FROM THE DIRECTOR
When I look over this year’s incredible lineup and see the names of the talented individuals responsible for creating these exceptional films and then bringing them to our annual celebration of documentary filmmaking, the one word that continually springs to mind is resilience.
It perfectly encapsulates the indomitable spirit and fierce dedication of this particular vibrant and essential filmmaking community, a community that bravely continues to do work that is more important and needed than ever before. Since the Bay Area is such a respected and supportive hub for creative nonfiction filmmaking, it’s little surprise that some of the films have ties to this region.
But it goes beyond geographic designations. These filmmakers are a determined, resourceful and talented bunch. They have certainly weathered challenging times of late: funding and grant cuts and belt tightening, streaming services that are often most interested in true crime stories and, of course, a confused culture constantly bombarded by fictions masquerading as truths.
Yet these dogged documentary makers remain steadfast, unwavering in their core purpose to enlighten and educate and to introduce audiences to fascinating, often inspirational, people, all of whom you will meet
within our three programming strands—Art of Impact, The Great Outdoors, and Wonderlands.
That word resilience certainly applies to the person who is the subject of our opening night film—heralded playwright and director Luis Valdez. The boundary breaker epitomizes standing up for his ideals and raising up voices that need to be heard. Director David Alvarado’s Sundance award winner American Pachuco: The Legend of Luis Valdez is a testament to Valdez's influential work and surveys the impact he has had on elevating Chicano storytelling.
You will find many more stories pertaining to strength and courage in this year’s crop of films that have the power to move and inspire as they dig deeper into relevant topics and explore them with intelligence and creativity.
Welcome to DocLands.
.
Mark Fishkin Executive Director | Founder California Film Institute
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CAFILM SUPPORTERS
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NAVIGATING
BOX OFFICE
SMITH RAFAEL FILM CENTER
1118 Fourth Street | San Rafael
ARRIVE EARLY
To guarantee admittance, ticket and pass holders must be in line 30 minutes prior to showtime. Doors typically open 30 minutes before showtime.
TICKET ON-SALE DATES
THURSDAY . APRIL 2 . NOON
All Access Pass RSVPs (Leadership, Investor, Platinum, Silver)
FRIDAY . APRIL 3 . NOON
Bronze Donors and all Membership Levels
SATURDAY . APRIL 4 . NOON
General Public
FRIDAY APRIL 30 – MAY 4
Tickets available at the Rafael box office 60 min before the first show until 15 min after the start of the last show of the day.
LINE A Badge and ticket holders with A printed on their badge & reserved seat ticket holders.
LINE B All other ticket holders.
• Please do not sit in a reserved seat unless it has been arranged for you. Seat saving is not permitted.
• Outside food and beverages are not permitted
• Digital devices must be turned off prior to the program
TICKET
PRICES
$18.50 General | $15 CAFILM Members
$17 Senior (65+)
$9 Students w/ ID and Youth (12 & under)
BADGE PICK-UP
For year round All Access Pass holders and those needing a badge for DocLands 2026:
MARK FISHKIN ROOM (Adjacent to theater)
Thursday . April 30 . 2:00 – 6:00pm
Friday . May 1 . 2:30 – 7:00pm
Saturday . May 2 . 10:30am – 7:00pm
Sunday . May 3 . 10:30am – 6:00pm
FESTIVAL LOUNGE
MARK FISHKIN ROOM
Open Daily 2:00 – 7:00pm
Happy Hour 4:00 – 6:00pm
FESTIVAL GUIDELINES
Lounge Sponsored by
Please review the CAFILM Code of conduct in advance of attending the Festival (cafilm.org/code-of-conduct). At CAFILM we appreciate, respect, and honor the vibrant diversity and viewpoints of our community of guests and staff. We hold steadfast a commitment to freedom of creative expression. We ask that everyone-artists, audience volunteers, press, industry, staff, board members, and beyond--maintain an environment that is welcoming to all by following our Code of Conduct.
ACCESSIBILITY
Please ask on site staff for assistance with early seating and/or assisted listening devices. If you require effective communication in the form of an ASL interpreter, please contact us at doclands. com at least 10 days prior to the screening you will be attending.
Festival venues are wheelchair accessible. Streaming titles are accompanied by English-language closed-captions, if opencaptions are not already included with the program.
CONSENT TO BE PHOTOGRAPHED
CAFILM and its representatives may photograph, film, and or otherwise record attendees at all Festival activities. By attending, you consent to such photography, filming, and/or recording and to any use in any and all media throughout the universe in perpetuity and without compensation for the use of your appearance, voice, and name for promotional and/or advertising or any other purpose by CAFILM and it’s affiliates and representatives.
Festival
THURSDAY APRIL 30
SATURDAY MAY 2
DOCTALK
SUPPORTING THE VISION
How Bay Area funders and filmmakers collaborate to bring new documentary projects to life
Thursday . April 30 . 5:00 pm . Rafael Two
FUNDING THE VISION
New pathways for documentary filmmakers
Saturday . May 2 . 10:30am . MFR
HAS THE NEW NORMAL ARRIVED?
An informal conversation with filmmakers focused on practical options to the traditional distribution model.
Sunday . May 3 . 12:30 pm . MFR
DOCLANDS EDUCATION
DocLands Education offers free live and virtual field trips for students across the Bay Area and nationwide.
THIS YEAR’S PROGRAM INCLUDES:
. In‑theater and online documentary screenings for grades 6–12
. Live Q&As with filmmakers and film subjects
. Curriculum resources for educators and students
. In person and virtual Filmmakers Go to School classroom visits cafilm.edu/doclands-education
EDUCATION SUPPORT PROVIDED BY Nancy P. and Richard K. Robbins Family Foundation . Bellam Storage Destino Fund . Fenwick Foundation . Letty Ledbetter EMA Foundation . Marin Charitable
LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The California Film Institute and DocLands Documentary Film Festival are located in Marin County, California, on the traditional, ancestral, and contemporary homelands of the Coast Miwok, Pomo, and Wappo peoples. This includes the Southern Pomo and Graton Rancheria Tribes. These tribes were removed or displaced from their lands. We recognize this history and the harm to present-day Coast Miwok, Pomo, and Wappo peoples and to their ancestors. The California Film Institute commits to moving forward from a place of authenticity and working with present-day tribes to elevate their stories, history, and present-day legacy through film.
