Social & External
The people behind it
Patrick Winczewski
Sprecher
A documentary produced in 1979 to celebrate the centenary of the birth of Albert Einstein. Narrated and hosted by Peter Ustinov and written by Nigel Calder.
Structural study of a tree. Light, water and air coax it out of the soil in a manner foregrounding time’s relativity to different forms of life on Earth. Made the day my brother got his fork-lift license.
An educational physics film utilizing a fascinating set consisting of a rotating table and furniture occupying surprisingly unpredictable spots within the viewing area, Leacock’s Frames of Reference (1960), features fine cinematography by Abraham Morochnik, and funny narration by University of Toronto professors Donald Ivey and Patterson Hume, in a wonderful example of the fun a creative team of filmmakers can have with a subject other, less imaginative types might find pedestrian.
Albert Einstein's theory of general relativity has revolutionised our understanding of gravity, space and time. Initially acclaimed, then forgotten, and now rediscovered, the adventure of this hundred-year-old theory has marked the scientific history of the 20th century. From its inception, a mathematical difficulty arose that could have nipped the theory in the bud: the Schwarzschild singularity. In the company of great international relativistic physicists, the viewer embarks on a discovery of this theory with a singular destiny. We discover a "curved" universe that proves to be even stranger than Einstein had envisioned, and harbours some objects - such as black holes - that still challenge today's scientists.
Prof. Jim Al-Khalili tackles the biggest subject of all, the universe. Through a series of critical observations and experiments that revolutionised our understanding of our world Jim guides us through the greatest cosmic detective story of all. He takes us from the beginning of the universe to the end time and answers the question: where did the universe come from and how will it end?
"The Observer's Testimony" is an intense psychological video art piece fundamentally based on Slavoj Žižek's philosophical concept of Parallax. The work utilizes a split-screen format to simultaneously present the transformation of the same clay bust into two contradictory psychological realities: The Left Screen depicts the Hunter's (The Accuser's) hardening into a cold judgment and moral decay, conceptually justified by Murat Kaplan's facial analysis; while the Right Screen reflects the Victim's (The Innocent's) dissolution into helplessness, fear, and ultimate surrender. This organic yet unnatural transformation of the busts places the viewer in the irreducible gap between two contradictory testimonies. The core goal of the work is to demonstrate the impossibility of objective truth by proving that reality is entirely dependent on the observer's subjective point of view.
Four 1950s icons meet in the same hotel room, and two of them discover more in common between them than they ever anticipated.
Research is now showing that the way babies are welcomed into the world has a profound impact on their later aptitude to make compassionate and meaningful connection with others as they grow. This film, narrated by Noah Wyle ("E.R."), explores the consciousness of infants, through cutting edge science, ancient cultures and traditional customs, making a strong case for ensuring that babies have every opportunity to bond with their parents at birth.
Prime showcases the next level of wakeboarding and wakeskating including a massive movement to bring the sport and it's riders to the top of the action sports world. The movie dives deep into the heart of the most progressive riding today, while delving into the minds and physical potential of the best athletes in wakeboarding and wakeskating. Prime was filmed in some of the most epic locations around the world including the largest private wake park (Lake Ronix), blue lake mines in Florida, beautiful northern California Reservoirs, dead tree lakes in Southern Australia and more.
Go where no American has ever gone before. CNBC's Carl Quintanilla takes viewers behind the scenes of the world's most successful restaurant chain. In this original production, travel with CNBC cameras across the country -- and journey as far away as China -- for an insider's look at: - What it takes to run a McDonald's restaurant -- and how lucrative it can be. - How chefs in the McDonald's top-secret test kitchen are working to develop the next big menu items. - Why the drive-thru lanes at McDonald's restaurants in China have caused unexpected problems. Get a look at how McDonald's is defending itself against critics who complain that its food is contributing to an epidemic of obesity in America. And peek behind McDonald's curtain to see for yourself how a quick-service hamburger stand grew into one of the most famous brands on the planet, serving 52 million people around the world each day. It's McDonald's ... Super-Sized.
