No one has come to symbolise Ukraine more than its battered president, Volodymyr Zelensky. By staying in Kyiv when the Russians invaded his country, he changed the course of the conflict.
More infoEndless beaches, majestic mountains and villages with multi-coloured houses: Cape Verde has become one of the hottest new destinations for Instagrammers. Here, tourists can enjoy a week in an all-inclusive resort for as little as €700, including travel. But virtually none of this benefits the island.
More infoWe gained exceptional access to the international criminal networks making a fortune from stolen cars. In this film, they reveal all their tricks.
More infoIsrael’s actions since the start of the war in banning UNRWA and restricting the activities of NGOs and UN agencies helping Palestinians have been well publicised. But this policy of targeting aid organisations can be traced back years earlier.
More infoOn December 8 2024, Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad and his entire family fled his country and sought refuge in Russia. The swift fall of the Butcher of Damascus, the man who had made a startling comeback after nearly losing everything during the Arab Spring, took everyone by surprise. This film, shot before and after the fall of the regime, tells the story of why his bloody dictatorship fell so quickly. How Syrians experienced the end of the Assad clan and their hopes and fears for the future.
More infoIn Marseille, criminal gangs wage turf wars. In this city alone, drug trafficking has claimed the lives of 73 people in the past two years. More and more innocent victims are caught in the crossfire of drug trafficking. Is France tipping over into the kind of ultraviolence more commonly seen in South America?
More infoFor the past decade, this small ex-Soviet republic in Central Asia has been one of the main breeding grounds for jihadism. Why?
More infoSince their clandestine ordinations on a boat on the Danube in 2002, Catholic women priests have been challenging the Vatican to denounce its misogyny. For the first time, women priests have succeeded in obtaining a dialogue with the Vatican, prompting cardinals and Pope Francis to take a stand on the forbidden subject of women's ordination.
More infoFor the past three years, Ukraine's youth have been growing up in a warzone. As the fighting intensifies, the number of victims is increasing. The lives of millions of young Ukrainians, like Napoléon, Plombir, Timur and Hannah, have been irrevocably changed.
More info"Blank Plate: Creating the Best Restaurant in the World" takes us on the journey of Disfrutar as it rises to be crowned the best restaurant in the world. As well as documenting this achievement, the film delves into the personal stories of its three chefs – Eduard Xatruch, Mateu Casañas and Oriol Castro – tracing them all the way from their demanding years at El Bulli to the creation of their own restaurant.
More infoIn the prisons of Al-Hol and Al-Roj camps, Kurdish forces are managing what many Western countries regard as a time bomb: 60,000 prisoners affiliated with the Islamic State. Nearly three quarters of them are under the age of 15. Here, ISIS still reigns supreme. The prisoners believe it's only a matter of time before ISIS return and frees them.
More infoThrough a combination of industrial espionage, technology theft and the establishment of networks of influence abroad, China is waging a clandestine and merciless war to become the world's leading military and economic power.
More infoUltra-Orthodox Jews in America make up a very visible yet inaccessible community. Recognisable by their outfits, they have a strict dress code and live by even stricter rules. We gained exclusive access to their world and heard from a family expelled from the community.
More infoFor centuries, Vietnam, the Philippines, Taiwan, Malaysia, Brunei and China have disputed territories in the South China Sea. But China’s claims of overriding sovereignty over the entire sea, supported by annexations and aggressive military patrols, have turned the sea into a global hotspot.
More infoAdolescents who are connected to their smartphone for more than five hours a day are 66% more likely to suffer suicidal symptoms than those who use it for one hour a day. 44 US states are currently suing Meta, blaming it for the malaise of an entire generation. Faced with powerful tech giants like Meta, Tiktok, Snapchat, X and Discord, how can we protect children and their childhood?
More infoA wave of gang violence and shootings in Sweden has taken everyone by surprise. The country now has one of the highest per capita rates of gun violence in the EU, with young teenagers being recruited as hitmen in ongoing gang wars. How did it come to this?
More infoFor the Trump clan, the presidency is a family affair. His sons, daughters, son-in-laws, daughter-in-law, grandchildren: each one of them was rewarded for assisting the campaign. From bloodlines to conflicts of interests and ultra-bright smiles, this documentary pulls back the curtain on the Trump family, the gilded dynasty that is running America.
More infoFor King Abdullah of Jordan, President Trump’s suggestion that Palestinians in Gaza should be resettled there threatens the very survival of his country. Trump’s comments have highlighted Jordan's dependence on US aid and raised existential questions about the country’s identity.
More infoThere are currently almost 10 million Native Americans in the United States. Once confined to reservations and condemned to poverty, they are now proudly reclaiming their culture.
More infoIt's the symbol of the American dream. The film capital of the world has become a beacon for Americans and expatriates in search of the dolce vita. But, for many, the glitz and glamour of the City of Angels has lost its lustre.
More infoLong considered a haven of peace in Latin America, Ecuador today is facing an unprecedented wave of violence. Prison riots, hostage-taking on live television and homicides by the thousands: the country is now in a ‘state of war’ against the narcos.
More infoSince 1991, Turkmenistan has been ruled by an equally bizarre and ruthless dictatorship. Much like North Korea, the heads of state wield absolute power and have the freedom to act on a whim.
More infoWe gained exclusive access to the world's biggest and toughest prison in El Salvador. Fifteen thousand prisoners are locked up here, most of whom will never leave alive.
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In March 2025, Donald Trump ordered the deportation of 238 Venezuelan prisoners to a high-security prison in El Salvador. We visited the prison where they are being held and investigated the consequences of the "State of Exception” in El Salvador.
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Two men, Itamar Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, are driving the radical right-wing agenda of Benyamin Netanyahu’s government. Who are they and what is their ultimate goal?
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After half a century of dictatorship, Syria is undergoing an historic upheaval following the overthrow of President Bashar Al-Assad by insurgents from the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). We capture the first moments of this tumultuous transition and hear from the Syrian population, torn between hope for renewal and fear of the unknown.
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Spring 2025 has kicked off with an exciting wave of recognition for Java Films’ documentary catalogue, with numerous awards and official selections for our titles at film festivals across the world. Here are some of our Spring 2025 highlights: Prolonging […]
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After a successful year filled with impressive festival selections and awards, we’ve continued to build on that this winter, with even more recognition for our documentaries. Here are some of the highlights: Nenets vs Gas won the “Hérisson d’or” Award […]
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In honour of the late founder and managing director of Java Films, the company is delighted to announce the addition of the Roch Bozino Engagement Award at this year’s Sunnyside Festival.
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Two men, Itamar Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, are driving the radical right-wing agenda of Benyamin Netanyahu’s government. Who are they and what is their ultimate goal?
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In Port-au-Prince, nearly three million people are living in the grips of all-out gang war. Gangs now control more than 80% of the city. Murders, kidnappings, gang rapes and fires are common and no end to the crisis seems in sight.
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Since the start of Operation Iron Sword, provoked by Hamas’ attack on Israel, life in Gaza has become apocalyptic.
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