History of Magic

This show will trace the development of entertainment magic throughout the world, from its earliest roots in religious ritual and tribal shamanism to today's international stars of Las Vegas and television. This series will cover all of the mentalism subject from prediction, book test, blindfolded, fortune teller, levitation history, secret tricks, and developments. This is the story of how the dream of levitation and fantasy of the mysterious east combine to the magic golden age. On all form of magic, close up is the oldest, the simplest, and the purest. At its heart there is trick that hardly change for thousand of years. This is the story of how the magician has taken the scientific advantages and use them to conjure up a new ways to make things appear and disappear. There is one kind of magic that put the magician in danger or appears to. This is the story of how dangerous magic has been defined by one man legacy for more than one hundred years.

Titanic's Final Moments: Missing Pieces

Dramatic new revelations about the fate of the world's most famous ship. In 2005, an expedition to explore the wreckage made an interesting discovery south of the stern's debris field. They said they found long strips of metal. Unfortunately, the submersible's camera equipment malfunctioned and they had no proof of what they saw. But this set in motion a new theory. Maybe these long strips were from the bottom of the ship. If so, then Titanic just didn't graze the side of the iceberg, but it actually ran over part of the iceberg too. We learn that an iceberg does not go straight down below the water (like a cliff); instead, the water causes the iceberg to form a shelf below the water. Hence, it's now theorized that Titanic somewhat ran aground on the iceberg. If so, in addition to the gashes on the side, maybe there was also significant damage on the bottom, explaining how the ship sank in less than three hours. If that were true, it could also explain why the front of the ship is relatively intact while the stern is crushed upon itself.

Finding Atlantis

Could the fabled lost city of Atlantis have been located? Using satellite photography, ground-penetrating radar and underwater technology, experts are now surveying marshlands in Spain to look for proof of the ancient city. If the team can match geological formations to Plato’s descriptions and date artifacts back to the time of Atlantis, we may be closer to solving one of the world’s greatest mysteries. The long lost city of Atlantis is now said to be found in southern Spain. NG claims that the city was destroyed in a tsunami thousands of years ago and resides now in the flat mud grounds of Donana. The researchers studied a site just above Cadiz where a photo of satellite showed a suspected submerged city which was surveyed with radar technology, satellite map and digital imagery during the period of 2009 and 2010.

The Revelation of the Pyramids

The Revelation Of The Pyramids takes an in depth look into one of the seven wonders of the world, the Great Pyramids of Egypt. Mystery has surrounded these epic structures for centuries with theories varying from the scientific to the bizarre. However with over thirty-seven years of in depth research taking in sites from China, Peru, Mexico and Egypt, one scientist has as at last managed first to understand and then to reveal what lies behind this greatest of archaeological mysteries: a message of paramount importance for all mankind, through time and space.

Sleep Paralysis and Ghost Visions

Documentary exploring sleep paralysis and ghostly visions. Have you ever woken up but been unable to move? Sleep paralysis is paralysis associated with sleep that may occur in healthy persons or may be associated with narcolepsy, cataplexy, and hypnagogic hallucinations. Physiologically, sleep paralysis is closely related to REM atonia, the paralysis that occurs as a natural part of REM (rapid eye movement) sleep. Sleep paralysis occurs either when falling asleep, or when awakening. When it occurs upon falling asleep, the person remains aware while the body shuts down for REM sleep, and it is called hypnagogic or predormital sleep paralysis. Sleep Paralysis – Ghost Visions explores people’s experience with the sleep phenomenon and attempts to explain why it happens.

Mystery of the Romanovs

Bones thought to be those of Grand Duchess Anastasia and Tsarevich Alexei are discovered by archaeologists in a Yekaterinburg forest in 2007, and scientists from all over the world work to provide the most conclusive DNA analysis in 21st Century History. As over a century passes, mystery still plagues the final moments of Tsar Nicholas II and his family. Amid a mess of skeletons unearthed in a desolate Siberian forest and proven to be those of the Tsar, his wife and three of their children, two remain missing. Could Anastasia and the Tsarevich Alexei have cheated death and escaped the night when Bolsheviks executed the last Imperial Family of Russia? Will the discovery of two more skeletons in 2007 only 60 meters away from skeletons found in 1991 seal the Romanov mystery?

Project 10:10:10 - Pill or Perception?

This is a balanced and thought-provoking documentary about the connection between the mind and body, and how we can take a much more direct approach to managing our health and our world generally. It begins with the premise that we have more power over our lives than has been previously understood, and focuses on the keys to taking more responsibility in being well, rather than allowing stress from our environment and our upbringing to create illness. The documentary is in three parts. It begins with The Make-up of Man a discussion with a number of internationally-respected experts such as Dr Joe Dispenza and Bruce Lipton on how the size of our frontal lobe, where we create and dream and make decisions, makes us unique as humans. Their studies show that our 50 trillion cells are like mini-individuals, each with a consciousness which is controlled by our attitudes and perceptions, which in turn are programmed by our upbringing and our environment. They talk about the connection between stress and illness, our ability to make thought more real than anything else and how we can become so obsessed with thoughts about the past or future that we create the very things we obsess about. We can therefore make changes in our lives and create different outcomes if we choose to take charge of our thoughts.

Beyond 2012: Evolving Perspectives on the Next Age

Never before has a time in history been so significant to so many cultures, religions, scientists and governments. Beyond 2012 looks past the apocalyptic world view of 2012 and presents a wide variety of evolving perspectives on the next age of global consciousness and techniques for social and ecological transformation. Topics include Shamanism, Sustainability, Ecological Design, Green Technologies, Alternative Energy Systems, the Mayan Calendar, Psychic Evolution, Synchronicity, and a host of other subjects that deal with the mysteries, wonders and challenges facing all of humankind during this unprecedented age of transformation.

The Gerson Miracle

The Gerson Miracle examines many of the elements of the Gerson Therapy, explaining why we are so ill and how we have in our grasp the power to recover our health without expensive, toxic or mutilating treatments, using the restorative forces of our own immune systems. Even the most advanced cases of cancer can be successfully reversed using this method. While the results seem miraculous, the real "miracle" lies within our own body and its healing processes. In this documentary from filmmaker Steve Kroschel, noted MD Max Gerson reveals a nutritional healing treatment that he claims can restore the body's ability to fight off cancer and numerous other degenerative diseases. The testimonies of a few "incurable" cancer patients highlight why this long-term cure could be much more effective than many of Dr. Gerson's critics may care to admit.

Ancient Aliens Debunked

Chris White hopes to demonstrate to you that Ancient Aliens series are not wrong on just some information, but on every single point where they assert the Ancient Astronaut theory to explain evidence. He also hopes to demonstrate the often deceptive means they use to convey their ideas, which includes them fabricating evidence to substantiate their points. Ancient Aliens Debunked is a 3 hour refutation of the theories proposed on the History Channel series Ancient Aliens. It is essentially a point by point critique of the "ancient astronaut theory" which has been proposed by people like Erich von Däniken and Zecharia Sitchin as well as many others. The film covers topics like ancient building sites: Puma Punku, The Pyramids, Baalbek, Incan sites, And Easter Island. Ancient artifacts: Pacal's rocket, the Nazca lines, the Tolima "fighter jets", the Egyptian "light bulb", Ufo's in ancient art, and the crystal skulls. Ancient text issues: Ezekiel's wheel, Ancient nuclear warfare, Vimana's, the Anunnaki, and the Nephilim.

Technologies of the Gods

Technologies of the Gods brings "convincing evidence" that ancient civilizations utilized high-tech engineering methods equal to, if not superior to our own and that these technologies were being applied on a world-wide level. It has long been suspected that the Great Pyramids, Stonehenge, and the Mayan temples could not have been built using the primitive technologies attributed to those peoples by the orthodox academic view which states that primitive civilization in Mesopotamia, Egypt and India emerged from the stone age just over five thousand years ago. In Technologies of the Gods breakthrough researchers, writers and engineers take a look at real evidence - largely ignored by the academic establishment - which shatters the orthodox scenario for the dawn of civilization on Earth.

The Lost Caves of Giza

In 2008 a set of mysterious and long-forgotten caves was rediscovered by a British exploration team comprised of Andrew Collins, Sue Collins, and Nigel Skinner-Simpson with the help of engineer Rodney Hale. The caves were found through solid background research and precise calculations based on stellar alignments and a forgotten archaeological diary made by the British diplomat Henry Salt in 1817. After the discovery was officially reported to Dr. Zahi Hawass, Hawass denied that the caves existed but soon took a film crew into the cave system for a reality TV show. In this intriguing documentary, interviews with all of the team members are interspersed with recreations of Henry Salt and actual film and photos of the cave system under the Giza pyramid complex and its initial rediscovery.

What Killed Arafat?

