Films

It may sound crazy, but life on Earth could have originated from hardy microbes travelling through space, arriving here from Mars or even more distant parts of our Solar System. In theory, extremophile bacteria could be resilient enough to survive such a deadly journey – perhaps thanks to their ability to repair their own damaged DNA. This documentary explores the fascinating hypothesis of panspermia, taking it to the bold proposition that the building blocks of life may travel across entire stellar systems within our Galaxy. Earth may not be the cradle of life, but merely one stop on its cosmic journey. And if we accept that life can traverse such vast distances, how far-reaching might its true lineage be? Could we, in fact, be extraterrestrial to ourselves?

On 11 March 2011, Japan experienced one of the most devastating earthquakes in its history. The ensuing tsunami, however, unleashed a catastrophe whose true scale was yet to become apparent. This gripping reconstruction of one of the most serious nuclear disasters in modern history reveals not only the chaos and critical decisions made during the first hours of the disaster, but also the extraordinary courage of those who remained inside the power plant as it teetered on the brink of complete collapse. Their story brings human bravery face to face with systemic failure, inadequate preparedness, and questions of responsibility on the part of the plant’s operator. What was really happening behind the walls of the power plant as the systems on which the safety of thousands depended began to fail?

Digital technologies are supposed to make our lives easier, connect the world, and open up possibilities we could once barely imagine. But what happens when the tools we have created increasingly begin to shape the way we think, make decisions, and perceive reality? This documentary ventures into today’s digital world, where artificial intelligence, state and corporate surveillance, and social-media addiction are intertwined and driven by powerful algorithms. Experts warn of the growing concentration of technological power in the hands of a few major corporations, which have turned our personal data into a valuable commodity. The film also recalls the ideas of media theorist Marshall McLuhan (1911–1980), who predicted decades ago that media would not merely transmit information, but fundamentally transform human beings themselves.

Millions of people are downloading AI companions so they never have to be alone again. Today, artificial intelligence is making its way not only onto our screens, but into sex, intimacy, trust, and even grief. This documentary follows people who seek in artificial relationships what their real-life relationships have failed to provide. For some, AI offers a safe space in which they can learn to trust again; for others, it provides a sense of stability that human relationships cannot. Is it possible to feel genuine love for someone who does not actually exist? And can an artificial relationship become a bridge towards other people – or, conversely, a perfectly comfortable escape from them?