Sundance Film Festival prize winner "Kokomo City" is sexy, sassy and surprising in its portrait of four transgender sex workers. Hip-hop producer turned filmmaker D. Smith brings tremendous vitality to celebrating these lives in language that's mostly too raw for public radio.

Sundance Film Festival prize winner <a href="https://www.magpictures.com/kokomocity/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">"Kokomo City"</a> is sexy, sassy and surprising in its portrait of four transgender sex workers. Hip-hop producer turned filmmaker D. Smith brings tremendous vitality to celebrating these lives in language that's mostly too raw for public radio.

"Kokomo City" gives sex workers a safe space


Ravish Kumar

"While We Watched" profiles India's TV news anchor Ravish Kumar as he faces death threats and other pressures while trying to practice journalism in an age of rising extremism. The film, directed by Vinay Shukla, has won multiple festival awards. 

<a href="https://www.ifccenter.com/films/while-we-watched/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">"While We Watched"</a> profiles India's TV news anchor Ravish Kumar as he faces death threats and other pressures while trying to practice journalism in an age of rising extremism. The film, directed by Vinay Shukla, has won multiple festival awards.

"While We Watched" profiles Indian journalist Ravish Kumar


Casa Susanna

"Casa Susanna" reflects on a haven for transgender expression in the Catskills that was kept secret for decades. French filmmaker Sébastien Lifshitz profiles four people whose lives were profoundly intertwined with this history.

<a href="https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/films/casa-susanna/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">"Casa Susanna"</a> reflects on a haven for transgender expression in the Catskills that was kept secret for decades. French filmmaker Sébastien Lifshitz profiles four people whose lives were profoundly intertwined with this history.

"Casa Susanna" reveals a hidden transgender history


"The Stroll" explores the history of transgender sex workers who worked the streets of New York's Meatpacking District before the neighborhood's gentrification. Directors Kristen Lovell and Zackary Drucker document the intense pressures, but also the activism, sisterhood and self-empowerment in the community.

<a href="https://www.hbo.com/movies/the-stroll" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">"The Stroll"</a> explores the history of transgender sex workers who worked the streets of New York's Meatpacking District before the neighborhood's gentrification. Directors Kristen Lovell and Zackary Drucker document the intense pressures, but also the activism, sisterhood and self-empowerment in the community.

"The Stroll" honors a sisterhood of sex workers


"Victim/Suspect" follows reporter Rae de Leon as she investigates a pattern of cases where women reported sexual assault only to be accused by police of lying. Filmmaker Nancy Schwartzman explores the underlying biases behind this trend.

<a href="https://www.netflix.com/title/81288561" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">"Victim/Suspect"</a> follows reporter Rae de Leon as she investigates a pattern of cases where women reported sexual assault only to be accused by police of lying. Filmmaker Nancy Schwartzman explores the underlying biases behind this trend.

When the police don't believe victims


John Leguizamo

The actor, John Leguizamo takes a road trip to Latin American communities across the country in, "Leguizamo Does America." He engages prominent locals in lively conversations about their history, food, music and culture.

The actor, John Leguizamo takes a road trip to Latin American communities across the country in, <a href="https://www.peacocktv.com/watch-online/tv/leguizamo-does-america/5268198299012954112" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">"Leguizamo Does America."</a> He engages prominent locals in lively conversations about their history, food, music and culture.

John Leguizamo does America


New York based-filmmaker Jon-Sesrie Goff traces his family's roots in the Gullah community of South Carolina in "After Sherman," a title evoking the Civil War general. The film is more poetic than didactic as it connects the past to the present.

New York based-filmmaker Jon-Sesrie Goff traces his family's roots in the Gullah community of South Carolina in <a href="https://www.aftersherman.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">"After Sherman,"</a> a title evoking the Civil War general. The film is more poetic than didactic as it connects the past to the present.

"After Sherman" reflects on Black Americans returning to the South


Mary Tyler Moore

"Being Mary Tyler Moore" explores how the actress compared and contrasted in real life to the characters she portrayed. Director James Adolphus chronicles how Moore was constantly evolving.

<a href="https://www.hbo.com/movies/being-mary-tyler-moore" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">"Being Mary Tyler Moore"</a> explores how the actress compared and contrasted in real life to the characters she portrayed. Director James Adolphus chronicles how Moore was constantly evolving.