Eight years after his death, it remains a mystery exactly what killed the longtime Palestinian leader. Tests conducted in Paris found no obvious traces of poison in Arafat's system. Rumors abound about what might have killed him – cancer, cirrhosis of the liver, even allegations that he was infected with HIV. Tests have revealed that Arafat's final personal belongings – his clothes, his toothbrush, even his iconic keffiyeh - contained abnormal levels of polonium, a rare, highly radioactive element. Those personal effects, which were analysed at the Institut de Radiophysique in Lausanne, Switzerland, were variously stained with Arafat's blood, sweat, saliva and urine. The tests carried out on those samples suggested that there was a high level of polonium inside his body when he died. The findings have led Suha Arafat, his widow, to ask the Palestinian Authority to exhume her late husband's body from its grave in Ramallah.

Beyond the Bermuda Triangle: The Devil's Sea

The Bermuda Triangle is one of the deadliest stretches of ocean on earth. But what if there were an even deadlier one? In the Pacific there may be. Why massive state-of-the-art ship was suddenly lost with all hands? What happened to the aircraft that vanished without a clue? What deadly forces sent sailors to their doom? It's really a terrifying experience for those that were on board. The world's most powerful navy knows the dangers well. The moment you stop respecting it and fearing it is when things go wrong. Join the search to fathom the Pacific Ocean's deadliest enigma, a quest that takes us over, on, and deep into the depths of the deep blue graveyard called The Devil's Sea. On September 8, 1980, carrying 150,000 tons of iron ore, the boat carrier Derbyshire was 230 miles off the east coast of Okinawa. The Derbyshire was a gigantic ship, longer than three football fields, twice the size of the Titanic, only four years old. From stem to stern, her design was state of the art. Anyone should have felt perfectly safe sailing aboard her. But some, like able seaman Peter Lambert, didn't. Reluctantly, Peter signed on for one more voyage to earn enough money to get married. He was 19 years old. But his wedding would never take place. On September 9, the Derbyshire and her entire crew disappeared. It was the largest British ship ever lost at sea, and no one could explain why. How could this giant ship, crewed by experienced mariners, simply vanish, without a distress call, and without leaving any trace? Could she be another victim of one of the Pacific Ocean's most enduring and frightening enigmas? To the south of Japan lies a vast expanse of empty ocean. Since the 1940s, scores of gigantic ships have mysteriously vanished in these cruel seas. Many of them were lost without even sending an SOS, leaving no clue as to their fate. But these waters have been claiming victims for centuries. Long ago, Japanese sailors gave this region a chilling name, Mano Umi, The Devil's Sea. Japanese legends tell of unknown forces that overpowered the strongest of ships, and great sea monsters that dragged sailors to their death. Today, the legend of sea monsters may have faded, but Japanese fishermen still fear The Devil's Sea, even as its rich bounty draws them to risk their lives. The Devil's Sea is also an abundant sea. Fish always cluster here. These seas are very different from other places. Waves change quickly and unpredictably. So if you're relaxed on a boat in these places, you will get into trouble. Intrigued by persistent reports of mysterious disappearances, some have searched for patterns that might solve the enigma of The Devil's Sea.

The Book That Can't Be Read

Men have always tried to encode secrets, military communication, love letters, forbidden knowledge, and most secret text is eventually decoded, but among all of history's cryptic writings one stands out. It's the world's most mysterious book written by an unknown author in an odd alphabet and brilliantly illustrated with puzzling images. For centuries, it defies all attempts to unveil its secrets. Now, for the first time, experts analyze the ink, pigments and parchments of the Voynich Manuscript. What secrets are hidden between these lines? Who wrote them and why? At the headquarters of the US Military Intelligence Service, experts succeeded in decoding Japan's so called Purple Code. William Frederick Friedman, the service's Director is one of the world's best cryptographers. For practice between jobs, Friedman and his team decode ancient cryptic texts. One by one, the codes are cracked, but one book, The Voynich Manuscript, stubbornly defies all attempts to decode it. Unnerved, the cryptographers give up. It's the only code they're unable to crack. The roughly 200-page manuscript, with its strange symbols has been a mystery for decades. At the beginning of the 20th century, an antiques dealer from New York visits Villa Mondragone near Rome looking for precious books. His name is Wilfrid Voynich. Villa Mondragone is home to many historical texts from a Jesuit school. Wilfrid Voynich is allowed to inspect a trunk that comes from the estate of Athanasius Kircher, one of the most famous scholars of the 17th century. Among various manuscripts, the trunk contains an unusual book. Voynich buys the manuscript, and for the rest of his life tries to decipher it. He dies without even coming close to a solution. After Voynich's death, the manuscript ends up at the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library at Yale. The library possesses a wealth of literary gems, but probably none as famous as the Voynich Manuscript. Rene Zandbergen is one of the leading experts on the Voynich Manuscript and has been working on it for years. When Rene first saw an image of the page of the Voynich Manuscript, he immediately had the feeling this is something he can decipher, this is something he can read, but as the years went by, this turned out to be wrong, so he couldn't read it like so many other people before him.

The Friendship Case

Throughout recorded history, mankind has dreamt of building the perfect society, an empire that might somehow satisfy the needs of every man. An ancient legend casts the shadows of one such society that is said to have existed long ago. Twenty-five hundred years ago, the Greek philosopher, Plato, set down a dialogue called the Critias. He recounted the story of an ancient Greek poet and statesman named Solon. Solon had journeyed to Egypt in search of wisdom to help the government of his beloved Greece. The Greeks had been beset with factions and troubles, so Solon took counsel from the priests of the city of Sais. An old priest told him, "Oh, Solon. Solon! You Greeks are never anything but children. There is no old opinion handed down among you nor any science that is white with age." The old priest then proceeded to tell him the story of the lost city of Atlantis. In the centuries that would follow, scholars and researchers have debated whether Plato's Atlantis was intended to be an account of real history or simply an allegorical myth. Some even suggest that Atlantis was really the Antediluvian World, the wicked society destroyed by the wrath of God in the great flood of Noah. In the 20th century, Plato's account was further supported by a Masonic philosopher, Manly P. Hall. Hall claimed that Atlantis had once been a vast and mighty empire that extended to the whole world, a philosophic commonwealth of nations that one day was destined to be rebuilt, but who would rebuild it, and exactly who was Manly P. Hall? Hall authored over 200 books and is said to have given some 8000 lectures on ancient philosophy. He is perhaps most remembered for his contribution to the mysterious brotherhood of Masonry. Upon his death in 1990, the Scottish Rite Journal, a Masonic publication, noted that he was often called "Masonry's greatest philosopher." Among his teachings was that contained in Masonry and all the secret orders was the ancient wisdom of lost Atlantis. Hall wrote that for more than 3000 years, secret societies had been laboring to create a background of knowledge necessary to an establishment of an enlightened democracy among the nations of the world. According to Hall, these societies could be traced back to ancient Egypt and had, for centuries, known of a secret place hidden from the eyes of common men, a place that would one day be revealed. In the 17th century, as settlers were colonizing the new world, Sir Francis Bacon, the leader of secret societies in England, set down his classic work, the "New Atlantis", while archaeologists and treasure hunters had searched the globe, looking for the lost continent. Four hundred years ago, Bacon, like many of his contemporaries, believed that Atlantis was America itself.

Secret Mysteries of America's Beginnings: The New Atlantis

Throughout recorded history, mankind has dreamt of building the perfect society, an empire that might somehow satisfy the needs of every man. An ancient legend casts the shadows of one such society that is said to have existed long ago. Twenty-five hundred years ago, the Greek philosopher, Plato, set down a dialogue called the Critias. He recounted the story of an ancient Greek poet and statesman named Solon. Solon had journeyed to Egypt in search of wisdom to help the government of his beloved Greece. The Greeks had been beset with factions and troubles, so Solon took counsel from the priests of the city of Sais. An old priest told him, "Oh, Solon. Solon! You Greeks are never anything but children. There is no old opinion handed down among you nor any science that is white with age." The old priest then proceeded to tell him the story of the lost city of Atlantis. In the centuries that would follow, scholars and researchers have debated whether Plato's Atlantis was intended to be an account of real history or simply an allegorical myth. Some even suggest that Atlantis was really the Antediluvian World, the wicked society destroyed by the wrath of God in the great flood of Noah. In the 20th century, Plato's account was further supported by a Masonic philosopher, Manly P. Hall. Hall claimed that Atlantis had once been a vast and mighty empire that extended to the whole world, a philosophic commonwealth of nations that one day was destined to be rebuilt, but who would rebuild it, and exactly who was Manly P. Hall? Hall authored over 200 books and is said to have given some 8000 lectures on ancient philosophy. He is perhaps most remembered for his contribution to the mysterious brotherhood of Masonry. Upon his death in 1990, the Scottish Rite Journal, a Masonic publication, noted that he was often called "Masonry's greatest philosopher." Among his teachings was that contained in Masonry and all the secret orders was the ancient wisdom of lost Atlantis. Hall wrote that for more than 3000 years, secret societies had been laboring to create a background of knowledge necessary to an establishment of an enlightened democracy among the nations of the world. According to Hall, these societies could be traced back to ancient Egypt and had, for centuries, known of a secret place hidden from the eyes of common men, a place that would one day be revealed. In the 17th century, as settlers were colonizing the new world, Sir Francis Bacon, the leader of secret societies in England, set down his classic work, the "New Atlantis", while archaeologists and treasure hunters had searched the globe, looking for the lost continent. Four hundred years ago, Bacon, like many of his contemporaries, believed that Atlantis was America itself.

