July on iwonder
28 June 2024
July on iwonder – highlights include Cryptoqueen: The OneCoin Scam, Hackers: Identity Theft and Banksters.
June on iwonder
31 May 2024
June on iwonder – highlights include My Mate Manchester United, Dreaming in Exile, Ancona Respect: A New Life and Softball Warriors.
May on iwonder
3 May 2024
May on iwonder – highlights include Jamala: Songs of Freedom, A Song Called Hate, Mama Africa, Do Care, The Role of the Soldier and Kyiv-Sofia-Hollywood.
April on iwonder
31 March 2024
April on iwonder – highlights include Eating Our Way to Extinction, Weathering the Storm, Eco Warriors of Africa, Gambling on Extinction and Trashed.
March on iwonder
26 February 2024
March on iwonder – highlights include Dina, The Marriage Project, No Dress Code Required, Sex Uncovered, The Madam and This is Rock Bitch.
February on iwonder
28 January 2024
February on iwonder – highlights include Dina, The Marriage Project, No Dress Code Required, Sex Uncovered, The Madam and This is Rock Bitch.
January on iwonder
30 December 2023
January on iwonder – highlights include $avvy, Bias, The Migraine Solution, Slaves to Habit, Embrace, The Truth About Liars and The New Science of Food.
December on iwonder
26 November 2023
December on iwonder – highlights include Robin Bank, Santa School, 20 Feet from Stardom, Jackpot, Beers of Joy, The Amber Light, Floyd Uncorked and Barbecue.
November on iwonder
28 October 2023
November on iwonder – highlights include, USA: The Woke Revolution, Conscience Point, Missing Kelly, American Anarchist and American Dharma.
October on iwonder
30 September 2023
October on iwonder – highlights include The Daughter Tree, Miss Amazing, Fly Like A Girl, Clean Hands, Kidnapped for Christ and USA: Locking Up Children.
Atomic Hope: Inside the Pro Nuclear Movement on iWonder launches today
28 September 2023
Atomic Hope: Inside the Pro Nuclear Movement on iWonder – a film following a tiny global movement of unpopular pro-nuclear activists.
September on iwonder
28 August 2023
September on iwonder – highlights include Australia: The Coming Climate Hell?, Rewild and Atomic Hope: Inside the Pro Nuclear Movement.
August on iwonder
30 July 2023
August on iwonder – highlights include The New Science of Food, GMO OMG, The Carnivore’s Dilemma, FAT: A Documentary and 100 Kilo Kids: Obesity SOS.
July on iwonder
1 July 2023
July on iwonder – iwonder highlights for the month of July include Will a Robot Steal My Job?, Cyborgs Among Us, Money Bots and Deep Web.
Did COVID Leak from a Lab? on iwonder adds preview
15 June 2023
Did COVID Leak from a Lab? on iwonder – delves into the theory gaining more traction and support as the world moves beyond the pandemic.
June on iwonder
27 May 2023
June on iwonder – iwonder highlights include Nuclear Meltdown: Minutes from Disaster, The Boeing 737 Max: What Went Wrong? and Lost & Found.
A Brony Tale on iwonder launches this month
10 May 2023
A Brony Tale on iwonder – the absorbing story of a community of men who are avid fans of the children’s cartoon, My Little Pony.
May on iwonder
29 April 2023
May on iwonder – Royal Paintbox, The Man Who Shot New York, Islamic Art: Mirror of the Invisible World, Living for Art and Whistler: For Art’s Sake.
iwonder introduces pet subtitles
1 April 2023
iwonder introduces pet subtitles – iWonder pioneers streaming support for pet viewership with launch of closed captions for cats and dogs.
