Human Rights

Inspired doco about 60s death squads who executed over a million Indonesian communists, made in collaboration with the executioners. “I have not seen a film as powerful, surreal and frightening in at least a decade.” — Werner Herzog

Winner of both Jury and Audience Awards for Best Documentary at Sundance, Blood Brother explores the idealism of a young American aid worker in an Indian orphanage. “Documentaries don’t come any bigger-hearted.” — Variety

With the intrigue and energy of a thriller, Dirty Wars shines a startling light on the new shape of America’s War on Terror. Acclaimed journalist Jeremy Scahill investigates the far-reaching Joint Special Operations Command.

Withering indictment of Bad Pharma chronicles resistance to the conjunction of Western market forces and health care in Africa. “A testament to human decency and a damning indictment of laissez-faire capitalism.” — The Observer

Cambodian filmmaker Rithy Panh’s perennial project is to bear witness to the history that the Khmer Rouge, with terrible effectiveness, systematically consigned to oblivion. In this remarkable new film, winner of the Un Certain Regard prize at Cannes this year, he enlists a mix of narration, propaganda footage, music, photos and tiny carved models.

The only Arab film in Cannes this year was a very good one. Omar, from director Hany Abu-Assad (Paradise Now), is a hyper-tense West Bank thriller, invested with potent noir fatalism by the gridlock of Israeli-Palestinian violence.

Close-up view of anti-Putin Russian art/punk/performance troupe Pussy Riot staging their 'interventions’ – and on trial for hooliganism in a Moscow cathedral. “Electrifying.” — Now

Chinese director Jia Zhang-ke’s shocking new film draws on spectacular true-crime stories. The oblique observer of how societal change impacts individual lives (Still Life, The World) now confronts contemporary violence head-on.

The first-ever feature to be made entirely in Saudi Arabia or directed by a Saudi woman is a smart and funny tale of a sassy ten-year-old girl with her heart set on owning a bike.

Alex Gibney (Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room) delivers a gripping account of the rise and fall of Julian Assange and outted WikiLeaks whistle-blower Bradley Manning. “Probing, altogether enthralling.” — New York