All shows are 13+ to enter without a parent or guardian

Schedule:

Saturday, July 15, 2023

12:00pm: Doc Block A

Children of Peace - Feature

Children who were brought up in a utopic social experiment in the only community in the world where Palestinians and Israelis chose to live together in co-existence. "Oasis of peace" is a utopic dream that shattered into reality.

Malpelo: Island of Sharks - Short

Days away from the closest land, lies a mythical underwater volcano. Beneath the waves: a bonanza of life. Massive shoals of fish darken the water and hundreds of sharks patrol the seamount. But like all wild places, this one too is in grave danger. Illegal fishing and sharkfinning might soon deplete this natural wonder and UNESCO heritage site of its natural wonders.

2:30pm: Doc Block B

Bleed For Me; Art Of The Death Match – Short

What Does it cost to make great art? A lot of Blood apparently. This documentary follows various deathmatch wrestlers as they put their bodies on the line to make compelling art.

The Mystery of The Freeway Phantom – Short

From April 1971 to September 1972, six young black women were abducted from their neighborhoods in Washington DC. They were held by their captor anywhere from a few hours to a week, raped and strangled, and dumped off the sides of major highways running in and out of the DC metropolitan area. One girl was stabbed in the chest and belly; one was sodomized repeatedly. One girl’s body was in such an advanced stage of decomposition when she was found that cause of death couldn’t even be determined. They ranged in age from 10 to 18, and all were slight of stature. Three shared the middle name “Denise.” Newspapers and the media dubbed the unknown subject the “Freeway Phantom,” since his victims were all disposed of off area highways.

Welcome To The Theatre – Short

In this short documentary, community theatre actors talk about their love/hate relationship with an old dilapidated chapel theater in Staten Island, filled with mold, bugs, and a lifetime of memories.

Intercourse – Short

With "Intercourse" we explore a small, rural, town in Pennsylvania that, despite many challenges, has maintained a simple way of life. We explore the struggles of coexistence between the Amish and the English. How do these two groups of very different people live in harmony? How do they deal with the tourism brought on by their unique name? In "Intercourse" we explore a town that moves a lot slower than the rest of the world, despite the outside world always pushing in. This is a town that has true community and core values that differ greatly from modern society.

Last Halloween – Short

In 2021, Halloween Adventure, one of  New York's most iconic stores, shut its doors to the disappointment of its devoted employees and thousands of Halloween revelers. Or did it? After the post pandemic return of New York’s fabled Halloween parade, the store’s faithful staff reunited to open its doors for one last hurrah. This is their story.

5:00pm: Doc Block C

It Came From Aquarius Records  -Feature

IT CAME FROM AQUARIUS RECORDS explores the adventurous independent record shop that helped shape the tastes of San Francisco area residents and beyond for nearly a half a century. Aquarius Records closed in 2016 after establishing itself as one of the greatest champions of underground and experimental sounds, turning the world onto sound and music of limitless varieties, some of which would soon explode in popularity out of the independent music scenes.

Filmed over six years and featuring over 50 interviews, the film takes an in-depth look at the heartbreak of shuttering the beloved store amid the city’s wave of gentrification and traces its long history of influencing music and culture in the city. A film about more than just 1 record store, it’s a film about the changes that music itself has gone through.

7:45pm: Doc Block D

At Your Cervix - Feature

At Your Cervix is the first documentary to expose the little-known practice of the non-consensual use of patients as practice dummies by the American medical education system. In an era when conversations about both consent and reproductive justice are paramount, it shines a light on the use of anesthetized or unconscious patients by medical students to practice pelvic examinations without the knowledge or consent of those patients. The film goes inside medical schools and hospitals, following students as they try to reconcile their personal ethics with the abusive learning methods they encounter, allowing the audience to hear the stories of students and practitioners who, in order to learn, conducted non-consensual pelvic examinations on unconscious patients. It traces this abusive practice back to the genesis of modern gynecology and the modern American healthcare system - both of which were built on a foundation of racism, misogyny, and violence. The film also introduces the audience to patients who have been victims of this practice - having entrusted their well-being to physicians who swore an oath to do no harm, they awoke after surgery or sedatives only to find they had been assaulted by the people and the system that were supposed to take care of them. Finally, the film introduces the audience to an alternative - the Gynecological Teaching Associate (GTA). An ethical and effective way of teaching that has existed for over 40 years, At Your Cervix shines a hopeful light on GTAs as the best way forward, empowering medical students to become holistic, compassionate, skilled physicians by making the “patients” themselves the teachers.

