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Leon & Mary Strauss Documentary Spotlight

This spotlight highlights powerful documentaries that offer in-depth looks at important social, political, and cultural issues. The selected documentaries inspire viewers to think critically about the world around them, offering compelling narratives that inform and engage.

Sponsored by Mary Strauss

Human Rights Spotlight, Human Ties, International Spotlight, Leon & Mary Strauss Documentary Spotlight, Women In Film Spotlight

All About the Money

Film All About the Money Directed by Sinéad O'Shea A son of one of America's wealthiest families creates a communist revolutionary base in rural Massachusetts as a…
Environmental Focus, International Spotlight, Leon & Mary Strauss Documentary Spotlight

An Irish Atlantic Rainforest

Film An Irish Atlantic Rainforest Directed by Gary Lennon When a Dublin sculptor trades city life for 73 acres of ecologically ravaged land on Ireland's wild Atlantic…
American Indie Spotlight, ARCHIVAL, Cinema For Students Program, Human Rights Spotlight, Human Ties, Leon & Mary Strauss Documentary Spotlight, Oscar-Qualifying Shorts Competition, QFest LGBTQ Spotlight, Race In America: The Black Experience, Spotlight on Inspiration Documentary Competition, Women In Film Spotlight

And Again I Dream

Film And Again I Dream Directed by Catherine Gund, Mariah Norman Ivy Young (1947-2023), a journalist and organizer, knows that mainstream society will not preserve her story after she's…
Human Rights Spotlight, Leon & Mary Strauss Documentary Spotlight, Race In America: The Black Experience, Show-Me Cinema, Spotlight on Inspiration Documentary Competition

Annie Turnbo Malone: The Untold Story

Film Annie Turnbo Malone: The Untold Story Directed by Kim Love This documentary brings to life the remarkable story of Annie Turnbo Malone, the woman who launched an international…
Leon & Mary Strauss Documentary Spotlight

Bob And David Climb Machu Picchu

Film Bob And David Climb Machu Picchu Directed by MICHAEL LAHAIE Comedy legends Bob Odenkirk and David Cross tackle one of the world's toughest hikes — and each other…
ARCHIVAL, Human Rights Spotlight, Leon & Mary Strauss Documentary Spotlight, Race In America: The Black Experience

Brothers in Blood: Black in Vietnam

Film Brothers in Blood: Black in Vietnam Directed by Joseph Puleo In the 1960s and early 1970s, Black Americans fought two wars, one in Vietnam and one at home…
Human Rights Spotlight, Leon & Mary Strauss Documentary Spotlight

Crime & Parody

Film Crime & Parody Directed by Will Thwaites After an amateur comedian is thrown in jail for political satire, The Onion joins his fight for free…
Human Rights Spotlight, Human Ties, Leon & Mary Strauss Documentary Spotlight, Race In America: The Black Experience, Women In Film Spotlight

Cycle

Film Cycle Directed by Laura Dyan Kezman, William Howell CYCLE pierces the silence surrounding police violence through the death of Ty’rese West, a Black teenager killed by…
Asian Focus, Human Rights Spotlight, International Spotlight, Leon & Mary Strauss Documentary Spotlight, Oscar-Qualifying Shorts Competition, Spotlight on Inspiration Documentary Competition, The Immigrant Experience

Enver

Film Enver Directed by Hsi-lun Chen, Will Wen-jeng Chen A Uyghur surgeon in exile in the UK turns a long-buried secret into public testimony, yet one question…
Fine Arts Spotlight, International Spotlight, Leon & Mary Strauss Documentary Spotlight, Spotlight on Inspiration Documentary Competition, Women In Film Spotlight

Every Line Becomes A Circle

Film Every Line Becomes A Circle Directed by Christopher Leete, Lynnette Luis, Ottilie Maters Every Line Becomes A Circle is a powerful documentary about 94-year-old German artist Inge Besgen. Her life and…
Environmental Focus, Leon & Mary Strauss Documentary Spotlight, Race In America: The Black Experience, Women In Film Spotlight