Tutankhamun's Fireball

The ancient Egyptians knew of this extraordinary place in Sahara desert, but for thousands of years it remained unexplained. Now a group of scientists plan to finally solve this mystery. It will take them on a journey from the depths of the desert to the Cairo Museum and the test site of the world's first atomic bomb. And what they reveal may pose an unsuspected threat to us all. Heading for the great sand-sea of the Egyptian Sahara Desert a team of scientists is on a mission. Their aim is to discover why tons of most unusual glass is lying in the middle of the desert. It's a scientific mystery because it's unique, we don't know exactly the process that caused the creation of the glass, but we know it's a natural phenomenon, and therefore requires a natural explanation. May be a very unusual event but it's certainly not a mystery that can't be solved. Scientists have been interested in this desert glass for a very long time because it is very different from any other natural glass that we know. It's just such a mysterious glass. Aly Barakat is Egypt's desert glass expert and has travelled to the area several times. Barakat's interest dates back to 1998 and a remarkable discovery he was involved in. It took place in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo. Hidden away in a dark corner of the Tutankhamun exhibition was a necklace made of different color gems. At its center was an intriguing yellow-green carved scarab. It was said to be chalcedony - a semi-precious stone. But mineralogists were not so sure. Surrounded by armed guards and officials, Barakat and his colleague Vincenzo de Michele were allowed to examine and test the jewel. And the tests revealed that the scarab was not a semi-precious stone. In fact it was made of glass. But it was not a glass like any other produced by the ancient Egyptians. Barakat had an idea where the glass came from. He knew of a 10th century Arabic book with a map inside which showed the location of a large mineral deposit in the Egyptian Sahara desert. The book describes a mineral called peridot. Peridot is a greenish-yellow gem, but Barakat had never heard of peridot being found in this part in the desert. Barakat guessed that the Arabs had discovered the source of the glass in Tutankhamun's necklace. What's more he thought he had seen some pieces of the same glass. In the geology museum where he worked there were samples of glass brought back from this part of Sahara by an English explorer. In 1932, Patrick Clayton reported that far-out in the desert he had discovered chunks of glass scattered over thousands of square kilometres of desert. He had no idea how it had got there but he brought back some samples. Since the discovery of the Tutankhamun's jewel several scientific teams have traveled into the Sahara to try to find answers to explain the origin of this unusual glass. Barakat and his team are the latest to make the journey out to the glass area.

Northern Lights: The Canadian UFO Experience

Unexplained objects in the sky have been a part of history ever since human began recording their experiences. Lights, angels, and monsters descending from above appear in virtually every society's folklore. These fantastic objects had become inextricably linked with extraterrestrial life forms and many theories have been created to explain their origin and purpose. By studying our own UFO stories we may gain a better understanding of their true significance. 1967 was a pivotal year in Canadian history. As host to the world's expo Canada had secured its reputation as a modern and enlightened country. But by 1967 in Canada the UFO question became as relevant as the need to explore. However, the UFO age didn't begin in Canada. The origin of the modern flying saucer myth was a distinctly American story. On Tuesday, June 24, 1947, businessman and pilot Kenneth Arnold was flying his aircraft over the mountains of Washington State. Arnold was a member of the Idaho's search and rescue flyers. He had heard about a missing C-46 air force transporter lost somewhere near Mount Rainier and decided to spend an hour checking of the steep cliffs and deep crags of the mountain side. The weather was clear, not a single cloud in the bright, blue sky. Arnold was gazing down on a high plateau when a flash of light caught his attention. For a moment he tensed... it could mean he was on a collision course with another aircraft, but the only other aircraft in sight was a distant DC-4. A second flash caught his eye and now he knew where to look. From the direction of Mount Baker in the North a formation of bright objects flying at an incredible speed was heading toward Mount Rainier. To his surprise there were no projecting parts, like wings or tails, on the objects. At first he thought they were a squadron of jet aircraft but he had doubts. Arnold pushed up the window to see the objects better. They were flat, not quite circular. Using watch he calculated their speed to be 2000 miles per hour. The squadron passed by Mount Adams and finally disappeared over the horizon. The show was over and it lasted only three minutes.

The Aswang Phenomenon

It is estimated that up to 80% of the provincial population of the Philippines believes that the bogeyman is real. They call it the "Aswang." It has been among them for centuries but became truly horrifying after Spanish colonizers enforced the Christian beliefs onto the indigenous people. It comes in many manifestations and performs violent acts against anyone who crosses its path. Is this creature just a myth or are there some elements of truth to these stories of the Aswang? The director, Jordan Clark, was first introduced to the Aswang through a movie made in 1994 in which the Aswang took up residence in rural Wisconsin. Six years later he made his first visit to the Philippines. Like many tourists he spent time in the metropolitan areas, did some shopping, traveled around in the local and abundant transportation, and relaxed on some of the most breathtaking beaches in the world. He visited only a few of the thousands of islands and met just a handful of the 97 million people living there. The Philippines is 83% Catholic and having been raised Catholic Jordan understood the strict moral and family values that most Filipinos display. What he didn't understand was their superstitions. He started watching any Philippine folklore movie he could get his hands on and he was again introduced to the Aswang. This creature seemed able to do anything. It could transform into animals, fly, cast magic spells, heal itself and really didn't seem to need a specific food source... pregnant women, the sick or children. Jordan went back to the Philippines to film his interpretation of their folklore. When he finished the movie he realized that without the generalized understanding and acceptance of the Aswang, like many Filipinos have, the movie didn't make sense, so he again tried to answer this lingering question: What is an Aswang?

Raising Hell

Would you dare enter the world of the undead, venture to the island were Dracula lies buried, to the city where grave robbers traded corpses for gold, to the church which is decorated with human body parts, or to the desert where they torched the body of a rock star? The truth can be stranger than fiction... scarier too. Since the very dawn of civilization, since humankind evolved from a lawless imperative of kill-or-be-killed, a key attribute which marks us out as human beings is our respect for the dead. So why sometimes do we fail to show that respect? Is it because respect can turn into fear? Is that why civilized behavior turns to savagery? Why respectable god-fearing Americans, a little more than a century ago, turned into a bloodthirsty mob disturbing graves in their hunt for a vampire? Rhode Island is one of the most beautiful, most tranquil stretches of the New England's seaboard. Today it's a haven for nature lovers, for pleasure seekers all kinds, but not that long ago in this same peaceful part of the world it was wise to be indoors come nightfall. Signs of the most astonishing case of vampire activity are still to be seen in one church yard in Exeter, Rhode Island. Many still believe that there's a grave of a vampire. Why do legends of the undead have such a hold on our imagination? What is the lifeblood that has fed the vampire myth for centuries? Perhaps a journey to Dracula's grave, set on an island in Eastern Europe, may hold the answer. Was the real Dracula quite so bloodthirsty as the legends would suggest? He was a prince from Transylvania in what is now Romania. They called him Vlad Dracul, Vlad the Impaler. Modern-day Romanians call this 15th century ruler a hero, for his victories against the invading Turkish army, but he was also capable of unspeakable cruelty.

666 Revealed

Lucifer, Beelzebub, Belial, Prince of Darkness, The Wicked One, Old Nick, Mephistopheles, Satan... the devil goes by many names and has had many faces over the years, but who exactly is he? What does he look like? His very existence has been a source of debate within the Christian Church since its beginning. Is this supreme evil still walking the Earth, tempting, seducing and corrupting those of little faith? All religions have devils and demons, forces of the evil that seek to harm us. According to scientists and other secular scholars these devils and demons are a means of labeling those unseen and often unjust forces of nature that cause us harm. But according to many religious people, an evil, supernatural being must surely be behind it all. The word Satan means adversary and the term appears in both the Old and New Testaments. Since then, Satan has been attacking both God and men. He walks about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. But according to the Christian faith devil's powers are not limitless. According to the New Testament the devil's final defeat will be when Jesus Christ returns in the second coming and casts Satan into a lake of fire. Throughout the ages the devil has been represented by many and varied imagery. As a snake, as a man, a beast with horns and a tail, as a nightmare with bat's wings. Other impressions of the devil are far less flattering but it's still an image that had stayed with us throughout the ages and certainly won't be disappearing overnight. Witches and werewolves have been part of our folklore for many centuries before the Christian Church took an interest in them but all this changed during the 15th century when the Catholic Church decided that a deal with the devil was a means by which witches gain their magical powers. This deal was called an "infernal pact."

