Movies: Cultural traditions

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 t...

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 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 transf...

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....

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 experie...

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

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

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....

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....

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 hig...

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 moth...

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 immem...

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....

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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....

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 tradi...

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

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 material...