The first of four installments in the groundbreaking Heartbeat of the World anthology film series. Comprised of several short films by some of the world's most exciting directors, Words with Gods follows the theme of religion - specifically as it relates to an individual's relationship with his/her god or gods...or the lack thereof. In Words with Gods, each director recounts a narrative centered around human fragility, as well as environmental and cultural crises involving specific religions with which each has a personal relationship; including early Aboriginal Spirituality, Umbanda, Buddhism, the Abrahamic faiths, Hinduism, and Atheism. An animated sequence by Mexican animator Maribel Martinez is woven through each of the film segments, with each segment narratively connected as a feature-length film.
High school senior Nami, after being confronted with a crucial decision, embarks on a journey with her ex-boyfriend Zay to make a decision about her future.
Sebari Milach is an awareness film aimed at showing the dark ritualistic practices of female circumcision illegally practiced in Africa. This film touches on a true story about a young Ethiopian girl who gets tricked by her mother into getting circumcised at a ritual purification ceremony shortly after her sister passed away from the same practice.
In her last year of secondary school, a bright Indonesian student is determined to pursue her education and resist getting married, despite the expectations of her community.
On Yonaguni Island, the westernmost island of Japan, there is a language in danger of disappearing. How far can we take the language, culture and history that are being quietly forgotten at the edge of Japan? A semi-documentary fantasy full of life force.
In the wake of a school tragedy, Vada, Mia and Quinton form a unique and dynamic bond as they navigate the never linear, often confusing journey to heal in a world that feels forever changed.
For his 45th birthday, wealthy Californian Adam receives a surprise gift from his choreographer partner: 100 weekly Spanish lessons with Cariño, a vivacious expat who teaches virtually from her home in Costa Rica. Adam's unconvinced at first; a self-described “creature-of-habit”, he’s unsure about where or how this new element will fit into his carefully-structured routine.
When a couple of college kids decide to go on a hunting trip for their Christmas break, they get more than they bargained for when their past comes back to haunt them.
A searing look at a day in the life of an assistant to a powerful executive. As Jane follows her daily routine, she grows increasingly aware of the insidious abuse that threatens every aspect of her position.
Shelby is devastated after her father's death. Curious about her family connections, she decides to look up the DNA-based family tree, and is surprised to find out that her father had another daughter. She goes on a mission to find her sibling and meets Rose, her half-sister. But as the initial euphoria dies down and the question of who gets her father's inheritance crops up, things begin to change.
Prior to fighting for her country, Kirnay, a withdrawn boxer must fight the battle for her freedom.
Eriko married the heir of a businessman and was living happily ever after. One day, even though it was Sunday, her husband Yoshiki went to work. She became curious about a photo book published by her brother-in-law Kensaku that her husband had left behind. Eriko was secretly worried about Kensaku's threats...
A woman is assaulted on a train, later becoming a model for an artist.
A female poker player on a short losing streak is invited to a high stakes home game, but the stakes for her young son are what matter most.
17-year-old Kim strives for recognition from her mother, who runs an agency on the German Baltic Sea that smuggles people from Vietnam to Europe.
Rose hardly ever tells lies. She has a natural elegance and sincerity that few 20-year-old girls possess. However, neither her friends nor her boyfriend know about her difficult past. She’s managed to hide it well, even though she is still haunted by her father’s violence.
LOVE’S ROUTINE is a dark comedy about a discordant elderly couple, who ultimately prove that love is greater than flesh and blood.
A long-married couple embark on one last cross-country journey when it is discovered that the wife is dying. Together they try to reconnect with their estranged daughter before it is too late.
"An Affirmative Act" is pro-gay marriage film, starring Charles Durning, Eric Etebari, Costas Mandylor, Rachael Robbins, and Blanche Baker, about a lesbian couple where one pretends to be a man in order for the two to get married and equal benefits. A slice of life of a young, professional married couple with their darling baby turns a sharp, dark corner when the pair are arrested and charged with several counts of fraud. The reason: Terry and Samantha Succi aren't the man and woman that they purported to be... Terry and Samantha married under false pretenses, ignoring state law that discriminates against homosexual partners and prohibits them from receiving the same rights and benefits as their straight counterparts.
The inspiring true story of Richard Montañez, the Frito Lay janitor who channeled his Mexican American heritage and upbringing to turn the iconic Flamin' Hot Cheetos into a snack that disrupted the food industry and became a global pop culture phenomenon.