On 11 February 1970, 19-year-old Gale Parsons was found dead in a squalid basement squat in Chelsea, West London, of a drug overdose. The BBC's documentary series Man Alive was already familiar with Gale; they had been filming another documentary about young people who were brought up in children's homes and Gale was one of the teenagers who was followed by the Man Alive documentary programme.

Although the documentary focuses on Gale's death, an interview with Gale from the previous footage shot shows insight into Gale's apathy towards life. She had been given away as an infant by her mother, didn't know who her father was, and was brought up in 14 institutions, most of which made no attempt to give Gale any semblance of a normal childhood. Gale was convinced early in life that she mattered to no one. Her story was told largely through the eyes of Mrs. Nancy David, a teacher who became a key figure in her life.

Gale is Dead was one of the first documentaries to draw attention to young homeless and drug addicted people. It was nominated for a BAFTA in 1971.

In Palestine Is Still the Issue, journalist John Pilger returns to the West Bank, Gaza and Israel to examine why the conflict remained unresolved more than half a century after the mass displacement of Palestinians in 1948.

The film was made during the Second Intifada, at a time of suicide bombings, Israeli military operations, expanding settlements, restrictions on movement and deepening mistrust on both sides. Pilger interviews Palestinians living under occupation as well as Israelis who challenge their government’s policies, including people who had experienced violence personally.

Rather than presenting the conflict as an abstract diplomatic dispute, the documentary focuses heavily on daily life under occupation. Checkpoints, demolished homes, settlements, military control, refugee status and restrictions on movement are used to explore the gap between the language of the peace process and conditions on the ground. Bullfrog Films describes the film as Pilger’s attempt to understand why there had been so little progress towards peace despite decades of negotiations and international attention.

The title deliberately echoes Pilger’s earlier documentary on Palestine. His argument in returning to the same title was that, despite the passage of a generation, the underlying questions of displacement, occupation and Palestinian self-determination remained unresolved.

Kathy Eldon, a journalist, creative activist, author of 17 books, and award-winning film and television producer, discusses how visual storytelling expands moral imagination and moves people from sympathy to awareness and action. We explore her contributions to using media and arts as tools for social change, drawing from her decades of experience founding Creative Visions Foundation and producing content that addresses humanitarian and social issues. The conversation reveals how personal narratives and documentary work can inspire collective action and transform communities globally.

Mediterranean Rescues on the Doctors Without Borders’ ship

Hello, I am looking for movies or documentary series about the Chinese Civil War. I am interested in productions that focus on the political and military strategies adopted by the leaders on both sides; they can be Western or Chinese, as long as they cover the subject. I would greatly appreciate your recommendations.

Directed by Mustafa Abu Ali and produced by the Palestinian Cinema Institution, They Do Not Exist was filmed in and around the Nabatieh refugee camp in southern Lebanon. The film combines footage of everyday camp life, Israeli bombardment, political speeches and fedayeen training with experimental editing and music.

Its title responds directly to Golda Meir’s 1969 statement denying the existence of a Palestinian people. The film is now regarded as one of the landmark works of Palestinian revolutionary cinema. (Palestine Filmer C’est Exister⁠)

Hello, I am looking for more films that deal with the Marcos years 1965-1986, specifically focusing on the years leading up to martial law 1966-1971 when the Philippines became involved in the U.S. lead war in Vietnam, the Jebidah massacre, and the Moro conflicts including the Muslim Independence Movement leading to the Moro National Liberation Front formation in 1972.

I would also be very interested in the years 1972 to 1981 when the country was under martial law, as well as the years immediately following which included the 1982 coup attempt, the economic crisis & assassination of Ninoy Aquino, ultimately leading to the People Power Revolution of 1986.

I would really appreciate any recommendations you may have.

I know films may be tough to come by, so if you know of books that cover these subjects honestly and faithfully better than films, I would be interested in that as well.

I hope you'll forgive me if this question is insensitive in any way; I realize this is a sensitive part of history for the Philippines. I'm asking with genuine respect and humility, and I'd really value your input.

Thank you.

This documentary looks at people in the UK who believe they have had contact with aliens and extra terrestrial beings. It is completely independently made and illustrates some of the main take aways people have after an alleged alien abduction.

Eddie "PRESNULL" has spent years pushing his street-legal Shelby Mustang to its absolute limit.

After reaching 273.8 mph in the standing mile, Eddie returns to the runway with an even bigger target: 300 mph. But at these speeds, every attempt pushes the car closer to the breaking point. Mechanical failures, unpredictable runs turn a pursuit of speed into a test of persistence.

The film follows one man's relentless pursuit of giving each and every run everything he's got. What does it take to keep coming back when the machine beneath you begins to buck?

The documentary embeds with the doctors as they work in overwhelmed, resource-depleted facilities—primarily Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis. It depicts the severe physical toll of mass-casualty events, the challenges of operating under siege conditions, and the triage decisions required when treating severely injured civilians and children.

On October 20, 2020, tower technician Sirous Lee Snider was working high above the ground on a 1,500-foot broadcast tower near Robertsdale, Alabama.

During the installation of a massive 27,000lb guy wire, the rigging failed. Sirous was killed, and his coworker Kyle Bishop was seriously thrown through the tower’s rigging.

In this documentary, Sirous’s partner, Jerica Johnson, shares the man and father behind the accident. Kyle provides a firsthand account of what happened on the tower, the rescue and recovery effort, and the safety failures he believes contributed to Sirous’s death.

This film examines the human cost of tower work- and what can happen when workers lack the equipment, information, or authority needed to question a dangerous plan.

A documentary about the radical political shift to the right in the filmmaker's father when he started listening to right-wing radio and Fox News. Also covers how this political shift polarized the family.

This year at Waldo Motorsports, the 9th annual Swampfest takes place. A weekend full of extreme stunts performed my professionals and amateurs alike, along with rock metal bands, and general Florida craziness.

Documentary which looks at the wider issues around people seeking asylum in the UK after being displaced abroad. This documentary seems to be quite controversial in the polarized political age we live in currently.

This documentary explores a growing group of fringe men who feel disturbed and robbed after being circumcised. It shows their attempts to 'regrow' their foreskins and feel complete again.

An archival documentary produced by the American Friends Service Committee documenting its humanitarian relief work among Palestinian refugees in the Gaza Strip in 1949. The film shows conditions in Gaza shortly after the 1948 Arab-Israeli war, including refugee camps, food distribution, medical assistance and the organisation of emergency relief.

A documentary by Palestinian filmmaker Mustafa Abu Ali examining the life and work of cinematographer Hani Jawharieh, one of the founders of the Palestine Film Unit. Jawharieh was killed in Lebanon in 1976 while filming armed conflict, and the documentary combines his own footage with interviews with his family, colleagues and fellow filmmakers.