ACCESSIBILITY
The Mill Valley Film Festival is dedicated to using physical venues that are accessible to all of our attendees and invited guests, as well as accessible screening content both in-person and through our streaming services. Do you have any accessibility requests for this screening or event? Please let us know what you need in the checkout form while you are purchasing your tickets or by emailing accessibility@cafilm.org directly. We will work to accommodate all requests, but please note not all events have closed captioning or audio description available.
MVFF communicates directly with studios, distributors, and filmmakers about accessibility features with their films. This process takes time, and MVFF is committed to verifying that accessibility features do exist and screen properly. As we receive content and verify, the below lists will be updated. Please note that accessibility features for films may be verified and updated after tickets go on sale to the public.
If you wish to communicate an accessibility need, please fill out THIS FORM or email accessibility@cafilm.org directly. If you need ASL interpretation, please contact us at least 10 days prior to the screening you will need it for.
CONSENT TO BE PHOTOGRAPHED
California Film Institute (CAFILM) and its representatives may photograph, film, and/or otherwise record attendees at all festival activities. By attending, you consent to such photography, filming, and/or recording and to any use in any and all media throughout the universe in perpetuity and without compensation for the use of your appearance, voice, and name for promotional and/or advertising, or any other purpose by CAFILM and its affiliates and representatives.
ABOUT DOCLANDS
DocLands Documentary Film Festival, presented by the California Film Institute, is a vibrant celebration of nonfiction storytelling held annually in Marin County, California. Expanding upon the exchange of ideas and inspiration through captivating screenings, networking, and engaging conversations, DocLands strives to foster dialogue, inspire connections, and build an inclusive community around the art of documentary
filmmaking. DocLands aims to illuminate filmmakers' diverse perspectives and ignite a passion for exploring real world issues by showcasing compelling stories and the thought provoking insights behind them. Through screenings, discussions, and networking opportunities, DocLands continues to highlight the artistry and impact of documentary cinema.
SECTIONS
THE GREAT OUTDOORS
Transports us outside to truly appreciate, explore, and ultimately compel us to save and conserve our environment and the wilds of our precious planet.
SPONSORED BY NANCY P. and RICHARD K. ROBBINS FAMILY FOUNDATION
WONDERLANDS
Lifts our spirits through stories of joy, wonder, and possibility.
SPONSORED BY JIM BOYCE TRUST and KRIS OTIS
ART OF IMPACT
Engages and sparks action by sharing stories that open our eyes to the global community and its disparate cultures, politics, personal narratives, and biographies.
SPONSORED BY
OPENING NIGHT
AMERICAN PACHUCO: THE LEGEND OF LUIS VALDEZ
If Luis Valdez had only written Zoot Suit and La Bamba and nothing else, his place in American cultural history would be secure. Yet, as David Al ‑ varado’s enthralling documentary reveals, there is much more to Valdez’s singular life and career. The son of immigrant farm workers, he grew up to make the Mexican American experience his subject, beginning with El Teatro Campesino, the theater company he founded amidst a 1965 United Farm Workers strike. Zoot Suit , his interpretation of an infamous 1942 Los Angeles murder case would follow in 1979. He became a fea ture filmmaker in 1987 with La Bamba , the rollicking Richie Valens biopic that made Lou Diamond Phillips a star. Alvarado takes a chronological approach to Valdez’s life, allowing the now 85-year-old playwright to tell his own story, while friends and collaborators like Phillips, Cheech Marin, Linda Ronstadt, and Dolores Huerta add their own observations. Edward James Olmos reclaims his first important role, Zoot Suit ’s El Pachuco, to playfully narrate this insightful documentary.
DIRECTOR
David Alvarado
US 2026
92 min IN PERSON
David Alvarado
Luis Valdez STRAND
Art of Impact
BAY AREA PREMIERE
SPONSORED BY JENNIFER COSLETT
M ac CREADY
April 30 . Rafael One . 6:30pm
CLOSING NIGHT
LITTLE FEAT: THE DOCUMENTARY
Discerning music fans and fellow musicians loved Little Feat, but the band always hovered just out of frame, often overlooked in the pantheon of great rock and roll acts. Filmmaker Jesse Lauter aims to change all that with this insightful documentary that celebrates the group and how its unique blend of blues, country, and New Orleans rhythms significantly influenced rock music. Jeff Bridges narrates a film replete with never-be fore-seen footage and the observations of iconic fans and friends, includ ‑ ing Bonnie Raitt, Linda Ronstadt, Jackson Browne, and Elvis Costello, as well as members of The Doobie Brothers, Phish, and The Grateful Dead. The film takes a dual approach to its subject, covering Little Feat’s histo ry, starting with its founding by singer/guitarist Lowell George and key boardist Bill Payne, while also taking the measure of the late ‘60s/early ‘70s California music scene. Until now, Little Feat has been a great untold story. This thrilling film rectifies that as it at last grants the band a proper showcase. —Kelly Clement
AANIKOOBIJIGAN [ANCESTOR/GREATGRANDPARENT/GREAT-GRANDCHILD]
From experimental documentary filmmakers Zack Khalil and Adam Khalil comes a visual essay that confronts the institutional legacy of collecting Indigenous human remains. This 2026 Sundance Film Festival NEXT Au dience Award winning feature follows Indigenous repatriation specialists working to return the bodies of their ancestors from museums and ar chives to the communities where they belong. Centered on members of the Michigan Anishinaabek Cultural Preservation and Repatriation Alli ‑ ance (MACPRA), the film documents the work of identifying, claiming, and reburying remains taken and stored for decades in the name of sci ence and research. Through patient conversations with elders, historians, and cultural leaders, the film examines the colonial practices that allowed these collections to exist, and the legal and ethical battles now required to bring them home. Blending observational footage with an inventive approach, the film reflects on memory, spirituality, and responsibility, re vealing the weight carried by those working to restore dignity and heal communities. —Michelle Svenson
2 . Rafael Three . 1:45pm
DIRECTORS
Zachary Khalil
Adam Khalil
US, DENMARK 2026
90 min
STRAND
Art of Impact
BAY AREA PREMIERE
THE ART OF ADVENTURE
