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Behind the scenes documentary on Kiyoshi Kurosawa's "Before We Vanish"

<(Welcome to) The Planet of Orchids> is a cinematic anthology exploring the fascinating lives of orchids and their intricate relationships with neighbouring species. In this film, orchids are portrayed as indigenous beings who have thrived despite humans' indiscriminate colonization of ecosystems. Orchids take centre stage as protagonists, unfolding their unique or ordinary narratives from a plant-centred viewpoint. As such, the diverse and multidimensional dynamics of the transhuman community, which all ecosystem members belong, are revealed, and human audiences finally encounter 'Planet Orchid'.

This is a story about 7 college students to graduate. Filming their trace for 2 years, it recorded stories about graduation and starting business in different major and family background. This film is to deepen into the vast social background and examine their life experience and social relationship in the round. 　　At present, problem of employment of college students has already become a hot topic in society. It also has great significance with educational reform and economic crisis around the world.

Animal Liberation Wave activists uncover 15 cows adjacent to an illegal dog farm and resolve to rescue them. Dubbing them "Flower Cows," they garner support through public donations, livestock farmers, and local activists, managing to temporarily shelter six of the cows at a ranch in Inje County. In their quest for a permanent home, the activists work to bridge the generational divide with the elderly residents of Sinwol Village in Inje County. Together, they embark on an ambitious project to build a cow sanctuary. Their collaborative efforts culminate in the establishment of Korea's first cow sanctuary, repurposing a closed school in Sinwol.

A photograph of someone. They are emptied, replaced by something else. I discover the vertical side of 8mm fits with the empty screen.

In 2022, a highway was about to cut across my hometown. I documented the unearthing of graves and interviewed villagers about their memories of the dead. Their narrative enables me to sketch the portraits for the deceased. As I gaze upon them, they seem to question the path and the choices lying ahead of us.

Set in Chikuho amid the closing of the region’s coal-mining industry, this film recounts the histories of miners and their families in a narrative that unfolds in a mixture of fact and fiction.

In August 2009, the comrades-in-arms who had enlisted in the Kunming Military District Defense Arts Troupe in 1959 gathered in Kunming for a reunion, almost half a century later. Upon their long-awaited reunion, each face showed traces of hardship and deep emotion. They reminisced about the birth of the Defense Arts Troupe in the flames of the Anti-Japanese War in 1937, followed by its gradual growth and mature revolutionary experiences. However, what remained unforgettable was the devastating Cultural Revolution, which inflicted great harm upon this "Red Artistic Team." Overnight, more than 300 members of the Arts Troupe were accused of being "57 counter-revolutionaries," and Bu Qinfu, a female actress in the drama troupe, was brutally killed during a public humiliation parade. In 1985, the organizational structure of the Defense Arts Troupe was dismantled, deliberately burying a history of bloodshed and cruelty.

A teenage girl from New York visits her Japanese grandfather who takes her on a journey to some of Japan’s most famous Shinto shrines. During their travels, Grandfather tells the story of Minakata Kumagusu, a naturalist of early 20th century Japan. “Whenever Kumagusu took walks in the forest, he would take a compact microscope along with him so he could observe the slime molds. They’re like tiny gods that can’t be seen with the naked eye, but these microorganisms work to connect the worlds of plants and animals. Kumagusu ventured deep into the sacred groves of Japan’s old shrines in search of these tiny gods – the slime molds which formed an important part of the ecosystem.” Grandfather takes us on a journey deep into the sacred groves of Japan’s old shrines.

Video work concerning the censorship of Oura's print series Holding Perspective and the following trial of 1986-2000

A documentary depicting the lives of the people of the Benposta Children's Republic, a community in the suburbs of Orense, Spain, where they study, work and live at the same time.

experimental short film but not that EXPERIMENTAL?????

18 years have passed since the implementation of the Employment Permit System, and through this system, many migrant workers have stepped on Korean land, with the goal of chasing their dreams. The protagonists of this film also came to Korea in search of a dream,but because there’s no freedom to change workplace in the Employment Permit System, their dreams are hitting the walls of reality.This is the story of 3 migrant workers living the harsh lives of laborers.

Wedding, a big event. It took place during lucky hours, following traditional conventions until the daughter left the house and female family members got in. People involved then happily raised their cup and said, "Congratulations! Wish you a destined good affinity, a marital happiness, a soon-born offspring, a harmonious union for a hundred years, blessed and felicitous." "Thank you!" replied the female family members, with smiles.

Painter Lin Xin tells the story of a thousand-year-old ceramic town in the hinterland of the Loess Plateau in this first experimental documentary "Chen Furnace". The film consists of a 360-degree panoramic prologue and three parts: "Self-Talk", "Bone Style" and "Style". "Fengqing" focuses on the unique scenery of the ancient town's folk customs, houses and famous-tank wall.The film consists of a 360-degree panoramic prologue and three parts: "Self-Talk", "Bone Style" and "Style".The charm and product production process of traditional ceramic crafts such as hand-drawn blanks and engravings are displayed; "Fengqing" focuses on the unique scenery of the ancient town's folk customs, houses and famous-tank wall. The whole film, with its gazing gaze and poetic language, tries to leave in the video the final scene of the "Furnace Never Ending" and the traditional Chen Fa gradually fading away.

