The Xi Factor

The Craft of Dirty Harry

June 2008 •English

A look at the cinematographers, editors, musicians, production designers and other talent of the Dirty Harry series.

Who Are We?

January 2016 •English

On the 23rd of June 2016 Britain voted to leave the European Union. Who Are We? is a re-working of material from a BBC television debate transmitted a few weeks earlier.”The most provocative of the bunch is John Smith’s Who Are We?. Leading up to the Brexit vote, BBC’s Question Time became ever more vicious and confrontational. Who Are We? is a manipulation of one of those broadcasts, with David Dimbleby prompting “you, sir, up there on the far right” repeatedly.“Get our identity back – vote leave!” one audience member shouts, while another declares himself a veteran, followed by a swift manipulated cut to rapturous applause. It’s a heavily edited and remixed edition of Question Time, but by highlighting those in the audience with attitudes ranging from nationalistic to xenophobic, Smith’s short film shows the now normalised extremism within our society and our political discourse.” Scott Wilson, Common Space magazine, April 2017

Now and Then - The Last Beatles Song

December 2023 •English

The story of The Beatles' last song featuring exclusive footage and commentary.

Amazing! Exploring the Far Reaches of Forbidden Planet

November 2006 •English

A documentary about the making of, and legacy of, the Forbidden Planet movie.

Statues Hardly Ever Smile

January 1971 •English

Edited by famed filmmaker Kathleen Collins, Statues Hardly Ever Smile follows a group of middle school children during a six-week project at the Brooklyn Museum, where they collectively discover and respond to the Egyptian collection. With narration by a member of the museum’s education department, we witness the group’s daily exercises and reflections as they create a theatre piece centered on the relationships developed with the objects and each other.

Aquaman: Heroines of Atlantis

March 2019 •English

Amber Heard and Nicole Kidman discuss their characters Mera and Atlanna.

Hold on Tight

July 2011 •English

A short documentary exploring the ways LGBT couples show affection, and how small interactions like holding hands in public can carry, not only huge personal significance, but also the power to create social change.

King of Clubs

November 2023 •English

A group of remote control car racers compete over the course of summer 2021, on different tracks in the South of England, all aiming to be crowned the King.

Only the Bravest: Tales of the Green Lantern Corps

June 2011 •English

Documentary talking about bravery in the context of Green Lantern, the hero, and the Green Lantern Corps.

The Man in the Peace Tower

November 1951 •English

Robert Donnell is a man with an unusual occupation. He is the Carilloneur in the Dominion of Canada Peace Tower in Ottawa. Unseen to the visitors , he serenades them from his room high in the tower with 53 carillon bells ranging in weight from ten pounds to eleven tons.

Baldrick's Video Diary - A Blackadder in the Making

October 2001 •English

An intimate behind the scenes short film while shooting the Black Adder special Back and Forth.

La Fantasía de Memo Luna

September 2019 •Spanish

Stories of Strength and Hope: Preventing Youth Suicide

May 2018 •English

An up-to-date look at Youth Suicide with an examination of the warning signs, statistics and causes, along with possible ways teachers and parents can use to help their child overcome this important social issue. Also includes a look at the media and its handling of the social issue through the Netflix series "13 Reasons Why" and the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical, "Dear Evan Hansen."

Sparni

December 2023 •English

It’s the second semester of junior year for Pierce “Sparni” Sparnroft, a gifted jazz vibraphonist studying at Montclair State University in New Jersey. Sparni’s prospects on the vibes were rejuvenated by their new professor, the world-renowned Steve Nelson, and are to be showcased during a student-driven recital in May 2023. But all the while, Sparni must face a crisis within.

The Magic Behind 'd'ILLUSION: The Houdini Musical - The Audio Theater Experience'

December 2020 •English

A special behind-the-scenes look at the making of the audiobook edition of "d'ILLUSION: The Houdini Musical" and how it did its part in helping keep theater and the arts alive during the COVID-19 pandemic.

After Mein Kampf?

August 1961 •English

By combining actual footage with reenactments, this film offers both a documentary and fictional account of the life of Adolf Hitler, from his childhood in Vienna, through the rise of the Third Reich, to his final act of suicide in the waning days of WWII. The film also provides considerable, and often shocking, detail of the atrocities enacted by the Nazi regime under Hitler's command.

Song of Umm Dalaila, the Story of the Sahrawis

January 1993 •English

Takes place in the Saharawi refugee camps in Algeria against the historical backdrop of Spanish colonialism and the Moroccan invasion of the Western Sahara. The Saharawi women, who make up 80% of the adult refugee population, provide a powerful voice as they reveal how they came to assume primary responsibility for the survival of the remains of their families and in turn the entire refugee population.

Strangers

December 2023 •English

When does someone stop being a Stranger? In a world emerging from social lockdown, this documentary explores the way communication is changing. Seven participants give us their views on social interactions, before having a conversation with a Stranger. Will this change their perceptions?

Makayla's Voice: A Letter to the World

January 2024 •English

A teen with autism unlocks a joyous world of self-expression as she shares her voice for the first time using a letter board.

Chanson de gestes

January 1966 •French

Choreography of familiar gestures that the author was able to spice up with a peculiar and original perspective.