Fucked at the Altar

Through a grey blanket of clouds, we barely discern the contours of Mount Fuji, a volcano with many faces. 4,500 exceptional and diverse photographs from the past 150 years form the basis for Ascent. Made entirely with stills, it is a filmic experiment balancing between documentary and fiction, photography and film, where an English woman and her deceased Japanese partner, Hiroshi, lead the way. As Mount Fuji is climbed across geographical, temporal and cultural divides, the narrative unfolds, exploring unexpected paths.

The story of Sally, a ten year old girl whose one wish is to celebrate a memorable Hanukkah despite her Grandmother Jessica’s desire to help her fit in. Or is it Sally who helps Jessica come to terms with growing up Jewish in the Bible Belt?

Cornelius is a Roman Centurion who, upon orders from the Apostle Thomas, is sent to proclaim the glories of Christ. Cornelius recounts Jesus' Entry in Jerusalem, the Last Supper, Crucifixion, and His appearance before Mary Magdalene.

Jerusalem can rightfully be called the hat capital of the world. Whereas the rest of the world has allowed its hats to gather dust in the closet since the 1950s, Jerusalem still teems with hats and caps. From soldier to monk, everyone is identifiable by his hat. Director Nati Adler, who is neither religious nor a hat-wearer, explored the how and the why of the hats of Jerusalem. His colourful and personal trip takes us along the diverse headdresses of the three religions populating the city. What begins as an innocent exercise by a curious documentary filmmaker develops as it were into a Pandora's box full of stories and history lessons. Every answer evokes new questions. Why do people in Jerusalem wear so many hats, what is a shtreimel, why don't Armenian Christians use their Turkish hats in their ceremonies, and why do women actually have to cover their heads?

Four female friends from Egypt with opposing religious, social, and political views listen to one another's perspectives and argue openly, without ever breaking the bond that unites them.

Robert, a small town priest, finds out his estranged brother desperately needs a loan for cancer treatment and secretly borrows money from the church's emergency fund to help. He finds out later that his brother has used the money to finance a porn movie with Robert as the unwitting producer.

La Corne d'or is mostly concerned with religious ritual, examining the mosque (and former cathedral) discussed in Byzance. As a contrast against Istanbul's status as a center of historical religious conflict, Pialat — drawing here on texts by the French poet Gérard de Nerval — also describes the city as a place of strange ethnic and religious harmony, with representatives of various cultures and religions living in close contact. He emphasizes the city's hybrid culture, its blend of Southern European and Arab influences, reflected in both its people and its very construction.

Joseph Smith: The Man, The Mission, The Message honors the prophet of the Restoration. Get to know Brother Joseph in this stunning documentary that portrays a multidimensional man: his upbringing, his charismatic personality, his devotion to family, his humor, his leadership, and his dedication to his mission and to God's message-even unto martyrdom. Walk where Joseph walked with enlightening video shot on location in Vermont and Palmyra, Kirtland and Carthage, and the places in between. This DVD illuminates lesser-known details of Joseph's life and places them into the context of the time to tell of this American prophet's successes, tragedies, and triumphs.

Howard Phillips, a vicar who's new in the town of Bellington, wants to reach out to youth. The previous vicar's daughter, Hester Peters, who fears being a spinster, wants to be his wife. He tells her he's not interested. When he confronts a tough kid about something the youth has done, the lad sets out to frame the vicar. Hester, who's walked in on the confrontation, backs the youth's story. The town sides with her and the lad, turning against Phillips. He has a crisis of faith. What options does he have; can no one help him, his reputation, or his calling?

Documentary that follows journalist Matthew d'Ancona as he investigates the claims of scholar Carsten Peter Thiede, who argues that the "Magdalen" papyrus, fragments of ancient texts, prove that St. Matthew wrote his gospel soon after Christ lived. The wide-ranging implications of Thiede's propositions include the belief that some gospels were based on eyewitness experiences and were not filtered through decades of revision and reflection.

A documentary that takes us to the heart of jihadism in Mali