April on iwonder
30 March 2023
April on iwonder – iwonder highlights for the month of April include The Longest Day, Planet Re:Think, The Disappearing Delta, Earth in 1,000 Years, Tipping Point: Climate Countdown, The Carbon Conundrum, Smoke & Fumes: The Climate Change Cover-Up and USA: Climate Wars. In recognition of the world’s largest environmental movement, this April iwonder turns its attention to Earth Day, with a collection of new feature films and series looking at the day-to-day impact felt by struggling communities around the world dealing with climate change up close, as well as the issues and ignorance that continue to threaten the future habitability of the planet. In The Longest Day, we spend 24 hours with people in some of the most adversely affected areas of the world struggling to adapt to the rapidly changing environments. Planet Re:Think draws the dots between people at the coalface of climate change and those with the power over policy to address it, while The Disappearing Delta paints an alarming picture of the future of coastlines around the world if the pattern being seen in the Louisiana Wetlands isn’t acted upon. In this April’s iwonder What Top Five, we take a stroll through climate change theory, policy, politics, projections, and destructive denial, taking a look at where we’ve come from, where we now stand, and where we might end up if climate change rages on unchecked. The Longest Day: On the Climate Crisis Frontline #Real Life #Up Close #Survival Launches April 20th Climate change is more than a set of abstract projections and statistics; it’s the daily reality for millions of people across the world, living on the frontlines of the climate crisis. In this award-winning series, we follow people confronting climate challenges in their daily lives over 24 hours. We witness farmers and urban dwellers struggling with water shortage in the Mekong Delta and Jakarta; coastal communities in Indonesia’s Sumba Island and the Sundarbans facing rapidly rising sea levels; farmers in Vietnam looking for solutions to unprecedented long droughts; and families struggling with extreme heatwaves in Delhi’s slums. The Longest Day is a snapshot of the climate crisis in action, told through the voices of farmers, health workers, city residents and displaced families. By emphasising on-the-ground responses to complex challenges, the series offers an empowering and relatable portrait of diverse and resilient responses to the biggest challenge of our time. Planet Re:Think #Economics #Environment #Thought-provoking Launches April 18th Real-world examples of humankind’s small but widescale impact around the world, and their environmental impacts, help to illustrate the often overlooked link between economics and environmentalism explored in Planet Re:Think. Presenting a compelling, inherent link between environmental destruction and the global financial crisis, the documentary asserts that the only way out of economic crisis and into ongoing stability, is through the practice of environmental sustainability. Leading world experts discuss the facts and theories interposed with stunning visuals captured around the globe, in this Moondance International Film Festival’s Best Feature Documentary winner. The Disappearing Delta #Coastlines #Sea Levels #Foreboding Launches April 20th The erosion of Louisiana’s wetlands is one of the greatest environmental threats the US faces today. In terms of sea-level rise, it is the canary in the coal mine for what is likely to happen across the coastal systems of the world if we remain complacent. This award-winning film chronicles the lives of individuals who are experiencing that loss in the deepest parts of the Mississippi Delta. iwonder when April 22nd, 3023 ‘Earth in 1,000 Years’, now streaming on iwonder Featured as part of iwonder’s climate change collection this April, Earth in 1,000 Years delves deep into our past to suggest what the planet might look like ten centuries from now if ice stores continue to disappear at their current rate. In such an uncertain future, what kind of campaigns might the organisers and supporters of Earth Day be creating and supporting? And looking back 1,000 years to 2023’s theme of ‘Invest in Our Planet’, how will the inhabitants of that future world judge the governments, institutions, businesses and citizens in their efforts to do their part for the sake of the planet? Click here to watch Earth in 1,000 Years, and here to learn more about Earth Day 2023. iwonder who Gaylord Nelson In January 1969, Senator Gaylord Nelson, inspired by the student anti-war movement, announced the idea for a teach-in on college campuses. He recruited Denis Hayes, a young activist, to organise the campus teach-ins and chose April 22, a weekday falling between Spring Break and Final Exams, to maximize the greatest student participation. The effort soon broadened to include a wide range of organisations, faith groups, and others. They changed the name to Earth Day, which immediately sparked national media attention, and caught on across the country. Earth Day inspired 20 million Americans to take to the streets and achieved a rare political alignment, enlisting support from Republicans and Democrats, rich and poor, urban dwellers and farmers, business and labour leaders. By the end of 1970, the first Earth Day had led to the creation of the United States Environmental Protection Agency. Click here to read more about the history of Earth Day iwonder what Climate change crossroads In this April’s iwonder Top Five, we take a look at the evidence supporting climate change, and how science alone won’t be enough to save us if bad actors and enduring ignorance continue to undermine humankind’s ability to bring our home back from the brink. 1) Tipping Point: Climate Countdown #Climate #Energy #Survival Launches April 22nd We have arrived at a decisive moment in history. We are at a precarious tipping point where climate change could decimate the world’s water, food and energy. Clear evidence of this destruction can already be seen across the globe – in Antarctica, in the world’s flooded cities, and in the ever-degrading quality of our agricultural products. Now, citizens and states seek to tip the scales back in Earth’s favour, as cities switch to carbon free power sources, and a global
