Films - RAI FILM

RAI FILM

Film list

[the-blooms-of-benjeli-technology-and-gender-in-west-african-ironmaking--Film-image]

The Blooms of Benjeli: Technology and Gender in West African Ironmaking 1997 29‘

Directed by Carlyn Saltman .

The filmmaker and two historians went into the village of Banjeli in 1985 to recreate for the film the traditional iron smelting techniques (which are no longer used) of the area. By focusing on the

West Africa Art / Artists / Artisans Archival material / Museum displays History Material Culture

[in-and-out-of-africa--Film-image]

In and Out of Africa 1993 59‘

Directed by Ilisa Barbash Lucien Taylor .

A classic in ethnographic filmmaking, In and Out of Africa traces the transnational trade of African Art between West Africa and the USA, providing an insight into how value, commoditization and

North America Art / Artists / Artisans Trade Material Culture

[unity-dress-scapes-of-accra--Film-image]

Unity: Dress-scapes of Accra 2016 37‘

Directed by Mara Lin Visser .

This is a film about African fashion in the capital of Ghana. African printed fabrics seem to making a comeback in the fashion system of Accra. While following Allan, a fashion designer and his wife

West Africa Trade Material Culture Art / Artists / Artisans

[the-dream-of-maelen--Film-image]

The Dream of Maelen 2003 25‘

Directed by Eirik Sandberg .

Arne Bakke Mælen lives alone on the small family farm he inherited on the edge of a fjord. The farm is no longer viable economically and, like many small farmers in Norway, he has not found a woman

Scandinavia Art / Artists / Artisans Rural Agriculture / Farming

[men-of-words--Film-image]

Men of Words 2009 22‘

Directed by Johanne Haaber Ihle .

The film explores how ancient traditions of poetry are still used in contemporary Yemen to discuss social and political problems.

Middle and Near East Art / Artists / Artisans Socioeconomic conditions

[the-women-weavers-of-assam--Film-image]

The Women Weavers of Assam 2019 98‘

Special Interest Directed by Aparna Sharma .

The Women Weavers of Assam focuses on the craft, labour and the everyday lives of a group of women weavers in India’s northeastern state of Assam. The weavers belong to a non-profit collective

South Asia Art / Artists / Artisans Gender Role and identity Material Culture

[singing-pictures-women-painters-of-naya--Film-image]

Singing Pictures – Women Painters of Naya 2005 45‘

Directed by Lina Fruzzetti Ákos Östör .

For generations the Patua (Chitrakara) communities of West Bengal have been painters and singers of stories depicted in scrolls. The film follows the daily lives of Muslim Patua women from Naya

South Asia Material Culture Art / Artists / Artisans Music / Ethnomusicology

[out-of-focus--Film-image]

Out of Focus 2013 37‘

Directed by Adrian Arcé Antonio Zirión .

This is a collaborative documentary about arts, culture and everyday life inside a prison for minors. It was shot during a photography and video workshop with young inmates at the Juvenile Community

Central America Children / Young people Prison Art / Artists / Artisans Reflexivity

[je-ne-suis-pas-moi-meme--Film-image]

Je ne suis pas moi-même 2009 50‘

Directed by Alba Mora Anna Sanmartí .

Shot in Cameroon and Brussels, ‘Je ne suis pas moi-même’ examines the complex network surrounding the international market of African antiquities, and the contradictions in a European art market

Central Africa Western Europe Art / Artists / Artisans Trade

[why-is-mr-w-laughingij--Film-image]

Why is Mr W. Laughing? 2017 76‘

Directed by Jana Papenbrook .

Jana Papenbroock with Horst Wässle, Michael Gerdsmann, Bernhard Krebs WHY IS MR W. LAUGHING? is a portrait of three members of a community of artists with different disabilities. Rather than

Western Europe Art / Artists / Artisans Collective / Community identity Elderly people Health / Health care / Healing Life Story / Life History Personal Narrative Social participation

[making-it-big-in-berlin--Film-image]

Making it Big in Berlin 2009 24‘

Directed by Claudia Goldberg .

In Berlin, where low rents and space for creative ideas are still available, self-employed workers live the alternative to a nine-to-five-job. A sewing café owner, a freelance journalist and two

Western Europe Alternative culture Art / Artists / Artisans

[rockerill-rekindling-the-fire--Film-image]

Rockerill: Rekindling the Fire 2011 53‘

Directed by Yves Mora .

Five years ago, one of the oldest industrial buildings of Charleroi- ‘les Forges de la Providence’- was saved from demolition being brought by two citizens: Thierry Camuy and Mika Hell. Together

Western Europe Alternative culture Art / Artists / Artisans

[horror-in-the-andes--Film-image]

Horror in the Andes 2019 33‘

Special Interest Directed by Martha-Cecilia Dietrich .

