"The 12 films of this year’s World Documentary Competition tackle today’s stories with their own singular approach to the evolving nonfiction form... Films in this section compete for Best Documentary Feature, Best New Documentary Director, and Best Editing."
Bombay Beach and Jiro Dreams of Sushi
Bombay Beach
(Country: US; Year: 2010; Director: Alma Har'el)
Experimental documentary about residents who live on the shores of the Salton Sea.
North American Premiere
Bully (The Bully Project)
(Country: US; Year: 2011; Director: Lee Hirsch; Writer: Lee Hirsch, Cynthia Lowen; Stars: Alex, Ja'Maya, Kelby),
Official Site
A documentary about some of the devastating effects of school bullying in the US.
World Premiere
The Carrier
(Country: US, Zambia; Year: 2010; Director: Margaret Betts)
Documentary of young HIV-positive Zambian mother.
World Premiere
Cinema Komunisto
(Country: Serbia and Montenegro; Year: 2010; Director: Mila Turajlic),
Official Site
Documentary about the film projectionist for Yugoslavian president Josip Broz Tito.
North American Premiere
Despicable Dick and Righteous Richard
(Year: 2011; Director: Joshua Neale)
Recovering alcoholic tries to make amends with those he's wronged.
World Premiere
Marathon Boy and Love Hate Love
Give Up Tomorrow
(Country: US; Year: 2011; Director: Michael Collins),
Official Site
Echoes of Errol Morris in the case of Paco Larrañaga
World Premiere
Jiro Dreams of Sushi
(Country: Japan, USA; Year: 2011; Director: David Gelb; Stars: Jiro Ono, Yoshikazu Ono)
A documentary following the 85 year old master sushi chef, Jiro Ono
North American Premiere
Koran by Heart
(Country: US, UK, Maldives, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Senegal, Australia, Egypt; Year: 2011; Director: Greg Barker)
Documentary about young Qur'an reciters.
World Premiere
Love During Wartime
(Country: Sweden; Year: 2010; Director: Gabriella Bier; Stars: Jasmin Avissar, Menachem Avissar, Miriam Avissar, Osama Avissar, Nassar Abu Karsh),
Official Site
Documentary about Israeli and Palestinian newlyweds trying to build a life together.
North American Premiere
Love Hate Love
(Country: US; Year: 2011; Director: Don Hardy Jr, Dana Nachman; Writer: Dana Nachman)
Documentary charts the lives of three families torn apart by acts of terrorism.
Bully and Despicable Dick and Righteous Richard
Marathon Boy
(Country: UK, US; Year: 2010; Director: Gemma Atwal; Stars: Budhia Singh)
A portrait of the competitive interests and corruption surrounding a child with an extraordinary gift for distance running.
North American Premiere. ESPN Sports Film Festival
Our School (Scoala Noastra)
(Country: Romania, US, Switzerland; Year: 2011; Director: Mona Nicoara, Miruna Coca-Cozma; Stars: Alin Moldovan, Dana Varga, Beniamin Lingurar, Dan Boga),
Official Site
Documentary charting education clashing with tradition and progress in Romania
North American Premiere
Semper Fi Always Faithful
(Country: USA; Year: 2010; Director: Rachel Libert, Tony Hardmon)
A US military man searches for answers following his daughter's death.
World Premiere