A tender portrait of lifelong friendship, the film traces the remarkable bond between wildlife artist Robert Bateman and biologist Bristol Fos‑ ter. As young men, they embarked on a globe-spanning journey, armed with their "Grizzly Torque,” a modified 1957 Land Rover; notepad; cam eras; a paintbrush; and an insatiable curiosity about the natural world. Their beautifully preserved archival footage captures a planet that feels startlingly intact, along with the openhearted way they encountered the people and places along the way—from remote savannas and dense for ests to the foothills of the Himalayas. As the film reconnects with them in their later years, their reflections on art, science, and activism take on new resonance against the backdrop of a rapidly changing climate. At its heart, the documentary becomes a meditation on friendship, legacy, and the fragility of the world they set out to explore. —Michelle Svenson
DIRECTOR Alison Reid
STRAND
The Great Outdoors
BIRDS OF WAR
The love story between two journalists covering the deteriorating situ ation in Syria unfolds through 13 years of personal archives and across revolutions, war, and exile. The winner of a Special Jury Award for Jour nalistic Impact at the Sundance Film Festival, this enthralling documenta ry focuses on the relationship between Janay, a London-based Lebanese reporter for the BBC, and Habak, a Syrian activist and cameraman who risks his life to capture the conflict on the ground. They meet and make a connection online when Janay sends queries, seeking footage of the nascent Syrian revolution. At first, their interaction is a professional col laboration conducted over text messages and voice notes as they doc ument the growing strife. But gradually, despite having yet to meet in person, the relationship evolves into a deeply personal, intimate bond. Janay and Habak are an engaging couple in this deeply human tale of hope and love transcending the horrors of war. In Arabic with English subtitles —Kelly Clement
DIRECTORS
Janay Boulos
Abd Alkader Habak
UK 2026
92 min
STRAND
Art of Impact
BAY AREA PREMIERE
CREATING A PHOTOJOURNALIST
From home movies to the front lines of modern media journalism, a lens has long framed Erik Castro’s life. In this deeply personal documentary, we embark on a personal journey exploring Erik’s life over five decades, from a childhood shared with five siblings in 1970s Los Angeles, lovingly captured by his mother’s 8mm camera, to his evolution into a seasoned visual storyteller documenting family life in Sonoma County. He made a choice to pursue a career in photojournalism while being a stay ‑ at ‑ home dad, the two roles pulling him in opposite directions. Blending dream like imagery with raw footage from early film projects, intimate home videos, and the voices of the unhoused and marginalized, Creating a Photojournalis t is a meditation on fatherhood, storytelling, and the cre ative influence that his family and documentary subjects have had on his work. —Kelly Clement
Shown with OH WHALE
Directed by Winslow Crane Murdoch
When KATU TV reporter Paul Linnman arrived at an Oregon beach on November 12, 1970, he had no idea that the story he was chasing would forever define his career. (US 2025, 26 min)
ROLLING FILM, ROCKING HISTORY, AL MAYSLES CAPTURES THE BEATLES
Directed by Bart Weiss
Documentary legend Al Maysles tells the story of how he and his brother David shot the Beatles’s first trip to the USA at the dawn of Beatlemania. (US 2025, 12 min)
May 2 . Rafael Three . 4:00pm
DIRECTOR
Erik Castro US 2025
45 min IN PERSON
Erik Castro STRAND
Art of Impact
BAY AREA PREMIERE
A DAIRY STORY
In the rolling hills of southwest Scotland, David and Wilma Finlay are reimagining dairy farming. After implementing successful regenerative practices, they decide to take an even bolder step: pioneering a system that allows calves to remain with their mothers while continuing milk pro duction for human consumption. For centuries, dairy farming has relied on the routine separation of calves from their mothers to sustain output, but the Finlays discover that the milk keeps flowing even when the family stays together. Filmed over two years with intimate access, the documen tary follows the daily realities of this transition—the financial risks, ear ly setbacks, and quiet breakthroughs that reveal the depth of maternal bonds within the herd. As Wilma faces a terminal cancer diagnosis, their commitment to reshaping the future of dairy farming takes on new urgen ‑ cy. The film is both an agricultural case study and a tender meditation on care, mortality, and the bonds we share. —Michelle Svenson
The Great Outdoors
BAY AREA PREMIERE
GIVE IT A SHOT
Exploring one of the most consequential frontiers in reproductive health—male contraception— Give It a Shot examines the decades ‑ long effort to bring a viable alternative for men to market. Through a focus on lab work and clinical testing, and conversations with the scientists driving the effort forward, the film reveals both the scientific and pharmaceutical approval challenges and the broader social implications of shifting con traceptive responsibility. At the center of the story is 83 ‑ year‑ old Dr. Su ‑ joy Guha, a pioneer in the development of a long-lasting and reversible injectable contraceptive, alongside American researchers building upon his work. Their persistence reflects a growing effort to expand options for men and advance gender equity in family planning. Combining humor and high-stakes research, the film offers a window into innovations that could empower men to take greater control of their fertility and reshape reproductive health worldwide. In Bengali, English, and Hindi with En glish subtitles —Michelle Svenson DIRECTOR
Vaishali Sinha
HARD TWIST: THROUGH THE LENS OF BARBARA VAN CLEVE
The life of famed photographer Barbara Van Cleve, now 90, comes into sharp focus in this celebratory documentary. Known for her insightful photographs of the American West’s ranching culture, Van Cleve’s cre ative journey began on her family’s Montana spread where she grew up learning to ride, rope, and run and brand cattle. Even as she taught En glish literature at university, she followed her creative path as a chronicler of the transformation of the American West. She embraced life as an independent artist, an advocate for women ranchers, and a proud lead er in a photographic genre long considered the domain of men. Nev er before seen archival footage of early Montana along with Van Cleve’s photographs offer insight into an enduring and rugged lifestyle. This film celebrates the life of a remarkable woman who devoted her life to telling the story of camaraderie and sisterhood in a rapidly changing landscape. —Kelly Clement
HELLCAT: THE TRUE STORY OF AN UNREASONABLE TEXAS WATERKEEPER
