80:20—The Developing World (a 5-part series)

This compact and comprehensive series explores what could be done to improve living conditions in lesser-developed countries.

Besieged Land

In Southern Chile, in a region of vast forestry plantations, two neighbours, a powerful landowner and a respected Mapuche Chief, fight over contested land.

Building Bridge: A Housing Project for Women

A documentary that profiles the creation of Bridge Housing for Women on Vancouver's downtown eastside.

Building Futures: Re-building Our Lives

Building Futures critically examines the four phases of The Downtown Women's Project, a feminist-inspired community development project: community process, partnerships, life skills and training, and the construction itslef.

Development and Debt • 80:20—The Developing World

Development and Debt looks at the history of the international development assistance that began in the early 1960s and conditions attached to that aid, often benefitting those providing it more than its recipients.

Down Here

Director Charles Wilkinson filmed eight residents of Vancouver's Downtown East Side, with dignity, in a quiet and safe environment. One-on-one conversations are combined with images of life on the street to create an intimate portrait of a sub-class living without the safety net that was once considered a fundamental human right.

Fuga Island: A Tale of Visionaries, Dreamers and Schemers

This documentary profiles the work of Karie Garnier and the Filipino activists who join him in the fight against wealthy foreign landlords in the Philippines.

Gratitude

A community of Syrian women hold a dinner for the homeless in Saint John, New Brunswick as a gesture of gratitude for what Canada and the community have offered them as refugees.

Hattie's Heist

Hattie's Heist is a transformational rags to riches comedy that makes a comment on the widespread plight of impoverished seniors and the dwindling pensions facing retiring boomers. It's best perceived as a caper film. It is not a story to encourage oldsters to rob banks, but an inspirational tale to encourage them to fulfill their dreams before it is too late.

Interdependence • 80:20—The Developing World

Interdependence explains that, concerned or not, everyone is affected—through trading relationships and other factors of interdependence such as health, the environment, economics and global security.

The Legacy of Colonialism • 80:20—The Developing World

The Legacy of Colonialism examines the role worldview played in the 500 years of colonization that began in the 15th century, tracing historical structures contributing to the current status of many lesser-developed countries.

Lost and Found

Two children, searching for a lost mitten on a winter evening, stumble upon a cardboard shelter that seems to be someone's home. Frosted cel animation, evocative music by Robert Minden and Carla Hallett, and an absence of dialogue stimulate the imagination in this story of discovery and surprise.

menocracy: Gender Representation in Government

Why is representation of women in government worse in Canada, the USA and the UK than in many other democracies? An exploration of attitudes, political structures and different democratic voting systems that affect how many women get their names on the ballot reveals answers and solutions.

Reservation Soldiers

Reservation Soldiers takes a closer look at the complex relationship between the Canadian Forces and First Nations youth, following three young men from Saskatchewan reservations over a period of two years.

Revolving Doors

A frontline glimpse into the amazing approach and dedication of two nurses working in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside, Canada's poorest postal code.

Seeds of Hope

Seeds of Hope takes a look at a unique development project in Indonesia started by two Canadians.

Solomon

This final work by Vancouver film and video artist Saralee James documents an unusual friendship between the artist and a homeless man in the Lower East Side of Manhattan.

The Thinking Garden

xiTsonga with English subtitles

Three generations of South African women are sowing the seeds of change through the creation of a community garden to build a better future.

A Tropical Paradise • 80:20—The Developing World

A Tropical Paradise provides an overview of the 80/20 split of global wealth and introduces the concept of developing countries and the origin of the term “third world.”

Where to Next? • 80:20—The Developing World

Where to Next? gives a thoughtful perspective on foreign aid, pointing out that outcomes are often greater for business development in donor nations than poverty reduction in recipient countries.