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Dogwoof
Dogwoof, a powerhouse in documentary film distribution that specialise in thought-provoking content, they curate and disseminate socially relevant documentaries globally. With an eye for impactful narratives, Dogwoof fuels discourse on pressing issues, championing diverse stories that resonate with audiences worldwide, solidifying their position as a vital conduit for cultural engagement and enlightenment. At Fopp we’re celebrating the best that Dogwoof has to offer with DVDs from £6 and Blu-ray from £8. Ends 6th March 2025
Squaring the circle: the story of hipgnosis
director(s) Anton Corbijn
language(s) english
format blu-ray
Celebrated photographer, creative director and filmmaker Anton Corbijn’s first feature documentary SQUARING THE CIRCLE (the story of hipgnosis) tells the story of Storm Thorgerson and Aubrey “Po” Powell, the creative geniuses behind the iconic album art design studio, Hipgnosis, responsible for some of the most recognizable album covers of all time. They formed Hipgnosis in Cambridge during the ferment of the sixties and became rock royalty during the boom time of the seventies. They conjured into existence sights that no one had previously thought possible, produced visuals which popularized music that had previously been considered fringe, and were at the white-hot center of the maddest, funniest and most creative era in the history of popular music. During this period, record companies didn’t dictate to acts like Peter Gabriel, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin and Paul McCartney what their LP covers should look like – Storm and Po did. They made money; they lost money. They did great things; they did silly things. They fell out bitterly; they made up. They never played a note, but they changed music. The film features brand new interviews with Roger Waters, David Gilmour & Nick Mason of Pink Floyd, Jimmy Page & Robert Plant of Led Zeppelin, Paul McCartney, Peter Gabriel, Graham Gouldman of 10cc, Noel Gallagher, and many more.
Angelheaded Hipster: The Songs of Marc Bolan & T. Rex
director(s) Ethan Silverman
language(s) english
format blu-ray
AngelHeaded Hipster is the first documentary to explore the creation and interpretation of the Music and Lyrics of Marc Bolan who died at the age of 29 in 1977. Using archival performances, interviews with Bolan, and filmed interpretations by artists such as Nick Cave, John Cameron Mitchell, Joan Jett, Macy Gray, U2, Lucinda Williams, Father John Misty, & others, this documentary creates an exuberant and thoughtful celebration of a true original; Glam Rock pioneer, gender-bending free spirit and explorer of punk and soul music with his last partner musician Gloria Jones, who is interviewed extensively from Sierra Leone. Illuminated with interviews by his great friend David Bowie, Ringo Starr, Elton John and many more, this film creates a new kind of music lookback intertwined with cinema verite footage captured directly from the studio with legendary Avant-Garde Record Producer Hal Willner who tragically died of COVID in 2020 after completing what would be his final album.
Hoop Dreams
director(s) steve james
language(s) english
format blu-ray
Shot over five years, this Oscar-winning documentary follows the passage of two young men with dreams of making it big in the world of basketball. Arthur and William are two black teenagers from Chicago, who both hope to earn themselves a place in the NBA. Sports scholarships ensure that they attend prestigious colleges after leaving high school, but this step up the ladder brings them to a new level of training, with a demanding coach who drives them to the very limits of their abilities.
mlk/fbi
director(s) sam pollard
language(s) english
format blu-ray
MLK/FBI is the first film to uncover the extent of the FBI’s surveillance and harassment of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Based on newly discovered and declassified files, utilizing a trove of documents obtained through the Freedom of Information Act and unsealed by the National Archives, as well as revelatory restored footage, the documentary explores the government’s history of targeting Black activists, and the contested meaning behind some of our most cherished ideals. Featuring interviews with key cultural figures including former FBI Director James Comey and directed by Emmyr Award-winner and Oscar-nominee Sam Pollard, MLK/FBI tells this astonishing and tragic story with searing relevance to our current moment.
