Generation Like

Israel's Reel Extremism

August 2024 •English

An examination of Israel and its society after many months of war, seen initially through the prism of viral social media posts - and exclusive interviews with the soldiers behind them. These posts, some shared millions of times, show soldiers humiliating bound Palestinians, ransacking their homes, joking as they detonate schools and whole districts, and laughing as they launch high explosive ordnance into densely-packed areas. The award-winning team behind this Basement Films production traveled to Israel to interview some of these soldiers, who proudly defended themselves and their videos, some expressing callous disregard for Palestinians in Gaza. Through additional interviews with Israeli radical groups, politicians, and media figures, the film reveals Israeli Jewish society in the aftermath of October 7th, gripped by a vengeance and hate that puts into question any possibility for peace.

Jan Terri: No Rules

September 2023 •English

30 years in the making, the film Jan Terri: No Rules tells the story of an irrepressible, and often delightfully perplexing personality. As a child, Jan would dance and sing for anyone who would listen. As a teenager, she began writing and performing her own songs. After earning her BA in Arts and Entertainment Management, she continued making music while working full-time as a limo driver. The income from that job allowed her to hire a studio as well as a videographer to help her make her unorthodox DIY music videos and distributing them on VHS tape. Without her knowledge, her videos made their way to the nascent YouTube. The fact that her most popular YouTube video was given the title “Worst Music Video Ever” didn’t dampen her spirit. Her fanbase grew to include such luminaries as Marilyn Manson and Cynthia Plaster Caster. Over the years, Jan’s independent spirit attracted many collaborators who’ve helped bring her vision to life.

Rubius - Stories from the Battle Bus

September 2024 •Spanish

He rubs shoulders with Hollywood legends, created his own anime series and drove the gaming world crazy with his songs, parodies and live streams. Now, the most influential Fortnite content creator in the Spanish-speaking world, Rubius, is about to join the Icon Series!

Embrace Kids

September 2022 •English

Explores the world of body image through the eyes of children and covers topics including diversity, social media, photoshopping, the influence of media and positive role models.

Siehst du mich

August 2023 •German

Documentary shows what social connections actually are and what role social media plays in this. She portrays four influencers who are all at different points in their social media careers at the beginning of the film: Tasha Kimberly, Emilia Horn and Heiko and Roman Lochmann, formerly of "Die Lochis". They are all driven away from the platforms for different reasons. Using their example, the film explores the clichés of Generation Z and attempts to understand social media as a pop-cultural tool.

Vitalik: An Ethereum Story

September 2024 •English

Chronicles tech visionary Vitalik Buterin and Ethereum's community of builders as they fight for an open internet accessible to all.

Finding Satoshi

January 2022 •English

With only a photograph and a name, a group of passionate puzzle players have been trying without success to answer the question: "Who is this man?" Finding Satoshi is a playful documentary that finally solves the 14 year mystery.

The Internet Warriors

March 2017 •English

Why do people vent such toxic opinions online? Filmmaker Kyrre Lien spent three years travelling the world to find out who these anonymous ‘internet warriors’ are and why they do it.

How To Go Viral

January 2019 •English

Richard Clay, art historian and expert on semiotics and iconoclasm and the interplay between new technology and shifts in meaning, compares and contrasts cultural symbols from across the centuries, unpicking iconic images, music, and other cultural outputs to explain where ‘stickiness’ comes from.

Lily Topples The World

March 2021 •English

Follow 20-year-old Lily Hevesh — the world’s greatest domino toppler and the only woman in her field — in a coming-of-age story of artistry, passion, and unlikely triumph.

The Perfect Selfie

January 2017 •Finnish

Teenager Olivia Oras has 20,000 Instagram followers. The documentary follows a year of her life.

Startup.com

January 2001 •English

Friends since high school, 20-somethings Kaleil Isaza Tuzman and Tom Herman have an idea: a Web site for people to conduct business with municipal governments. This documentary tracks the rise and fall of govWorks.com from May of 1999 to December of 2000, and the trials the business brings to the relationship of these best friends. Kaleil raises the money, Tom's the technical chief. A third partner wants a buy out; girlfriends come and go; Tom's daughter needs attention. And always the need for cash and for improving the site. Venture capital comes in by the millions. Kaleil is on C-SPAN, CNN, and magazine covers. Will the business or the friendship crash first?

The Meaning of Vanlife

April 2019 •English

The Meaning of Vanlife is an adventurous, revealing look into the Vanlife community through the eyes of nomads who have chosen to live a life of freedom on the road. A movement that exemplifies a deeper societal trend towards minimalism and authentic community building.

You're Reminded As You Fall Asleep

October 2024 •English

As the nights go by, a young filmmaker uses his video camera to express his thoughts, dreams, and inner turmoil to an online friend.

A Goodbye to Blessed Realities

February 2024 •English

A video essay that despite, multiple delays, finally released to document the story and cancellation of solo-dev Heavenly Den!'s game, Blessed Realities, as a way to bring closure to the game and the studio's story. The story is over.

Fake Famous

February 2021 •English

Explores the meaning of fame and influence in the digital age through an innovative social experiment. Following three Los Angeles-based people with relatively small followings, the film explores the attempts made to turn them into famous influencers by purchasing fake followers and bots to “engage” with their social media accounts.

Murder on the Social Network

Invalid date •English

Using real cases, this documentary demonstrates the extent to which violent criminals can use social media to locate and manipulate victims.

Nobodies! Heroes!

August 2019 •English

A refreshingly earnest and comedic documentary that tells the story of a family who have dedicated the last 20 years of their lives to sharing their vision of wild creativity through interactive film projects. Disheartened that the transformative power of the camera has been eclipsed by screen scrolling, they embark on a final journey to meet their heroes and bring their own creative visions to life.

Broken VHS Tape

April 2017 •English

Broken VHS Tape is a video diary series created by Lonnie Randall.

Leysi over media in Cuba

October 2023 •Dutch