Set along the Texas Gulf Coast, this film follows Diane Wilson, a shrimp boat captain, who has spent decades standing up to the powerful petro ‑ chemical industry threatening the waters her family has fished for gener ations. What begins as a local fight to protect Matagorda Bay becomes a sweeping challenge to the entrenched machinery of industrial resource extraction. Facing corporate giants and the US Army Corps of Engineers, Wilson, the winner of the 2023 Goldman Environmental Prize for North America, battles everything from plastic pollution to toxic mercury buried in the bay’s sediment. What emerges is a powerful portrait of an unlikely but relentless environmental activist whose determination proves that it is possible to challenge even the most formidable systems. Wilson’s fight is deeply rooted in place and community, offering a story of resilience and hard won victories that speaks to anyone who has ever wondered whether ordinary citizens can stand up to powerful interests—and win. —Michelle Svenson
Shown with FOG
EATERS
Director: Kyle Baker
When toxic mercury appears in California’s mountain lions, scientists trace the pollutant through the food web to a surprising culprit—the coastal fog itself. (US 2025, 20 min)
DIRECTOR
Fax Bahr US 2025
85 min
Fax Bahr
Diane Wilson STRAND
The Great Outdoors
BAY AREA PREMIERE May 2 . Rafael Two . 12:00pm
IRON WINTER
In Mongolia’s coldest valley, horses symbolize survival, and as they have since ancient times, the herders of the Tsakhir Valley conduct an annual winter migration to find feed for the community’s horses. When a severe “iron winter” brings extreme temperatures, heavy snow, and thick ice, it is a catastrophe. In this challenging environment, two young men share the daunting responsibility to not only protect the animals—but save the herders’ most sacred tradition. During this deadliest winter on record, it falls to 18-year-old Batbold and his friend Tsaaganna to safeguard 2,000 horses. With the future of their community at stake, the duo must con front their fears and insecurities while grappling with the weight of their heritage. For four months, the boys battle the elements, testing friend ship and faith in a fight to keep the herd alive, while they decide whether to preserve an ancient way of life or step into a life in the city. In Mongo lian with English subtitles —Kelly Clement
Shown with BLACK EYES
Directed by Mateo Arango Guerrero
Thirteen year old Kharakoz embodies a captivating blend of ancestral traditions and modern influences as she learns the ancient art of eagle hunting. (Australia 2025, 18 min)
May 2 . Rafael Three . 11:00am
DIRECTOR Kasimir Burgess
AUSTRALIA 2024
101 min
STRAND
The Great Outdoors
BAY AREA PREMIERE
JANE ELLIOTT AGAINST THE WORLD
One day after Martin Luther King, Jr.’s 1968 assassination, Iowa school teacher Jane Elliott divided her all ‑ white third ‑ grade class into blue ‑ eyed and brown eyed groups to teach a daring lesson in discrimination. That first exercise led to extreme backlash against Elliott and her family but also inspired a lifetime of activism and advocacy revealed in this power ful and urgent portrait of a legendary educator. After spending nearly 60 years confronting America about racism, responsibility, and moral cour‑ age and now nearing 90, Elliott continues to speak out. Students who took part in that early classroom exercise, Elliott’s family, and prominent activists like Killer Mike and Ibram X. Kendi are among those who offer their observations in the film. Jane Elliott Against the World is an im portant and timely documentary that relates one woman’s history while highlighting how urgent her work remains in an era where discrimination and systemic racism remain omnipresent. —Kelly Clement
JOYBUBBLES
Born blind and yearning for connection while growing up with abusive parents and later, while living in a dormitory at school, Joe Engressia dis ‑ covers he has a quirky knack for hacking telephones. By whistling perfect tones, he begins to dial the world in to envelop him. He believes 'if you love something, it will love you back' and through his obsession and vy ing for the final listing in the phone book, he connects with a community of 'phone phreaks’ and others who seek connection and lands a high paying job that brings to life his dream of living independently in a high rise apartment with a pool. In realizing his life’s purpose to bring joy to all who call, he changes his name to Joybubbles and chats endlessly to all who seek his joyful wisdom, while at the same time healing himself by lis tening to all 895 episodes of Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood . —Joni Cooper
THE LAST CRITIC
Sixty years and a million record reviews ago, Robert Christgau pioneered rock criticism, becoming one of the most influential practitioners of the craft. The Last Critic celebrates this self proclaimed “Dean of American Rock Critics” who began a career that would challenge and inspire gen erations of music lovers when he covered the 1967 Monterey Pop festival for Esquire . That nascent plunge into serious criticism led to his singu lar voice becoming a regular feature in the Village Voice , Rolling Stone , Creem , and The New York Times . From those pages, he canonized icons like The Ramones and Aretha Franklin, while his harsh criticism infuriated the likes of Lou Reed and Billy Joel. Now in his 80s, Christgau is still at it, grading records and holding forth online in his popular Substack column. For record collectors, rock obsessives, and anyone who still believes the music matters, this lively, incisive documentary traces the evolution of pop music through Christgau’s sharp ears and even sharper pen. And in our current era of algorithms and disappearing print media, is Robert Christgau simply a survivor—or truly the last critic? —Kelly Cl ement
MARY OLIVER: SAVED BY THE BEAUTY OF THE WORLD
What is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life? The ulti mate line from what is perhaps Pulitzer Prize winning poet, Mary Oliver’s most beloved poem, The Summer , has brought tears to many an eye as the full meaning of it is contemplated. Even as Stephen Colbert tells us that at the beginning of every summer he sends it to his kids, and then attempts to recite it on camera, each time his emotions overtake him. As director Sasha Waters presents deep research into the elusive poet’s works and her life with agent and life-long partner Molly Malone Cook, Mary’s dear friend John Waters reveals the long friendship he shared with the beatnik poet. In her own words, Mary tells how poetry and the beauty of the world saved her, and we learn how her poetry not only shares that same beauty in words, but in turn continues to save countless readers beyond her exceptional life. —Joni Cooper
May 1 . Rafael Two . 1:30pm
May 1 . Rafael Three . 6:30pm
NO PLACE FOR FOOTBALL
