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Documentary Competition

From Azerbaijan to Winnetka to Washington D.C., these real-life stories bring you up close and personal with pressing issues, existential questions, and memorable individuals.


A Korean family stares at camera with fairly neutral expressions on their faces.

Between Goodbyes

Jota Mun  |   United States
Korean, English, Dutch
Family Affairs, LGBTQ, Women Centered

A beautifully conceived and profoundly multilayered portrait of a Korean-born Dutch adoptee who reconnects with her birth parents after years of separation.

A group of girls dressed in pink sit on a riverbank looking out.

The Brink of Dreams Rafaat einy ll sama

Nada Riyadh & Ayman El Amir  |   Egypt, France, Denmark, Qatar, Saudi Arabia
Arabic
Coming of Age, Political, Women Centered

A group of Egyptian girls form a street theater troupe as both a creative outlet and an act of defiance. But dreams eventually collide with reality.

A Giraffe stares straight at camera thoughtfully.

Life and Other Problems Livet og andre problemer

Max Kestner  |   Denmark, United Kingdom, Sweden
English, Danish
Environmental, Family Affairs, Social Commentary

The killing of a giraffe in a Copenhagen Zoo is the launching pad for this wry, provocative essay film about life, death, biology, and human and animal consciousness.

A well manicured woman in a sequin jacket holds her cell phone out in front of her, contemplating.

Mistress Dispeller

Elizabeth Lo  |   China, United States
Chinese
Family Affairs, Romance, Women Centered

In this real-life docudrama, a woman in China desperate to save her marriage hires a professional “mistress dispeller” to break up her husband’s affair.

A blurry image of a child dressed in black. She stands amongst potted plants.

My Stolen Planet

Farahnaz Sharifi  |   Germany, Iran
Farsi
Political, Religion, Women Centered

Director Sharifi shares her own story alongside images of Iranian women, past and present, to form a vivid and collective act of resistance.

A woman leans against a tree in the woods. The sun shines orange on her face.

Once Upon a Time in a Forest

Virpi Suutari  |   Finland
Finnish
Environmental, Women Centered

Young climate activists fight to save the Finnish forest in this beautifully photographed, bittersweet ode to youthful dreams and our natural world.

An older man and a younger man stand by a whirring projector.

The Return of the Projectionist Le Retour du projectionniste

Orkhan Aghazadeh  |   France, Germany
Azerbaijani, Talysh
Action, Drama, Historical

In rural Azerbaijan, an aging projectionist teams up with an aspiring young filmmaker to bring movies back to their small town.

Two women with matching hair, sunglasses, and bathing suits lie head to head by a pool.

Wishing on a Star

Péter Kerekes  |   Italy, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Austria, Croatia
Italian, Friulian
Comedy, Romance, Women Centered

In this surprising, poignant documentary, an Italian astrologer promises her clients happiness if they follow the stars on a special birthday trip.

Program Partner

Logo: WTTW (2019)

Program Patron

Cynthia Stone Raskin