the life & trials of oscar pistorius
director(s) daniel gordon
language(s) english
format dvd and blu-ray
Directed by BAFTA award-winner Daniel Gordon (Hillsborough, George Best: All By Himself) and produced by Academy Award-winner John Battsek (Searching for Sugar Man, One Day in September), The Life and Trials of Oscar Pistorius tells the story of the South African Paralympic sprinter and international hero, who had inspired millions with his determination and dedication – and who was then suddenly at the centre of a murder investigation. The media circus that surrounded a tragic death became just as much a story of the time as his initial rise to glory.
watergate
director(s) charles ferguson
language(s) english
format dvd
Charles Ferguson directs this documentary which examines the key events of the Watergate scandal surrounding President Richard Nixon, in which a break-in of the Watergate offices in Washington D.C. resulted in a far-reaching expose of illegal activities carried out by the Nixon administration and revealing statements made by Nixon himself.
rbg
director(s) Betsy West · Julie Cohen
language(s) english
format blu-ray
American documentary examining the life and career of Supreme Court Justice of the United States, Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Throughout her career Ruth has been an advocate for women’s rights, having faced discrimination due to her own gender when starting out in her profession. Ruth later went on to raise her views on abortion laws and equality among sexual orientations, receiving support from all over the world and becoming a household name.
Cunningham
director(s) Alla Kovgan
language(s) english
format DVD and blu-ray
Alla Kovgan directs this documentary about American dancer and choreographer Merce Cunningham. Renowned for his collaborations with composer and life partner John Cage, Cunningham refused to be pigeonholed into one genre, instead opting to cross multiple genres in his work. In this documentary, film-maker Alla Kovgan looks at some of his best known works and examines the thought processes behind them.
The Alpinist
The Alpinist
director(s) Peter Mortimer · Nick Rosen
language(s) english
format blu-ray
As the sport of climbing turns from a niche pursuit to mainstream media event, Marc-Andre Leclerc climbs alone, far from the limelight. On remote alpine faces, the free-spirited 23-year-old makes some of the boldest solo ascents in history. Yet, he draws scant attention. With no cameras, no rope, and no margin for error, Marc-Andre’s approach is the essence of solo adventure. Intrigued by these quiet accomplishments, veteran filmmaker Peter Mortimer (The Dawn Wall) sets out to make a film about Marc-Andre. But the Canadian soloist is an elusive subject: nomadic and publicity shy, he doesn’t own a phone or car, and is reluctant to let the film crew in on his pure vision of climbing. As Peter struggles to keep up, Marc-Andres climbs grow bigger and more daring. Elite climbers are amazed by his accomplishments, while others worry that he is risking too much. Then, Marc-Andre embarks on a historic adventure in Patagonia that will redefine what is possible in solo climbing. THE ALPINIST is an intimate documentary of a visionary climber who follows the path of his own passion, despite the heaviest of possible consequences.
American Utopia
American Utopia
director(s) Spike Lee
language(s) english
format DVD and blu-ray
Do we get stupider as we grow up? In his wildly popular Broadway show American Utopia, David Byrne reflects on human connections, life and how on earth we work through it. He joins the dots with his music and it all starts making sense. Spike Lee here transforms the production into immersive, dynamic cinema that radiates with astounding performances, inventive contemporary dance and political urgency. American Utopia flows like an iridescent dream vision. Work by James Baldwin, Janelle Monae and Kurt Schwitters is highlighted among exhilarating renditions of Byrne’s solo work, as well as Talking Heads classics. According to the multi-hyphenate, we love looking at humans more than anything else. Anti-fascist and anti-racist, Byrne illuminates our responsibility to care for one another as he and his co-performers burn down the house.