The real Mary Tyler Moore


In "1000% Me: Growing Up Mixed," Director W. Kamau Bell interviews mixed race people across three generations to understand their challenges and insights. The film is an opportunity to listen and learn.

In <a href="https://www.hbo.com/movies/1000-me-growing-up-mixed" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">"1000% Me: Growing Up Mixed,"</a> Director W. Kamau Bell interviews mixed race people across three generations to understand their challenges and insights. The film is an opportunity to listen and learn.

Conversations with kids in "1000% Me: Growing Up Mixed"


"32 Sounds" is a documentary essay that enlists composers, scientists, Hollywood effects specialists and others to contemplate how we listen. Filmmaker Sam Green has created an interactive experience best experienced in a movie theater.

<a href="https://32sounds.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">"32 Sounds"</a> is a documentary essay that enlists composers, scientists, Hollywood effects specialists and others to contemplate how we listen. Filmmaker Sam Green has created an interactive experience best experienced in a movie theater.

Exploring audio in "32 Sounds"


Every week, WNYC tells you about the best documentaries as they become available on screens of any size. Our hosts are Thom Powers and Raphaela Neihausen, co-founders of the Pure Nonfiction  podcast and the DOC NYC festival, the largest non-fiction film festival in the U.S. WNYC Studios is the producer of other leading podcasts including Radiolab, Freakonomics Radio, 2 Dope Queens, Death, Sex &amp; Money, On the Media and many more.

"Little Richard: I Am Everything" brings a fresh perspective on the history of rock 'n' roll with insights from Mick Jagger and Billy Porter. Director Lisa Cortes explores what it meant to be Black and queer when both were subject to intense discrimination and violence.

<a href="https://www.littlericharddocumentary.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">"Little Richard: I Am Everything"</a> brings a fresh perspective on the history of rock 'n' roll with insights from Mick Jagger and Billy Porter. Director Lisa Cortes explores what it meant to be Black and queer when both were subject to intense discrimination and violence.

"Little Richard: I Am Everything" celebrates a rock 'n' roll pioneer


"Wild Life" tells the love story of Doug and Kris Tompkins who gave up careers running North Face and Patagonia to devote themselves to conservation. Oscar-winning filmmaker E. Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin ("Free Solo") chronicle how the Tompkins orchestrated the largest national park land donation in history.

<a href="https://films.nationalgeographic.com/wild-life" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">"Wild Life"</a> tells the love story of Doug and Kris Tompkins who gave up careers running North Face and Patagonia to devote themselves to conservation. Oscar-winning filmmaker E. Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin ("Free Solo") chronicle how the Tompkins orchestrated the largest national park land donation in history.

From Clothing to Conservation in "Wild Life" 


Van Jones

In "The First Step," we follow progressive activist Van Jones as forges an unlikely alliance with Jared Kushner in the Trump administration to pass criminal justice reform. The film-making brothers, Brandon and Lance Kramer show how political coalitions are hard to win and easy to lose.

In <a href="https://www.firststepfilm.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">"The First Step,"</a> we follow progressive activist Van Jones as forges an unlikely alliance with Jared Kushner in the Trump administration to pass criminal justice reform. The film-making brothers, Brandon and Lance Kramer show how political coalitions are hard to win and easy to lose.

Van Jones navigates controversy in "The First Step"


The American soldiers who were interviewed 20 years ago for the documentary "Gunner Palace" about the war in Iraq, look back on their experiences today in "The Army We Had." While many Americans may want to forget the war, filmmakers Petra Epperlein and Michael Tucker keep the memories of these soldiers alive.

The American soldiers who were interviewed 20 years ago for the documentary "Gunner Palace" about the war in Iraq, look back on their experiences today in <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RIWfH3iEgXU" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">"The Army We Had."</a> While many Americans may want to forget the war, filmmakers Petra Epperlein and Michael Tucker keep the memories of these soldiers alive.

Revisiting the Iraq War in "The Army We Had"


"Nam June Paik: Moon is the Oldest TV" profiles the ground-breaking video artist whose work in the 1970s and 80s anticipated numerous artistic and technological innovations that came afterward. Filmmaker Amanda Kim interviews Paik's friends and admirers who put his legacy in perspective.