March on iwonder
25 February 2023
iwonder highlights for the month of March include Help Is On The Way, Homebound and The Helper. This International Women’s Day iwonder turns its attention to the women of the world who toil quietly behind the scenes, with a focus on the thousands of female workers who leave everything behind in their homelands to travel overseas in search of work to provide for themselves and their loved ones. In ‘Help Is On The Way’, an Indonesian training centre, and the practice of shipping rural woman off to jobs in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Singapore, goes under the spotlight, accompanied by ‘Homebound’, and the animated portrayal of one migrant worker’s experience of hardship and endurance making her way through a punishing system. Then in this month’s iwonder What Top Five, we look at women working hard to break through patriarchies and male dominated fields to achieve something that they’ve long been told was not there’s to be had. Help Is On The Way Exploitation #Family #Enlightening Within the corrupt system of recruitment, training and placement, millions of rural Indonesian women place their hopes and dreams in domestic care roles overseas. Can competent help be delivered when the path is broken? Help Is On The Way brings to the screen a busy training centre in Indonesia preparing women to take up employment overseas as domestic workers. Every year, hundreds of women like Sukma, Meri, Muji and Tari are recruited by local agents who are remunerated after successfully seeing their recruits enrolled and placed abroad. They are among the many women from rural areas aspiring to work in countries like Taiwan, Hong Kong and Singapore. At times highly emotional, Help Is On The Way is also funny, enlightening, and a little competitive, offering a unique insight into a lifestyle not often seen on screen. Homebound Animation #Intimate #Relationships Tari longs to return home to Indonesia after more than 10 years working abroad in Taiwan. When COVID-19 struck, her plans unravelled revealing a lack of rights for vulnerable migrant workers. In Homebound, Tari narrates her own journey and reveals personal stories related to her decision to work in Taiwan, her strained family relationships, the risks involved in working abroad, and the traps she has fallen into. She shares intimate details of how her relationship with her son has suffered, revealing the guilt she felt for leaving him behind. Homebound is an intimate, animated portrayal of one migrant worker’s experience abroad, exposing those complicit in a system that takes advantage of thousands of women each year. The Helper Uplifting #Inspiring #Moving The Helper chronicles diverse stories from Hong Kong’s domestic worker community, uncovering the inspiring combination of grit, pride and determination that drives them. In a city renowned for wealth and luxury, the film brings to light the sacrifices they make to support families – both in Hong Kong and at home. Often seen as the second mother in many homes, the stories show the immense contribution they make to Hong Kong society; a domestic backbone provided to so many. Yet these contributions regularly feel under-recognised, and the constraints suffered by many leave them feeling exposed, and sometimes even homeless. False accusations, relationships and financial hardship often means they struggle for a fair hearing. But the overriding message is a positive one. This film gives a human face to an often-critiqued community, countering negativity with uplifting stories of personal achievement. iwonder when February 23rd, 1913 On the eve of World War I, campaigning for peace, women observed their first International Women’s Day on February 23, the last Sunday in February. Following discussions, International Women’s Day was agreed to be marked annually on March 8 that translated in the widely adopted Gregorian calendar from February 23 – and this day has remained the global date for International Women’s Day ever since. Click here to read more about the history of International Women’s Day. iwonder who Clara Zetkin Zetkin left her mark internationally when, in 1910, she tabled the idea of an International Women’s Day. She proposed that every year in every country there should be a celebration on the same day – a Women’s Day – to press for their demands. The conference of over 100 women from 17 countries, representing unions, socialist parties, working women’s clubs – and including the first three women elected to the Finnish parliament – greeted Zetkin’s suggestion with unanimous approval and thus International Women’s Day was formed. Click here to read more about International Women Day’s significant people and places. iwonder what Breaking through barriers Whether it’s about reaching new heights – literally – for the women battling to carve out a career in aviation, or the proud women of Papua New Guinea and their battle to overcome the culturally engrained subjugation of women, in this February’s International Women’s Day themed iwonder What Top Five, we pay tribute to women all over the world breaking through gender barriers. 1) Fly Like a Girl Courage #Determination #Flight More than just a film, this documentary is a movement of young girls and women relentlessly pursuing their passion for aviation – a field dominated by men. Hear first-hand stories from those who dare to aim higher. From a Lego-loving young girl who includes female pilots in her toy airplanes, to a courageous woman who helped lead shuttle missions to space, this film shows us that women are in charge of their own destiny. 2) Wantok Meri: Papua New Guinea At A Crossroads Rights #Respect #Change A black cloud has been cast over paradise. In the tropical oasis that is Papua New Guinea, women face violence, poverty and subservience even as they are working for their families and communities. In remote tribal villages and towns, they tend the gardens, looking after the children, pigs, and households in a patriarchal society where they get little say and even less thanks. Fortunately, there is a new breed of women striking out against the status quo and generations of cultural law to build a new PNG.
