Most Viewed Keyword Cultural Traditions

In 150 years, twice marked by total destruction —a terrible earthquake in 1923 and incendiary bombings in 1945— followed by a spectacular rebirth, Tokyo, the old city of Edo, has become the largest and most futuristic capital in the world in a transformation process fueled by the exceptional resilience of its inhabitants, and nourished by a unique phenomenon of cultural hybridization.

Without Bounds to Beat is an experimental documentary that recounts a town’s revival of an ancient folk tradition, placing it in contrast to today’s digital technologies.

Damian, grieving his girlfriend's death, travels through Mexico seeking solace. Along the way, he connects with strangers and witnesses their coping rituals, finding a path through his own memories and regrets.

In the Faroe Islands, hundreds of pilot whales are slaughtered each year in a hunt known as the “Grind.” This gruesome tradition has drawn outrage from activists, most notably the international conservation group Sea Shepherd, who routinely sail to the islands to try to block whaling boats. Yet the Faroese are equally determined to maintain their tradition, defending the practice as more sustainable and less cruel than getting meat from slaughterhouses. Director Vincent Kelner spends time with both Faroese hunters and Sea Shepherd crusaders, building to a nuanced look at a disturbing event with much larger implications for the way humans relate to other creatures.

The story of Nisar Ahmed Khan, told through his children and the people he served, a spiritual guide whose followers still visit his tomb on his birth and death anniversaries. And alongside how his family spends a few days at the village keeping his traditions alive.

An animated horror short about a Nigerian-American teenager returning to Nigeria after the death of her grandfather.

Four migrants share their experiences about living in Georgia for the past several years.

Every winter in a cemetery near Stockholm, activists gather to keep the memory of Fadime Sahindal alive. A Kurdish immigrant to Sweden who was murdered by her father in 2002, Fadime has become an international symbol of the debate over cultural traditions that accept the use of violence to control women's behaviour. In Crimes Without Honour, four extraordinary activists risk everything to publicly challenge these traditions and tell their own stories of physical and emotional violence. While they practice different faiths, hail from different parts of the world and have immigrated to different countries, all make it crystal clear that the justification for these crimes is an entrenched family power structure of male supremacy—one that crosses borders, cultures and religions. Raymonde Provencher has crafted a vital addition to a growing body of films about crimes related to patriarchal traditions of family honour.

A courageous woman leaves her abusive husband, builds a successful career, and finds love where she least expects it.

Through the unrelenting winter in the north of Japan, a small group of workers must brave unusual working conditions to bring to life a 2,000-year-old tradition known as sake. A cinematic documentary, The Birth of Sake is a visually immersive experience of an almost-secret world in which large sacrifices must be made for the survival of a time-honored brew.

Crying in public is something most people avoid. For some men it’s a calling. With the audition for Much Wenlock’s new Town Crier approaching, Joffrey—the only applicant—must decide whether he’s ready to take the role seriously.

Following Simon on his maiden voyage with Eddie, his horse, travelling on foot from Dorset to Devon in time for the Sidmouth Folk Festival. Meeting friends and strangers along the way, a glimpse into the life of a British Traveller.

Black Cake follows an Indo-Caribbean woman in Queens who's stuck in a routined life after the death of her mother. She's presented with an opportunity that could change her life, but it requires her to step away from her comfort zone to sell her mother's home.

A short film documenting the dying tradition of Holmie Day, where islanders on Papa Westray, in Orkney, sail across to the nearby uninhabited island to shear the sheep.

Stone Hatch documents the rare sighting of the birth of a stone circle. From it leaving the chamber of the Pictish souterain to its migration across the moors to its final destination in the Scottish highlands.

King for a Day is a poetic archive-led documentary immersing us in the personal story of the people of Padstow in Cornwall, their ancient rituals and the challenges they face in a rapidly changing world. The tension between tradition and progress highlights the importance of cultural identity and the role of folk customs in our globalised society. King for a Day is an intimate portrait of a place and community pushed to the margins. A cinematic journey interweaving audio-visual archive spanning 150 years. Will this be the last generation to tease the ‘Old Oss’ from his stable to welcome the Summer?

In the Forest of Dean is a community of people continuing the ancient practice of Freemining: a traditional way of mining for coal an iron ore in small scale mines. The detailed knowledge involved has been passed on by oral tradition since time immemorial. This film gives a snapshot of three of the last operational mines in the Forest and the people that work them.

Deep in the heart of the Waveney valley, Master Thatcher Nick and his apprentice Olly work on the ancient roofs of east anglia. Keeping the craft alive, they challenge modern practices, following long standing traditional methods using local materials. This film accompanies them over a short day in their working lives, following their methods & musings and uncovering the ‘truth on the roof’.

A short film exploring the joy and importance of Morris dancing for a group of young people.

An informative TV program about traveling to the most exotic countries in the world. The author's project by journalist and traveler Dmitry Komarov focuses primarily on the underside of a country or region that tourists usually do not see. If the report is made from a popular place, it is revealed to the viewer from an unusual angle, showing the "inside".

Seeking out incredible people who perform real feats that look like magic, David Blaine takes viewers on a jaw-dropping journey through some of the world's most extraordinary cultures as he seeks out kindred spirits, finds inspiration, and learns some truly exceptional skills along the way.