This is a documentary about faith, narrating the stories of a dozen or so Christians in the city of Tongchuan, in Shaanxi Province. Through the lives and beliefs of four generations of preachers, the film reflects on the profound influence of 50 years of social change on the local church. Whether recounting personal setbacks encountered on the serving path or people’s weaknesses, growth, or disputes within the church community, the film becomes a neutral and faithful portrayal of a group of preachers, of the history of the church community and of the status-quo of belief in this faithless era.

The documentary "The Garden" focuses on the "old city renovation" project of BaDaHu Residential area in Qingdao. After the film was released online, the renovation project of this residential area became the only illegal demolition activity that was stopped in China in 2010. A special report by China Central Television revealed that this project was demolished and built without government approval by impostor, fictitious official letter.

Documentary on the potter Arakawa Toyozo

The science and education film "Abyss - The Essence of Cults" produced by Beijing Science Education Film Studio, with rigorous and realistic scientific spirit, various artistic techniques, through a large amount of scientific knowledge, vivid strength, and detailed information, comprehensive and profound It thoroughly analyzes the nature and harm of cults, and is a shocking and thought-provoking work of caution. The film uses a large number of little-known materials to disclose the truth of "People's Temple", "David", "Sun Temple", "Falun Gong" and other cult organizations seeking money and killing people Various means and the evil nature of cults are anti-human, anti-science and anti-social. During the use of a large number of high-tech means such as three-dimensional animation, it is a perfect combination of science, art and education.

Datong, the mining capital of the Shanxi province. Bai Budan interviews miners, the invisible auxiliaries of Chinese society in the throes of change.

It’s an extraordinary opening scene: the view from within a tomb under construction. We see people at work, and others watching—holding mugs of tea, or a child on their lap. Filmmaker Sanshou Hu introduces these people, and himself. In the town where he was born, he and his family are following an age-old tradition by building a tomb for his grandparents.

A description through my sad times and the new hope for what I want to become.

The Ancient Chinese philosopher Zhuang Zhou’s dream of becoming a butterfly blurs reality and fantasy, reflecting a poet’s desire for freedom and eternity. The coming of Tulku draws from Buddhist classics, using Chou Meng-tieh’s life as a metaphor. His experiences at WuChang Street and his bookstand, started in 1959, led to enlightenment and loyalty to Buddha and loved ones. Influenced by Buddhism, his poems blend Zen with grace, affection, and prudence, capturing life’s essence with strength and delicacy. He closed his bookstand in 1980 due to illness.

Li Bing is a Buddhist nun who has worked for years to set up schools for local children in ethnically-Tibetan regions. In September 2016, she helped set up the Songhe Mani Tent School and hired two teachers, Gan Ge and Lhamo. The local incarnate Buddhist Lama has problem with their behaviors. In March 2017, as the new semester starts, the villagers come up with all sorts of excuses to demand that Lhamo be removed as teacher at the school. As Lhamo is forced to leave, Li Bing decides to remove Gan Ge too, as well as all the tents that serve as the school’s dormitory.

A group of Pangcah people left their homeland in the eastern Taiwan to seek jobs on the western coast. They drifted from one construction site to another, until they finally settled on a temporarily unclaimed clearing behind a university, building a community far away from home. Despite the instability of work and earnings, they lived life to the fullest catching fish, growing vegetables, singing and dancing, even electing leaders of their community in this 'new paradise'.

Shizuka recorded live at Manda-la2, Tokyo on November 8, 1993, and at Studio AMS on August 12, 1994.

Film by Wu Haohao

The Third Front movement described by sons of workers who relocated in Gansu.

In this documentary, we follow the twenty-three families strong nomadic Guoshan tribe, a sub-group of Yaos. They follow a thousand year old tradition of selecting a new temporary home every two or three generations, usually distancing themselves from their previous temp-home by several hundreds of miles. Provided now with a substantial piece of land for them to build their own permanent village and farm their own land, the tribe's leader as well as thirty members decide to precede the tribe's move. Although they have a strong sense of community they are used to operating individually for their survival. In this instance, as they learn to become farmers, it has been decided between them to operate under a collective scheme, just as in the early days of China's communist revolution.

Kenji Onishi short film time-lapse projection at YIDFF 2013 (Yamagata International Documentary Film Festival).

A workshop called "Children's Film Workshop" was held in Miyazaki during the Corona disaster in December 2020. The documentary "Kodomo ga Eiga wo Tsukuru Toki (When Children Make Movies)," in which children played the leading roles, follows 12 children who have never met each other before as they make and screen a film in three days, will be distributed for two weeks only!

Super 8 film of Ally Mobb's 30th birthday party Sept. 28th, 2014. Shot on a single 50ft roll of Kodak 100D reversal film. Edited in camera. Song "Littlestar" by Ally Mobbs.

