Watch the complete films on Cinando

ZOOMAN is the chronicle of a dream. Buddy’s dream has been to live amongst and care for all the wild animals he so passionately loves. In their own backyard (!) Buddy and his fiancée maintain health and habitat for over 400 animals, among them dangerous predators and endangered species.They have created a place for intimate encounters with these powerful animals, an experience that can be transformative for anyone who visits their zoo. These circumstances are fictionalized in “The Life of Pi,” lightly treated in “We Bought a Zoo,” and movingly documented in “Ashes and Snow.” Created in direct cinema style, ZOOMAN takes us through a year in the life of this amazing place and these extraordinary people. ZOOMAN is no fairytale. It is a raw, authentic account of an authentic man living his life with pure vigor and determination.

GENRE: Documentary /  DIRECTOR: Rolf Winters / 91 minutes / English

What do our lives today have in common with those of original cultures in the world’s most remote places? Just about everything.

TAHI – The Human Journey” tells a story of global connection by following the lives of people the world over. Beautifully photographed in worldwide locations, the film captures the beauty of human culture and natural beauty in a magnificent achievement filmed storytelling. Follow the journey in Nepal, India, Thailand, Hong Kong, USA, First Nations, Ecuador, Polynesia, Namibia, Morocco, Australia, New Zealand, England, Spain, and Gibraltar. Follow the journey to over twenty worldwide locations, as the filmmakers reveal whether people living in different cultures are really interconnected, and if so, what is it that ties us all together? The film investigates whether our commonalities are the key to unlocking an emerging world where people, animals and the environment can co-exist in balance.

GENRE: documentary / DIRECTOR: Karina J. Duffy / HD / English

This gripping, behind-the-scenes story shows the heady rise to stardom for a very talented and very young virtuoso entertainer. In every way Randy Rhoads epitomizes the “Guitar Hero,” now the substance of endless games, movies, and theater. It is a modern archetype; and, Randy Rhoads defined the role, from classical music training to sideman to Ozzy Osborne to founder of a memorable hard rock band. Narrated by Quiet Riot photographer, lighting designer, lyricist and friend, Ron Sobol, the film offers the inner experience of two close friends as they embark on an uphill quest for stardom. Drawing on Sobel’s personal archives of previously unseen images, rare video footage, and interviews with band members, the movie chronicles the five year period of 1975 to 1980 when Sobol was in the trenches with the band. Sobol's unfettered access gives viewers an intimate window into Quiet Riot's meteoric transformation from club band to worldwide sensation. Audiences will witness the group in rehearsals, performing live onstage, and revel in a bounty of never-before-seen clips capturing the band in private moments and interviews with close friends and family. Much more than a rock and roll bio pic, RANDY RHOADS THE QUIET RIOT YEARS tells the real life story of rock music stardom.

GENRE: rock documentary / DIRECTOR: Ron Sobol / 91 minutes / HD / English

Choreographed by Mats Ek

BYE (AJÖ), has been heralded as a "masterpiece" by the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung. It is performed by Sylvie Guillem, "the most brilliant ballerina of her generation"(The Guardian, UK) and  is choreographed and directed by acclaimed Swedish choreographer Mats Ek. BYE is a film interpretation of Mats Ek's solo piece BYE for and requested by Sylvie Guillem, presently on stage at Sadler's Wells, UK's leading dance house.  Set to Beethoven's last piano sonata, Opus 111, in a recording by Ivo Pogorelich, the stage performance of BYE is described by Mats Ek as being "... about a woman who takes leave of a certain stage in her life. It is a conversation that she has with herself that leads to new experiences." 

"Guillem is one of the most astonishing dancers on stage today."

-- The Guardian, July 2011

 "There can be no doubt that Sylvie Guillem is one of the greatest dancers ever." 

  -- Daily Telegraph, UK

 "It is a joyful piece, and Guillem fills it with drama and nuance, making each tiny movement meaningful..."

 -- The Telegraph, July 2011

GENRE: dance /  DIRECTOR: Mats Ek / 22 minutes / no dialogue

Choreographed by Mats Ek

A sensational dance film, specially created for two world famous dancers, Mihkail Baryshnikov and Anna Laguna by a truly international team of outstanding artists. It is choreographed by Mats Ek who is considered to be the No 1 not only in Sweden but possibly world-wide and it is directed by Grammy, MTV and Cannes Grand Prix award winner Jonas Åkerlund, director of videos for Lady Gaga, U2, Madonna, Paul McCartney, The Rolling Stones, Duran Duran, Britney Spears, and many more.  Visit his website.