February on iwonder
30 January 2023
iwonder highlights for the month of February include Untold Acts of War, The Long Road to War, How to Start a Revolution, Can Art Stop a Bullet, Cost of War, Songs of War: Music as a Weapon, Refugee and For Sama. As the conflict in Ukraine gets set to tip into its second year with the anniversary of Russia’s invasion on February 24th, this month iwonder pulls together a collection of documentaries and series looking at the causes, consequences, and conclusions of conflicts throughout history. New to iwonder in February, Untold Arctic Wars and The Long Road to War look at the early 20th century roots of more recent European wars, while How to Start a Revolution looks at the life’s work of Gene Sharp and his role in inciting nonviolent political change and the fight for freedom from oppression. In this month’s iwonder What Top five, each film looks at something different thing to emerge from war, from the tragic displacement of refugees to the development of music and art as tools of both healing and hurt. Untold Arctic Wars #History #Discovery #Remembrance Launches 23rd February In the first ever documentary series to reveal the role of the Arctic nations in WWII, discover the importance of the region in the most globalised war to date, along with echoes of places and events resurfacing through Russia’s Ukraine invasion. Against the backdrop of the stunning yet unforgiving Arctic circle, follow divers as they locate sunken German aircraft wrecks, archaeologists as they investigate hidden mass graves, and historians as they track down secret coastal fortresses. Through never-before-seen colourised archive footage, high-end CGI and animated maps, unearth the ground-breaking events that took place in the icy Nordic battlefields. The Long Road to War #Geopolitics #WWI #Europe Launches 23rd February At one time, The Great War was the bloodiest conflict ever to take place. Using rare archive footage and expert interviews, this series revisits the dramatic chain of events that started the war and explains how the causes of WWI have triggered every major contemporary conflict since, up to today, when Europe once again finds itself divided. How to Start a Revolution #Freedom Fighters #Non-Violence #Liberation Launches 23rd February One man’s ideas continue to inspire, mobilise and unite protestors, giving them the tools to topple authoritarian regimes. Quiet, unassuming, and softly spoken, the late Professor Gene Sharp is celebrated by revolutionaries and feared by dictators. So what are his ideas, how have they spread, and how are they actually used on the ground? With exclusive footage and unprecedented access, this film shows how Nobel Peace Prize nominee Gene’s controversial book ‘From Dictatorship to Democracy’ has been used against dictatorships. We see how the book’s 198 strategic ‘weapons’ of non-violent direct action have brought dramatic results, and why it has become the standard manual for anyone wanting to start a revolution. With revealing footage filmed covertly in Egypt and Syria, it explores how social media can now be used to threaten dictators. This is the inspirational story of the power of people to change their world, the modern revolution, and the man behind it all. iwonder When 24th February 2022 A year ago on this date, Russian President Vladmir Putin launched his “special military operation”, and his thinly veiled attempt to overthrow the Ukrainian government and seize control of a neighbouring sovereign nation. Fierce resistance at home in the Ukraine was soon backed by economic and financial sanctions and humanitarian and military aid, all of which have been instrumental in the effort to combat Russian aggression, but has seen the devasting war continue to claim lives and cause ripples around the world. Every time a new milestone in the conflict is reached there are fewer winners, with February 2023 marking a grave marker in a conflict that continues to show few signs of abating. iwonder Who Gene Sharp The subject of How to Start a Revolution, new to iwonder this February, Gene Sharp (1928-2018) was the world’s foremost expert on non-violent revolution. In a lifetime of academic work, he established non-violent action and people power as successful instruments for political change. Sharp argued that the major unresolved political problems of our time – dictatorships, genocide, war and social oppression – require us to rethink politics. He maintained throughout his life that pragmatic, strategically planned, non-violent struggle can be highly effective in ending oppression. His 1993 book ‘From Dictatorship to Democracy’ has inspired non-violent protests around the world. Simple to translate and easy to smuggle across borders, this book has become one of the seminal works for democracy activists across the world, translated into more than 34 languages reaching every continent. iwonder What Born out of Conflict There is no more violent agent of change than war, leaving loss and devastation in its path, while leading to new ways of thinking, methods of survival, and blueprints for the future. This month’s iwonder What Top Five looks at some of the things born out of conflict, from human tragedies and global shockwaves, through to the desire to inspire hope and change in times of interminable darkness. 1) Can Art Stop a Bullet #Culture #Freedom #Creativity Launches 23rd February New to iwonder this February, this film examines the stories behind the most iconic artworks to be born out of conflict, exploring the role of art in achieving change in times of crisis. Meeting leading artists who have depicted war, this is a journey encompassing people, places and events from every continent. Hiroshima survivors share their testimonies, as well as Iranian musicians, Indigenous Australian artists and photographers of the Civil War in Northern Ireland. Art has never been in a more powerful position to bring an end to global crises. At a time of assaults on human rights, social justice and free speech, the voices of journalists and artists are under threat. Drawing on iconic works that have shaken the world, this film reaches from our past to our collective future. 2) Cost of War #Economics #Society #Aftermath
January on iwonder
5 January 2023