Horror in the Andes is a behind-the-scenes documentary that follows the process of making a horror movie in Ayacucho, Peru. Directed by audio-visual anthropologist Martha-Cecilia Dietrich, it

South America Art / Artists / Artisans Dance / Theatre / Performance Ethnofiction Film / Photography / Mass media Indigenous peoples / First Nations peoples

[it-was-tomorrow--Film-image]

IT WAS TOMORROW 2018 53‘

Student Directed by Alexandra D’onofrio .

After living in Italy for almost ten years without documents, three Egyptian men – Ali, Mahmoud and Mohamed – are suddenly awarded legal residence. As a whole new world of opportunities opens up to

Western Mediterranean Animation Art / Artists / Artisans Dance / Theatre / Performance Film / Photography / Mass media Life Story / Life History Memory Migration Research methods Participatory / Collaborative methods

[copperworking-in-santa-clara-del-cobra-michoacan-mexico-artisans-facing-change--Film-image]

Copperworking in Santa Clara del Cobra, Michoacán, Mexico – Artisans Facing Change 2001 52‘

Directed by Beate Engelbrecht .

Santa Clara del Cobre, a village in Mexico’s province Michoacán, is well-known for its copperwork, a craft originating from pre-Spanish times. In the late 1940s the people of Santa Clara tried to

Central America Material Culture Labour Art / Artists / Artisans

[winter-days--Film-image]

Winter Days 2013 59‘

Directed by Anna Grimshaw .

"Winter Days" evokes the stillness and quietness of the forest in winter. Life is lived close to the stove. It’s a time for small tasks and chores – making a wedge, sewing a pocket, the

North America Alternative culture Rural Everyday Life Art / Artists / Artisans

[namatjira-project--Film-image]

Namatjira Project 2017 87‘

Directed by Sera Davies .

An extraordinary first-hand account of the international battle to reclaim the artwork and heritage of one of Australia’s most important Indigenous figures: Albert Namatjira. Albert Namatjira was

Australia Art / Artists / Artisans Collective / Community identity Colonialism / Postcolonialism Indigenous peoples / First Nations peoples Law and Legislation / Bureaucracy Political Activists Race / Racism / Antiracism

[ngarap-fighting-over-a-corpse--Film-image]

Ngarap: fighting over a corpse 1973 17‘

Directed by Anthony Forge .

In 1993, Anthony Forge filmed the cremation of an older woman from an affluent ‘commoner’ family. As her body was moved from her family compound to the cremation tower, men of the ward seized the

South-East Asia Death Ritual Art / Artists / Artisans Archival material / Museum displays

[a-summer-task--Film-image]

A Summer Task 2013 47‘

Directed by Anna Grimshaw .

"A Summer Task" examines the rhythm and tempo of work in the forest. The film follows Bill Coperthwaite and his cousin, Steve, as they fell and haul trees to build a bridge and begin

North America Alternative culture Everyday Life Rural Art / Artists / Artisans

[autumns-work--Film-image]

Autumn’s Work 2013 47‘

Directed by Anna Grimshaw .

"Autumn’s Work" follows Bill Coperthwaite as he prepares for winter. Wrestling with a large felled tree amidst its vast tangle of branches, Bill slowly and methodically breaks it down

North America Alternative culture Rural Everyday Life Art / Artists / Artisans

[spring-in-dickinsons-reach--Film-image]

Spring in Dickinson’s Reach 2013 83‘

Directed by Anna Grimshaw .

"Spring in Dickinson’s Reach" provides an introduction to the unique environment that Bill Coperthwaite has crafted in the Maine forest. Beginning in early spring, the film follows

North America Alternative culture Rural Everyday Life Art / Artists / Artisans

[tindaya-variations--Film-image]

Tindaya Variations 2018 40‘

Special Interest Directed by Isaac Marrero-Guillamon .

The mountain of Tindaya (Fuerteventura, Canary Islands) is more than a mountain. It was a sacred site for the indigenous people of Fuerteventura; later, its rock was quarried and sold for ornamental

Western Mediterranean Archival material / Museum displays Art / Artists / Artisans Environment Material Culture Indigenous peoples / First Nations peoples Archaeology

[two-ears-one-mouth--Film-image]

Two Ears, One Mouth 1999 25‘

Directed by Andy Benfield .

Duncan Williamson is of Traveller descent and lives in Scotland, Amy Douglas is fifty years younger and lives in Cheshire. But they share a love for telling stories and both manage to make a living

British-Irish Isles Travellers / Roma Art / Artists / Artisans

[shepherds-in-the-cave--Film-image]

Shepherds in the Cave 2016 87‘

Material Culture Directed by Anthony Grieco .