A small town in Japan's exclusion zone searches for normalcy in the five years following the greatest nuclear catastrophe since Chernobyl.
A portrait of Luce Vigo, film critic, educator, and the daughter of pivotal French filmmaker Jean Vigo. Commissioned by the Spanish documentary festival, Punto de Vista, the film incorporates Luce's memories of her extraordinary life, reflections on her father, and images of Northern Spain.
Feature documentary exploring the world of junior hockey and its relentless competitiveness. Portrait larger than life where young people of barely 16 years old already play their future.
Go beyond the music to learn what it took for Justin Bieber, a boy from small town with a passion for music, to dominate the pop charts around the world.
A loving tribute to the great American poet Edna St. Vincent Millay, filmed entirely at her 700-acre upstate New York farm.
Chronicles the life of one of Israel's founding fathers, Teddy Kollek, from his days as a Zionist leader to his rescue of 3,000 Jews and his 29 years as mayor of Jerusalem.
Millions of people around the world live in the shadow of active volcanoes. From Japan s Mount Fuji to the Sleeping Giant submerged beneath Naples to the Yellowstone Supervolcano in the United States, NOVA travels with scientists who are attempting to discover how likely these volcanoes are to erupt, when it might happen, and exactly how deadly they could prove to be.
Casey Combest was once a promising sprinter who defied racial stereotypes of runners. Today, years after the derailment of his running career, Casey dreams of a comeback on the track.
A string of threatening emails escalates into a revenge plot involving a newly married US marshal and his ex-girlfriend.
An inside look at one of the most anticipated movie sequels ever with James Cameron and cast.
A documentary about the life and films of director John Ford.
A documentary about how a dominant cultural and demographic institution both sustains their traditional activities and adapts to the digital revolution.
Through deeply personal interviews with her siblings and an examination of the photographs, letters, and belongings left behind, Mariska assembles a new portrait of her mother Jayne Mansfield, an extraordinary and complex woman.
A purely observational non-fiction film that takes viewers into the ethically murky world of end-of-life decision making in a public hospital.
Alexander McQueen's rags-to-riches story is a modern-day fairy tale, laced with the gothic. Mirroring the savage beauty, boldness and vivacity of his design, this documentary is an intimate revelation of McQueen's own world, both tortured and inspired, which celebrates a radical and mesmerizing genius of profound influence.
A visual montage portrait of our contemporary world dominated by globalized technology and violence.
A documentary about the making of season five of the acclaimed AMC series Breaking Bad.
Alex Gibney explores the charged issue of pedophilia in the Catholic Church, following a trail from the first known protest against clerical sexual abuse in the United States and all way to the Vatican.
The Making-of James Cameron's Avatar. It shows interesting parts of the work on the set.
A comedic, brutally honest documentary following self-destructive TV writer Dan Harmon as he takes his live podcast on a national tour.
Al Pacino's deeply-felt rumination on Shakespeare's significance and relevance to the modern world through interviews and an in-depth analysis of "Richard III."
Brilliant, long in-the-works story of the life and art of the world's greatest comedian and the cinema's first genius, Charlie Chaplin. Produced, written and directed by renowned film critic Richard Schickel.
This revealing documentary honors the legendary Sidney Poitier—iconic actor, filmmaker, and civil rights activist. Featuring interviews with Denzel Washington, Spike Lee, Halle Berry, and more.
A look at the origins, history and conspiracies behind the "Majestic 12", a clandestine group of military and corporate figureheads charged with reverse-engineering extraterrestrial technology.
The life and career of one of comedy's most inimitable modern voices, Mr. Gilbert Gottfried.
Documentary of the making of the sequel to the popular Schwarzenegger film, The Terminator.
An astonishing journey revealing the awesome power of the natural world. Over the course of one single day, we track the sun from the highest mountains to the remotest islands to exotic jungles.
The life of Mr. Spock, as well as that of Leonard Nimoy, the actor who played him for almost fifty years, written and directed by his son: Adam.
