• KNUCKLE (working title)

  • STATUS: post-production
  • DIRECTED BY: Ian Palmer
  • FOR: Irish Film Board, BBC Storyville
  • SYNOPSIS: An epic 12-year journey into in the world of an Irish Traveller community.  The film takes us intimately inside their brutal, secretive and exhilarating bare-knuckle fighting lives.  Chronicling a history of violent feuding between rival clans, the story focuses on two brothers, James Quinn McDonagh and his younger brother, Michael.

  • CASTER SEMENYA (working title)

  • STATUS: in production
  • DIRECTED BY: Maxx Ginnane
  • FOR: BBC TWO
  • SYNOPSIS: The story of the 19-year-old 800m World Champion at the centre of a gender controversy. A world exclusive.

  • THE PROMISE OF PARADISE

  • STATUS: completed
  • DIRECTED BY: Tanya Stephan
  • SYNOPSIS: The story of seven-year-old Zara whose parents have decided it’s time for her to become a strict Muslim. With the support of the MEDIA programme of the European Union the story of Zara and Aysha who are attending a Muslim faith school for the first time has a feature length outing. Filmed over one year, the film intimately captures the girls’ lives as they grow up and make choices about their identity and beliefs.

  • ROAD TO LAS VEGAS

  • STATUS: completed
  • DIRECTED BY: Jason Massot
  • FOR: More4
  • SYNOPSIS: Filmed over four years, Vanessa and Maurice, an African American couple with five kids, leave Alaska for Las Vegas to find their fortunes as the economic downturn looms.

  • WE ARE TOGETHER

  • STATUS: television / DVD
  • DIRECTED BY: Paul Taylor
  • FOR: HBO Documentary films, FILM 4, EMI UK, PALM Pictures, Channel 4, More 4, The British Channel 4 Documentary Film Foundation
  • AWARDS: TRIBECA Audience award, TRIBECA Special jury prize, EDINBURGH Audience Award, IDFA Audience Award, IDFA First Appearance Award, SHEFFIELD GRIERSON Award, IDA music award, MEIFF Audience Award, AMNESTY Audience Award, AMNESTY Jury Prize, ONE WORLD jury Prize.
  • WEBSITE: www.wearetogether.org
  • SYNOPSIS:Multi-award winning feature WE ARE TOGETHER (Thina Simunye) tells the moving and inspiring story of 12 year old Slindile and her remarkable friends at the Agape orphanage in South Africa. Filmed over three years, with unforgettable kids, soaring music and a plot full of surprises, WE ARE TOGETHER arrives as a stirring and uplifting theatrical documentary.

RISE FILMS IS DONATING 100% OF PRODUCERS PROFITS FROM THIS FILM TO THE www.risefoundation.org TO HELP PROVIDE AN EDUCATION FOR ORPHANS & CHILDREN AFFECTED BY AIDS IN SOUTH AFRICA.

  • PROJECT KASHMIR

  • STATUS: television / DVD
  • DIRECTED BY: Senain Kheshgi & Geeta V. Patel
  • FOR: DISHOOM PICTURES, ITVS, SUNDANCE INSTITUTE
  • WEBSITE:www.dishoompix.com
  • SYNOPSIS:From directors Senain Kheshgi and Geeta V. Patel and Academy Award® winning Ross Kauffman, comes PROJECT KASHMIR––a feature documentary in which the directors, two American friends from opposite sides of the divide, investigate the war in Kashmir and find their friendship tested over deeply rooted religious biases they never had to face in the U.S. PROJECT KASHMIR explores war between countries and war within oneself by delving into the fraught lives of young people caught in the social/political conflict of one of the most beautiful, and most deadly, places on earth––Kashmir. 

  • ROUGH AUNTIES

  • STATUS: television / at festivals
  • DIRECTED BY: Kim Longinotto
  • FOR: Channel 4, HBO, Women Make Movies, SBS, VPRO, Yes/DBS, Folkets Bio, VRT, ETV, EYZ, (TVF - sales)
  • WEBSITE:www.roughaunties.com
  • SYNOPSIS: Fearless, feisty and resolute, the "Rough Aunties" are a remarkable group of women unwavering in their stand to protect and care for the abused, neglected and forgotten children of Durban, South Africa. This newest documentary by internationally acclaimed director Kim Longinotto (SISTERS IN LAW, DIVORCE IRANIAN STYLE) follows the outspoken, multiracial cadre of Thuli, Mildred, Sdudla, Eureka and Jackie, as they wage a daily battle against systemic apathy, corruption and greed to help the most vulnerable and disenfranchised of their communities. Neither politics, nor social or racial divisions stand a chance against the united force of the women. Once again Longinotto has managed to bring us an intimate portrait of change from Africa, this time from post-apartheid South Africa, a nation being transformed with hope and energy into a new democracy.

  • COWBOYS IN INDIA

  • STATUS: completed / at festivals
  • DIRECTED BY: Simon Chambers
  • FOR: More4, ITVS
  • SYNOPSIS:Orissa, India - where tribal people fight with their bows and arrows against multinational mining moguls from London. The filmmaker, aided by two hopeless local guides, searches for answers amongst conflicting allegations, as the truth becomes more and more elusive. A humorous film about a serious subject.

  • THE APOLOGY LINE

  • STATUS: IN PRE-PRODUCTION
  • DIRECTED BY: James Lees and Will Bridges
  • SYNOPSIS:Created by James Lees and Will Bridges, The Apology Line gives the public the opportunity to alleviate their burdening conscience by calling an anonymous phone line and confessing their sins. Using visual symbolism and subtlety on the screen this unique series of films reveal not only some innermost secrets but also an enlightening glimpse of our national psyche.

  • UNTITLED DAISY ASQUITH PROJECT

  • STATUS: in pre-production
  • DIRECTED BY: Daisy Asquith
  • SYNOPSIS:Award winning director Daisy Asquith’s intimate portrait of the exceptionally talented family band “KITTY DAISY & LEWIS” as they balance family dynamics, school and touring on their road to success. Sexy and savvy, with slick 50’s quiffs and clothes, they live and breathe the music that they play and are fast building a growing cult following.

  • THE INTERRUPTERS

  • STATUS: in production
  • DIRECTED BY: Steve James
  • For: BBC, ITVS, Frontline, DR TV, NRK, SVT
  • SYNOPSIS:Comprised of ex-gang members whose reputations command respect on the streets of Chicago, THE INTERRUPTERS intervene in disputes before they turn violent and that violence spreads. Academy award winning director Steve James (Hoop Dreams, Stevie) embarks on a verite journey with the lively INTERRUPTERS who are now protecting their communities from the violence they themselves once employed.

  • MUSLIM SCHOOL

  • STATUS: completed / television
  • DIRECTED BY: Tanya Stephan
  • For:
  • SYNOPSIS:Zara’s only seven but her parents have decided it’s time for her to become a strict Muslim. While her big sister goes to sixth form college and never has to wear a headscarf, Zara has to wear the hijab every day and learn the Qur’an in Arabic. Aysha is 12. She’s made her own choice to follow Islam but she’s the only white girl at her new school. Both girls are embarking on a journey, they’re starting at a Muslim faith school for the first time. Filmed over one year, the film intimately captures the girls’ lives as they grow up and make choices about their identity and beliefs. With the freshness of a child’s perspective we discover what it means for them to become religious and what it’s like to be a strict Muslim in Britain at such a young age.