Paradigms Films 2010

Dream People of the Amazon

By Larry Landsburg

“Dream People of the Amazon” tells the story of the Achuar, indigenous people who live in a remote and pristine part of the Amazon rain forest in southeastern Ecuador. The Achuar had no contact with the outside world until the early 1970’s.
The Achuar people live in a part of the Amazon rain forest as pristine today as it was a thousand years ago.

Their dreams are keeping it that way.

Conversations with the Earth – Indigenous Voices on Climate Change

By Insight Share

Insight Share are leaders in the use of Participatory Video as a tool for individuals and groups to grow in self-confidence and trust, and to build skills to act for change. In a series of twelve shorts we can visit Maasai pastoralists, living near Oltepesi in Kenya, travel to the Sacred Mountains (Apus) of Peru where shamans help keep climate harmony, or learn about the experiences and lives of local youth in Cambridge Bay in the Arctic Circle where we find traditional fishing, hunting, Arctic sports and hear local legends on the origin of death and musical traditions such as throat singing.
This is a unique opportunity to meet Indigenous videographers from the 6 new media hubs in Cameroon, Philippines, Peru, Arctic, Kenya and Panama – part of a growing regional and a global network of Indigenous communities working on climate and human rights issues.

http://www.insightshare.org

Visions of a Universal Humanity

By Barbara Marx Hubbard

In Visions futurist Barbara Marx Hubbard brings together some of the finest minds of our time, such as Nassim Haramein (Unified Field Theory Physicist), to reveal a positive future for Humanity. The second movie of the Humanity Ascending documentary series.

http://www.visionsthemovie.com

2012: Time for Change

By João Amorim and Daniel Pinchbeck

“2012: Time for Change” projects a radical alternative to apocalyptic doom and gloom.  Directed by Emmy Award nominee João Amorim, the film follows journalist Daniel Pinchbeck, author of the bestselling 2012: The Return of Quetzalcoatl, on a quest for a new paradigm that integrates the archaic wisdom of tribal cultures with the scientific method. As conscious agents of volution, we can redesign post-industrial society on ecological principles to make a world that works for all.  Rather than breakdown and barbarism, 2012 will herald the birth of a regenerative planetary culture where collaboration replaces competition, where exploration of psyche and spirit becomes the new cutting edge, replacing the sterile materialism that has pushed our world to the brink. Featuring Sting, Ellen Page, David Lynch, Buckminster Fuller, Barbara Marx Hubbard, Dennis McKenna amongst many others.

http://2012timeforchange.com

É Dreda Ser Angolano

By Fazuma Collective

This mambo style documentary by Fazuma collective has been surprising audiences in Portugal and beyond, winning prizes and selling out at shops. An outstanding musical and visual trip to the streets of Luanda, Angola, inspired by the album NGONGUENHAÇÃO by Ngonguenha.

http://www.myspace.com/edredaserangolano

A Mad Harvest

By Anita Shukla

Another visually stunning activist animation-short by independent film maker Anita Shukla. A trip to the world of nuclear weapons, A Mad Harvest, puts the focus on government priorities over food for impoverished millions.

Voltage

By Bam Studio (BR)

This impressive animation short by Bam Studio Films (Brazil) tells the story of connection, discovery, action and reaction. Just like synthesizers, people connect between each other in order to achieve certain results. In Voltage, half-human, half-robot synthesizers are fuelled by astonishing amounts of energy and connect in an electrically chaotic trance. Visually mesmerizing!

Invocation

By Fernando del Sol

Invocation is part of the trilogy “Ceremonies & Rituals” by independent  ethnographic/anthropological documentary filmmaker Fernando del Sol.
Deep rooted in experience yet fun-filled psychedelic music-driven adventure delving into the beauty of humanity’s attempt to create bridges between ourselves and the invisible forces of the Universe, through prayer, meditation, purification and austerities… Invocation takes us to the  largest human gathering on Earth: Kumbha Mela, India.

Vine of the Soul – Encounters with Ayahuasca

By Richard Meech

In the heart of the Amazon, a doctor and an accountant experience life-altering epiphanies when they drink a psychoactive brew called ayahuasca, the ‘Vine of the Soul’.
In-depth interviews with Peruvian and Canadian shamans, ethnobotanist Dennis McKenna, addiction expert Dr. Gabor Maté and scholar Kenneth Tupper speak to the increasing use of ayahuasca outside the Amazon and the potential benefits for Western medicine, personal spiritual growth and a new understanding of Nature.

http://www.vineofthesoul.com

The Third Pole

By Navdanya and Tadpole

The Third Pole studies the neglect and compromise of an entire community – the Ladhakis – in most efforts to address the threat to the environment. Water from the Himalayan river systems supports almost one-third of humanity, and yet there is a lack of Government and international policy addressing the problem of receding glaciers. This seems particularly harsh as it becomes evident that Ladakh is home to an ecologically conscious and progressive people. Far from the expanses of the Arctic and the Antarctic, this Third Pole must be seen as the light house, not just in illuminating what is wrong with climate change action but also to signal the methods of adaptation.

Directed and Edited by Neel Chaudhuri
Produced by Kartikey Shiva
Executive Producer | Vandana Shiva

Ibogaine – Rite of Passage

By Ben de Loenen

“Ibogaine – Rite of Passage” is a documentary about the use of the controversial substance Ibogaine for the treatment of addiction. Ibogaine is a substance that is derived from an African plant called Iboga (Tabernanthe iboga), which is used during initiations of the Bwiti culture in Gabon. In the sixties the anti-addictive properties were discovered by Howard Lotsof, who was an American heroin addict at that time. Shortly after his discovery, Ibogaine became illegal in the US. Ibogaine is surrounded by controversy and the pharmaceutical companies show no interest in this substance. Is it because of economical reasons or its hallucinogenic effects? This revealing documentary shows the different aspects of this special substance.
We are pleased to be screening this important film once more at Boom Festival, followed by a tribute to Howard Lotsof, who passed away earlier this year.

1 Giant Leap – What About Me?

By Jamie Catto and Duncan Bridgeman

It’s not often you get to travel the world recording music and talking to celebrities, but 1 Giant Leap have made it a full time job. Taking only a laptop and a video camera 1 Giant Leap producers Jamie Catto (Faithless) and Duncan Bridgeman have had some amazing adventures; all in the name of exploring the differences between men and women.
What About Me? is another lovingly crafted explosion of music, philosophy and image as they visited 50 global locations. Weaving together hundreds of interviews; conversations; music sessions and songs recorded and filmed on their epic journey through the cities and villages of the World – taking an inspiring and alarming look at the numerous ways we humans drive ourselves crazy.
Needy in relationships; insatiable in desire; avoiding all pain with happy pills and unable to stop thinking -but how we still manage to be inspired and creative……

www.whataboutme.tv

Blood of the Amazon

By Nicola Peel

This documentary covers one woman’s story as she travelled down the Amazon researching the effects of the oil industry on the indigenous people who live there. A doctor, an oil company representative and numerous indigenous people tell their story in relation to the blood of the Amazon, the black gold. From pollution to solutions and the largest environmental lawsuit in the history of this planet this film gives the people a voice.

www.eyesofgaia.com
www.bloodoftheamazon.com