Iceberg caps and ocean frame bright green soccer pitches on Green land’s coastlines, where a football culture is breaking through. Directors Brandon Scott Smith and Derek Sullivan Smith follow B-67 Nuuk, the strongest club in Greenland—often called the country’s answer to Real Madrid—as they pursue a national championship. Amid this deeply root ed Inuit culture and team is rookie coach Nicolai, who yearns for respect and companionship on the field and in his new home while leading the nation’s most promising– and endearing–talent. His players, who jok ingly refer to him as “Lasso,” balance their passion for the game with work and family as they prepare for the tournament during unpredict able Arctic weather. What unfolds is a glimpse into the fighting spirit of not just one team, but the deep sense of identity and pride of Green ‑ landers seeking recognition—not only on the football pitch, but on the global stage. In English Danish, and Greenlandic with English subtitles —Michelle Svenson
DIRECTORS
Brandon Scott Smith
Derek Sullivan GREENLAND 2026
91 min IN PERSON
Brandon Scott Smith
Derek Sullivan STRAND
Wonderlands WORLD PREMIERE
NUNS VS. THE VATICAN
Three survivors, former nuns, come forward to seek justice against their rapist, a priest with close ties to the highest levels of the Catholic Church. The strength of this investigative documentary is the women themselves: their courage, their testimony, and the way they come together to re claim a sense of agency and solidarity. While the story focuses in part on a former Jesuit, now Catholic priest, celebrated for his mosaic art across churches in Europe, the film ultimately exposes broader systems of pro ‑ tection and cover-up within the Vatican, including false expulsions, socalled “repentance” retreats, and a lack of accountability, as confirmed by an insider priest. Stories of abuse within the Church have long cap tured headlines—particularly involving altar boys and Indigenous resi dential schools—but Nuns vs. The Vatican brings long ‑ overlooked female victims into the open, in an act of reckoning and a call for other survivors to speak out and refuse silence. In English, Italian, and Slovenian with English subtitles —Michelle Svenson
DIRECTOR
Lorena Luciano
US 2025
90 min IN PERSON
Lorena Luciano
Filippo Piscopo (Producer)
STRAND
Art of Impact
CALIFORNIA PREMIERE
OBSERVER
With his latest film, Ian Cheney ( The Art of Oblivion , DocLands 2023, Shelf Life , DocLands 2025) invites us to find beauty and meaning in the most unassuming places. With this fascinating documentary, the filmmaker embarks on a bold experiment that brings together a geologist, an artist, a bioengineer, a poet, a quantum physicist, a blind sound engineer, and a hunter to share their observations in far-flung locations around the world. Oftentimes, Cheney doesn’t reveal to them their eventual destination as they travel; he simply asks them to describe what they encounter when they get there. What unfolds through eight chapters is a thought provok ing journey into the simple but transformative act of seeing. It is inspiring work that poses the questions: What happens when we find new ways to sense and perceive everything around us? And what more can we learn about the world when we really look and listen? —Kelly Clement DIRECTOR
PLAN C FOR CIVILIZATION
As the climate crisis accelerates, geoengineering—purposeful human in tervention into the Earth’s climate system—has moved from fringe theory to active pursuit. This analytical look centers on physicist David Keith, a prominent leader in solar geoengineering, and examines the promise and peril of intentionally cooling the planet. Through interviews with sci entists, policymakers, and critics, the film offers a measured yet urgent inquiry into technologies advancing faster than public understanding. As debates within science and environmental advocacy groups intensi fy and progress stalls, unregulated independent for-profit ventures such as Make Sunsets, a company that releases manmade “clouds” into the atmosphere, conduct unsanctioned experiments that underscore the ab sence of meaningful oversight. Meanwhile, Keith’s ties to petroleum cor‑ porations raise difficult questions about corporate influence and possible greenwashing. Clear-eyed and timely, the documentary asks who gets to decide the planet’s future — and at what cost. —Michelle Svenson
REGGAE GIRLZ
Women’s soccer produces some of the best players in the world, despite being underpaid and overshadowed by the men’s game. In Jamaica, the national women’s team, the Reggae Girlz, face an even steeper climb. As the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup approaches, the team confronts mis management and underfunding—making advocates and sponsors like The Bob Marley Foundation all the more vital. Through personal stories and behind-the-scenes moments, the film introduces determined athletes driven by pride in representing Jamaica on the global stage. Their deep connection to the island, their teammates, and the meaning of wear ing the national crest keep them united as they prepare for competition against some of the world’s strongest athletes. Their journey reveals the emotional stakes of the sport and the resilience required to sustain the program, forming an uplifting portrait of perseverance, national pride, and the growing visibility of women’s football. —Michelle Svenson
DIRECTORS
Sharmeen
Obaid-Chinoy
Trisha Dalton
US, AUSTRIA, UK 2025
85 min IN PERSON
Trisha Dalton
STRAND
Wonderlands
CALIFORNIA PREMIERE
TOUGH OLD BROADS
Meet three trailblazing women in this inspiring film whose early achieve ments in sports, climate action, and civil rights opened doors for count ‑ less others: Katherine Switzer, the first woman to officially run the Bos ton Marathon; Sharon Farmer, the first woman (and person of color) to serve as the official White House photographer; and Silla Watt-Cloutier, the first woman to launch legal action against the US government and connect climate change to humans. These women shook the world and made history when they were young, but none rests on her laurels, as they continue to pursue their passions and make waves decades later. With determination and grit, these women shed light on what it takes to make it in a ‘man’s world’ and what your golden years look like when you’re a self-described ‘tough old broad.’ They’re living proof that you can follow your dreams and maybe change the world in the process. In English, German, and Inuktitut with English subtitles —Kelly Clement
TRADE SECRET
Three unlikely allies embark on a mission to protect polar bears from the international fur trade in this gripping, eye-opening exposé. These well intentioned and passionate eco warriors believe they are making progress in educating environmental groups and the governments of Arctic countries about the issue. But as the trio’s investigation deepens, a disturbing truth unfolds: Those entrusted with safeguarding the en dangered species may also be entangled in the continuing commercial ‑ ization that threatens the animals’ survival. Filmed over six years across nine countries, Abraham Joffe’s enthralling documentary uncovers the sanctioned sale of hundreds of polar bears annually on the global mar ket. Urgent questions arise about how to protect vulnerable species in a world where lines have blurred between protection and exploitation. In a film that plays like a thriller, Trade Secret reveals how conservation, poli tics, and commercial interests collide in ways the public was never meant to see. —Kelly Clement
