Documentary

A year before the presidential elections of 2008, a crew of young European filmmakers goes on a journey all across the USA in a little old motor home to search for America's missing voters.

Ever since man entered Asia, through the Nile valley and the fertile Crescent, he crossed the deserts of the Near East, until he came to a barrier of mountains in the North. Some settled there, attracted by the fertile valleys, and in each valley isolated cultures emerged, and numerous different ethnic groups and races developed. These peoples who managed to survive in a hostile world, and who made the most of what nature offered them, are "THE HIMALAYAN DWELLERS".

In 1989, 2000 demonstrators were massacred in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square, provoking demands throughout the world for sanctions. However, US President George Bush was concerned about the effect on the already fragile relationship with China’s leaders. This programme for the first time provides detailed accounts of the secret meetings held between Bush’s advisors and the Chinese government to avert a potential disaster, and how the process was undermined by the “Tiananmen Hostage”, Fang Lizhi, an ardent campaigner for human rights, wanted for counter-revolutionary crimes, who was forced to seek asylum in the US embassy.

Talking Pictures consist of two half hour portraits of two of the world's leading film directors, Sir Richard Attenborough and the controversial Ken Loach. The programmes are both searching and compelling and succeed in giving the audience a greater insight into what inspires these directors.

Long before Hollywood was invented, three Frenchmen pioneered the art of the cinema. As early as 1900, the Lumiere brothers exhibited film on the world’s largest screen to an audience of 25,000 people. The brothers Pathé had branches in London, Moscow, New York and the Far East in the early 1900s. George Melies by accident invented the jump-cut stop-motion transition in the same period. This programme features incredible footage, rarely seen, and some of it hand-coloured. A fascinating insight into the birth of cinema.

The best-known ultra marathon in the world, 150 miles in six grueling races over seven days across the burning sands of the Sahara Desert in Morocco, including "Dune Day" through the Sahara's highest sand dunes. More than 700 competitors from around the world in the mens and womens divisions.

This tribute traces the early career of Charlie Chaplin from utter destitution to his meeting with Fred Karno and his rise to stellar status. In 1913, Karno’s company was invited by Mack Sennett to join the Keystone Film Company. Using hilarious footage from the early Chaplin movies, this powerful documentary follows the early career of one of the world’s greatest ever comic geniuses.

While the Indianapolis Motor Speedway's success was built on it's rich past, a new era of leadership, drivers and technology created some of the most defining moments in all of motorsports. The 90's sparked a racing revolution; "A Decade of Drama."

Celebrating 75 years of the Indianapolis 500

Steam was the driving force behind the Industrial Revolution of Britain during the nineteenth century, and still finds applications today. Electricity is mainly generated by steam, however the greatest application of steam was to be found in locomotives.

This programmes traces the rise of Hungary’s most noted star, from his struggle to reach the top of the Broadway stage, to his success as Count Dracula and finally to the unfortunate typecasting that led to his demise. With Ralph Bellamy and John Carradine.

This star-studded record of the early Hollywood musicals not only traces the development of sound from the original disc, but also features many Hollywood legends, including Al Jolson, James Cagney, Fred Astaire, Bing Crosby, Bob Hope and Betty Grable.

Rollin' Through the Decades encapsulates the positive atmosphere of skateboarding and shows a true picture of its influence on our time. The film features interviews with over 100 inspirational and legendary skateboarders, photographers and film-makers. It blends historic, rare and unseen footage, videos, and photos with nostalgic sounds of the 70’s80's and 90's, and contemporary music made especially for the film.

Before movies became sexually explicit, the female form was hidden from the male on the silver screen. Through rare archive material (featuring Marilyn Monroe and Joan Crawford among others), clips from films, stills and magazines, this programme presents a fascinating social record of glamour in an age of supposed innocence!

The world of the Bengali tigers and the sinister market for their bones as a remedy for sexual impotence.

This documentary follows the final days of the Offenhauser front engine roadsters and the emotional victories of Jim Rathmann, A.J. Foyt, Jr., Roger Ward, Parnelli Jones, and Bobby Unser.

The 1970's redefined the style of racing. Technology reshaped it. Relive the Indy dominance of the Unser Family, the magic of Foyt's fourth win and the early triumphs of Team Penske.

This film follows a group of people who, despite holding down normal jobs, invest every free hour into running a race team. They choose to enter into the Privilege GT Championship – a high profile, televised series that supports the British Grand Prix. It is a David and Goliath story about undaunted determination pitted against money, innovation against effortlessness, inexperience against professionalism.

Dhuway is the story about the first land claim in the history of Queensland and it depicts a history of holocaust, diaspora, survival and, at last, a homecoming. Generations ago the Yiidhuwarra people were removed from their native lands. In 1993, the people presented their case to have their lands returned. The hearings were emotional and heartbreaking as three generations of loss, abuse and exploitation was recounted.

Jabe Babe - A Heightened Life explores the personal and medical experiences of 31 year old Jabe Babe, who measures 6ft 2 inches (188cm) and has a life threatening genetic condition called Marfan Syndrome. Jabe works and lives on the margins, defying society's expectations of the "normal" feminine body and sexuality.