94.6% of Script writers are women in Korea. Script writers are one of the representative job sectors which is well known to have the most non-regular workers in Broadcasting industry. Those women working for broadcasting have decided to form a labor union after suffering from low wages and long hours of labor that have not changed for more than two decades. ‘Labor union’ It reminded us of men in red headbands, vests and scary face! we’ve never thought of this except for considering it as a topic at TV programs we make. This is the first time in our life that we've ever been in a labor union, so too hard for us. We’re tired of our lives, again being beaten by the injustice in our workplace.

The film was shot over four years. A woman — from Hui'an, Fujian province — finds out that her husband has become infected with a venereal disease. She takes out her revenge on the local hotel and the barber shop (which are known as sites of secret prostitution in the city) by setting four explosives. Da Yi's film tries to understand why a kind, virtuous wife and mother turns to this extreme act.

The motions and gestures of military riot police, slowed down while performed by dancers, are surprisingly beautiful. Menace and violence estranged from context and time looks eerily strange, and all too familiar. In this gallery piece, Isaac Chong Wai somehow anticipates, a year early, key images of the Hong Kong protests.

Voices of Orchid Island focuses on the Yami on Orchid Island, a small island located 45 miles off the southeast coast of Taiwan in the Pacific Ocean.

The man closed the Cinema 55 years ago. Even so, people are coming. The man also put a fire on the projector today. “I will never let it go!”

This documentary concerns the growth of a particular child. Dajun and Xiaomei are a pair of siblings who live with their father and grandfather after their mother went to work in Shanghai. Without the presence of a motherly figure, both children gained more playtime but there seemed to be a conspicuous lack of motherly love and care. Nontheless with her frugal grandfather, their farm animals and the talented craftsmen of their hometown, Xiaomei's childhood has just began.

This documentary tells a heartfelt love story of a suburban Grandpa Somboon towards Grandma Miad in their last period of married life. Their mutual love has lasted for over 45 years even though their marriage is pre-arranged by their parents. The film focuses on the time when Grandma Miad is disabled because of her acute kidney failure. But Grandpa Somboon is still staying by her side and always taking good care of her until her last day. Despite their pre-arranged marriage, they never have strife but fulfilled their family life by well performing their mutual duty as husband and wife, parents of their offsprings and grandparents of their grandchildren. They have both cherished their eternal love planted by them and can be sensed by heart without having to utter a single sweet word.

Documentary about film school and film students in Thailand.

Dunchon Jugong Apts. at the edge of the metropolis, Seoul. It has been over 10 years since discussions of rebuilding these old apartment complexes began. The inhabitants tell us about their soon-to-be-demolished houses and apartments. Some of them have spent long spans of time here and some of them short. Some people are now raising daughters in the house they lived in since their childhood, some families came from other places and struggled to adjust. Each add their different forms of love to this space in their own way. As the long-postponed reconstruction nears reality, the day-to-day scenery of the apartment complexes and households is quietly coming to a close.

COPYSHOP accompanies Berlin-Köpenick rapper Romano on a journey of discovery to Hong Kong, where he recalls his time working in a copy shop in his home town. It’s all about megacities, stereotypes, creative spaces, rap music, Romano’s copy shop biography and the copy of the copy of the copy...

The Cold Winter was shot from the end of 2009 to early 2010, and focuses on the struggle of artists near Beijing’s famous Chaoyang District 798 Art Zone to protect their land and studios from demolition by developers. During the exceptionally cold winter of the title, the artists formed the “Warm Winter Plan” movement as a means of defending their rights and raising public awareness, being subjected to threats and brutal violence in the process.

Considered to be the father of modern karate and the originator of the shotokan style, Sensei Gichin Funakoshi is captured on this remarkable documentary film demonstrating the Tekki 1, 2 & 3 katas and the meykyo kata shot c. 1924. Shot on location at Keio University in Tokyo, Japan at the Keio Karatebu (Karate club of Keio) which was the first University to adopt Karate into it's physical education curriculum. In addition to Sensei Funakoshi, there is lots of other footage covering the training of the University students and summer training camps (Shochu keiko) at the beach. (Ryukyu)

Liu Na’ou’s The Man with a Movie Camera is comprised of five episodes, shot in four cities across national boundaries: Tainan, Canton, Shenyang, and Tokyo. It displays impressionistic street spectacle and images of quotidian life, as well as excursions by train and ship, unfolding as a private visual journal and a sort of souvenir, but with refined framing, camera movement, and rhythmic editing. With his own perspective and artistic sensitivity embedded in this film, struggling between being a Japanese colonial subject and a Taiwanese/Chinese litterateur, Liu attempts to transcend geological, national, racial/ethnic, linguistic and medial boundaries, to establish a depoliticized, internationalist, cosmopolitan cinematic utopia, a pure cinema, and a fluid and contested identity.

Survivors of the tsunami in Japan have the bittersweet experience of getting back family photos found in the debris.