An international team of art restorers, archaeologists and volunteers begin work on the restoration of religious frescoes inside a network of ancient caves. Faced with local bureaucratic challenges

Western Mediterranean Archaeology Herding Art / Artists / Artisans Law and Legislation / Bureaucracy

[eat-the-kimono--Film-image]

Eat the Kimono 1989 60‘

Directed by Kim Longinotto Claire Hunt .

A compelling biography of Hanayagi Genshu, a feminist and dancer who spent her lifetime defying the conservative traditions of Japanese society with her radical politics and unconventional

Central Asia and Far East Public Figure Gender Role and Identity Art / Artists / Artisans Dance / Theatre / Performance Alternative culture

[the-daring-young-girl-on-the-flying-trapeze--Film-image]

The Daring Young Girl on the Flying Trapeze 2020 27‘

Directed by Nina Ross .

As a child, Nancy Willis dreamt of joining the circus, longing for freedom and adventure. Diagnosed with muscular dystrophy and told she would not live beyond her twenties, the now 65-year-old artist

British-Irish Isles Art/ Artists/ Artisans Personal Narrative Health/ Health care/ Healing Life Story/ Life History

[new-images--Film-image]

New Images 1964 27‘

Directed by Ulli Beier Frank Speed .

The film is a brief description of life in a busy commercial centre that still depends upon and retains its ancient traditions. These are based on the history of the town which was founded on the

West Africa Art / Artists / Artisans Religion / Belief / Faith Archival material / Museum displays

[future-remembrance-photography-and-image-arts-in-ghana--Film-image]

Future Remembrance – Photography and Image Arts in Ghana 1998 54‘

Directed by Tobias Wendl Nancy du Plessis .

The film portrays a vibrant range of contemporary and historical images by artists and photographers in Ghana. While glancing through the history of black & white photography in Ghana, the film

West Africa Film / Photography / Mass media Art / Artists / Artisans Memory

[this-is-my-face--Film-image]

This is My Face 2018 57‘

Student Directed by Angélica Cabezas Pino .

In Chile, people living with HIV fear stigma, and often conceal their condition and remain silent about what they are going through. This is My Face explores what happens when a range of men living

South America LGBTQI* Participatory / Collaborative methods Health / Health care / Healing Gender Role and Identity Film / Photography / Mass media Memory Life Story / Life History Art / Artists / Artisans

[a-chair-in-six-parts--Film-image]

A Chair: in six parts 2013 42‘

Student Directed by Anna Grimshaw .

A poem about a chair. In 1960, Bill Coperthwaite bought 300 acres of wilderness in Machiasport, Maine. Influenced by the poetry of Emily Dickinson and by the back to the land movement of Scott and

North America Material Culture Alternative culture Art / Artists / Artisans

[letter-to-the-dead--Film-image]

Letter to the Dead 2002 62‘

Directed by Andre Iteanu Eytan Kapon .

The film is about the encounter between tradition and modernity. In a small village of Papua New Guinea three exceptional men rival with each other in the field of rituals and artistic creation in

Melanesia Social Change Art / Artists / Artisans Death

[intranquillites--Film-image]

IntranQu’îllités 2019 20‘

Directed by Edward Owles .

Lyrically narrated by award-winning Haitian poet James Noël, the short film interweaves the work of several Haitian artists who want to redefine how their nation is perceived. The film explores the

Caribbean Islands Art/ Artists/ Artisans Nationalism Social Organisation

[cine-rabeca--Film-image]

Cine Rabeca 2022 55‘

Directed by Marcia Mansu .

Time dimensions emerge from the relation between the visible and the imagined, between memory and the experience of the present. A unique place emerges through the entanglement of music and archive

Latin America Music / Ethnomusicology Art / Artists / Artisans Dance / Theatre / Performance

[diya--Film-image]

Diya 2001 55‘

Directed by Judith MacDougall .

A diya is a small terra cotta oil lamp used throughout India in Hindu ceremonies. The film follows the life history of an object through the every day experience of people who make, sell and use it

South Asia Trade Material Culture Religion / Belief / Faith Art / Artists / Artisans

[sifinja-the-iron-bride--Film-image]

Sifinja – The Iron Bride 2009 70‘

Directed by Valerie Haensch .

A film about mobility, human creativity, and technology in a Sudanese truck community. The English Bedford-Lorry was introduced to Sudan in the late 1960s. Since then, local craftsmen technically

North and Northeast Africa Infrastructure / Transport Material Culture Art / Artists / Artisans

[salma--Film-image]

Salma 2013 90‘

Directed by Kim Longinotto .

When Salma, a young Muslim girl in a south Indian village, was 13 years old, her family locked her up for 25 years, forbidding her to study and forcing her into marriage. During that time, words were

South Asia Gender Role and Identity Social Norms Marriage Art / Artists / Artisans