GENRE: dance / DIRECTOR: Jonas Åkerlund / 29 minutes / no dialogue / WITH  Mikhail Baryshnikov, Ana Laguna

Slumdog Millionaire meets Trainspotting. A shocking and magical  feature film based on a best selling novel - with songs. "In the slums we meet the crippled pimp, the lonely housewife, the neighborhood gay, his macho father, the prostitutes, the smalltime politician, the Yankee pedophile. There are no happy endings and death awaits at every corner. Tragedy lies not at the end but is a given situation. It is not the usual 'story that needs to be told' it is simply a backyard full of lovable fuckers." -- Khavn De La Cruz                                          

GENRE: Pictures, Coming To Eat You /  DIRECTOR: Khavn De La Cruz / 69 minutes / English and Filipino

AMERICAN ADDICT unveils the industry of legal drug addiction in the USA. The home of the "war on drugs" is 5% of world population yet consumes 80% of prescription narcotics. AMERICAN ADDICT reveals the connections between government regulators, big pharmaceutical companies, physicians, and the media. Together they reinforce treatment through prescribed medication. At the street level the trade is only distinguished from its illegal cousin by white coats, signage, and legal sanction. The consequences are a well worn path of overuse, abuse, and death.  In the style of the “Inside Job" and "Food, Inc." American Addict exposes a shocking hypocrisy most are unaware even exists. For those whose loved ones or own lives are saved, AMERICAN ADDICT will surely be the most important film they ever see.

GENRE: Documentary / DIRECTOR: Sasha Knezev / 90 minutes / HD / English 

The Making of Out Loud is much more than a behind-the-scenes look at the myriad difficulties faced by the cast and crew of the Muslim world’s first commercial gay feature, Out Loud. This thought provoking, well researched look at the discrimination and outright persecution faced today by gays and lesbians in Muslim countries serves as a strong reminder of how precious Western gay rights gains are, as well as how much work remains to be done, especially in the face of many organized religions’ intolerance of the gay community.

GENRE: Documentary / DIRECTOR: Samer Daboul / 53 minutes / HD / English and Arabic with English Subtitles

Filmmaker Brook Bello shines the spotlight on human trafficking as she tells us the story of her life, from devastating acts of self destruction to the ultimate ‘triumph of the human spirit’. As repressed memories surface, the secrets of a most foul crime get revealed: the rape of an innocent child who is then forced to run away only to face an even greater horror as a teen-prostitute who falls  victim to human-trafficking and sex-slavery. Forced by pimps into drug addiction, Brook’s life seemed hopeless until she was able to break free not only physically but emotionally.This high-impact docu- mentary takes the viewers on an emotional journey from shock to rage to healing, as well as on a geographic journey from Florida to the Middle East.Brook’s film has already received widespread atten- tion, with extensive press coverage in over 20 articles, a series of interviews and an invitation to speak at the International Black Women’s Public Policy Institute and the Congres- sional Black Caucus.

GENRE: Documentary / DIRECTOR: Brook Bello / 82 minutes / HD / English

Reggaeton is a fascinating world music documentary film about the similarities between two types of music genres known today as Salsa and Reggaeton.

We were fortunate enough to have gathered the hottest stars of reggaeton as well as the old school greats of salsa. We have interviewed salsa icons such as Ruben Blades, Johnny Pacheco, Willie Colon, Ismael Miranda, Gilberto SantaRosa and on the reggaeton side we interviewed billboard chart - topping artists such as Julio Voltio, Tego Calderón, Hector "El Father" just to name a few.These artists all came together with the same purpose to discuss how two different styles of music can have so much in common and how their music is all composed under "La Clave," the five-note two-bar rhythm pattern which generates rhythmic measurement and is the foundation and backbone of Salsa (and all Afro-Cuban based music). They also take you on an extraordinary journey back in time to the roots that influenced all of these different types of music, which is AFRICA and its rhythm of "drums and percussion.

GENRE: Documentary / DIRECTOR: Mariella Sosa / 90 minutes / HD / Spanish with English Subtitles

This documentary lifts the veil on underground spiritual movements like RAVE and BURNING MAN, revealing how electronic music induces altered states and shifts in consciousness.  The film-makers investigate mysticism, origins and religion, interviewing minds like  Terence McKenna, author of best-seller True Hallucinations, Ken Kesey, author and producer of the infamous 1960s Acid Tests, Starhawk, author of The Spiritual Dance.  The filmmakers investigate the electronic music culture's significance to the 2012 prophesies. Music by  DJ' Garth, Shpongle, The Crystal Method, Phutureprimitive, Vibrasphere, Govinda, Random Rab and many more.

official website

GENRE: Documentary / DIRECTOR: A.C. Johner / 84 minutes / HD / English

Seven years in the making, When the Dragon Swallowed the Sun reveals the recent, tragic history of Tibet from inside this most remote and unique nation. The film reveals new facts, internal conflicts, and contradictions in a thorough and riveting treatment of this focus of worldwide passion and concern. The movie rewards its viewers with spectacular visuals and strong emotions. The combination of stunningly filmed footage from India, China and Tibet, along with a prologue narrated by Dennis Haysbert and an original soundtrack by Philip Glass, Thom Yorke and Damien Rice make this film not only the definitive treatment of the Tibetan crisis, but a film with overwhelming emotional impact.   