Best Ghost Cases Ever Caught on Tape

Ghosts - are they real or not? From the invention of the earliest photographic devices to the latest home video cameras, believers have pointed to images like these as proof. Could they be haunting spirits, phantoms, the dead reaching out to the living, or are some simply the result of camera tricks by clever hoaxers eager to convince millions hoping for evidence of life after death. In this documentary you will see the most compelling cases ever presented of what many say are ghosts caught on video. You will hear from scientists, computer imaging experts, and the eyewitnesses who shot this chilling footage. Are we seeing spirits from beyond the grave, psychic projections, or something much more explainable? You decide for yourself as we examine the best ghost cases ever caught on tape. Can a ghost really be captured on videotape? Photographers all over the world have tried and some of the ghost-like images they have collected are definitely mysterious. These are among the most fascinating sightings experts are now examining and some of the most talked-about ghost photos that have been amassed for decades by ghost hunters, collectors, and enthusiasts. And they've inspired a populace now armed with camcorders and other high-tech video devices to try to record them on tape. Arguably one of the most compelling ghost video ever shot is the one showing humanoid figure that appears to be closing the fire exit doors at the former castle of King Henry VIII in London, England. Closed-circuit security cameras at Hampton Court Palace caught the eerie apparition in late 2003. Top parapsychologist Loyd Auerbach says that strange environmental conditions, either from nature or from a ghostly presence, have been detected at the Palace which has a tragic history involving horrific deaths, imprisonments, and even beheadings. However, the events surrounding the extraordinary filming and the entity caught on camera were not hallucinations.

Evil Dead

Would you venture into the world of darkness? To places that are temples of the wicked? To find out how Hitler's body was eliminated by the KGB? Who took a murderer's gravestone for memento? Where is the burial place of Jesse James? And who decapitated the man who killed the King of England? Were these persons too evil to rest in peace? The grave, the reign of the cruelest tyrant, and the most heartless serial killer... all have to end sometime. But though they end in death, sometimes the legacy of evil lives on. Ed Gein was a farmer's son, but after his brother, father and his mother died he lived alone in an old farmhouse outside of Plainfield, Wisconsin. A town of just 500 people, an ordinary kind of town, but what was about to unfold there would shock the entire world and spawn the most terrifying movies ever made. So how did Ed Gein become Plainfield's most infamous son? What triggered an explosion of evil within? Plainfield's hardware store hasn't changed much in 50 years... since the day in 1957 when its owner, Bernice Worden, suddenly went missing. Mrs. Worden's folks called out the county sheriff, but he thought crime was simply not probable for such a small town. Officers visited Gein's farmhouse because Ed was a frequent customer at the store, so maybe he'd seen something. How could anyone have suspected the horror which was about to unfold? In the flashlight glare Bernice Worden's corpse was dangling from a meat hook. They were inside the lair of a monster. Under piles of garbage there were body parts from more than a dozen of corpses. Some of Gein's collection came from his own fresh kills, the rest he plundered from Plainfield's cemetery. But what had turned the farmhand into a murderer? The bodies Gein stole were all women. He needed them to be fresh to carry out his most astonishing act of evil. Ed Gein became byword for evil, but he also became a star.

Who Killed the Maya?

A powerful civilization ruled Central America for thousands of years, then mysteriously vanished. We've never known for sure what triggered this apocalypse. But now one man has stumbled upon dramatic new evidence. Can we finally reveal who killed the Maya? The Maya are famous for their pyramids but they're even more famous for the fact that their magnificent cities fell to ruin and that people perished in just a few generations. Maya society was on the threat and historian Nikolai Grube wants to know why. He's helped crack the code of their ancient hieroglyphs carved in stone and preserved in just four books. His quest to push the boundaries of what we know about how these people lived and died leads to the story of a powerful woman. New biographical evidence paints a bloody picture of genocide, dark warlords, and a self-styled warrior princess known as Lady Six Sky. She was a woman formidable enough to lead armies and fight wars in a male dominated society. And she would threaten the very foundations of a world that spread from Southern Mexico through Belize, Guatemala and Honduras. Lady Six Sky was born into this progressive jungle civilization. This was a diverse coalition of regional kingdoms, united by their bold architecture evident in hundreds of incredible limestone pyramids, temples, and palaces. The Maya thrived on art, astronomy, mathematics, and a sophisticated written language while Europe was still firmly immersed in the dark ages. But everything they achieved was lost in just 200 years. By the 9th century AD there was virtually nothing and no one left. What went so wrong? Their seemingly strong society proved to be inherently weak. So much so that even the actions of a young woman would be the catalyst for an apocalypse. On the trail of Lady Six Sky's story, Nikolai Grube is finding tantalizing new clues.

The Power and the Glory

Presidents, kings, queens and heroes know that their positions come with power and glory, but it seems that even after death, John F Kennedy, Robert the Bruce and many more, are still revered decades or even centuries later. Mystery adds to the potency of other legendary figures deaths. The princess Pocahontas' grave remains undiscovered, Eva Peron's body caused a government to be overthrown, relatives push for DNA tests for the Vietnam war 'unknown' warrior and the bodies of the murdered Russian imperial family are uncovered. This documentary explores the mysteries that shrouds their deaths and gave them 'immortality' to this day. John F Kennedy's life and death has taken on a mystical aura in our history. The events surrounding his death have many puzzling details which have had conspiracy theorists chewing on for years. But even after he was buried, there is another twist to these events. John F Kennedy was buried in mahogany casket which was different to the one he was first laid in straight from the morgue. The original bronze casket was obtained by the US government after being stored in the national archives. But the Kennedy family demanded that the casket to be disposed of. The casket which once held JFK was drilled with holes and dropped 130 miles off the coast, into the Atlantic sea. Questions surround this action and to this day, like many other events around JFK's assassination, has never been solved. The story of a 'king's heart' starts with the hero of the Scots. The popular movie 'Braveheart' was inspired by the Scots courageous battle for freedom against the oppressive English rulers. Robert the Bruce fought to free his people against the tyrannical rein but his dream was to go on a crusade to the Holy land. When he knew he wasn't going to live after contracting leprosy, he commanded that his heart be cut out and taken on a crusade. His army and loyal men carried his heart with them into many battles. Even after death he gave courage to his country. Centuries later a mysterious tin canister was found during an excavation at a Scottish abbey. Inside scientists and researchers discovered remains of a human heart. The heart of the king was reburied at Melrose Abbey and still beats in the hearts of the Scottish people. Death is not the end for these iconic historical figures but becomes a new twist to their stories. Although they are deceased, their spirits live on and continues to intrigue new generations - all part of the 'power and the glory'.

Westall '66: A Suburban UFO Mystery

Westall '66: A Suburban UFO Mystery, directed and edited by Rosie Jones, is a riveting and unique look at what happened in the Westall suburb of Melbourne in 1966. Westall High School was the center of the biggest mass UFO sighting in Australia, yet the event was deliberately suppressed. Jones and her team try to find out why. At the mention of UFO's, you may be bracing yourself for a film peppered with tin-hat wearing conspiracy theorists, but you may have to revise your opinion. Candid eyewitness accounts reveal active, attentive people who have lived with a memory that brought them ridicule, and censure, but the stories they tell and the pictures they draw show that they have not forgotten what happened. As the film progresses, a variety of techniques maintain the delicate and deliberate balance of fact and opinion. Jones marries the austerity and somberness of statistics, recordings, and interviews with playful sketches, poignant clips, and animated narration. This approach underscores a commitment to present an objective, transparent film that is visually diverse. Jones' commitment to neutrality has a similar effect on the participants and overall tenor of the film. Consequently, we hear students, laborers, community members, researchers, and others talk about what occurred on that fateful April day, and the curious happenings that followed. They all report seeing something above the paddock that did not look like anything they had ever seen. Some saw it land; some saw it fly away. However, they were all told by school authorities, or police, or other officials in uniform to keep quiet. Many of them were punished and ridiculed if they tried to talk about it, and so they kept silent. Still, they remember what they saw, and thus, the mystery persists. In the end, Jones successfully delivers a film that may fascinate you, intrigue you, or simply encourage you to keep listening.

Symbols of an Alien Sky

As a modern society, we stand in awe as we gaze upon the colossal monuments and mysterious cultures of ancient times. These civilizations were vastly different from our own; so different, in fact, that our perspectives on the world as it exists today often place a barrier to our comprehension of ancient beliefs and customs. This documentary titled Symbols of an Alien Sky seeks to rectify this. With vivid insight and enlightening exploration, the film allows us to fully grasp and appreciate the customs of our ancient ancestors through their observations and interpretations of celestial events. Celestial activities and planetary movements are the subjects of exhaustive research today, and can generally be predicted with great degrees of accuracy. But ancient civilizations approached the canvas of our skies with great fear and reverence, often imbuing its activities with profound mythological connotations. For them, the chaotic events of their times were written and reflected in the skies. The movements of planets were once thought by our earliest astronomers to represent the presence of omniscient gods. These gods were the subject of much worship and trembling wonder as evidenced by the ceremonies, monuments and artifacts of the time. In fact, reverence for the gods overwhelmingly defined every aspect of these ancient cultures. While most modern scientists generally regard these beliefs as symptomatic of a naive civilization, Symbols of an Ancient Sky poses several intriguing theories which challenge this assumption. For example, the prominence of various beliefs, symbols and archetypes are strikingly common across every ancient culture. This commonality is apparent in centuries-old recounts of the dragon, an unexplained mythological phenomenon whose existence was insisted upon by every culture of ancient times. Could this creature, in addition to the other widely accepted archetypes of the day, have really existed in some form? Symbols of an Ancient Sky opens our minds to the infinite possibilities of our ancient world. This noble journey is unlike any other, and could forever alter our perceptions of the planet we once inhabited and the one in which we exist today.

