A story about a man who dedicated his life to preserving the Church but instead led it into its greatest crisis: Pope Benedict XVI. After the worldwide sexual abuse scandal became public, Benedict resigned in 2013. An analysis of the failings of an institution that believes in absolute truth as it struggles to come to terms with modern democratic society.
Tonight on December 1st Ben Lawrence’s Film “Ithaka – A Fight to Free Julian Assange” premieres at the 19th Barcelona Human Rights Festival in Spain.
After Russian troops withdrew from the Kyiv region, the small town of Bucha became a symbol of Russian war crimes. How do people live there now – after experiencing such trauma and while the war rages on? This film tells stories about destroyed lives, about atrocities and abysses, but also about humanity and hope.
Filmed over two years across the UK, Europe and the US, this documentary follows 76 year-old retired builder, John Shipton’s tireless campaign to save his son, Julian Assange. Weaving historic archives and intimate behind-the-scenes footage, this story tracks John’s journey alongside Julian’s fiancée, Stella Moris, as they join forces to advocate for Julian.
With exclusive and intimate access, the series takes a critical look at Taliban rule in Afghanistan over the course of a year. Each episode focuses on one Taliban official, such as the foreign minister, deputy cultural minister and the head of the Kabul police force, and it reveals the real-world effects of their control of civilian life.
In the small Lithuanian town of Rukla, NATO combat troops are training for an emergency. The east-west conflict is real here. While the threat still seems very abstract to some people in the town, others intensively prepare for military conflict. But then the war in Ukraine escalates and a new era begins for everyone.
Cruises are enjoying huge popularity once again. More ocean-liners are docked in European ports than before the pandemic. But insiders warn of pollution and lesser-known safety risks on board the ships. Can the cruise industry satisfy continued demand but also protect the environment and guarantee passenger safety?
Through the stories of three prominent Ukrainian politicians, from 2013 to the present, we witness the country’s struggle for democracy, self-determination and geopolitical stability. We follow our protagonists as they evolve from activists to politicians in a fragile democratic system, to defenders of their country against the invasion of Russia.
March 2022. Russia is waging war on Ukraine. Inside Russia, strategic nuclear weapons are being relocated. President Putin has openly threatened to use nuclear weapons if the West provided Ukraine with military support. The return to nuclear weapons is an issue we discussed with many international experts back in 2018. We now got in touch once again with many of the people we spoke to, back then.
In 2020, hundreds of thousands of people in Belarus protested against the rigged elections. State authorities reacted with brutal violence and many protesters, including leading opposition figures, were forced to flee. We meet them in exile, where they relentlessly fight for the ones they have left behind and for a better future for their country.
Water as a resource is become ever scarcer. We show how people are battling with dry conditions and drought, for example in the US, Afghanistan, India or Germany. You can see the effect water scarcity has on plants and animals and how conflicts over water are escalating.
Lured by promises of a better life, children and young adults are smuggled out of Vietnam into Europe, where they are exploited, and some even disappear. The film follows the trail of the Vietnamese mafia across several European countries to Great Britain. High-ranking investigators, witnesses, victims and perpetrators tell their tale.