Fork in the Road

Film Fork in the Road Directed by Jonathan Nastasi, Vivian Sorenson Through compelling stories from independent farmers across the United States, from Alaskan kelp harvesters to dairy farmers in…
Asian Focus, Cinema For Students Program, Human Rights Spotlight, Human Ties, International Spotlight, Leon & Mary Strauss Documentary Spotlight

From Gaza with Love

Film From Gaza with Love Directed by Charles Villa, Suhail Nassar Before the war, Suhail Nassar was a graphic designer. Since then, he has been filming the children of…
Leon & Mary Strauss Documentary Spotlight, Show-Me Cinema

Half Order

Film Half Order Directed by Remrod HALF ORDER is a cultural documentary exploring the bond between Black culture in St. Louis and the city’s...
Environmental Focus, Human Ties, Leon & Mary Strauss Documentary Spotlight, Race In America: The Black Experience, Spotlight on Inspiration Documentary Competition, Women In Film Spotlight

Harvest

Film Harvest Directed by Hyacinth Parker, Natalie Baszile Four brothers. One farm. A season that could change everything. HARVEST follows the Nelson brothers, fourth-generation farmers in…
Human Rights Spotlight, Leon & Mary Strauss Documentary Spotlight, Race In America: The Black Experience, Show-Me Cinema

Hell on Hall Street

Film Hell on Hall Street Directed by Ben Pfeiffer, Troy Jones Hell on Hall Street documents the grassroots movement led by ArchCity Defenders to close and demolish St. Louis’s…
Cinema For Students Program, Human Rights Spotlight, Human Ties, Leon & Mary Strauss Documentary Spotlight, Oscar-Qualifying Shorts Competition, Spotlight on Inspiration Documentary Competition, Women In Film Spotlight

Her Baby Don’t Block Her Jumpshot

Film Her Baby Don’t Block Her Jumpshot Directed by Emily M Lobsenz For most of the 20th century, Iowa high school girls thrilled fans in packed stadiums playing 6-on-6 basketball.…
Asian Focus, Human Ties, International Spotlight, Leon & Mary Strauss Documentary Spotlight, Spotlight on Inspiration Documentary Competition

Home From The Vietnam War

Film Home From The Vietnam War Directed by Mat Hames Haunted by the war he tried to forget, a decorated U.S. veteran returns to Vietnam with a friend…
Asian Focus, Human Rights Spotlight, Human Ties, International Spotlight, Leon & Mary Strauss Documentary Spotlight, Spotlight on Inspiration Documentary Competition, The Immigrant Experience, Women In Film Spotlight

Hoop Like This

Film Hoop Like This Directed by Shubhangi Shekhar Twelve players come together to form the world’s first professional Indian origin basketball team, risking their careers, reputation,…
Leon & Mary Strauss Documentary Spotlight

Jane Elliott Against the World

Film Jane Elliott Against the World Directed by Judd Ehrlich A rural Iowa schoolteacher becomes a national voice against racism after leading a controversial 1968 lesson in discrimination...
Leon & Mary Strauss Documentary Spotlight, Women In Film Spotlight

Kenny Loggins: Conviction of the Heart

Film Kenny Loggins: Conviction of the Heart Directed by DORI Berinstein Kenny Loggins – multi-platinum, Grammy, Emmy-winning and Oscar and Tony-nominated Songwriter/Recording Artist – was a shy, gawky, unpopular…
Cinema For Students Program, Human Rights Spotlight, Human Ties, International Spotlight, Leon & Mary Strauss Documentary Spotlight, Spotlight on Inspiration Documentary Competition, Women In Film Spotlight

Kikuyu Land

Film Kikuyu Land Directed by Andrew H. Brown, Bea Wangondu In Kenya’s tea highlands, one man’s claim to his family’s stolen land sets Mr. Mungai against a multinational…
American Indie Spotlight, ARCHIVAL, Cinema For Students Program, Human Rights Spotlight, Human Ties, Leon & Mary Strauss Documentary Spotlight, Spotlight on Inspiration Documentary Competition, The Immigrant Experience, Women In Film Spotlight

Landscapes of Memory

Film Landscapes of Memory Directed by Leah Galant Landscapes Of Memory follows Leah Galant's journey through Germany as she reckons with family trauma and the weight…
Leon & Mary Strauss Documentary Spotlight