The Lightning-Scarred Planet Mars

Few planets have been the subject of more intense study than Mars. In spite of these efforts, there is much about our planetary neighbor that remains elusive to us. How, for instance, can we logically account for the volume and depth of various craters and ridges that scar the surface of Mars? So begins the journey of The Lightning-Scarred Planet Mars (second episode from the Symbols of an Alien Sky), a riveting dissection of each prominent formation present on the planet's surface, and theories which propose answers for how they originated. Once considered a barren wasteland void of any measure of activity, our understanding of the planet Mars has evolved significantly over time. Yet, modern cosmology frequently falls back on antiquated theories when trying to explain the planet's endless grooves, indentations, carvings and gouges. Experts have long held that these imperfections resulted from interactions with assorted asteroids and comets over the course of millions of years. But the specificity of many of these craters - including their oftentimes peculiar shapes, sizes and locations - exclude such a possibility. As in the first episode of the series, connections are made between our present search for answers and the beliefs of our ancient ancestors who were likely presented with a much more volatile and active celestial landscape. They interpreted these phenomena as the workings of all-powerful gods to whom they regarded with awe-struck reverence. While this thinking may be considered intensely naïve to the scientific culture of today, it could still represent a powerful key to reaching the plausible explanations which continue to mystify us. Picking up cues from these ancient ancestors, The Lightning-Scarred Planet Mars explores the possibility that this "scarring" could only have been the product of interplanetary electrical discharge, the cosmic thunderbolts of sorts that occur when planets near orbital collision. Authoritatively narrated by comparative mythologist David Talbott, the film presents hypothesis supporting the veracity of this claim, including a series of laboratory tests that supposedly preclude any other conclusions.

The Electric Comet

The third episode of the Symbols of an Alien Sky series, Electric Comet investigates the science of comets with a focus on the electrical behavior of the sun in comet creation, and the greater cosmic implications of these findings. Through the use of motion graphics, stock space photography, and a moody instrumental score the filmmakers dramatize their study, contrasting existing long-held views of comet science against the more recent electrical theory. While standard scientific belief to date has supported a "dirty snowball" hypothesis that comets are made primarily of water, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and primordial dust originating from solar dust known as the Oort Cloud, the bulk of the film makes the case for new evidence supporting an electric model of comets. The electric theory posits that comets are created by debris left behind by powerful electrical activity during an earlier phase of the solar system's development. Electric theorists believe that comets were born of "a much more recent epoch of planetary instability and violence" than previously believed, a possibility that not only challenges the current understanding of comets, but an understanding of the greater universe in general. Arguing in favor of the electric model, the film examines several variables that differentiate the two theories. From the mineral makeup of comets to the role of heat in comet projection, the function of water in comet illumination, and the impressive amount of information that can be gleaned from the study of comet tails, there is no shortage of supporting material to consider. A number of notable comets and comet events are also reviewed, calling into question what those events might offer as insight into the nature of comets. Electric Comet's jargon-rich narration assumes an existing level of familiarity with comet theory from the audience, and may most appeal to those with an active interest in astronomy and related sciences. Relying heavily on informative narration and images of the cosmos intercut with title cards of supporting quotes, questions, and research findings, Electric Comet is essentially a feature-length research presentation that challenges existing notions of comet science.

The City of Atlantis

This episode of National Geographic's Naked Science centers on the fabled lost city of Atlantis, believed to have been destroyed by a natural disaster an estimated 11,000 years ago. The filmmakers explore ancient ruins in four Mediterranean and Caribbean locations in an effort to confirm or dispel theories of where - and if - Atlantis may have been. Writer Ignatius Donnelly first sparked public interest in the search for Atlantis in the 19th century, a quest that has continued to maintain its momentum through present day. First introduced by the writings of Plato, Atlantis is said to have been an advanced, sophisticated civilization rich in art and culture. It is widely believed that a tsunami brought Atlantis to its end, and commonly assumed that its remains are underwater. The filmmakers cite certain details from Plato's depiction of the doomed metropolis, such as the city's layout and ritual practices like animal sacrifice, and use them as a gauge to determine if any of the sites they visit could indeed be the remains of the legendary city. The filmmakers travel to Malta, the Bahamas, Greece and Cuba to evaluate ancient architecture both above and below the sea as we learn some of the historical reasons for selecting these locations. For example, Nazi party leaders were the first to focus on Malta. The SS had a vested interest in locating Atlantis, as they felt their "super race" may have originated there and finding evidence of it would prove their superiority. In the 1940s a self-proclaimed psychic named Edgar Casey predicted Atlantis would rise again near the Bahama's Bimini Islands. In 1968 an underwater rock formation now known as the Bimini Road was discovered, leading some to theorize that these large, flat structures are remnants of Atlantis. Interviews with tour guides, researchers and general Atlantis enthusiasts paint a fuller picture of both the mythical society and those who seek it, balancing arguments for its existence against skepticism and wonder. A fun and unique travelogue, Naked Science: Atlantis takes viewers on a playful and whimsical trans-Atlantic journey that stimulates the imagination and provokes one’s curiosity.

The Living Stones of Sacsayhuaman

A fascinating document of an architectural, historical and cultural wonder, The Living Stones of Sacsayhuaman takes viewers on a journey to the outskirts of Peru where a team of Russian researchers work to uncover the mysteries of the stone walls built by the Incas. This marvel of construction seems impossible even by today's standards. Lacking any form of scripted communication, the Incas left behind no written indications of their customs. This has long complicated the quest to retrace and fully comprehend their astounding architectural achievements. Their structures can be found in a variety of sites from Ecuador to Chile, including Machu Picchu and Ollantaytambo. The walls of Sacsayhuaman, however, are perhaps the most awe-inspiring and perplexing of all Incan structures. Massive in scale and sophisticated in its geometric precision, the sheer complexity of Sacsayhuaman left many questioning whether it was the work of gods or demons. Thought to have been constructed in the middle of the 15th century, Sacsayhuaman features long stretching rows of stones, each weighing as much as three hundred tons. How were these blocks transported, and forced to fit together with such accuracy? That is but one mystery confronted by a team of Russian geophysicists as they travel to the site during the summer of 2012. The film follows these researchers, and benefits from the wealth of finely detailed footage they captured on their expedition. They collect samples of the soil surrounding the structure, as well as several of the stone formations, all of which will undergo further in-depth study at a research laboratory in their homeland. These studies will hopefully indicate the types of stones that comprise the mammoth walls, the means by which they were joined, and the materials used to aid in the process of their construction. Illuminating and transporting, The Living Stones of Sacsayhuaman reminds us of the awesome wisdom of ancient civilizations, and how they managed to transcend their minimal resources with maximum ingenuity and skill. In spite of the countless advances brought forth by our modern world, many of their most spectacular accomplishments may forever remain out of our reach of understanding.

Aztecs: Sacrifice And Science

Many of the truths behind the existence of the Aztecs have been obscured by centuries of myth making and bald-faced fantasy. However, an accurate portrait of their culture may be drawn through careful examination of the Aztec codices, an ancient series of books which have undergone considerable study and interpretation as detailed in the new documentary Aztecs: Sacrifice and Science. The invasion of Mexico by Hernan Cortes in the early 16th century set the stage for the extinction of the Aztec people and their culture. The work of Bernardino de Sahagun, a figure acclaimed as one of history's pioneering anthropologists, has proven essential in preserving the Aztec's footprint on world history. One of the final witnesses to their way of life, de Sahagun spent many decades documenting the Aztec culture and belief system, and made substantial strides in describing their unique language for future generations of scholars. One such scholar was Eduard Seler. Three hundred years after the drafting of de Sahagun's texts, Seler traveled with his wife Cecilia from Berlin to Mexico in search of more clues and answers. There, they called upon their keen archaeological prowess to uncover a series of Aztec sites and artifacts hidden underneath the Mexican infrastructures of the day. Most crucially, Seler successfully interpreted the Aztec calendar, which revealed deeper layers of understanding towards a long-forgotten people. Seler's work in this field continues to inform the research being performed today, as it offers a valuable testimony to the Aztec's way of life, customs of temple building, and even their penchant for the rituals of human sacrifice. But there is still much to learn. Amazingly, as the film points out, a significant portion of Seler's research materials currently remain un-examined in a Berlin museum. Through informed narration, a wealth of illuminating images and appealing re-enactments, Aztecs: Sacrifice and Science traces the milestones that have marked the preservation of the Aztec legacy. Thanks to the groundbreaking efforts of historical figures like Bernardino de Sahagu and Eduard Seler, these discoveries and revelations continue to this day. In the process, the film reminds us that history is a living thing - elusive and captivating - and never fails to refine and redefine itself with each passing century.