iwonder highlights for the month of January include The Bikes of Wrath, A Little Bit Mongolian, The Rivals, The Will to Fly, Swim, Surviving the Outback, Heart of the Sea and Everything in Between. As sports fans get set to turn their attention to another glittering Grand Slam spectacle of sport with the 2023 Australian Open in January, along with the Santos Tour Down Under – the Southern Hemisphere’s largest cycling race – iwonder enters the new year with a swathe of new adventure sport documentaries, exploring the space where adventure, ambition, history, and culture come together. Topping the bill this month is The Bikes of Wrath, and the epic tale of five Aussie mates as they set out to immerse themselves in the real United States of America, following in the tracks of John Steinbeck’s timeless novel, The Grapes of Wrath. Then in this month’s iwonder Top Five, we feature a collection of documentaries getting up close with stories of extreme endurance, as men and women pit themselves against mountains, oceans, and deserts in some of the most unforgiving regions of the world The Bikes of Wrath #Aussies #Roadtrip #USA Launches 26th January Oklahoma to California: 2600 kms, 420 dollars, 30 days, 5 bikes, 5 Aussies, 2 guitars, and one of the most influential novels of the 20th century; The Bikes of Wrath is the story of adventure, human connection, and an in-depth look at inequality and disenfranchisement in today’s America through the lens of John Steinbeck’s seminal novel, ‘The Grapes of Wrath’. Through chance encounters with everyday Americans, five Aussie travelling companions explore the novel’s core themes – migration, inequality and the perceived land of opportunity – and how the nation has progressed decades after its first publication. Through countless acts of generosity from small-town individuals and communities, to desolating encounters with ‘unwanted’ Americans, the cyclists experience first-hand the startling parallels of the novel in a country still grappling with the same issues today, and ultimately, its own sense of identity. A Little Bit Mongolian #Equine #Real #Heartwarming Launches 24th January A Little Bit Mongolian is the charming story of Angus, a 12-year-old boy from Australia who dreams of being the first foreigner to win one of Mongolia’s biggest horse races, the Naadam. Angus travels to the stunning straights of Mongolia with his family and searches for a trainer to take him on, in a heart-warming and often dangerous journey of discovery, where the stakes are high and there can be only one winner. The Rivals #Football #Grit #USA Launches 19th January Rumford is a blue-collar town in the rugged Western mountains, supported by a dying paper mill that is losing jobs almost daily. Cape Elizabeth is a wealthy, coastal paradise for doctors, lawyers, and type A personalities. Residents of these two towns only meet in one place: the High School Football field. Rumford’s team has won 6 conference and 2 state championships in the last 20 years. Cape Elizabeth’s team is only 3 years old, but the town has so much money and drive that they are already threatening Rumford’s football dynasty. The rivalry is personified in the two coaches: Rumford’s legendary Jim Aylward vs. Cape Elizabeth’s fiery young Aaron Filieo. For Filieo’s ‘Cape kids’ the future is bright; the new Astroturf is always green. Filieo must inspire the privileged kids to fight for something that does not come easily. Aylward wants to give his Rumford kids something to be proud of before they enter the workday grind of life in a struggling mill town. iwonder When 17th January 1982 Born on 17thJanuary 1982, Lydia Lassila is Australia’s first female winter athlete to compete at five consecutive Olympic Game, and is the country’s most decorated female skier, having won gold in 2010 and bronze four years later in Sochi. It was in Vancouver in 2010 that she took on the audacious manoeuvre that would become the focus of the documentary, The Will to Fly, debuting on iwonder in January. iwonder Who Angus Paradice When Angus Paradice was 11, he went to the Nadaam festival in Mongolia on a family holiday and watched the traditional horse racing for children, thinking: ”I could do that.” Back at home in Scone, north-west of Newcastle, he trained for nine months, riding his horse 22 kilometres home from school if it was fine, and jogging if it rained. He did 40 push-ups and sit-ups a day. The following year he returned and became the first foreigner to compete in the cross-country races, featured, featuring in A Little Bit Mongolian. In recognition of his exploits, Angus was named Australian Geographic Society’s Young Adventurer of the Year. iwonder What To the limit This month’s iwonder What Top Five features five films showcasing incredible feats of men and women striving to break through endurance sport barriers. Whether it’s death-defying aerial acrobatics in the ice-cold, or desert survival in the Australian Outback, these films examine the power of mind over matter, and what drives people to push themselves to the limits. 1) The Will to Fly #Australian #Olympics #Award-winning Launches 17th January Winner of Best World Documentary at the Whistler Film Festival, this inspirational film tells the extraordinary story of Olympic aerial skiing gold medalist, Lydia Lassila, as she strives to become the first woman in history to perform the most complex and dangerous manoeuvre of any acrobatic sport – a quadruple twisting, triple somersault on skis. Combining incredible sports archive footage and interviews with Lydia, her family and coaches, the film charts her rise from aspiring young gymnast to freestyle skiing champion and her incredible return to the sport after motherhood, as she aims to do what no woman has ever done before. 2) Swim #Endurance #Dangerous #Oceans Launches 31st January More people have climbed Everest than swum the Channel between England and France – 34 kilometres of treacherous sea. With a moving musical score from Damon Albarn, this remarkable documentary profiles the modern-day endurance swimming community and the unlikeliest of athletes who risk
December on iwonder
30 November 2022
