Literary Ink: A Wizard’s Journey

Homo ErecTattoos

September 2020 •Korean

A terrible accident leaves a young soldier horribly scarred, but his rediscovery of art heals his wounded soul, in this brief but powerful animated documentary.

PHOENIX

February 2020 •German

The Scary Guy

February 2007 •English

Earl Kenneth Kaufmann is the Scary Guy. Banned and kicked out here and there. Because of his looks. A motivation trainer and speaker who campaigns worldwide to eliminate hate, violence, prejudice, and bullying in schools and corporations. In addition to being a tattoo shop owner, comic, entertainer, inspirational speaker, and performance artist.

Mario Barth: Under The Skin

December 2008 •English

D'Inked: A Tattoo Removal Documentary

December 2017 •English

D'Inked is a documentary about the development of laser tattoo removal technology and how it has changed the culture of tattoos. The film follows a man named Jake on his 5-year journey through the process of removing a full color half sleeve tattoo. The film also features interviews with prominent figures in the tattoo and laser removal communities discussing the technological, physical and ethical realities of removing what has always been considered a definition of permanent.

Japans tätowierte Helden

January 2024 •German

Working Class

September 2011 •English

Loosely based on Charles Dicken’s book “A Tale of Two Cities”, Working Class tells the tale of underground street artists Mike Giant and Mike Maxwell and their decade long friendship that started with a tattoo. The story is told through the cities they call home by, cutting back and forth between the neighborhoods of San Francisco and San Diego, as the artists talk about their life philosophies and the work they create.

Deep Rooted

Invalid date •English

A short Documentary about Tattoo Artist Dustin Stephenson and his Struggle´s to survive during the first COVID-19 Pandemic in Summer 2020.

Patutiki the Guardians of The Marquesan Tattoo

October 2020 •French

First-time feature filmmakers Heretu Tetahiotupa, Christophe Cordier delve into the ritual art of Marquesan tattoo, sharing its cultural and historical significance by reenacting the past and challenging the present.

The Tattooist

March 2017 •English

Rooster Teeth’s Geoff Ramsey explores the subculture of tattoos and takes a crash course from a master tattoo artist.

Strange Life: The Breech

June 1998 •English

A collection of footage and interviews with strange people and their exploration into the unusual and extreme side of body modification.

Suspension: The Ultimate Body Experience

February 1999 •English

A look into the world of body piercing and suspension and the people who do it.

La folie du tatouage

June 2018 •French

Modify

January 2006 •English

Stories of people who regard augmenting their bodies as a way of life, whether for artistic reasons or out of pure vanity.

Tattoo Girls

April 2018 •Polish

Tattoo girls is a memoir of life as it is and of women as they are. A window to the lives of seven women from the same city where nothing is exactly as it seems and reality is often hidden behind illusions. It's a female centric-film showcasing about a group of ordinary women (within a range of ages), and their different styles of daily life, showcasing their stories and the impact they have on society as real, everyday women. We are living in a era of the importance and empowerment of women throughout the world, and this documentary aims to convey ideas and topics to be felt, absorbed and discussed.

The Crazy Life

September 2008 •Spanish

Reflects a depressing and hopeless reality by following some of the members of "la dieciocho", the so-called 18th Street gang in a poor San Salvador neighborhood.

Tunniit: Retracing the Lines of Inuit Tattoos

January 2011 •English

Inuit traditional face tattoos have been forbidden for a century, and almost forgotten. Director Alethea Arnaquq-Baril, together with long-time friend and activist Aaju Peter, is determined to uncover the mystery and meaning behind this beautiful ancient tradition. Together they embark on an adventure through Arctic communities, speaking with elders and recording the stories of a once popularized female artform. Central to the film is Arnaquq-Baril’s personal debate over whether or not to get tattood herself. With candour and humour, she welcomes us into her world, to experience firsthand the complex emotions that accompany her struggle. Past meets present in this intimate account of one woman’s journey towards self-empowerment and cultural understanding.

Skin Pics

October 1980 •English

A bold reveal of a rose tattoo opens this 1980 documentary on tattooing in New Zealand. The potted history includes visits to tattoo parlours on K' Road and Hastings, and the studios of industry legends Steve Johnson and Roger Ingerton. Tattooists discuss public stigma, people's reasons for getting inked, and popular designs: sailors, serpents, swallows and tā moko. Made for documentary slot Contact, Skin Pics chronicles a time when "folk art has become high art".

Signatures of the Soul

October 1984 •English

Tattooing — "the world's oldest skin game" — is the subject of this iconic documentary. Writer/director Geoff Steven scored a major coup by signing Easy Rider legend Peter Fonda as his presenter. Travelling to Aotearoa, Samoa, Japan and the United States, the doco traces key developments in tattooing, including its importance in the Pacific, prison-inspired styles, and the influence of 1960s counterculture. Legendary tattooists feature (including Americans Ed Hardy and Jack Rudy), while the closing credits parade some eye-opening full body tattoos.

La peau du milieu

March 1957 •French