Free Solo
director(s) Jimmy Chin · Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi
language(s) english
format DVD · blu-ray
From award-winning documentary filmmaker E. Chai Vasarhelyi and world-renowned photographer and mountaineer Jimmy Chin, the directors of Meru, comes Free Solo, a stunning, intimate and unflinching portrait of free soloist climber Alex Honnold, as he prepares to achieve his lifelong dream: climbing the face of the world’s most famous rock … the 3,200-foot El Capitan in Yosemite National Park … without a rope. Celebrated as one of the greatest athletic feats of any kind, Honnold’s climb set the ultimate standard: perfection or death. Succeeding in this challenge places his story in the annals of human achievement. Free Solo is an edge-of-your seat thriller and an inspiring portrait of an athlete who challenges both his body and his beliefs on a quest to triumph over the impossible, revealing the personal toll of excellence. As the climber begins his training, the armour of invincibility he’s built up over decades unexpectedly breaks apart when Honnold begins to fall in love, threatening his focus and giving way to injury and setbacks. Vasarhelyi and Chin succeed in beautifully capturing deeply human moments with Honnold as well as the death-defying climb with exquisite artistry and masterful, vertigo-inducing camerawork. The result is a triumph of the human spirit that represents what The New York Times calls “a miraculous opportunity for the rest of us to experience the human sublime.”
The Act of Killing
The Act of Killing
director(s) Joshua Oppenheimer
language(s) english · Indonesian
format DVD · blu-ray
In the Academy Award-nominated documentary, director Joshua Oppenheimer confronts the chilling reality of the Indonesian death squads who perpetrated mass atrocities during 1965 and 1966. Central to the narrative is Anwar Congo, a former member of the death squads who openly boasts about his involvement in the killings, living amidst the families of his victims. Seeking to comprehend Congo’s disturbing mindset, Oppenheimer orchestrates a surreal experiment, asking Congo to reenact his heinous deeds with the assistance of the film crew. What unfolds is a haunting exploration of guilt, complicity, and the human capacity for cruelty. The film’s unflinching portrayal of genocide prompts profound introspection not only for the audience but also for the participants themselves. Garnering an Oscar nomination and the BAFTA for Best Documentary, this harrowing cinematic journey serves as a stark reminder of the horrors perpetrated in the name of ideology, urging viewers to confront the darkest depths of humanity.
Apollo 11
director(s) Todd Douglas
language(s) English
format DVD · blu-ray
Director Todd Douglas Miller, known for Dinosaur 13, presents a cinematic marvel fifty years in the making with Apollo 11. Drawing from a newly unearthed trove of 70mm footage and over 11,000 hours of previously uncatalogued audio recordings, the film offers an unparalleled glimpse into NASA’s most iconic mission—the one that propelled humanity to the moon and immortalized Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin. Through the eyes of the astronauts, the meticulous team in mission control, and the countless spectators on the ground, audiences are transported back to the historic days of 1969, experiencing firsthand the awe-inspiring journey that marked a giant leap for mankind. With stunning visuals and immersive storytelling, Apollo 11 captures the spirit of exploration, innovation, and collective achievement, inviting viewers to relive the triumphs and tribulations of one of humanity’s greatest feats—the moment when we ventured beyond the confines of Earth and into the vast expanse of space.
A Glitch In The Matrix
A Glitch In The Matrix
director(s) Rodney Ascher
language(s) english
format DVD · blu-ray
What if we are living in a simulation, and the world as we know it is not real? To tackle this mind-bending idea, acclaimed documentary filmmaker Rodney Ascher (Sundance selections Room 237, The Nightmare) uses a noted speech from Philip K. Dick to dive down the rabbit hole of science, philosophy, and conspiracy theory. Leaving no stone unturned in exploring the unprovable, the film uses contemporary cultural touchstones like The Matrix, interviews with real people shrouded in digital avatars, and a wide array of voices, expert and amateur alike. If simulation theory is not science fiction but fact, and life is a video game being played by some unknowable entity, then who are we, really?
Max Richter’s Sleep
director(s) Natalie Johns
language(s) English
format DVD · Blu-ray
The film delves into the journey of acclaimed composer and musician Max Richter and his artistic collaborator, BAFTA-winning filmmaker Yulia Mahr, as they undertake a bold endeavor: a performance of Richter’s renowned 8-hour masterpiece, “Sleep,” at an open-air concert in Los Angeles. Directed by Emmy-nominated filmmaker Natalie Johns, the documentary intricately intertwines Mahr’s personal archive with performance footage captured in Berlin, Sydney, and Paris. Through this mosaic of imagery and narrative, viewers are offered a profound insight into the collaborative artistic process shared by Richter and Mahr. Additionally, the film sheds light on the scientific and narrative underpinnings of Richter’s work, enriching the viewer’s understanding of its significance. As the documentary unfolds, it unveils not only the complexities of creating such a monumental piece but also the deep emotional and creative connections that bind Richter and Mahr in their pursuit of artistic excellence.