iwonder highlights for the month of December include Smoke and Fumes: The Climate Change Cover-Up, The Carnivore’s Dilemma, System Error, Emperor Putin, Post Truth Times, Diana: The Interview That Shocked The World, Kim Jong Un: The Man Who Rules North Korea and Nasrin. As a year of relentless change and turmoil comes to a close, this December iwonder pulls together a selection of films reflecting on a year that has, in one way or another, changed the lives of every person on the planet. War, the mounting climate crisis, food and energy shortages, a stalling global economy, geopolitical destabilisation, social media revolutions, royal accessions, and civil rights protests are all covered in a selection of documentaries that begin by looking at macro global issues, before zooming in on the people, places and events that have characterised a year of unparalleled uncertainty. Will 2023 see a return to any semblance of stability? Smoke and Fumes: The Climate Change Cover-Up #Climate Change #Scandal #Investigation Oil companies, such as Exxon and Shell, have been secretly financing scientific studies and campaigns talking down climate change and influencing the public debate for 60 years. New documents prove that, since 1957, these companies have known that burning fossil fuels changes the climate. Commissioning and financing counter-studies to deliberately discredit their own findings, they stressed statistical errors and uncertainties: the tools of climate change deniers active today. In the US, Exxon and other oil companies have been under investigation for deliberately misleading the public on the subject of climate change. This documentary is part of an ongoing effort to shed light on one of the most far-reaching cover-ups in history; one that has lasted for 60 years and is only now being revealed. The Carnivore’s Dilemma #Food Crisis #Sustainability #Animals In this film, first-time father and prize-winning journalist, Benoît Bringer, investigates whether we should still eat meat. With the population reaching 8 billion people in 2022, and the pressure to provide food for everyone growing in intensity, the drive towards relentless productivity and industrialised farming marches on. Animal cruelty, major health issues, and environmental damage are inevitable consequences. We can all see the problems, but what are there alternatives? On a journey through the United States, Portugal, France, Sweden, and Germany the worst excesses of industrial farming are revealed, along with suggestions for an alternative, sustainable vision for the future of meat consumption and our ability to feed all humans without compromising our humanity. System Error #Economic Crisis #Capitalism #Futurism Politicians, economists, and the media are obsessed with economic growth. But why do we still cling to this concept? Clearly it is impossible to have infinite growth on a finite planet. In ‘System Error’, award-winning director Florian Opitz examines the fundamentals of capitalism, revealing unexpected correlations and laying bare the pathological nature of the current system. Filmed in Brazil, China, Germany, the U.K, and the U.S.A, as the world grapples with an economic crisis and the threat of recession, System Error gives a fresh perspective on the capitalist system and where it is leading us. iwonder When 15 November 2022 On 15 November 2022, the UN declared that the world’s population had reached 8 billion people, representing a major milestone in human development. While it took the global population 12 years to grow from 7 to 8 billion, it will take approximately 15 years—until 2037— for it to reach 9 billion, and until 2057 to reach 10 billon. With the world already facing numerous existential crises from food, water, and energy shortages, through to deadly and accelerating climate change, just how will the planet cope under the strain of another two billon people competing for survival and prosperity little more than 30 years away? iwonder Who Vladmir Putin The most influential person on the planet in 2022, Vladimir Putin has been responsible for countless deaths, the displacement of millions, an energy and economic crisis engulfing the globe, and the most credible threat of nuclear warfare since the Cold War. Born in 1952, Putin served in the KGB for 15 years, during which time he married and had two children. By 1994 Putin became deputy mayor of St. Petersburg, in 1998 Director of the FSG (the KGB’s domestic successor), and just a year later Prime Minister, later changing Russia’s constitution to enable him to remain in power until 2036, and potentially beyond. Transforming Russia’s courts, media, and other institutions, he has banned or jailed opposition politicians and journalists, and suppressed dissent through free speech crackdowns, maintaining a firm grip on power while other leaders of the world’s largest economies have come and gone. How Putin’s story will end, no one can predict iwonder What The faces of 2022 Whether they’re world leaders, business tycoons, royals, or activists, 2022 has seen a whole host of unforgettable faces steer the world in stark new directions. Where the actions and influence of these people will take the world next no-one knows, but it will be a long time before history forgets their influence. 1) Emperor Putin #Russia #Ukraine #Geopolitics The invasion of Ukraine seems to be the culmination of a strategy that Vladimir Putin has been applying since he came to power in 2000: the reconstruction of Greater Russia. But Putin is not content with just extending his influence in Europe. Through his army of mercenaries – the infamous Wagner Company – Putin intervenes and monopolises wealth in Syria, Libya and Venezuela. Where will he stop? 2) Post Truth Times #Twitter #Social Media #Elon Musk Filmed in the USA and Europe, this investigative documentary explores how algorithm-based fake news and disinformation are shaping our society. As Twitter undergoes a revolution that threatens to make the platform an even more powerful hotbed of dangerous and unrestrained perspectives, can we still find reliable information in these post truth times? 3) Diana: The Interview That Shocked The World #King Charles III #Royalty #Scandal On 20th November 1995 BBC Panorama broadcast the scoop of the century: a candid interview with Princess Diana in which
November on iwonder
29 October 2022