The film features Richard Gere, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, the 14th Dalai Lama, prominent Chinese contemporary artists and all the leading figures of the exiled Tibetan freedom movement

Taipei Times, June 8, 2012:

"Documentary by Dirk Simon that takes a fresh look at the tensions between Tibet and China, reassessing the success of the 14th Dalai Lama and counting the cost of his pacifist stance, which clearly has done little to influence the way policymakers in Beijing view the issue of subjecting Tibet to their will. The film faces up to some of the fundamental contradictions of the current position of monks, who in many ways serve as a leadership for the resistance against China, but must also accommodate their religious vows, and considers the idea that the movement for autonomy has been weakened by the divide between the Dalai Lama and more radical elements. A fresh look at events and a re-evaluation of the future make this a thought-provoking film for anyone interested in the issue." 

  • Best Chronicle / Best Cinematography / Best Original Score (Maverick Movie Award)
  • Best Director Feature Documentary / Best Feature Documentary (World Music Independent Film Festival)
  • Best Feature Documentary / Best Director Feature Documentary (Silent River Film Festival

official website

GENRE: Documentary / DIRECTOR: Dirk Simon / 2 X 56 minutes or 1 X 113 minutes / HD / English and Tibetan with English Subtitles

The Dalai Lama as you've never seen him before -- at home.  

24 hours spent by a film crew inside the residence of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, from the beginning of his day which starts at 3 am till sunset when the Buddhist leader goes to bed. The footage, by itself, is exclusive. But here, inside the residence, the documentary filmmaker Vitali Manski also got a chance to enjoy a totally informal conversation about the essence of the Universe and the role an individual has to play in religion in general and Buddhism in particular in the frameworks of contemporary society.

GENRE: documentary / DIRECTOR: Vitali Manski / 72 minutes / Russian with English subtitles

AFM 2011 MARKET PREMIERE of Exclusive Extras, including footage of the enthronement ceremony of Dilgo Khyentse's Rinpoche's recognized reincarnation and the most complete presentation of his lineage available.

With the destruction of the Tibet's monasteries and libraries, the ancient culture's highest knowledge resided in one man, Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche as he was the only person who was able to memorize the ancient secret teachings and formulas before escaping. Thus he became teacher to the Dalai Lama and to the King of Bhutan.  A writer, poet and meditation master, Khyentse Rinpoche was an inspiration to all who encountered him. 

Using animation, rare still and archival footage and filmed throughout Tibet, India, the USA, Bhutan, and Nepal, the film chronicles the life of this revered master, from the escape from Tibet to the discovery of his incarnation. The latter part of the story is an amazing proof to the fact that the most evolved masters of Tibet are able to control their reincarnation. 

This moving biography is told in part through interviews with the Dalai Lama, Matthieu Ricard, Rabjam Rinpoche, and others.

GENRE: documentary / DIRECTOR: Neten Chokling / 57 minutes (without extras) / HD / English version and French versions available / NARRATED BY Richard Gere and Lou Reed

more on Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche

Ideally suited for Western viewers interested in knowing more about Milarepa's significance for Buddhism as a whole, these teachings also show how we can incorporate Milarepa's determination, honesty, clarity and compassion into our lives.  Some of the best known Buddhist luminaries give commentaries and insights about the life of one of the best known historical Buddhist figures, Milarepa, Tibet's greatest yogi and spiritual warrior.

Includes interviews with some of the most famous Buddhist luminaries, such as His Holiness the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa Orgyen Trinley Dorje and Sogyal Rinpoche, author of the best-selling book called "The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying", Ani Pema Chodron, the author of such highly acclaimed and successful books as "The Wisdom of No Escape" and "Start Where You Are".

GENRE: documentary / PRODUCER: Neten Chokling / 175 minutes / English

 

In the tradition of What the Bleep Do We Know?, and The Secret.

The Lost Secret of Immortality takes the Western audience on a journey of the senses through the spiritual traditions of Eastern enlightenment. Presented with stunning and mind-bending visuals, the film delves into a vision of what is possible if we unlock the mysteries of the Universe.

In this film, we see the vast and infinite knowledge passed on through the centuries by some of the world’s foremost New Age philosophers and teachers. Everything from meditation and the martial arts to tantric sex are uncovered and broken down into easy-to-understand teachings and practices.

By experiencing The Lost Secret of Immortality, one will embark on a life-transforming revelation that will unlock the hidden and untapped power that exists within all of us.

official website

GENRE: Documentary / DIRECTOR: Barclay powers / 78 minutes / English