All Films

Soviet Union: The Rise and Fall - Part 1

1996 • 46 min • United States of America

Historic Russian battles to repel invaders serve as prelude to the story of events that redrew the map of Eastern Europe and parts of Asia in the 20th century. Following the turmoil of the Bolshevik Revolution, Communist Russia faces the venom of Nazi aggression. 1940's film footage reveals the harsh reality of total war, as the Red Army and Soviet civilians alike confront a brutal and tenacious enemy. The following decades are darkened by tensions between the USSR and foreign powers, and violent measures taken to silence voices of dissent. Finally, the Soviet people's yearning for a freer society leads to accelerating reforms and the ultimate dissolution of the USSR.

The Legend of Fred Paterson

1996 • 56 min • Australia

The story of Fred Paterson, member for Bowen in the Queensland parliament in the 1940s and the only Communist Party member ever elected to any Australian parliament.

Sonic Christmas Blast

1996 • 20 min • United States of America

Sonic the Hedgehog must stop the evil Dr. Robotnik from ruining Christmas after Santa Claus disappears.

Dream Geometry

1996 • 4 min • Canada

How is proof constructed and just what exactly is it anyway? With quirky characters who exhort, muse and deliberate, animator Shelley McIntosh takes a whimsical look at the search for proof. Intuition and rationality are explored in this entertaining film which encourages the viewer to reflect on the notion of proof.

Sperm Whales: Back from the Abyss

1996 • 48 min

Wildlife film about sperm whales, revealing the secret lives led by these often misunderstood ocean giants. Scientists all over the world are now learning about the secret lives of sperm whales, the world's largest hunters that spawned the legendy of Moby Dick. Although Mellville painted them as fearsome beasts of the sea, they are actually shy creatures, and cameraman Rick Rosenthal needed patience and persistence to film them at close quarters. They turn out to be efficient hunters with a close family network involving sophisticated and vocal social lives.

The Burger and the King: The Life & Cuisine of Elvis Presley

1996 • 56 min • United Kingdom

A remarkable guided tour through the culinary world of Elvis Presley, in his later years famed as much for his appetite as for his music. The King's passion for food is recounted by close friends, relatives and personal cooks who share the recipes that kept their idol happy. From the squirrel and raccoon dishes of his youth to the fried peanut butter and banana sandwiches that contributed to his demise.

Toy Machine - Welcome To Hell

1996 • 32 min

Welcome to Hell featured parts from Mike Maldonado, Elissa Steamer, Brian Anderson, Satva Leung, Donny Barley, Ed Templeton and Jamie Thomas.

The Last Angel of History

1996 • 45 min • Germany, United Kingdom

An examination of the hitherto unexplored relationships between Pan-African culture, science fiction, intergalactic travel, and rapidly progressing computer technology.

Pilot Brothers Suddenly Decided to Hunt

1996 • 3 min • Russia

The boss and a colleague go hunting, decide to hunt and have breakfast at the same time, having come up with an original way to do this.

Bone Chillers: Frankenturkey

1996 • 42 min • United States of America

Fitz and Brian are supposed to stuff the school turkey so it will be a good meal for the school's Thanksgiving. They don't want it to suffer, so they develop a decoy that is struck by lightning. It comes to life and becomes Frankenturkey. Can Fitz, Brian, Sarah, and Lexi outsmart him before he makes a meal out of them?

Nichols and May: Take Two

1996 • 55 min

A documentary made for the PBS program American Masters about the comedy team Nichols and May.

A Son of Africa: The Autobiography of a Slave

1996 • 28 min

A documentary following the life of Olaudah Equiano, based on his autobiography "The Interesting Narration of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, or Gustavus Vassa the African".

An Evening with Spike Milligan

1996 • 49 min • United Kingdom

Spike recalls his exploits in the army, setting up a jazz band and other sources of his comic inspiration. He patiently answers impertinent questions from Harry Secombe, Peter O'Toole, Lynsey de Paul, Roy Hudd and Denis Norden with often amusing answers.

Winslow the Christmas Bear

1996 • 45 min • United States of America

Winslow the bear isn't like the other bears. Instead of hibernating this winter like the rest of his kind, he decides to ask each of his animal friends what Christmas is all about.

Goosebumps: Night of the Living Dummy II

1996 • 22 min

Amy thinks her father has bought her the perfect gift: a new ventriloquist's dummy. However, it soon becomes apparent that there is more to this dummy than meets the eye.

Um Homem Sério

1996 • 20 min • Brazil

Hilário Pestana, the most famous, funniest and, ironically, saddest Brazilian actor, has died. He has passed through many stages of Brazilian cinema: the chanchadas, the Vera Cruz classics, the pornochanchadas, and even experimental movies. He was beloved by the public and had a gift for laughter, but he only desired to be a serious man.

Jackie Chan - From Stuntman to Superstar

1996 • 42 min • United States of America

Jackie Chan - From Stuntman to Superstar is a documentary on Jackie Chan.

Bidding Adieu: A Video Diary

1996 • 52 min • United Kingdom, Canada

In January 1996 filming began on a new episode of Doctor Who set in San Francisco, but shot in Vancouver, Canada. Sylvester McCoy flew out to join the production team to re-create his role as the Seventh Doctor and to hand over to Paul McGann. In this behind-the-scenes video diary, Sylvester gives us a personal account of his final days as the famous Timelord. Reminiscing about the "old days" and drawing comparisons with the experience of working on this latest adventure, he talks to Paul McGann, Daphne Ashbrook (Dr Grace Holloway) from the new production and Anneke Wills (Polly) from the show's past. All shot on Hi-8 camcorder.

Bird Watching

1996 • 15 min • Japan

This short film won acclaim in several international film festivals.

The Street

1996 • 58 min • Canada

Every day, on the streets of Canada's cities, we pass them on our way to work or school. Bums, beggars, winos, bag people we call them. But who is the person at the end of that outstretched arm? What is life on the street really like? Is there a way off the street? For six years, director Daniel Cross followed the lives of three homeless men who spent much of their time in and around a Montreal subway station. Filmed in a cinema verité style, the film is unique: it humanizes the homeless, breaking down the barrier between us and them, neither moralizing nor offering easy answers. This is a gritty, compelling look at life on the streets that moves beyond the media stereotypes to show both the humanity of the homeless and the street-toughened aspects of their existence.

An Audience with Charles Dickens

1996 • 29 min

A live recording from the Vaudeville Theatre in London where Simon Callow recreates the reading performances of Charles Dickens.

Peter Lorre: The Master of Menace

1996 • 45 min • United States of America

Documentary overview of Peter Lorre's ascension to fame as a master purveyor of silky but disquieting peril.

The Adventures of Moby Dick

1996 • 45 min • Canada

Animated feature about a young whale named Moby Dick.

Goosebumps: Stay Out of the Basement

1996 • 44 min • Canada

When her mother leaves town to visit a sick relative, Margaret's concern for her father grows. She does not know what he is working on in the basement and cannot figure out why his behavior has changed.