iwonder highlights for the month of November include First Lady of the Revolution, Red Lines, Partners of the Heart, Nasrin, The Helper, Mama Africa, Generation Utoya and Honeyland. This November, iwonder pays tribute to unsung heroes around the world, with three new films exploring nation builders, freedom fighters, and medical pioneers, each overcoming incredible challenges, from endemic racism to the daily threat of imprisonment and murder.Then in this month’s iwonder What Top Five, we pull together a collection of five powerful and moving films each exploring the struggles, great and small, of women throughout the world, from fighting inequality on a national scale, to the daily sacrifices of caring for family. First Lady of the Revolution Politics #History #Biography Launches 3rd November While visiting the exotic countryside of Costa Rica, a young Southern Belle from Alabama accepted a ride on the back of a motorcycle belonging to a charismatic local farmer. That ride would propel her into history. The globally award-winning First Lady of the Revolution is the remarkable story of Henrietta Boggs, who fell in love with a foreign land and the man destined to transform its identity. Her marriage to José ‘Don Pepe’ Figueres in 1941 led to a decade-long journey through activism, exile, political upheaval, and ultimately, lasting political reform. Screened in over 30 countries around the world to date, First Lady of the Revolution is not only a depiction of the momentous struggle to shape Costa Rica’s democratic identity, it’s also a portrayal of how a courageous woman escaped the confines of a traditional, sheltered existence to expand her horizons into a new world, and live a life she never imagined. Red Lines Freedom #War #Democracy Launches 10th November In 2012, two young, unlikely Syrian activists launch a radical plan for bringing democracy to their country, besieged by the brutal Bashar al-Assad regime. University student Razan uses her laptop to coordinate a smuggling network for bringing humanitarian aid and journalists into Syria. Damascus-born Mouaz works his contacts in the West, becoming a primary source for intel. Razan and Mouaz navigate a minefield, facing agonising decisions of who to aid and who to trust, all while hatching a Trojan-horse plan for a democratically run Syria starting with one free, empowered village. Red Lines provides a cinematic window into the Syrian conflict, taking us from the trenches to geopolitical jockeying and becoming, along the way, a searing exposé of the humanitarian crisis. Partners of the Heart Race #Medicine #History Launches 15th November Against the backdrop of segregation, Vivien Thomas, a black carpenter’s apprentice with a genius for surgery, and Dr. Alfred Blalock, a renowned white surgeon, dared to defy medical gospel by forging a partnership that changed the course of medical history. The two men’s work together led to one of the century’s major breakthroughs – a daring heart operation that has saved thousands of children afflicted with a congenital heart defect called “Blue Baby Syndrome.” With only a high school degree, Thomas became a cardiac pioneer and a teacher to two generations of America’s premiere heart surgeons at a time when he himself could not become one. Narrated by Morgan Freeman, Partners of the Heart is a compelling, often overlooked story of personal triumph over the strictures of time and place. iwonder When November 29th, 1944 Recreation of the Blue Baby Operation, featured in Partners of the Heart, launching November 15th on iwonder On November 29th, 1944, surgeon Alfred Blalock performed a heart operation on a baby – a procedure now considered routine by modern standards. The baby recovered, gained weight and was able to go home for Christmas. While liver and stomach problems would soon end her brief life, operations on two other children followed almost immediately, with successful results each time, heralding the emergence of the modern era of cardiac surgery, a story told in Partners of the Heart, new to iwonder this November. iwonder Who Henrietta Boggs Born in South Carolina, while on a summer vacation Boggs went to visit her aunt and uncle, who had retired in Costa Rica. While there she met and would later marry José Figueres Ferrer.Figueres would go on to lead the opposition forces in the 1948 Costa Rican Civil War, overseeing a successful democratic revolution against the government, abolishing the army and catapulting Boggs to the role of First Lady. From that vantage point, she successfully pushed for giving Costa Rican women the right to vote. Born during the influenza pandemic of 1918, Boggs died from COVID-19 at her home in Montgomery, Alabama, on September 9, 2020, at the age of 102. iwonder What Women of purpose Against a backdrop of enduring inequality, violence, and threats to personal freedoms, every day women all over the world stand up to discrimination and forces of suppression to make the world a fairer, freer place for everyone. In this month’s iwonder What Top Five, we pay homage to just some of those irrepressible women. 1) Nasrin Persecution #Women’s Rights #LawNarrated by Academy Award-winner Olivia Colman, and secretly filmed in Iran by women and men who risked arrest, this film follows the work and life of renowned human rights lawyer, Nasrin Sotoudeh. In the courts and on the streets, Nasrin has long fought for the rights of women, children, LGBTQ, religious minorities, journalists, artists, and those facing the death penalty. She was arrested in June 2018 and sentenced to 38 years in prison, plus 148 lashes. But even from prison, she continues to challenge the authorities. 2) The Helper Hong Kong #Sacrifice #Personal The Helper chronicles diverse stories from Hong Kong’s domestic worker community, uncovering the inspiring combination of grit, pride and determination that drives them. In a city renowned for wealth and luxury, the film brings to light the sacrifices these women make to support families – both in Hong Kong and at home. Each feel wrenched from families, often missing crucial stages in their children’s lives, but do so willingly in order to financially provide for them. This film
Follow a grieving mother’s mission to harness the power of healing and connection through social media in Scattering CJ on iwonder
20 October 2022
Twenty-one thousand strangers liked the Facebook page, and one thousand volunteers have since taken CJ to over one hundred countries, including Kelly Vella from Sydney.
