North Bergen, North Bergen

The Ozu Diaries

September 2025 •English

Unveiling Yasujiro Ozu’s legacy through his personal diaries, letters, and interviews, the documentary delves into his life, creative process, and lasting impact on filmmaking.

Do Rocks Dream of Flying ?

October 2025 •Spanish

Two young documentarists travel around a forsaken island in the aftermath of a cataclysmic volcanic eruption. Their wanders lead them to the encounter of Professor Pereda, an acoustic geologist, conducting researches on geo-acoustics.

Celebrating the Rice Media Center

April 2024 •English

Through the Fondren Fellows program, the Rice Media Center Archive Project has spent the past few months sifting through material stored at the now-defunct Rice Media Center. The team has identified several films as especially notable and will be presenting them in conjunction with documentary footage the team shot of people involved with the films. From lectures featuring Roberto Rossellini and Werner Herzog to films from former Rice students and faculty, the film presentation will tell the narrative of the Rice Media Center through the films and filmmakers that passed through its corridors.

A Train Arrives at the Station

January 2016 •English

“This film was a gift to me. I make no claims for it, nor do I offer any apologies. It comes from work on The Thoughts That Once We Had. There was one shot we had to cut whose loss I particularly regretted. It was a shot of a train pulling into Tokyo Station from Ozu’s The Only Son (1936). So I decided to make a film around this shot, an anthology of train arrivals. It comprises 26 scenes or shots from movies, 1904-2015. It has a simple serial structure: each black & white sequence in the first half rhymes with a color sequence in the second half. Thus the first shot and the final shot show trains arriving at stations in Japan from a low camera height. In the first shot (The Only Son), the train moves toward the right; in the last shot, it moves toward the left. A bullet train has replaced a steam locomotive. So after all these years, I’ve made another structural film, although that was not my original intention.”

Werner Herzog: Radical Dreamer

October 2022 •German

With exclusive behind-the-scenes access into Herzog’s everyday life, rare archive material and in-depth interviews with celebrated collaborators – including Christian Bale, Nicole Kidman, and Robert Pattinson, we are given an exciting glimpse into the work and personal life of the iconic artist.

I Lived, But...

October 1983 •Japanese

An extremely lovely tribute to Ozu, on the 20th anniversary of his death. It uses a combination of footage from vintage films and new material (both interviews and Ozu-related locations) shot by Ozu's long-time camera-man (who came out of retirement to work on this). Surprisingly (or perhaps not), it focuses less on Ozu's accomplishments as a film-maker than on his impact on the lives of the people he worked with..

Herzog: The Wrath Of Klaus

June 2012 •English

A pre-fame Werner Herzog (Adam Ezagouri) is asked to share a flat with a strange new actor only known as Klaus Kinski. Herzog agrees but soon regrets his generous decision as Kinski proves to be one uncanny flatmate. Despite their disagreements, both decide to try and shoot Herzog's own version of Don Quixote, with disastrous consequences.

Silver Night

October 2023 •English

It seemed like a typically quiet night... but the most unexpected encounter leads Chris to a difficult choice.

Tupelo's Own Elvis Presley

June 2007 •English

This film features unreleased concert footage of Elvis Presley's afternoon performance at the 'Mississippi-Alabama Fair and Dairy Show' held at the Fairgrounds in Tupelo, Mississippi on September 26, 1956. The professionally filmed black and white newsreel footage was synchronized with an amateur audio recording of the concert that had previously appeared on the 'Elvis Presley: A Golden Celebration' LP/CD box set.

Return to Sin City: A Tribute to Gram Parsons

November 2004 •English

With a vision that took him far beyond the genre of country rock, singer-songwriter Gram Parsons left his mark in gut-wrenching sentiments of country music, burning melodies typical of soul music, sweet, uplifting harmonies of gospel choirs and the hand-clapping boogie of rock and roll. Gram's daughter Polly organized this amazing gathering of his close friends and biggest fans for a Sin City tribute honoring this prince of longhair country boys. A sampling of the live performances include Six Days on the Road Sin City All Stars; Big Mouth Blues Jim Lauderdale; Devil in Disguise Jay Farrar; Sleepless Nights Lucinda Williams; Love Hurts Keith Richards & Norah Jones; Sin City Dwight Yoakam, and more, including commentaries by Polly Parsons and Shilah Morrow.

