The Trials of Spring

In 2008, we travel to Egypt to tell the story of heavy metal in a conservative Muslim country. We meet the kids in Cairo's tight knit underground music scene who are the film's main characters, including the sons of the country's foremost political dissidents and the Muslim World's first all-female metal band. Living under an oppressive regime, they're denied the basic right to free expression, and risk arrest just for playing their music... Then halfway through our story, a revolution begins, casting them, and us, into the unknown, opening new horizons, and presenting our main characters with a new set of life changing dilemmas.

In 2013 Russian parliament passed legislation that criminalizes public discussion of homosexuality, especially by foreigners. The fine for kissing someone of the same sex in public? 5000 rubles. Kris van der Veen visits St. Petersburg and Murmansk, where he talks with a diverse group of youngsters and activists. What motivates them to take a stand and can they still be safe on the streets? Van der Veen's visit to Russia ends in a police raid. He and his crew become the first foreigners to be charged with making gay propaganda. They get off with a fright, but can't help but wonder: how will this continue? What does the future hold for gays, lesbians and transgenders in Russia?

In "Diversity", we will attend to the mix of cultures, nationalities, ethnic groups and religions existing in New York City. But, is this mix for real or a fictitious one? Coexistence or ghettos? Integration or loneliness?

Six young Americans travel across the Middle East in the footsteps of the Arab Spring.

Ever run a marathon? How about 202 marathons? Consecutively in 8 1/2 months....across Canada - at the age of 25. Why would someone do that? And how is it physically possible? You'll have to watch Scott Cannata's The Run To Live to find out those answers and more about his epic cross-country journey that he did entirely foot. With his meager support team following close behind in a pick-up truck and a tattered old trailer. A roller coaster of emotions, 4 seasons of harsh Canadian weather, from East coast to West coast. 3 Gen-Y'ers and a husky dog traveled our great nation for one very great cause....

Every day hundreds of men risk life and limb going down into the Buzhanska mine in the Ukraine to mine coal with rusty old tools from the Soviet era.