The Sound of Philadelphia

Swagger of Thieves

May 2018 •English

Over a decade in the making, Swagger of Thieves follows rock band Head Like a Hole from the top of the charts to the bottom of a needle. Staring down their age, two pals and the main guts of HLAH, frontman Nigel Booga Beazley and 'co- conspirator' Nigel Regan strut the hard road out of hell, fighting to reconnect and return their band to past glory, amidst disgruntled band mates, a changed music industry, and disappointed wives. Struggling to place past addictions and sabotaged dreams behind them in their continuing quest for rock music relevance, the ever-collapsing binary stars of any Head Like a Hole lineup, are certain (not) to polish their legacy here. Swagger of Thieves captures what it means to be in a band with a reputation. Unrelentingly raw, wild and honest, to the point of being one of the most insightful music documentaries ever made. Essential viewing. New Zealand International Film Festival (NZIFF), Melbourne International Documentary Film Festival (MIDFF)

Walk the Line

September 2005 •English

A chronicle of country music legend Johnny Cash's life, from his early days on an Arkansas cotton farm to his rise to fame with Sun Records in Memphis, where he recorded alongside Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins.

Tax Shelter Terrors

December 2017 •English

The first feature-length documentary that fully explores how the toxic social and political Canadian context after 1968 created some of the most nihilistic and imaginative Canadian cult films of the 1970s and 80s and beyond.

The Jersey Sound

July 2024 •English

"The Jersey Sound" is a love letter to New Jersey's diverse music scene. It captures its rich history through untold stories and intimate interviews while paying homage to legendary icons who have called Jersey home. It's an attitude.

One Voice

June 2016 •Portuguese

A documentary about portuguese punk/hardcore scene in Portugal.

The Rise of the Synths

November 2019 •English

A documentary about the Synthwave scene, nostalgia and the universe of creating sounds. A love letter to human fascination and the collective memories of a universe, that never existed.

Frank Serpico

November 2017 •English

In 1972, officer Frank Serpico exposes the corruption which poisons the roots of the NYPD and becomes famous in 1973 when director Sidney Lumet tells his story in the classic film “Serpico,” starring Al Pacino.

That Thing You Do!

October 1996 •English

A Pennsylvania band scores a hit in 1964 and rides the star-making machinery as long as it can, with lots of help from its manager.

Bokassa Ier, empereur de Françafrique

March 2011 •French

The Harder They Come

September 1972 •English

Ivanhoe Martin arrives in Kingston, Jamaica, looking for work and, after some initial struggles, lands a recording contract as a reggae singer. He records his first song, "The Harder They Come," but after a bitter dispute with a manipulative producer named Hilton, soon finds himself resorting to petty crime in order to pay the bills. He deals marijuana, kills some abusive cops and earns local folk hero status. Meanwhile, his record is topping the charts.

St. Mark’s School "Go Lions Go!"

April 2022 •English

A documentation of the year of high school of 1970 to 1971 for students and teachers alike at the St. Mark prep-school community, from the 'weird drama and film students', to the most infamous teachers of the year like Mr. Burns and Mr. Whatley, along with many references to music and film of interest at the time; Consistently from the perspective of an intrusive senior, according to Mr. Whatley, "had the worst case of senioritis he had ever seen." Shot entirely in Super-8, narrated by the director.

It Might Get Loud

September 2008 •English

A documentary on the electric guitar from the point of view of three significant rock musicians: the Edge, Jimmy Page and Jack White.

Elton John: Tantrums & Tiaras

June 1997 •English

Unprecedented access into one of the world's greatest musical talents and his larger than life lifestyle: Elton John. With frank, funny, and touching filmmaking, this documentary is a fascinating and honest look at the complex character of a modern day composer and performing artist.

Jack Paar: Smart Television

November 2003 •English

PBS documentary examining the work of Jack Paar.

Deep Purple: From Here To Infinite

March 2017 •English

Feature length documentary about the story behind the pioneering and influential British heavy metal band as they enter the studio to record their new album.

Wrongly Convicted: Innocent of Murder

August 2024 •English

In 1973, Michael and Patrick McDonagh were sentenced to life in prison for a murder they didn't commit. In Mark Williams-Thomas' latest investigation, he examines the evidence, speaks to witnesses, and unearths a conspiracy to the course of justice.

I Was a Contestant at Mother's Wet T-Shirt Contest

January 1978 •English

A short documentary on wet t-shirt contests at a Chicago bar.

Never Turn Your Back On Sparks

December 2014 •English

As he turns 50, filmmaker Pini Schatz sets out to explore his life-long obsession with the band Sparks (the brothers Ron and Russell Mael). Pini charts the impact of Sparks on his life while meeting with fellow Sparks fans, among them famous musicians, in Tel Aviv, London, Berlin, Rotterdam and NYC. Structured as a personal quest of the filmmaker to prove that Sparks are the coolest underrated band in the history of popular music, this docu-comedy explores the universal themes of growing old and being an outsider, the importance of art in daily life and the power of non-conformism.

The King

June 2018 •English

A cultural portrait of the American dream at a critical time in the nation’s history. Set against the 2016 American election, The King takes a musical road trip across the country in Elvis Presley's 1963 Rolls Royce.

ONEFOUR: Against All Odds

October 2023 •English

A group of Sydney-based, Pacific Islander kids start recording drill raps to avoid a life of crime. Two years into their meteoric rise, a police task force shuts down their sold-out national tour due to concerns that the group's music will incite violence.