Memory – The Origins of Alien
Memory – The Origins of Alien
director(s) Alexandre O. Philippe
language(s) English
format DVD
Memory uncovers the largely untold origin story behind Ridley Scott’s cinematic masterpiece, rooted in Greek and Egyptian mythology, underground comics, parasitology, H.P. Lovecraft, the art of Francis Bacon, and the symbiotic genius of Dan O’Bannon and H.R. Giger. On the eve of the film’s 40th Anniversary, Exhibit A Pictures will reveal a treasure trove of never-before-seen materials from the O’Bannon and Giger estates, including original story notes, rejected designs and storyboards, exclusive behind-the-scenes footage, and Dan’s original 29 page script from 1971, titled Memory. Bridging the ancient world with Ridley Scott’s complex futuristic universe through a mix of distinctly low-fi VHS aesthetic and stunning 4k Cinemascope aspect ratio footage, Memory will boldly go where no film essay has gone before, to deliver a revealing and wholly original take on one of Hollywood’s most beloved and iconic shockers.
Studio 54
Studio 54
director(s) Matt Tyrnauer
language(s) English
format DVD
Studio 54 stood as the pinnacle of 1970s hedonism, reshaping the nightclub scene and epitomizing an entire era. Its co-founders, Ian Schrager and Steve Rubell, Brooklyn natives turned impresarios, emerged seemingly out of thin air to oversee a novel realm of New York social life. Nearly four decades since the velvet rope marked its entrance, a feature documentary delves into the authentic narrative behind this iconic establishment. Beyond the glitz and glamour, it explores the cultural impact, societal shifts, and personal tales interwoven within Studio 54’s legendary walls. From its inception to its eventual demise, the film unravels the layers of excess, ambition, and intrigue that defined not just a nightclub, but a cultural phenomenon.
Whitney: Can I Be Me?
director(s) Nick Broomfield
language(s) English
format blu-ray
Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Nick Broomfield, the new film sheds light on the life of one of the greatest singers in history, Whitney Houston. Revered as the epitome of a superstar, she was often hailed as the “American princess” and remains the most awarded female artist to date. Despite amassing wealth, achieving consecutive number one hits surpassing even The Beatles, and being celebrated for possessing one of the greatest voices of all time, Houston grappled with inner turmoil and a lack of freedom to express her true self. Tragically, she passed away at the young age of 48. Whitney ‘Can I Be Me’ employs largely unseen footage and exclusive live recordings to narrate Houston’s remarkable yet poignant life story, offering insights from those who were closest to her. Through this intimate portrayal, the film unveils the complexities of Houston’s journey, showcasing her unparalleled talent, struggles, and the profound impact she left on the world.
Dionne Warwick: Don’t Make Me Over
director(s) Dave Wooley · David Heilbroner
language(s) English
format DVD · blu-ray
Dionne Warwick: Don’t Make Me Over traces the extraordinary life and career of the iconic songstress through the lens of her closest collaborators and confidants. From her meteoric rise to her pivotal role in shaping the sound of an era, the documentary delves into Warwick’s unparalleled impact on the music industry. Through intimate interviews with luminaries such as Bill Clinton, Clive Davis, and Gladys Knight, viewers gain insight into Warwick’s indomitable spirit and enduring legacy. With candid reflections from including Cissy Houston and Damon Elliott, the film explores the personal triumphs and tribulations that shaped Warwick’s journey. From her philanthropic endeavors to her enduring influence on generations of artists, Don’t Make Me Over celebrates the incomparable talent and resilience of the legendary Dionne Warwick, showcasing her as a true icon of music and culture.
River
director(s) Jennifer Peedom · Joseph Nizeti
language(s) English
format DVD · blu-ray