DIRECTOR
Abraham Joffe
AUSTRALIA, UK 2025
Abraham Joffe STRAND
BAY AREA PREMIERE
SPONSORED BY JENNIFER COSLETT
M ac CREADY
Y VÂN: THE LOST SOUNDS OF SAIGON
Colorfully stylized and full of musical discovery, filmmaker Khoa Ha takes us with her as she travels back to Vietnam—and back in time—to recon ‑ nect with the legacy of her grandfather, the celebrated composer and arranger Y Vân. A central figure in Vietnamese popular music from the 1950s through the early 1970s, Y Vân helped define the sound of Sai gon during a vibrant cultural era before the war. Guiding us through re cord shops, archives, and conversations with musicians who once worked alongside him, Ha pieces together the story of an artist whose music once filled dance halls, radio waves, and living rooms across the country. Through her search, she works to recover and preserve Y Vân’s music. The film’s playful, confident style mirrors Ha’s own presence on screen, invit ing audiences to join her in uncovering both family history and a remark‑ able chapter of Vietnamese musical heritage. In English and Vietnamese with English subtitles —Michelle Svenson
DIRECTORS
Khoa Ha
Victor Vellen US, 2024
91 min
IN PERSON
Khoa Ha
Victor Velle
Douglas Emerson (Producer)
STRAND
Wonderlands
BAY AREA PREMIERE May 1 . Rafael Two . 7:00pm
ZELENSKY
An up close portrait of artist turned politician Volodymyr Zelensky traces his path from television comedian to president of Ukraine at a moment when the country sought inspiring leadership. Drawing on archival foot age, television clips, and interviews with longtime collaborators, teach ers, and colleagues, this French production follows Zelensky’s rise from a young performer in the industrial city of Kryvyi Rih to one of the most recognizable political figures of the 21st century. His sketches and televi ‑ sion work often satirized oligarchs, abuse of power, and Russia’s influence in Ukrainian politics, reflecting widespread frustrations. Revisiting photo graphs and footage from his past, Zelensky reflects on a career in which the idealized characters he portrayed—ordinary Ukrainians confronting corruption and post ‑ Soviet power—resonated beyond the screen with a nation ready for change. In English, Russian, and Ukrainian with English subtitles—Michelle Svenson
DIRECTORS
Yves Jeuland
Lisa Vapné
FRANCE, 2025
133 min
STRAND
Art of Impact
CALIFORNIA PREMIERE
ARCTIC ALCHEMY
DIPSEA GENERATIONS
SHORTS IN THE GREAT OUTDOORS
InThe Great Outdoors transports us outside to truly appreciate, explore, and ultimately compel us to save and conserve our environment and the wilds of our precious planet.
DIPSEA GENERATIONS
Director: Patrick O'Leary
In Dipsea Generations we follow five diverse young runners from across the Bay Area as they take on the oldest, and perhaps the most unique, trail race in the US, the iconic Dipsea race. US 2025, 27min
ARCTIC ALCHEMY
Directors: Colin Arisman , Zeppelin Zeerip
Renowned Alaskan adventurer and climate scientist Roman Dial takes his team on a 112 mile research expedition above the Arctic Circle in Arctic Alchemy to find the source of a mysterious phenomenon poison ‑ ing watersheds in the region. US 2025, 29min BAY AREA PREMIERE
INTO THE LIGHT - A STORY OF SURFERS, NOT STREET CHILDREN
Director: Mikey Corker
Into the Light follows two young South African surfers whose lives could not be more precarious—and whose dreams, against all odds, carry them across an ocean they were never meant to touch. UK 2025, 38min WORLD PREMIERE
Total program: 94min
May 3 . Rafael One . 11:30am
DOCTALK
In addition to a slate of remarkable films, DocLands provides interactive forums to explore creative aspects of documentary filmmaking and help invigorate the business and art of nonfiction filmmaking toward building an active and fully supportive community around documentary film. Join us. Be part of the story.
SUPPORTING THE VISION
How Bay Area funders and filmmakers collaborate to bring new documentary projects to life.
Thursday, April 30, 2026 | 5:00–6:30 PM
Rafael Two
Presented by CAFILM Education and DocLands Co presented by Berkeley Film Foundation and the Bay Area Video Coalition
Opening Night at DocLands begins with a look at how nonfiction films move from idea to screen.
In this DocTalk conversation, CAFILM Education, Berkeley Film Foundation (BFF), and Bay Area Video Coalition (BAVC) bring together filmmakers and funders to discuss how documentary projects gain support and momentum. The program features filmmakers Luca Capponi, Thanh Tran, and Alex J. Bledsoe, whose recent projects received major support from BFF grants and BAVC’s MediaMaker Fellowship.
Through conversations and excerpts from works in progress, the filmmakers will share how their projects developed and the role these Bay Area funding and mentorship programs played in advancing their films.
Representatives from BFF and BAVC will also discuss what makes a strong submission, the materials needed for successful applications, and how fellowships, grants, and mentorship programs help advance projects.
More than just a showcase, Supporting the Vision provides a practical look at the regional infrastructure that supports independent nonfiction filmmaking and the organizations helping bring new documentary voices to the screen.
THE FILMMAKERS
LUCA CAPPONI What Lies Over the Mountain (Early production /Development).
What Lies Over the Mountain is a personal documentary about an Ecuadorian woman who migrated to a small village in northern Italy in the 1980s. Decades later, her sons return with her to the remote Andean village where their parents met, carrying their father’s ashes and confronting family secrets, migration, and the search for belonging across generations.
Director Statement: “With this film, I turn the camera toward my own family for the first time. The heart of the story is a return with my mother and brother to the remote tropical village where my parents first met. Through this journey, I will use the camera as a healing tool, exploring silence, memory, and migration across generations, with the intent of creating a space where cinema becomes reflection, confrontation, and care.”
Luca Capponi is an Italian Ecuadorian observational filmmaker based in Berkeley. His work explores migration, identity, and marginalized communities. He is a BAVC MediaMaker Fellow developing his first personal documentary, What Lies Over the Mountain.
THANH TRAN Finding Má (Post-Production)
Separated for over 20 years by foster care and prison, an Amerasian Vietnamese and Black family reunite to heal old wounds, starting with finding their houseless mom.