Blue Motion: Rulers of the Oceans

March 2004 •English

The fascinating world of ocean fauna: dangerous sharks, majestic stingrays, brilliantly coloured fish and a variety of species from the diver's paradise of the Maldives. Spectacular images of the diverse life-forms to be found under water.

These Heathen Dreams

August 2014 •English

Once described by the press as "one of the most controversial figures on the Australian art scene", avant-garde poet and playwright Christopher Barnett achieved a level of notoriety in the Melbourne underground theatre scene during the ‘70s and ‘80s, before self-exiling to France. He remains there today, running an experimental theatre lab working with the marginalised and underprivileged, applauded by the establishment (including former French Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault) and faithful to his belief that art can change the world. These Heathen Dreams is an intimate portrait of Barnett's life and revolutionary philosophy. Combining archival footage dating back to the ‘60s with contemporary observational documentation and text from Barnett's writings, it is a poignant and inspiring study of the power of both art and political activism.

Don't Throw Stones

August 2014 •English

Stephen Cummings is one of Australia's most revered rock 'n' roll icons. Rising to fame as frontman of ‘70s legends The Sports, he has spent more than 30 years at the forefront of the local music scene, forging a reputation both as one of Australian rock's greatest lyrical storytellers and also one of its most incendiary critics. Based on his scathing tell-all memoir Will It Be Funny Tomorrow, Billy?, Don't Throw Stones tells Cummings' story in his own words – as well as the words of those he has so gleefully skewered. Featuring interviews with Michael Gudinski, Steve Kilbey, Joe Camilleri and many more, Don't Throw Stones is a revealing portrait of three decades of rock-world gossip, larger-than-life personalities and good, old-fashioned artistic beef.

Blue Man Group - How to Be a Megastar Live!

April 2008 •English

How To Be A Megastar Tour 2.0. Blue Man Group's inventive new how-to-manual, which expands on the Rock Concert Manual concept from The Complex Rock Tour, will take you through the steps of a wildly clever and interactive show that offers unique all-ages appeal.

Ready

September 2008 •English

Absinthe remains committed to documenting these amazing riders with the most timeless and stylish medium: Film. Following up to last year’s question ‘Optimistic?’, Absinthe answers with a crew of riders who overcome obstacles with spontaneity and skill in another full spectrum snowboard film that is down to have some more fun with snowboarding. Ready.

For Right Or Wrong

January 2006 •English

For For Right Or Wrong is a documentary feature made in conjunction with Burton Snowboards, which profiles several of the companies sponsored riders in their various snow board disciplines; Pipe, Street, Free Ride and Big Air. A large part of the action takes place around the snowboard wunderkind Shaun White, as he prepares to compete in the 2006 winter Olympic Games in Torino, Italy. The other various narrative strands follow the different paths of the individual boarders as we see them in action and they talk about why it is they do what they do. The film also introduces Burton Snow Board founder and CEO of Burton, Jake Burton Carpenter.

The Journal

April 2008 •English

Cold Fusion

May 2001 •English

For the 52nd year, Warren Miller is back—with his best film ever! Join Cold Fusion’s world-class athletes as they embark on exciting adventures to such extraordinary locations as Kenya and Verbier, in search of the bluest skies and deepest powder. Warren Miller’s films have been astounding audiences for half a century—inspiring people of all ages to keep their snowriding dream alive—and this 52nd edition is no exception. Cold Fusion delivers the fiercest line-up of talented athletes as they set out on the most exotic, thrilling expeditions ever. But that’s not all! Witness two astounding never-before-seen world records! Complementing the on-screen excitement, Cold Fusion features a thundering soundtrack with electrifying artists like Dave Matthews Band and Foo Fighters. And of course, Warren Millernarratese the film, bringing you plenty of the wry humor that has made him famous. Cold Fusion is one downhill ride you don’t want to miss!

Storm

November 2002 •English

You can’t have all the things we love like skiing and snow without a good Storm. Follow along as skiers and riders like Seth Morrison, Toby Dawson, Jeremy Bloom, Tanner Hall, and Glen Plake tackle every condition and obstacle in their way head on in order to ski some of the freshest snow around. Warren Miller takes you on a trip from Idaho, California, and Colorado, all the way to Canada, Austria and even to the distant country of Georgia and along the way proves that a good Storm can happen wherever you’re at.

Lakai - Fully Flared

November 2007 •English

A skateboarding film featuring the Lakai team filmed over the course of 4 years.