October on iwonder
21 September 2022
iwonder highlights for the month of October include Scattering J, Dancer, The Departure and The Twomey Family. On October 10th World Mental Health Day will see governments, organisations, and individuals around the world lend their support to mental health issues, addressing the stigmas, assumptions and inaction that can lead to the struggles of millions, and the tragic suicides of too many. Leading iwonder’s October highlights is Scattering CJ: the heart-breaking yet life-affirming story of a young man’s tragic suicide, and the mission taken up by strangers all over the world – led by his grieving mother – to scatter his ashes in places he would have longed to visit. Then in this month’s iwonder Top Five, we pull together a selection of films looking at the mental challenges and traumas often uniquely faced by young people, as they navigate the confusing path to adulthood through the constantly connected modern world. Scattering CJ Heartbreaking #Mental Health #World When seemingly happy, travel-infatuated CJ Twomey ended his own life at age 20, his family was plunged into unrelenting grief and guilt. In a moment of desperate inspiration, his mother, Hallie, put out an open call on Facebook, looking for a handful of travellers who might help fulfil her son’s wish to see the world by scattering some of his ashes in a place of beauty or special meaning. Twenty-one thousand strangers liked the Facebook page, and one thousand volunteers have since taken CJ to over one hundred countries. While crisscrossing the globe, his ashes and his family’s story have given rise to a social media phenomenon — a worldwide community — that has congregated in solidarity and empathy in dealing with a still heavily stigmatized and misunderstood form of mental illness. Aggregating hundreds of clips chronicling personal ash-scattering pilgrimages worldwide, including Kelly from Sydney, Hallie’s story shows us that social media can act as a connector and a vehicle for empathy, as opposed to the more toxic aspects of social media interaction we’re currently witnessing. Her story further illustrates how there can be positive action grown from suicide, and that even if it isn’t reliably predictable, in some cases it may still be preventable. Launches Thursday October 27th Dancer Mental Health #Culture #Inner Demons Blessed with astonishing power and poise, Sergei Polunin took the dance world by storm and became the Royal ballet’s youngest ever principal. At the peak of his success, aged 25, he walked away, driven to the brink of self-destruction by stardom – his talent more a burden than a gift. Here is an unprecedented look into the life of a complex young man who made ballet go viral, and the high price that can come with virtuosity. The Departure Mental Health #Japan #Up Close Ittetsu Nemoto is a bad boy do-gooder. A 44-year-old Tokyo native, Nemoto loves riding his motorcycle and dancing all night in clubs. But he’s also a Rinzai Zen priest, who lives with his wife, mother and baby son at a temple in the remote countryside of Gifu prefecture, Japan. There, over the last ten years, he has become famous for his work in combating suicide. He relates to the men and women who come to him for help not as a professional, or a saintly spiritual figure bestowing wisdom from up on high—but instead, as one of them, a screwed-up individual full of pain and suffering, on a high-stakes mission to understand the purpose of being alive. Nemoto is remarkably successful in his career because he refuses to draw lines between suicidal people and himself—but that is also precisely why his problems begin. iwonder When 10th October October will offer a time of global reflection and focus on addressing mental health, with World Mental Health Day taking place on October 10th. Australia also ushers in National Mental Health Month, with Mental Health Week getting underway in Australian states across the country from 8th October. No matter where in the world people are, this period of mental health awareness is an opportunity for everyone to move towards a world in which mental health is valued, promoted and protected; where everyone has an equal opportunity to enjoy mental wellbeing, and access to the care they need. iwonder Who The Twomey Family John, Hallie and Connor Twomey are ¾ of a family, following the devastating suicide of their son and brother, CJ, at age 20. John acts as the family rock, shouldering the weight of sadness that at times, threatens their sanity. Connor is the glue that holds the family together, choosing to live life and to create new memories as a way to honour the brother he adored. Hallie carries a burden of guilt surrounding CJ’s death which has moulded her into a life of advocacy, in the hope that her son’s story may help prevent others from following in his footsteps. They are all humbled and honoured by the response Scattering CJ has received and owe a debt of gratitude to all those who now consider themselves a part of the Scattering CJ community. iwonder What Growing Pains In this month’s iwonder Top Five – in support of mental health initiatives around the world – we pull together five documentaries each looking at challenges experienced by young people coping with the often confusing and challenging journey of self-discovery. 1) My Millennial Life Young people #Identity #employment Millennials are the most educated generation ever, but over half of college graduates end up unemployed or in dead-end jobs. My Millennial Life is an intimate documentary following the stories of four twenty-somethings as they fight to find their place in today’s world. Life is nothing like what they were promised: from the highs of internships at Vice and Google, to the lows of cleaning hotel bathrooms, the future has never looked more uncertain for Generation Y. 2) Adult Under Construction Young people #Identity #employment A 25-year-old woman seeks answers that explain her behaviour during adolescence, setting out on a journey looking for a scientific explanation. Every generation has