LAST DANCE AT JOHNSON’S BARN
directed by Clay Haskell
Since 1952, generations of North Dakota families have attended dances at Johnson's Barn. The barn is an icon on the prairie - so integral to the community fabric that scarcely a family in the region can't trace a courtship or marriage back to the barn. But when the farm's owner, Brian Johnson, falls ill, he and his family face a heartbreaking decision.
(Colorado, USA) (18 minutes)
THE CONQUEROR
directed by Timothy Blackwood
Cleaner by day, pro-boxer by night, Jerome Conquest lives in the city of 'Rocky' and comes from one of Philadelphia's most dangerous neighborhoods, Strawberry Mansion. When Conquest loses his best friend, Calvin, to street violence, he turns to boxing as a way to improve his life, which begins a story of redemption, not only for him but for his struggling community.
(Pennsylvania, USA) (12 minutes)
THE LAST DOLL LADY
directed by Taryn Hough
In the 1950s a program called Dolls for Democracy was started. Women known as "doll ladies" would travel to local schools and teach children, through the use of hand carved wooden character dolls, about why racism and intolerance is wrong. Over the decades the program has faded into obscurity, but one woman has made it her life's mission to reignite a nations passion for the programs hopeful message. Selma Bukstein was one of the original doll ladies, now 60 years later and at the age of 91, she's the last doll lady.
(California, USA) (21 minutes)
MAGNE
directed by Silvia Schmidt
Magne was born with severe brain damage 40 years ago. For 27 years he was locked inside his body – unable to speak, write or otherwise communicate with his environment. He was locked inside his body. His world – and the world of his family – was turned upside down when he learned how to write and to finally start expressing his thoughts and feelings. This film is about Magne – what’s it like to be Magne? What are his dreams, aspirations and fears?
(Norway) (12 minutes)
DRAGTIVISTS
directed by Savannah Rodgers
Dragtivists is a short documentary about the intersection of activism and drag performance.
(USA) (7 minutes)
COME WHAT MAY
directed by Roland Spencer
A documentary following the extraordinary, and yet often unseen, life of a parent-carer.
(United Kingdom) (16 minutes)