Special When Lit

Monsieur Truffaut Meets Mr. Hitchcock

August 1999 •English

When Francois Truffaut approached Alfred Hitchcock in 1962 with the idea of having a long conversation with him about his work and publishing this in book form, he didn't imagine that more than four years would pass before Le Cinéma selon Hitchcock finally appeared in 1966. Not only in France but all over the world, Truffaut's Hitchcock interview developed over the years into a standard bible of film literature. In 1983, three years after Hitchcock's death, Truffaut decided to expand his by now legendary book to include a concluding chapter and have it published as the "Edition définitive". This film describes the genesis of the "Hitchbook" and throws light on the strange friendship between two completely different men. The centrepieces are the extracts from the original sound recordings of the interview with the voices of Alfred Hitchcock, Francois Truffaut, and Helen Scott – recordings which have never been heard in public before.

Le Club: Claude Jade

April 2001 •French

Das Voynich-Manuskript - Die geheimnisvollste Handschrift der Welt

May 2014 •German

It is the world’s most mysterious manuscript. A book, written by an unknown author, illustrated with pictures that are as bizarre as they are puzzling — and written in a language that even the best cryptographers have been unable to decode. No wonder that this script even has a part in Dan Brown’s latest bestseller “The Lost Symbol”.

Tokio - Die Stadtkultur von morgen

July 2021 •German

Memory Books

May 2008 •English

In Uganda, AIDS-infected mothers have begun writing what they call Memory Books for their children. Aware of the illness, it is a way for the family to come to terms with the inevitable death that it faces. Hopelessness and desperation are confronted through the collaborative effort of remembering and recording, a process that inspires unexpected strength and even solace in the face of death.

The First State Bed of Henry VII & Elizabeth of York: An Investigation

January 2017 •English

An investigation into the fascinating discovery of the first State Bed of Henry VII & Elizabeth of York. This fascinating bed is one of the most significant examples of Tudor furniture in existence today, and its iconography sheds new light on our understating of the Tudor Monarchy. The film represents the culmination of many years of in depth research. A team of experts, including the beds current owner, have decoded the bed’s story via its iconography and symbolism. These tell the story of the bed to academics, historians, and anyone with interest in the Tudor period.

Watch Out for Orcas! Danger Off Gibraltar?

February 2024 •German

Since the summer of 2020, boats along the Atlantic coast from the Strait of Gibraltar to the Bay of Biscay in the north have been repeatedly attacked by orcas. The whales purposefully attack the rudders and destroy them. Researchers are trying to find out what drives them. Curiosity? Competition for food? Or play?

Beyond Doubt: The Making of Hitchcock's Favorite Film

January 2000 •English

A short documentary about the Making Of Hitchcock's "Shadow of a Doubt" (1943).

Inside the Dragon's Lair

December 2013 •English

Inside The Dragon's Lair takes a journey into the ongoing history of one of the most popular video games of all time - Dragon's Lair. The film will give the audience an in-depth view of the extensive production process that created this revolutionary game. Utilizing the laserdisc medium, this technologically advanced game was a marvel during its release in 1983 and has changed the video gaming world forever. The documentary will revisit the game from its initial conception to its most current release, showing the many different variants and iterations of the game. Also featured will be interviews of the original creators Don Bluth, Gary Goldman, John Pomeroy, and Rick Dyer. Additional interviews will feature artists and programmers involved in the game's production, collectors, technical gurus and die-hard fans.

We Stand Alone Together: The Men of Easy Company

November 2001 •English

Over a period of two years, Mark Cowen and his crew travelled to thirty U.S. states and ten European cities, to interview the veterans of Easy Company. The stories told by the veterans themselves, create a history of the Second World War from the point of view of this heroic company of men, made famous in the mini-series Band of Brothers.

Welcome to My Castle!

December 2007 •English

Over 5 hours of full-length interviews with Nirvana, Tommy Chong, Sonic Youth, Pierre Elliot Trudeau, Ron Jeremy, and many more. Includes videos of Nardwuar's band, The Evaporators, along with all sorts of bonus material!

Rire (enfin) au féminin

January 2024 •French

La trans de la patria

August 2018 •Spanish

Jingle Bell Rocks!

December 2013 •English

In JINGLE BELL ROCKS!, director Mitchell Kezin delves into the minds of some of the world’s most legendary Christmas music fanatics and hits the road to hang with his holiday heroes – including hip hop legend Joseph “Rev Run” Simmons of RUN-D.M.C., The Flaming Lips’ frontman Wayne Coyne, filmmaker John Waters, bebopper Bob Dorough, L.A. DJ and musicologist Dr. Demento, and Calypso legend The Mighty Sparrow. In his search for the twelve best, underappreciated Christmas songs ever recorded, Kezin both asks and answers the question, “Why, when Christmas rolls around, are we still stuck cozying up with Bing Crosby under a blanket of snow?”

Papão de 54

January 2005 •Portuguese

History of Renner, football club champion Gaúcho undefeated in 1954. A rescue of the time formed by players, former workers of Renner companies, who overcame Grêmio and Internacional. The feat made alive in the memory of several generations

Yellowstone an American Legacy

January 2008 •English

A fully narrated glimpse into Yellowstone's history as well as its current offerings.

For the Palestinians

October 1974 •German

The film provides a historical overview of the history of the Palestinians between 1948-1974 and shows the living conditions of Palestinians in territories occupied by Israel since 1967.

Mega Hammerhead

June 2016 •English

Shark expert Neil Hammerschlag and a crew of researchers search for an elusive hammerhead shark.

The Giza Pyramids: Reaching for the Stars

September 2023 •French

Explores the Pyramids of Giza as Egyptologists try to unravel the mysteries and decipher the clues behind these stone giants built over 4,500 years ago.

Nothing Can Stop The Radiance

January 2024 •English

Filmmakers Sam and Amy journey into rural Australia to explore how the legacy of an American legend has transmitted and warped itself over time, and across the globe, resulting in the 30th annual Parkes Elvis Festival.