The Beauty Conversation - Short

Documentary featuring 11 teenage girl interviewees on the effect of the American Beauty Standard and beauty-based societal issues. Includes anonymous survey responses and conceptual self-portraiture.

Sunday, July 16, 2023

12:00pm: Doc Block E

Almost Home: Life After Incarceration - Feature

Almost Home is a feature-length documentary that examines the many challenges individuals face when they get released from prison and the positive impact they can have if given the opportunity to succeed.

In the United States, more than 600,000 people return home from incarceration each year, often with little support or stability. For people who live in the shadows of their criminal records, overcoming the extensive legal restrictions and social stigmas is a daunting task. Once released from the prison gates, individuals face staggering rates of unemployment, discrimination, and homelessness. Without the support needed to overcome these devastating barriers, people often return to illegal activities just to survive. This unique film follows formerly incarcerated students enrolled in an innovative program at a community college in Southern California. Their inspiring stories illustrate how education and support can transform lives, open doors to new careers, heal trauma, and uplift entire families and communities.

Rachel’s Law - Short

A true story about a young hippie college girl who works with the police to target two suspected drug dealers from the ghetto, in the biggest drug bust of the Tallahassee police department history.

2:30pm: Doc Block F

Sentinel: Inside the Sacred Duty - Short

An elite group of US Army Soldiers guard the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery. They keep watch all day, everyday, without fail. They are human representations of dignity and honor. This documentary takes an inside look at the special people, past and present, who carry out this Sacred Duty.

Bendix- Short

Surrounded by highway traffic sits the unassuming Bendix Diner, owned and operated by John Diakakis. As the blind, single father of three young children who also work at the diner, John attempts to address and overcome his obstacles in order to provide a better life for his family.

The Vote - Short

The Vote: For the Future, By the Future" is a short documentary created by high school students Lucy Montalti and Sofiya Tkach. It explores the issue of the federal voting age and considers the arguments for and against lowering it down to 16. The documentary features interviews with experts in politics and civics, such as N.Y. Representative Grace Meng, as it delves into youth voter turnout, teenage activism, voting barriers, and how the American education system teaches civic duty to its students.

Invisible - Short

From drawers full of supplies to late-night snacks, there's a lot more to this "invisible disability" than meets the eye. Although approximately 90% of the American population has some form of Diabetes, only less than 0.5% have Type 1 Diabetes, an autoimmune disease that leaves people without a working pancreas. As a Type 1 Diabetic myself, I wanted to create a brief documentary that dispels common misconceptions surrounding Diabetes and encourages people to learn more about the condition.

Vinny -  Short

Explores the life and history of Vincent Fano, a bus driver in Jersey City

Old Men On The Beach Looking For Lost Change – Short

We are taken on a journey with Bob Funk where we learn and witness what metal detecting means to him as a hobby. Tracing back the footsteps of old inhabitants on farmland located in Pennsylvania, we observe a beautiful juxtaposition of relics being unearthed from the past and holes within Bob’s soul being filled in within the present. We learn that Bob’s relationship with metal detecting has brought him closer to himself, nature, his descendants as well as his love for archeology.

5:00pm: Doc Block G

Strength Through Visibility - Feature

In 2001 a group of Jersey City residents were denied a grant to put on a Pride festival. They refused to take no for an answer. In 2021 the festival turned 20 years old. This is their story.

House of Snap -  Short

Haus Of Snap is a Boston-based LGBTQ-POC dance group that was formed by Damien Carter. The group dances competitively around the state but was ultimately created to give a sense of home to these dancers. Haus Of Snap-The Documentary follows the group leading up to one of their competitions as well as focusing on a few of the dancer's stories.

7:45pm: Doc Block H

Healing Dakota- Closing Night Feature

Follow the journey of discovery and healing of a brave K9 who develops PTSD while serving and the story of his healing.
Healing Dakota is a film that takes viewers behind the scenes of what it is like to rehabilitate dogs with PTSD. The hero, quite literally, of this particular story is the dog who started it all - to save his life, we established the K9 PTSD Center, where we began to rigorously study the condition, create a serene environment, and develop a comprehensive training plan to help Dakota recover.

Lita The Baby Raven- Short

This story follows a female baby raven from the time she fledges the nest to the time her parents kick her out of their territory. We observe her struggles and amazing ability to adapt and learn from her parents.

Date: Saturday, July 15, 2023 - Sunday, July 16, 2023

Location: Sparta Avenue Stage - 10 Sparta Ave., Sparta, NJ 07871

Click here For Tickets

Click here for More Information