experiment to build a government from the ground up.
Now more relevant than ever, “Girls State” is an inspiring documentary that shines a light on the future of American democracy through the eyes of ambitious, intelligent, and passionate young women. This political coming-of-age film (a companion piece to 2020’s “Boys State”) follows 500 high school girls from Missouri as they gather for a week-long democratic experiment where they create a government from scratch. What emerges is an empowering look at how femininity and leadership intertwine, as these young women demonstrate the drive, intelligence, and ambition needed to shape the world. The documentary captures a diverse group of teenage girls who are well-spoken and articulate, engaging in meaningful discussions about governance, policy, and the issues that matter most to them. Their passion for politics and their vision for the future are inspiring, offering hope for a generation of leaders ready to tackle the world’s problems head-on. Co-directors Amanda McBaine and Jesse Moss take care to center their focus on a handful of participants, allowing an intimate glimpse into how the program transforms these young women. One of the most interesting aspects here is the documentary’s exploration of the systemic inequalities that emerge between the Girls and Boys State programs, both of which are being hosted on the same campus for the first time. This shared setting naturally invites comparisons between the two, with the program for boys often receiving more attention and being taken more seriously as a venue for meaningful political discourse. The film doesn’t shy away from these disparities, subtly highlighting the gendered expectations that still persist in the world of politics. What truly stands out is the way these young women embrace the ideas of cooperation and collaboration. Watching them navigate the challenges of building a government from the ground up while forming bonds and sharing their diverse perspectives is quite uplifting. Their willingness to engage with one another, even across ideological divides, offers a refreshing vision of what leadership can look like (and something our country so desperately needs at the moment). “Girls State” is a well-made documentary that celebrates the potential of young women to change the world. It’s a film that leaves you hopeful for the future, as these teenage girls exhibit the determination and vision to reach extraordinary heights. They are, without a doubt, the future leaders we need. By: Louisa Moore / SCREEN ZEALOTS
Lyrical and powerfully personal essay film that reflects on the deaths of her husband Lou Reed, her mother, her beloved dog, and such diverse subjects as family memories, surveillance, and Buddhist teachings.
A behind-the-scenes documentary about the Clinton for President campaign, focusing on the adventures of spin doctors James Carville and George Stephanopoulos.
A documentary on seniors at a high school in a small Indiana town and their various cliques.
We live in a world where the powerful deceive us. We know they lie. They know we know they lie. They do not care. We say we care, but we do nothing, and nothing ever changes. It is normal. Welcome to the post-truth world. How we got to where we are now…
Those who knew iconic funnyman John Candy best share his story, in their own words, through never-before-seen archival footage, imagery, and interviews.
With the epic dimensions of a Shakespearean tragedy, The Queen of Versailles follows billionaires Jackie and David’s rags-to-riches story to uncover the innate virtues and flaws of their American dream. We open on the triumphant construction of the biggest house in America, a sprawling, 90,000-square-foot mansion inspired by Versailles. Since a booming time-share business built on the real-estate bubble is financing it, the economic crisis brings progress to a halt and seals the fate of its owners. We witness the impact of this turn of fortune over the next two years in a riveting film fraught with delusion, denial, and self-effacing humor.
Filmed and edited in intimate vérité style, this movie follows visionary medical practitioners who are working on the cutting edge of life and death and are dedicated to changing our thinking about both.
A documentary on the life of John Lennon, with a focus on the time in his life when he transformed from a musician into an antiwar activist.
Girl next door, activist, so-called traitor, fitness tycoon, Oscar winner: Jane Fonda has lived a life of controversy, tragedy and transformation – and she’s done it all in the public eye. An intimate look at one woman’s singular journey.
As a visually radical memoir, CAMERAPERSON draws on the remarkable footage that filmmaker Kirsten Johnson has shot and reframes it in ways that illuminate moments and situations that have personally affected her. What emerges is an elegant meditation on the relationship between truth and the camera frame, as Johnson transforms scenes that have been presented on Festival screens as one kind of truth into another kind of story—one about personal journey, craft, and direct human connection.