Superhuman: Genius

Where does genius come from? Is it the byproduct of tireless work, developmental happenstance or divine inspiration? The documentary Superhuman: Genius explores this phenomenon by portraying the lives and accomplishments of five individuals for whom cerebral superiority is second nature. The film opens with Akiane Kramarik, a 13-year old girl from Idaho who has painted with the detail and sophistication of a grand master since the age of four. She interprets her passion for painting as a literal calling from God, in spite of a complete lack of religious upbringing in her household. In nine short years, she's amassed an astonishingly accomplished collection of over 100 original paintings, and has published her works in numerous volumes. Her artistic intuition is guided by a force she herself does not fully understand. Ben Pridmore is first shown browsing through the grocery store aisles for product serial numbers, and later reciting them with perfect recall to the check-out clerk. His memorization of long and complex numbered sequences is an amazement to spectators, and has earned him the top prize at three World Memory Championships. Yet his achievements have not translated into monetary success, and he remains an unemployed accountant. The 1988 film Rain Man is perhaps the most popular of pop culture references to the enigmatic nature of genius. Superhuman: Genius traveled to Utah to meet Kim Peek (now deceased), the real-life inspiration for that Oscar-winning film. Diagnosed with savant syndrome at an early age, and told he would never be able to walk, communicate or learn as a result of his disorder, Kim has since gained notoriety for possessing the sharpest memory in recorded history, absorbing nearly 98% of everything he read. The film also spotlights Ariel Lanyi, a 10-year old pianist and composer from Israel who was fed classical music from the moment of his birth, and Ainan Cawley, a wunderkind in the world of science who passed O Level Chemistry at the age of seven. Each of their stories certainly inspire awe, but they also bring forth a series of perplexing questions about the human condition. Is the capacity for genius merely an untapped potential in all of us?

Indigo Children

Another provocative investigative piece from VICE News, Indigo Children examines the claims of a small community of people who believe they have been endowed with mystical powers beyond everyday human comprehension or capability. The medical community, however, vehemently disagrees with these claims. In their view, these individuals are afflicted with the far more common and clinical diagnosis of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). In an attempt to discover the truth behind these opposing viewpoints, investigative journalist Gavin Haynes embeds himself among several members of the Indigo Children community. These individuals have formed factions across the country, and they meet regularly to discuss what they believe are their singular gifts. Their New Age movement began in the 1970s when they were first identified by the indigo-colored aura that shrouded them. They believe they are astral beings placed on our planet to help us reach our higher purpose and spread beauty and grace throughout the world. They purport to have psychic and healing abilities and a strongly spiritual inner core. With a healthy dose of skepticism and good humor, Haynes enjoys a reading of past lives from a leading figure in the movement, visits a mother and daughter who run a holistic dentistry practice, and even attends a concert performed by a rap group whose art reflects the pursuits of the Indigo community. In spite of their unconventional beliefs, these subjects come across as congenial, thoughtful and confident in themselves. The flip side of the coin rests in the medical community. Haynes speaks with a clinical psychologist who urges these subjects to pay heed to the mental illness that exists beneath their mystical facade. These individuals suffer from a well-documented medical condition, he argues, and their avoidance of proper treatment has only deepened their fall into mental disrepair and delusion. Their family members also aren’t immune to scrutiny as the doctor discusses their role in furthering a destructive way of thinking for their children. Indigo Children takes a brief journey that is sometimes wacky, but always thought-provoking. At its center lies an issue for the ages. It exposes the oftentimes thin line between gifted and afflicted.

The Lucid Dreamer

The quest to unlock the mysteries of the mind lies at the heart of the documentary The Lucid Dreamer. Following committed Buddhist and teacher Charlie Morley, the film explores our capacity to maintain awareness during our deepest sleeping state, and how this practice may reap enormous benefits that we can then carry into our waking lives. The focal point of the film follows Morley as he teaches the discipline of lucid dreaming during an intimate four-day retreat, and it's complimented by a series of testimonies from additional pioneers of the practice. Lucid dreaming was born from the Buddhist tradition over a thousand years ago. In their belief, tapping into your deepest unconscious - in effect, remaining completely self-aware during the process of dreaming - could relieve fear and stress from our lives, instill a feeling of oneness with our surroundings and our fellow man, unlock our most progressive potential, and promote greater harmony between our body, mind and spirit. Nightmares, in particular, provide perhaps the most desirable opportunity for growth and enlightenment. It is only by facing our fears and phobias with clarity and purpose that we can empower ourselves to overcome them. As detailed in the film, this is exemplified by one of the tenants of the practice known as shadow integration, which is based on concepts originated by philosopher and psychotherapist Carl Jung. For both committed practitioners and beginners who may feel skeptical of its efficacy, Morley proves to be a convincing and impassioned advocate. He informs us that we spend as much as a third of our lives sleeping. That's up to thirty years of an average life span. Why spend that vast amount of time existing in oblivion? He lays out the steps to mastering the discipline in practical, easily achievable terms. The power of the mind, and the depth of imagination and potential locked therein, is nothing short of astonishing, yet it remains largely untapped by humans. The Lucid Dreamer gives us hope that we have the capacity within us not only to reach personal breakthroughs through our unconscious, but to contribute to the next evolution of our species as well in the process.

The Boy Who Can't Forget

For many of us, there are moments in our lives that we'd rather forget. But that isn't an option for Aurelien, a 20-year old student who resides in Durham, England. Possessed with the power of near-perfect recall, he can recite specific events from random dates in his past with almost superhuman accuracy. The Boy Who Can't Forget profiles Aurelien and others throughout the world who share his unique gift, and plumbs the mysterious depths of memory in the process. The filmmakers approach their subjects from both a human and scientific perspective. Those who possess this ability don't subscribe to complex memory retention techniques, nor are they hiding any tricks up their sleeve. For them, remembering which day of the week fell on a particular date twenty years ago, and all the personal activities and world events that correspond to that date, is as easy and natural as breathing. It's a talent that baffles and astounds members of the scientific community. The film introduces us to one such figure, a professor at the University of California who has spent a great number of years studying the phenomenon, yet continues to struggle in finding a reasonable explanation for it. Another professor from New York University offers his own tantalizing hypothesis by chalking it up to a form of obsessive compulsive disorder, a charge that is vehemently rejected by others in the film. The film also gives us a sense of what it's like to live with unlimited memories, and how it can serve as more of a curse than a blessing for some. Nature usually offers the comfort of distance from the undesirable moments in our lives, and grants us the ability to cope by allowing those memories to fade in reflection. The film's remarkable subjects are not afforded this luxury, and they live with the oftentimes overwhelming implications of this reality on a daily basis. How are memories formed and retained? Do we all carry in us the potential for total recall, or is it only bestowed upon a chosen few? By addressing these questions and many more, The Boy Who Can't Forget embarks on a fascinating exploration into the unknown corridors of the human mind.

The Mystery of the Cocaine Mummies

Known as the Lady of the Two Lands, Henut Taui was mummified and enclosed in a desert tomb three thousand years ago in ancient Egypt. In 1992, samples of her remains were tested in a Munich laboratory. Curiously, traces of both tobacco and cocaine were present in these samples. Neither plant could be found in the region for at least 1,000 years following the ancient civilization's demise. Understandably, Egyptologists and other experts looked upon these findings with great skepticism. The Mystery of the Cocaine Mummies explores these confounding results and seeks any possible explanation. When renowned toxicologist Dr. Svetla Balabanova first tested the remains, she was stupefied by the results as well. Were the samples manipulated by accidental contamination? Did her lab equipment malfunction in some way? Or was the mummy itself potentially fraudulent? Seeking to address some of these concerns, she conducted additional tests on the mummy's hair shafts only to receive the same results. This provided irrefutable confirmation of her initial findings. Meanwhile, more than 500 miles away at the Natural History Museum in Paris, Dr. Michelle Lescot also found traces of tobacco in the mummified remains of Ramses II. The film follows the intense investigations which ensued following the publications of these findings. It's an undeniably engrossing and multi-faceted journey that spans several continents. Along the way, the filmmakers explore the rituals and superstitions of ancient Egyptians, and the process by which their remains were mummified. Viewers also learn about a long-thriving underground industry that deals in the trading of mummified limbs and other body parts. Calling upon the expertise of anthropologists and historians from the finest universities in the world, The Mystery of the Cocaine Mummies wallows in minutiae - from the trading policies of ancient Egyptians to their belief that many ills could be cured from ingesting the ground flesh of the dead. Every bit of it is fascinating. Unbeknownst to both Drs. Balabanova and Lescot, their discoveries had the potential to shake up and redefine history. The film shows the lengths taken by the scientific community to scrutinize each new piece of evidence before confirming or rejecting their inclusion in the official narrative.