<a href="https://filmforum.org/film/nam-june-paik-moon-is-the-oldest-tv" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">"Nam June Paik: Moon is the Oldest TV"</a> profiles the ground-breaking video artist whose work in the 1970s and 80s anticipated numerous artistic and technological innovations that came afterward. Filmmaker Amanda Kim interviews Paik's friends and admirers who put his legacy in perspective.

Who Was Nam June Paik?


"All the Beauty and the Bloodshed" profiles the artist Nan Goldin and her fight to have the Sackler family held accountable for the opioid epidemic. Oscar-winning filmmaker Laura Poitras explores Goldin's complex history as an artist and activist while chronicling her recent campaign to have art institutions disassociate themselves from the Sacklers as donors.

<a href="https://www.hbo.com/movies/all-the-beauty-and-the-bloodshed" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">"All the Beauty and the Bloodshed"</a> profiles the artist Nan Goldin and her fight to have the Sackler family held accountable for the opioid epidemic. Oscar-winning filmmaker Laura Poitras explores Goldin's complex history as an artist and activist while chronicling her recent campaign to have art institutions disassociate themselves from the Sacklers as donors.

Nan Goldin vs the Sacklers in "All the Beauty and the Bloodshed"


Vladimir Putin

"Navalny" follows the Russian dissident Alexei Navalny as he investigates a Kremlin plot to assassinate him. Today, Navalny is in prison, but this film by Daniel Roher keeps his voice alive and is nominated for an Academy Award.

<a href="https://www.hbomax.com/feature/urn:hbo:feature:GYmFp9ATv1JSBmwEAAACW" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">"Navalny"</a> follows the Russian dissident Alexei Navalny as he investigates a Kremlin plot to assassinate him. Today, Navalny is in prison, but this film by Daniel Roher keeps his voice alive and is nominated for an Academy Award.

"Navalny" is a political thriller about an opponent of Vladimir Putin


"Framing Agnes" brings to life archival interviews with transgender men and women from the 1950s. Filmmaker Chase Joynt leads a team of trans collaborators including Zackary Drucker, Angelica Ross and Max Wolf Valerio to shed light on this earlier generation.

<a href="https://www.framingagnes.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">"Framing Agnes"</a> brings to life archival interviews with transgender men and women from the 1950s. Filmmaker Chase Joynt leads a team of trans collaborators including Zackary Drucker, Angelica Ross and Max Wolf Valerio to shed light on this earlier generation.

Documenting trans lives in "Framing Agnes" 


"The 1619 Project" adapts the Pulitzer Prize-winning journalism of Nikole Hannah-Jones into a six-part series on Hulu. Filmmaker Roger Ross Williams teams with The New York Times and Oprah Winfrey to reexamine Black American history.

<a href="https://www.hulu.com/series/the-1619-project-7ba3407a-299c-4a10-8310-bbcdd6ab4653" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">"The 1619 Project"</a> adapts the Pulitzer Prize-winning journalism of Nikole Hannah-Jones into a six-part series on Hulu. Filmmaker Roger Ross Williams teams with The New York Times and Oprah Winfrey to reexamine Black American history.

"The 1619 Project" becomes a six-part series


"Nothing Lasts Forever" explores how the rise of synthetic diamonds is disrupting the longtime monopoly of the company De Beers. Filmmaker Jason Kohn interviews a wide range of industry insiders including jewelry designer and historian Aja Raden.

<a href="https://www.sho.com/titles/3463788/nothing-lasts-forever" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">"Nothing Lasts Forever"</a> explores how the rise of synthetic diamonds is disrupting the longtime monopoly of the company De Beers. Filmmaker Jason Kohn interviews a wide range of industry insiders including jewelry designer and historian Aja Raden.

"Nothing Lasts Forever" looks at the diamond industry


This is a very interesting & Awesome 2 min weekly listen!!

Every week, WNYC tells you about the best documentaries as they become available on screens of any size. Our hosts are Thom Powers and Raphaela Neihausen, co-founders of the Pure Nonfiction podcast and the DOC NYC festival, the largest non-fiction film festival in the U.S. WNYC Studios is the producer of other leading podcasts including Radiolab, Freakonomics Radio, 2 Dope Queens, Death, Sex &amp; Money, On the Media and many more.

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