Manhood

Film Manhood Directed by Daniel Lombroso “Manhood” follows Dallas entrepreneur Bill Moore as he attempts to make penis enlargement as commonplace as Botox. Along...
Leon & Mary Strauss Documentary Spotlight, Spanish-Language Focus, The Immigrant Experience

Mexicanamerican

Film Mexicanamerican Directed by Eddie Sánchez Expertly merging old VHS home movies with new family interviews, filmmaker Eddie Sánchez traces his parents' journey from…
Human Rights Spotlight, Leon & Mary Strauss Documentary Spotlight, QFest LGBTQ Spotlight, Race In America: The Black Experience, Spotlight on Inspiration Documentary Competition, Women In Film Spotlight

My NDA

Film My NDA Directed by Juliane Dressner and Miriam Shor Bound by non-disclosure agreements that forbid them from even acknowledging they signed one, three individuals risk everything by…
Human Rights Spotlight, International Spotlight, Leon & Mary Strauss Documentary Spotlight, Spotlight on Inspiration Documentary Competition, Women In Film Spotlight

Reading the World

Film Reading the World Directed by Catherine Murphy, Iris de Oliveira In 1963, global icon Paulo Freire led an experimental project teaching hundreds of rural farmers to read, write…
American Indie Spotlight, Cinema For Students Program, Fine Arts Spotlight, Human Rights Spotlight, Human Ties, Leon & Mary Strauss Documentary Spotlight, Race In America: The Black Experience, Women In Film Spotlight

Romare Bearden: A Life in Collage

Film Romare Bearden: A Life in Collage Directed by Deborah Riley Draper RB_SM_WIKI.1716__Pablo Picasso meeting with Rosanjin
Human Rights Spotlight, Leon & Mary Strauss Documentary Spotlight, Spotlight on Inspiration Documentary Competition, The Immigrant Experience, Women In Film Spotlight

Sapiro v. Ford: The Jew Who Sued Henry Ford

Film Sapiro v. Ford: The Jew Who Sued Henry Ford Directed by Gaylen Ross Sapiro v. Ford tells the riveting true story of Aaron Sapiro, a young Jewish lawyer who took on…
American Indie Spotlight, Human Rights Spotlight, Human Ties, Leon & Mary Strauss Documentary Spotlight, Oscar-Qualifying Shorts Competition, Spotlight on Inspiration Documentary Competition, The Immigrant Experience

Sawyer Avenue, Sunday Afternoon

Film Sawyer Avenue, Sunday Afternoon Directed by Bill Morrison When masked US Customs and Border Protection agents abduct a man from a residential street in Chicago without…
Leon & Mary Strauss Documentary Spotlight, Spotlight on Inspiration Documentary Competition, Women In Film Spotlight

Seized

Film Seized Directed by Sharon Liese Balancing the absurdity of small-town politics with the gravity of a constitutional crisis, the small town of Marion,…
American Indie Spotlight, Human Rights Spotlight, Human Ties, International Spotlight, Leon & Mary Strauss Documentary Spotlight, The Immigrant Experience

Stay Forte

Film Stay Forte Directed by Doron Eran Stay Forte is a haunting story of survival, resilience, and the fragile bonds that hold us together when…
Cinema For Students Program, Environmental Focus, Leon & Mary Strauss Documentary Spotlight, Spotlight on Inspiration Documentary Competition

The [Conserv]atives

Film The [Conserv]atives Directed by Dominic Whinfield Gill, Nadia Michelle Gill As extreme weather intensifies and the 2024 election looms, four Republicans embedded in different corners of the conservative…
Cinema For Students Program, Human Ties, Leon & Mary Strauss Documentary Spotlight, Oscar-Qualifying Shorts Competition, Race In America: The Black Experience, Spotlight on Inspiration Documentary Competition

The Good News

Film The Good News Directed by Christopher Hoerdemann A documentary about the transformation of Chicago’s Austin neighborhood—told by the people who are leading it. Once dismissed…
Leon & Mary Strauss Documentary Spotlight