The Reality of Truth

In these chaotic modern times, it's easy to view the world as a dark and foreboding place. The 24-hour news cycle is awash in tales of terrorism, political corruption, and global strife. Is this truly the reality of the world in which we live? The powerful documentary The Reality of Truth defends an alternative realm of consciousness where we can all achieve a renewed sense of meaning and purpose. Religion provides the platform from which many seek enlightenment. That's where it all started for Mike "Zappy" Zapolin, a successful entrepreneur whose personal journey serves as the basis for the film. Blessed with great personal wealth and a happy family, Zapolin seemed to have it all. But something was missing. He happened upon passages in the Bible which described Manna from Heaven - a small, round edible substance with spiritual powers. He then noticed the appearance of mushrooms in ancient religious iconography. Could this provide the key to the fulfillment he seeks? Thus begins the revealing journey of self-discovery which is documented in the film. Zapolin receives counsel from Deepak Chopra, Joel Osteen and other popular spiritual teachers. He collaborates with a team of his closest confidants who have undergone their own personal expeditions of consciousness, including actors Michelle Rodriguez and Peter Coyote. He even travels to the windswept mountaintops of Peru where a shaman supervises his first foray into the world of mind-altering plant consumption. The established medical community may not yet fully embrace the healing powers of psychedelic plant remedies, but research has long testified to its effectiveness in treating depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and other common ailments. Equally potent avenues of treatment can be found in the act of transcendental meditation and even something as simple as tightly controlled breathing exercises. The Reality of Truth explores each of these potential solutions thoroughly. In each instance, the practitioner appears to achieve a deeper sense of self, and an elevated relationship to the world around them. If these practices were adopted on a mass scale, might unity and love replace chaos and destruction? For some, this notion wouldn't seem so far-fetched after viewing the film.

Vampire Island

Sometimes truth really is stranger than fiction. For centuries, the vampire myth has frightened cultures around the world. But in recent decades, assorted scientists, archeologists and forensic specialists have investigated the real-life inspirations behind these blood-sucking night dwellers. Their discoveries might surprise you. The intriguing and spooky documentary Vampire Island provides the facts behind the legend. The myth really took hold with the 1897 release of Bram Stoker's Dracula, a defining work that continues to thrive in publication to this day. In the years since, books, comics and cinema screens have been flooded with new takes on an old tale. Each version speaks to changes in the culture during the time of their release - from the hints of anti-Semitism in 1922's classic Nosferatu to the teen-angst love story at the center of the Twilight franchise. In truth, the models from which popular culture has based much of its vampire lore are more ghoulish than alluring. Stoker used Vlad the Impaler - a savage warrior who was born in Transylvania in the early 15th century - as the blueprint for her title character. As Prince of Wallachia, Vlad led the revolt against the Ottoman Empire as they struggled to expand across Europe. His tactics were particularly barbaric; he was known for driving the bodies of his victims through large stakes planted into the fields of combat. The punishment he inflicted on his victims eventually became prophecy as he ended his reign buried alive with three stakes pounded through his ankle, hip and throat. This is just one of the parallel stories presented during the course of the film. Over the centuries, similar urban legends have festered in countries like Australia, China and India. The filmmakers travel across Europe and beyond to explore the origins of these cultural myths. We learn the various states of decomposition which may have led frightened villagers to believe in the existence of the undead. In addition, we witness the uncovering of various artifacts which show how each community chose to combat these fears. Occasionally morbid but consistently fascinating, Vampire Island is a must-see for fans of the horror genre, as well as those who relish the macabre curiosities of world history.

The Mystery Beneath

The Baltic Sea is the final resting place for many wondrous artifacts from sunken battleships to sealed champagne bottles dating back over a hundred years. In June of 2011, a Swedish expedition company detected the outline of an object which one could literally characterize as "out of this world". If proven true, the uncovering of an unidentified flying object in Earth's waters will certainly constitute the most meaningful archeological find in human history. The thrilling documentary The Mystery Beneath traces this unprecedented underwater excavation project, and chronicles the challenges, media fervor, and anonymous threats that plagued explorers along the way. An expedition of this magnitude requires vast resources and generous funding. With this in mind, the team decided to go public with their initial findings. The scientific community understood the implications of such a discovery and was justifiably intrigued. Mass media was quick to sensationalize the discovery, and stoked the inflamed rhetoric of conspiracy theorists and fear mongerers. Could this enigmatic structure - which bore a striking resemblance to the Millennium Falcon from Star Wars in early sonar images - actually be a doomsday device in waiting? The need for answers was great, and the expedition team were soon given the tools they needed to find them. In their attempts to relocate and ultimately identify the object, the explorers must contend with the possibility of surveillance from surrounding countries, malfunctioning equipment, and a series of perilous environmental factors and safety concerns. Viewers will gain a deep respect for these treasure hunters, particularly the divers who risk death in the depths of a black sea for the chance to make history. Finding and documenting the object is only the beginning. Once the divers collect samples and visual documentation of the mystery structure, the team must work feverishly to decode even more clues, salvage their reputations amidst growing public skepticism, and defend against an increasingly antagonistic press and harrowing personal threats. The journey produces bouts of giddy wonder and deflated morale in equal measure. The Mystery Beneath is a pulse pounding adventure into the unknown, but it's also an inspiring portrait of human curiosity and resolve.

Dealers in Death

Tying in neatly with President Roosevelt's request for legislation to take the profit out of war and with the current Senatorial investigation of the munitions industry, Dealers in Death, at the Criterion, presents the case histories of the world's leading armament manufacturers with incidental excursions, via the newsreels, into past wars, present preparations for wars and a grim forecast of what wars of the future may be like. The arms makers examined in the Dealers in Death documentary feature companies such as Vickers-Armstrong, Skoda, Krupp, Remington, and Colt. Newsreel footage is used as a counterpoint to the investigation of deals made among the companies to prolong the fighting. The reality of war and the devastation of the battlefields emphasize the sinister and cynical nature of the munitions industry.

Hearts and Minds

The Oriental doesn't put the same high price on life as does the Westerner. Life is cheap in the Orient. Hearts and Minds is an Academy Award winning documentary about the Vietnam War directed by Peter Davis. The film's title is based on a quote from President Lyndon B. Johnson: "the ultimate victory will depend on the hearts and minds of the people who actually live out there". The movie was chosen as Best Feature Documentary at the 47th Academy Awards presented in 1975. The film premiered at the 1974 Cannes Film Festival. Commercial distribution was delayed in the United States due to legal issues, including a temporary restraining order obtained by one of the interviewees, former National Security Advisor Walt Rostow who had claimed through his attorney that the film was "somewhat misleading" and "not representative" and that he had not been given the opportunity to approve the results of his interview. After Columbia Pictures refused to distribute the picture, Bert Schneider and Henry Jaglom purchased back the rights and released the film in March 1975 through Warner Bros.

Combat America

In 1943 actor Clark Gable served as a Major in World War II, operating out of England's Royal Air Force station Polebrook (RAF Polebrook) as a member of the 351st Bomb Group. Gable flew five missions during his term, and was tasked with producing Combat America as a recruitment tool. He worked in partnership with unit members First Lieutenant Andrew McIntire, a former director of cinematography for MGM, additional camera operators Master Sergeants Robert Boles and Merlin Toti, and Hollywood scriptwriter John Lee Mahin. Together this team of seasoned industry professionals created an energetic and educational propaganda piece intended to motivate viewers to serve their country while doing the same themselves. Produced at a time when audience patriotism was at an all-time high, the film plays to the national desire to defend fellow man and country. Opening with footage of both civilians and servicemen looking to the sky in admiration of the fighter planes as they soar overhead, viewers are transported across seas for an inspirational look at the life of a bombardier. Featuring a playfully animated narration by Gable, we are walked through the process of gearing up for flight, from checking ammunition to assessing uniforms and safety gear. Gable gives a coaching voiceover as the planes take off, advising them on how to maneuver, take flight, and avoid crashing in a fiery blaze. Conversational moments with soldiers lend a personalized perspective to hum-drum aspects of serving, such as making small talk while cleaning their service weapons or chatting casually on the airfield. The action footage picks up when we join the bombardiers in the air, as they evaluate the enemy threat and plot their course of action. Gunners are shown on alert and ready at their turrets, acting promptly on the directive to fire. Culminating in a mass air-drop, the boys deliver their payloads and return to base. An adventurous and invigorating documentary, Combat America will hold great appeal to historical buffs and World War II enthusiasts. The film serves as a time capsule back to a fight that has not gone forgotten, allowing an unaltered depiction of the servicemen and weaponry of the time.

