The EIFF programme says: "Life through a lens. This is where it all began for EIFF back in 1947, and when you delve into our documentaries, you'll see the last 60 years have done nothing to quash those innovative and determined voices of our world. Reality is, without doubt, often scarier and more revealing than any fiction could ever hope to be."
The Railroad All-Stars and Document Shorts 2
51 Birch Street
(Country: US; Year: 2005; Director: Doug Block; Writer: Doug Block, Amy Seplin)
A film-maker investigates the secrets behind his parents' marriage.
UK Premiere
5 Days (Five Days)
(Country: Israel; Year: 2005; Director: Yoav Shamir; Writer: Yoav Shamir)
Documentary following the removal of Jewish settlers from the Gaza Strip.
UK Premiere
Air Guitar Nation
(Country: US; Year: 2006; Director: Alexandra Lipsitz; Stars: Dan Crane, David S. Jung, Zac Munro, Peter Cilella, Adam Crystal, Nina Gordon, Gordon Hintz, Gavin McInnes, Angela Shelton, Mark Teich),
Official Site
A documentary about the air guitar craze in America.
International Premiere
Al Franken: God Spoke
(Country: US; Year: 2006; Director: Nick Doop, Chris Hegedus; Writer: Saturday night live star Al Franken takes on Republican America on live radio during the last presidential campaign.)
Saturday night live star Al Franken takes on Republican America on live radio during the last presidential campaign.
European Premiere
My Country, My Country and 5 Days
A Crude Awakening: The Oil Crash
(Country: Switzerland; Year: 2006; Director: Basil Gelpke and Ray McCormack)
A documentary exploring the oil industry and its impact on the world economy.
UK Premiere
Document Shorts 1
(Year: 2006)
Factual film showcase. Featuring: [film]The Angelmakers[/film] (Astrid Bussink), Christmas In Huddersfield (Peter Spence), High Plains Winter (Cindy Stillwell), Lima's Secrets (Marcelo Bukin), Never Like The First Time (Jonas Odell), Spitfire 944 (William Lorton), What Candice Saw (Luke Walker0.
Document Shorts 2
(Year: 2006; Director: See individual reviews; Writer: See individual reviews; Stars: See individual reviews)
Collection of documentaries, shown at the EIFF.
The Empire In Africa
(Country: US, Sierra Leone; Year: 2005; Director: Philippe Diaz; Writer: Philippe Diaz)
An exploration of the conflict in Sierra Leone.
UK Premiere
The Great Happiness Space: Tale of an Osaka Love Thief and John & Jane
Into Great Silence (Die Grosse Stille)
(Country: France/Switzerland/Germany; Year: 2005; Director: Philip Gröning; Writer: Philip Gröning)
A contemplation of the Chartreuse Monastery.
UK Premiere
John & Jane (John and Jane)
(Country: India; Year: 2005; Director: Ashim Ahluwalia)
A documentary about Indian call centre workers.
UK Premiere
KZ
(Country: UK; Year: 2006; Director: Rex Bloomstein)
Exploration of the dark ironies surrounding Austria's Mauthausen concentration camp.
UK Premiere
Return Of The Poet and Into Great Silence
My Country, My Country
(Country: USA; Year: 2006; Director: Laura Poitras)
The 2005 elections seen through the eyes of an ordinary Iraqi man.
UK Premiere
Return Of The Poet (Poeti Veradardze)
(Country: Armenia; Year: 2006; Director: Harutyun Khachatryan; Writer: Harutyun Khachatryan)
The creation and transport of a statue through Armenia.
UK Premiere
Short Scottish Documentary Award Screening
(Year: 2006)
The best of the homegrown factual films. Featuring: [film]The Holocaust Tourist[/film] (Jes Benstock), How Many Sleeps To The Moon (Tracey Fearnehough), A Map With Gaps (Alice Nelson), The Really Terrible Orchestra (Edward Brooke-Hitching), What Happens To The Innocent (William Summers), [film]Young Ane[/film]s (Dylan Drummond).
This Film Is Not Yet Rated
(Country: US; Year: 2006; Director: Kirby Dick; Writer: Kirby Dick, Eddie Schmidt)
An exposé about the US film ratings board.
International Premiere
51 Birch Street and Who Needs Sleep?
Voices Of Bam
(Country: Iran; Year: 2006; Director: Aliona van der Horst, Maasja Ooms),
Official Site
The aftermath of an earthquake in the ancient Iranian city of Bam.
UK Premiere
Walking To Werner
(Country: US; Year: 2006; Director: Linas Phillips; Stars: Robert Dillard, Kimberly Porter, Robert Miles, Lee Parks, Charles 'Eli' Fellowe, Richard Rubick, Jodi Walton, Spencer Walton, Michael Lowery, Buck Harrison, Dr. Randy Borreson)
A filmmaker decides to walk from Seattle to Werner Herzog's LA home to meet his hero.
European Premiere
Wide Awake
(Country: US; Year: 2006; Director: Alan Berliner; Writer: Alan Berliner; Stars: Alan Berliner, William C. Dement)
Film-maker Alan Berliner explores his own insomnia.
UK Premiere
Who Needs Sleep?
(Country: US; Year: 2006; Director: Haskell Wexler; Writer: Haskell Wexler)
An investigation into the dangers of sleep deprivation and the long hours culture.
International Premiere