The Great Experiment

Film The Great Experiment Directed by Eric Daniel Metzgar, Stephen T. Maing The Great Experiment is an ambitious cinematic time capsule of one of the most volatile and perplexing eras...
ARCHIVAL, Cinema For Students Program, Fine Arts Spotlight, Human Ties, Leon & Mary Strauss Documentary Spotlight, Spotlight on Inspiration Documentary Competition

The Last Picture Shows

Film The Last Picture Shows Directed by Rustin Thompson Filmmaker Rustin Thompson journeys into the American West on a search for traces of what was once a…
Human Ties, International Spotlight, Leon & Mary Strauss Documentary Spotlight

The Last Prometheus of Donbas

Film The Last Prometheus of Donbas Directed by Anton Shtuka A story of heroic energy workers at the last operating power plant in eastern Ukraine, only 10 km…
Environmental Focus, Human Ties, Leon & Mary Strauss Documentary Spotlight, Spotlight on Inspiration Documentary Competition

The Life We Leave

Film The Life We Leave Directed by JJ Gerber An ambitious entrepreneur and two funeral directors pioneer a groundbreaking eco-friendly deathcare facility in Washington state, challenging traditional…
Leon & Mary Strauss Documentary Spotlight

The Life We Leave / Worldless

Program The Life We Leave / Worldless The Life We Leave An ambitious entrepreneur and two funeral directors pioneer a groundbreaking eco-friendly deathcare facility in...
Leon & Mary Strauss Documentary Spotlight

The Lorraine

Film The Lorraine Directed by Sam Pollard Renowned documentarian Sam Pollard tells the astonishing, inspiring story of the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee, site of...
ARCHIVAL, Human Rights Spotlight, International Spotlight, Leon & Mary Strauss Documentary Spotlight, Spotlight on Inspiration Documentary Competition, The Immigrant Experience

Theodor Herzl: The Man Behind Israel

Film Theodor Herzl: The Man Behind Israel Directed by Dominic Howlett, James Dann Theodor Herzl is one of the most consequential figures in modern history; yet almost no one knows his…
Leon & Mary Strauss Documentary Spotlight, QFest LGBTQ Spotlight, Women In Film Spotlight

Tim Miller Citizen Artist: Performing Stories to Change the Ending

Film Tim Miller Citizen Artist: Performing Stories to Change the Ending Directed by Keenan OReilly Citizen Artist explores the life and career of the internationally acclaimed performance artist Tim Miller who, over his…
Human Rights Spotlight, Human Ties, International Spotlight, Leon & Mary Strauss Documentary Spotlight, Spotlight on Inspiration Documentary Competition, Women In Film Spotlight

Traces

Film Traces Directed by Alisa Kovalenko, Marysia Nikitiuk Traces shines a light on Ukrainian women who, after surviving conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) and torture during Russia’s…
American Indie Spotlight, Human Rights Spotlight, Human Ties, Leon & Mary Strauss Documentary Spotlight, QFest LGBTQ Spotlight, Race In America: The Black Experience, Spotlight on Inspiration Documentary Competition

What Will I Become?

Film What Will I Become? Directed by Lexie Bean, Logan Rozos Winner of the Amnesty International Film Award at the Berlin International Film Festival, What Will I Become? explores…
Leon & Mary Strauss Documentary Spotlight

Wild Inside

Film Wild Inside Directed by Penny Lane On February 2, 2023, Flaco — a male Eurasian eagle-owl, the largest species of owl in the world...
Human Rights Spotlight, Human Ties, Leon & Mary Strauss Documentary Spotlight, Spotlight on Inspiration Documentary Competition, The Immigrant Experience

Wood Street

Film Wood Street Directed by Caron Creighton Two unhoused men turned community leaders— John and LaMonté —organize their neighbors in the face of displacement, addiction,…
American Indie Spotlight, Human Ties, Leon & Mary Strauss Documentary Spotlight, Spotlight on Inspiration Documentary Competition, Women In Film Spotlight

Yo (Love is a Rebellious Bird)

Film Yo (Love is a Rebellious Bird) Directed by Anna Fitch, Banker White Anna spends a decade obsessively building a detailed 1/3-scale version of her friend’s house after losing her. It’s…