Inside Iraq: The Untold Stories

Concerned citizens seeking to learn more about the experiences of everyday Iraqis in a time when the U.S. led war with the Middle Eastern nation shows no end of slowing get an illuminating glimpse at the true damage that bombs can do as amateur filmmaker Mike Shiley interviews people on both sides of the conflict during a two month tour of the war-torn country. A man who has received no formal training as a filmmaker or a journalist, Shiley struck a deal with his local ABC affiliate to bring back stories from Iraq, printed up a homemade press pass, boarded an airplane, and donned his bullet-proof vest. The footage Shiley captured during his stay would provide a remarkably personal face to a war that has become disquietingly impersonal to the average American citizen. From the Sunni triangle to the Shiite-controlled south, Shiley puts himself directly in the line of fire on order to speak with soldiers and everyday citizens. For anyone who ever wondered just what it would be like to be an Iraqi citizen during this extended conflict, Shiley's film affords them the opportunity to receive a firsthand answer to their inquiries.

The Civil War: A Film by Ken Burns

War may be hell, but it can make for great television, as Ken Burns proves in his masterful 11-hour PBS series chronicling the deadliest war in American military history. The Civil War was a landmark TV event that held record numbers of viewers riveted to their screens and reinvented the documentary form. Taking full advantage of the fact that the Civil War was the first war to be captured extensively on camera, Burns synthesizes evocative archival photographs (among them, Matthew Brady's emblematic images of Union soldiers) with diverse and illuminating narrative voices. Well-known actors read diary entries, letters from the front, official dispatches, and speeches from the era. These voice-over readings convey the full range of human fears and hopes of those shaping and being shaped by the war, while an engaging group of historians (most notably Shelby Foote) provide historical perspective. The result is a seamless collage that illuminates, with quiet nobility, this most painful chapter in our nation's past. It's been said that history belongs to the victors; like Homer before him, Burns demonstrates that a major chunk of it belongs to the best storytellers.

Ghosts of Abu Ghraib

Award winning documentary filmmaker Rory Kennedy explores the human and political consequences of one of the most bitter scandals of the war in Iraq in this feature. In the 1960's, a prison was built in Abu Ghraib, an Iraqi city west of Baghdad, and during the regime of Saddam Hussein it became a center of torture and abuse where political dissidents were subjected to agonizing punishment or death. Following the United States invasion of Iraq in 2003, the prison was taken over by American military authorities, and was used as a holding facility for prisoners of war and suspected terrorists captured by U.S. forces. The prison's reputation as a site of widespread abuse rose again when journalists discovered photographs of Iraqi prisoners being tortured and humiliated in an ugly variety of ways by American soldiers, a scandal which had a major impact on international thinking about the war. Ghosts of Abu Ghraib offers an in-depth look at the story behind the abuse of Iraqi prisoners, featuring interviews with observers on both sides of the national divide. Ghosts of Abu Ghraib received its world premiere at the 2007.

No End in Sight

On March 19, 2003, forces from the United States and a handful of allied nations invaded Iraq to remove Saddam Hussein from power. American military leaders expected the conflict to last no more than a few months, and President George W. Bush declared that major military operations were over less than two months later. However, Iraq soon became a dangerous quagmire for American forces, and near the end of 2006, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, one of the key architects of America's strategy in Iraq, resigned from office due to public outcry and Bush declared he was "rethinking" his plan of attack in Iraq as the nation sank into civil war, with U.S. troops the frequent targets of attacks on both sides.

Operation Homecoming: Writing the Wartime Experience

Writing about experience necessarily sanitizes it, theorizes Sangjoon Han, a Korean-American soldier who fought in Iraq and is one of many articulate talking heads in Richard E. Robbins’s documentary Operation Homecoming. Built around the firsthand recollections of soldiers fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan, the film is a spinoff from an anthology of essays, e-mail messages, poems and letters compiled by the National Endowment for the Arts and published by Random House. Mr. Han’s Aftermath, a fictional composite of several events, is one of the strongest and most sophisticated contributions. Written from the dual perspectives of a fleeing Iraqi farmer and an American soldier who shoots him after repeatedly shouting at him to stop, it reaches a tragically absurd conclusion in which the American treats the farmer whose vital organs were piled on top of him with an IV. As you absorb the most graphic images of combat and how it changes people in these works written by soldiers but read by nine actors, sanitize is not a word that comes to mind. The best pieces portray combat as such a heightened sensory experience that it demands to be written about, and they suggest that war can turn ordinary men who wouldn't think of keeping diaries into latter-day Hemingways.

Fallujah: The Hidden Massacre

This war can not have witnesses. It can not have witnesses because it is based on lies. The Americans have permitted only embedded journalists to go to Fallujah. Despite that, for example the image of the marine that shoots the wounded and unarmed warrior inside the Fallujah Mosque has gone out. And exactly because this image has gone out, we do not know how, and because it has circulated all over the world, the NBC journalist that has recorded it has been immediately expelled from the embedded body. Fallujah, The Hidden Massacre is a documentary film by Sigfrido Ranucci and Maurizio Torrealta which first aired on Italy's RAI state television network on November 8, 2005. The film documents the use of weapons that the documentary asserts are chemical weapons, particularly the use of incendiary bombs, and alleges indiscriminate use of violence against civilians and children by military forces of the United States of America in the city of Fallujah in Iraq during the Fallujah Offensive of November 2004.

I Know I'm Not Alone

This film came out of the director's frustration with watching the nightly news and hearing generals, politicians and pundits, explaining the political and economic cost of the war in the Middle East, without ever mentioning the human cost. He wanted to hear about the war by the people affected by it most: doctors, nurses, poets, artists, soldiers, and his personal favorite, musicians. Michael Franti, world-renowned musician and human rights worker, travels to Iraq, Palestine and Israel to explore the human cost of war with a group of friends, some video cameras and his guitar. A compelling soundtrack, visual and musical montages and Franti's intimate voiceovers make the film speak to the MTV, X, Y & Z generations, as well as the baby-boomers. A true armchair travel film pulling the audience into these war zones in the company of Michael's guitar, eloquence and wit - you feel the humanity, artistic resilience and sometimes horrific experience of what it's like to live under the bombs and military occupation. With its guerrilla style footage captured in active war zones, the documentary is unlike the many academic and politically driven pieces in the marketplace, instead offering the audience a sense of intimate travel and the opportunity to hear the voices of everyday people living, creating and surviving under the harsh conditions of war and occupation..

Invisible Children

Without having seen the suffering in Northern Uganda, I'm appalled frankly, it's a moral outrage to see thousands of children that have been abducted, that are maltreated, that go through the most horrendous torture by the rebel movement and also the same groups now being neglected, to some extent, by the whole international community. I can not find any other part of the world having an emergency at the scale of Uganda with so little international attention. What started out as a film-making adventure in Africa, transformed into much more, when the three young American’s (Jason Russell, Bobby Bailey, and Laren Poole) original travels took a divine turn, and they found themselves stranded in Northern Uganda. They discovered children being kidnapped nightly from their homes and subsequently forced to become fight as child soldiers. This film is dedicated to exposing this tragic, and amazingly untold story. Even at this moment, in Uganda, Children as young as 8 are methodically kidnapped from their homes by a rebel group called the “Lord’s Resistance Army” (LRA). The abducted children are then desensitized to the horror of brutal violence and killing, as they themselves are turned into vicious fighters. Some escape and hide in constant fear for their lives. Most remain captive, and grow to maturity with no education other than life “in the bush” and fighting in a guerrilla war. Of the many ramifications that a 20 -year-long war can cause, the film “Invisible Children: Rough Cut” highlights what the community refers to as “NIGHT COMMUTERS.” We watch thousands of children “commute” out of fear, from their villages to nearby towns each night in order to avoid the LRA (Lord’s Resistance Army) abductions. They sleep in public places, vulnerable, and without supervision.

Occupation 101: Voices of the Silenced Majority

The greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance... it is the illusion of knowledge. A thought-provoking and powerful documentary film on the current and historical root causes of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Unlike any other film ever produced on the conflict - Occupation 101 presents a comprehensive analysis of the facts and hidden truths surrounding the never ending controversy and dispels many of its long-perceived myths and misconceptions. The film also details life under Israeli military rule, the role of the United States in the conflict, and the major obstacles that stand in the way of a lasting and viable peace. The roots of the conflict are explained through first-hand on-the-ground experiences from leading Middle East scholars, peace activists, journalists, religious leaders and humanitarian workers whose voices have too often been suppressed in American media outlets. The film covers a wide range of topics - which include - the first wave of Jewish immigration from Europe in the 1880's, the 1920 tensions, the 1948 war, the 1967 war, the first Intifada of 1987, the Oslo Peace Process, Settlement expansion, the role of the United States Government, the second Intifada of 2000, the separation barrier and the Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, as well as many heart wrenching testimonials from victims of this tragedy.