Director Statement: “I became a filmmaker as an organizer in prison, where storytelling was both resistance and survival. I began this journey to share stories that could liberate my people from cages and support the healing of our hurting communities. Finding Má is my most intimate offering toward that vision, rooted in love, pain, and dignity.”
Thanh Tran is an Amerasian Vietnamese and Black filmmaker, music artist, and community organizer. He co-founded Uncuffed, an award winning podcast, and ForwardThis Productions. He leads New Krma Media, supporting system-impacted artists. A Film Independent Amplifier Fellow, he directs Finding Má and is a Board member of the Andrus Family Foundation.
ALEX J. BLEDSOE - OAKLEAD (Fundraising/ Post-Production) In Oakland, California, we fight to protect one another from lead poisoning in our own homes and schools–and uncover over a century of environmental racism.
Director Statement: “I began filming when I realized my community in Oakland is one of 3,000 communities across the US experiencing lead poisoning at an even higher rate than Flint, Michigan. Worldwide, 1 in 3 children is lead poisoned. OAKLEAD centers our community members who are most affected by the lead poisoning epidemic, both behind the scenes and in front of the camera. OAKLEAD is a documented rehearsal in how our solidarity, in life and film production, can change our material realities and build healthy communities.”
Alex J. Bledsoe is a filmmaker and multidisciplinary artist working to dismantle exploitative systems and uplift everyday rehearsals of freedom. Her debut feature documentary, OAKLEAD, is a grantee of the Sundance Documentary Film Program, Berkeley Film Foundation, Redford Center, Fund for Investigative Journalism, and winner of the Jonathan Logan Elevate Award for Investigative Journalism. Alex is a 2025 BAVC MediaMaker and a California Arts Council Individual Artist Fellow. She is the co-founder of Breaktide, an all women-of-color film production company based in the Bay Area. She has been a guest columnist for the Washington Post, and a live featured guest on KQED Forum for her filmmaking and activism.
CO PRESENTERS and PANELISTS
The BERKELEY FILM FOUNDATION (BFF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit grant-making institution that nurtures, sustains, and preserves the local independent film community in the San Francisco Bay Area while cultivating the next generation of filmmakers. We were founded in 2009 to foster the East Bay as a creative hub for independent filmmakers. BBF also offers educational programming, community film screenings, and networking opportunities along with cash grants to local filmmakers. Since our inception, we have awarded 181 grants totaling $2.08M, supporting both narrative and documentary projects in the production, post-production and distribution stages of development. The films we support are strongly rooted in topics of social or environmental justice and we are particularly interested in stories that address the challenges of our time in order to inspire effective public policy changes at the
local and national level. Many of our grantees have screened at US and international film festivals, won prestigious awards, and are making an impact across the world.
Isabella Miller is the Program Director of the Berkeley Film Foundation, a nonprofit that provides project grants to East Bay filmmakers. Since 2020, she has guided strategy and operations at BFF and managed the grantmaking programs which distribute hundreds of thousands annually to films addressing social justice and the environment that are in production and distribution. She also leads the Foundation’s fundraising, marketing, and events planning efforts.
BAY AREA VIDEO COALITION (BAVC) inspires social change by empowering media makers to develop and share diverse stories through art, education, and technology. BAVC Media has been a trusted community educator, collaborator, incubator, community builder, and resource for the media arts world since 1976. The BAVC Media MediaMaker Fellowship is devoted to supporting documentary filmmakers using bold cinematic language and innovative impact strategies to grapple with critical issues of our time.
DAWN VALADEZ is a Xicana, disabled, queer filmmaker and artist dedicated to telling powerful stories that center BIPOC, Latine, queer, women, and disabled communities. She is codirecting Querida Fátima with Colectiva Varinia. Querida Fátima follows Lorena, a mother who lost her 12-year-old daughter to feminicide a decade ago and now camps outside Mexico's Presidential Palace, demanding justice from the country's first female president. The project won the 2024 DocLands Jury Pitch. Her work has been supported by Ford Foundation/Just Films, Sundance, Tribeca All Access, and others. She is a board member of the Berkeley Film Foundation and the Disability Media Alliance. She is BAVC Media's Director of Workforce and Artist Development and Co Director of the Media Maker Fellowship.
DocTalk will be followed by the DocLands Opening Night film and celebration.
After the screening, join filmmakers and festival guests for the Opening Night Party at the Elks Lodge in San Rafael.
DOCTALK
FUNDING THE VISION
NEW PATHWAYS FOR DOCUMENTARY FILMMAKERS
Exploring emerging funding models—from crowdfunding and creator platforms to brand partnerships and new industry opportunities.
Saturday, May 2, 2026 - 10:30am
Rafael Two
Presented by CAFILM Education and DocLands Co presented by Video Consortium Bay Area
Independent documentary filmmakers are increasingly turning to creative and community-driven strategies to finance their work. In this DocTalk conversation, CAFILM Education and Video Consortium Bay Area bring together filmmakers and industry leaders to discuss emerging funding models that are reshaping how nonfiction stories are made.
Panelists will explore alternative funding pathways, including crowdfunding, subscriber-supported platforms such as Patreon, brand collaborations, and opportunities emerging through conferences and streaming platforms.
Open to filmmakers and film lovers alike, this conversation offers a rare look inside the earliest stages of documentary filmmaking when ideas begin to take shape and filmmakers begin the search for support.
VIDEO CONSORTIUM is a global nonprofit organization that connects and supports nonfiction filmmakers, video journalists, and media creators working across documentary and journalism. Founded in 2016, the organization has built an international community spanning thousands of storytellers across more than 80 countries who believe in the power of real stories to inform, inspire, and catalyze change.
The Video Consortium Bay Area chapter brings together documentary filmmakers, journalists, and media creators from across Northern California. The chapter hosts screenings, workshops, and community gatherings that celebrate the region’s nonfiction storytelling while fostering collaboration and peer support among filmmakers.
HAS THE NEW NORMAL ARRIVED?
Join us for an informal conversation between local and this year’s DocLands' filmmakers. Steered by their most recent experiences and personal thoughts and beliefs, we’ll discuss practical options to the traditional distribution model that seemingly has already collapsed. With YouTube having just surpassed Disney to become the world’s largest media company, will a platform built almost entirely on creators lead filmmakers to find success on their own terms? What practical conclusions have these content creators come to, and what might they already have put to work in order to continue their filmmaking passion, while gaining an audience and making a living? What role do today's independent, community-driven art houses play in this new normal?
Saturday, May 3, 2026 - 10:30am
Mark Fiskin Room
Panelists:
KHOA HA
Y Vân The Lost Sounds of Saigon
NANCY KELLY
Thousand Pieces of Gold, Rebels with a Cause
VICTOR VELLE
Y Vân The Lost Sounds of Saigon
KENJI YAMAMOTO
Thousand Pieces of Gold, Rebels with a Cause
DAN ZASTROW
Programmer + Director of Cinemas, CAFILM
DOCLANDS
DocLands Education offers free live and virtual field trips for students across the Bay Area and nationwide.
The program includes:
• In-theater and online documentary screenings for grade 6 through college.
• Live Q&As with filmmakers and film subjects
• Curriculum resources for eductors and students, including lesson plans, discussion guides and activity toolkits.
• In-Person and virtual Filmmakers Go to School classroom visits.
Nancy P. Richard K. Robbins Family Foundation • Bellam Storage • Destino Fund Fenwick Foundation • Letty Ledbetter • EMA Foundation • Marin Charitable
ASSOCIATE: $80
Perfect for the solo film who loves watching films at the Smith Rafael Film Center and receiving invitations to our exclusive member screenings, plus getting ac cess to member presales for festival tickets.
FILM FAN: $130
Bring a guest to enjoy the benefits of Associate mem bership! At this level, use the member discount on two tickets and reserve two complimentary tickets at member screenings!
DIRECTOR’S CIRCLE: $345
For the festival fan, Director’s Circle members receive all the perks of Film Fan membership, plus extended perks at MVFF like earlier ticket purchasing and earli er entry into the theater!
PREMIER PATRON: $680
Premier Patrons receive all of the benefits of Direc tor’s Circle, plus even earlier access to film tickets, in vitations to exclusive events, and entry into the Film maker Lounge.
CINEMA BENEFACTOR: $1,300
Get behind ‑ the ‑ scenes access! With all of the Premier Patron perks, plus invitations to even more events, free tickets to films, and complimentary concession coupons at the Smith Rafael Film Center.
DONOR CIRCLE:
Want even more? Explore our All-Access levels in the Donor’s Circle. By joining the vibrant Donor Cir cle community, you will deepen your knowledge and appreciation of independent film through exclusive access and opportunities, while supporting a worldclass independent film nonprofit organization.
Your involvement at the Donor Circle level enables CAFILM to provide a platform for internationally ac claimed, established and emerging filmmakers to share their stories with our community, offer free programs to thousands of diverse Bay Area students each year, deliver tangible results in gender equity in film, support the sustainability, maintenance, and programming of a historic art house theater, and champion independent filmmakers to make impact nationwide.
To learn more about our Donor Circle levels visit cafilm.org/donor/
STAFF
EXECUTIVE
MARK FISHKIN
CAFILM Executive Director + Founder
DANE CALLIHAN
Director of Finance + Administration (CFO)
FINANCE
CARMEN CROCKETT
Finance Manager
DEVELOPMENT
LIANA BENDER
Chief Development Officer
BEAU BLANCHARD
Associate Director of Institutional Giving
MAUREEN GALLIANI
Major Donor Stewardship Manager
CHRISTINE FUJIKI
Development Operations & Communications Manager
DERRICK DOVER
Development Membership Manager
CHRISTINE HARVEY
Development Database Manager
PROGRAMMING
ROSE KUO
Artistic Director
JONI COOPER
Director of Programming, DocLands
MICHELLE SVENSON
Senior Programmer, DocLands
KELLY CLEMENT
Programmer, DocLands
STERLING HEDGPETH
Programming Manager
MARKETING
SHELLEY SPICER
Director of Publicity & Marketing
COURTNEY BUFFINGTON
Design + Brand Manager
KATIE WOODRUFF
Community Outreach, Promotions & Publicity Assistant
SHAYNA YASUHARA
Marketing & Audience Engagement Manager
PAM GRADY
Managing Editor
EDUCATION
ANGELA COLABELLA Director of Education
DIANA SÁNCHEZ MACIEL Education Program Manager
OPERATIONS
JULIET POKORNY Director of Operations
YVONNE FOX Senior Event Producer
DAN ZASTROW Technical Director
PAUL HAGARTY Production
AILEEN FOWLER Line Manager
CASEY HERMANN Line Manager
ALYSSA TINOCO House Manager
JON OLSEN House Manager
NORMAN MELLO IT Manager
MITCH VAUGN Box Office
RINA NEIMAN Guest Services Manager
CASSIE CONKLIN Box Office Rep/Donors
JESSE DUBUS Exhibition Media Manager
CAFILM BOARD OF DIRECTORS
MARK FISHKIN
Executive Director
WELLINGTON BOWLER
CHRISTINA COOK
Treasurer
BLAIRE DORER
RICHARD J. IDELL
Secretary
DANIEL KENYON
AMY KEROES
JACQUI LOPEZ
JENNIFER COSLETT M ac CREADY Board Chair
KURT MOBLEY
CATHY NOURAFSHAN
MAGGIE O’DONNELL
President
JONATHAN PARKER
Co Vice President
CHRISTINE SCHANTZ
SUSAN SCHWARTZ
DR. JOEL SKLAR
Co Vice President
EMERITUS BOARD
ANN BREBNER (1923-2017)
RITA CAHILL
SID GANIS
BRUCE KATZ (1947-2022)
GARY MEYER
GORDON RADLEY
CHRISTOPHER B. SMITH
HENRY TIMNICK
FOUNDING BOARD
RITA CAHILL
MARK FISHKIN
LOIS KOHL SHORE
HONORARY ADVISORY BOARD
HONORABLE BARBARA BOXER
STEWART BOXER
DRUSIE DAVIS
JEFF FISHER
PETER FLAXMAN
ROBERT GREBER
LINDA GRUBER
PEGGY HAAS
MICHAEL KLEIN
ROXANNE KLEIN
KC LAUCK
ANDREW MCGUIRE
MARY POLAND
ERIC SCHWARTZ
MICHAEL SCHWARTZ
SKIP WHITNEY
