Film Finders: Exploring Special Topics

This documentary takes a nonpartisn, clear-eyed look at the secrecy, cronyism, and incompetence of elections in present-day America as it captures a citizen's movement intent on taking back elections and democracy itself.

It examines one of the greatest present threats to American democracy: the influence of untraceable corporate money on our elections and elected officials.

Examines the contemporary tactics used to control our democratic process and silence political dissent. Chronicles the patterns of voter disenfranchisement from Florida 2000 to Ohio 2004 while following the story of Georgia Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney.

Traces Michael Moore's 62-city tour of the swing states during the 2004 Presidential election ... Moore's goal was to convince millions of non-voting 'slackers' - mostly between the ages of 18-29 - to give voting a try.

Captures an unusual mayoral campaign that turned expectations upside down.

No Umbrella - Election Day in the City is a look at the 2004 US Election Day failures in one of Ohio's poorest neighborhoods.

How do we know our votes are counted properly in our elections?

Michael Moore's view on what happened to the United States after September 11; and how the Bush Administration allegedly used the tragic event to push forward its agenda for unjust wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Details the unglamorous side of being one of the "boys on the bus" while covering a U.S. presidential election.

An investigation of how the U.S. struggled to confront Vladimir Putin over Russian involvement in the 2016 election, how revenge may have motivated Putin to target American democracy, and the U.S. responses under Presidents Obama and Trump.

Learn what the average voter's experience is on Election Day, as 11 people from across the nation and from different walks of life are followed in November 2004 during voting time.

Examines the long and complex relationship between the presidency and public opinion.

Starting six months before the 2016 presidential election, director Jim Stern traveled through red states to interview and spend time with Donald Trump supporters from different backgrounds.

Presents snapshots of the forty-three commanders in chief who have guided America throughout its history.

A documentary of the Bill Clinton 1992 presidential campaign and the organization who ran it.

follows the campaign of a woman running for State Senate in New York City as women around her from the left and right of the spectrum try to explain how women can be the majority of the population at 52% but run nothing.

HBO presents the life story of Ann Richards, the straight-talking Governor of Texas.

Openly LGBT elected officials at all levels and from across the country share their stories of self-doubt and triumph over multiple barriers ranging from race and poverty to gender and sexual orientation.

An idealistic teacher launches a grassroots campaign to win Dick Gephardt's congressional seat.

United States Supreme Court Justices Sandra Day O'Connor and Stephen Breyer talk about the Constitution and discuss why we have and need a constitution, what federalism is, how implicit and explicit rights are defined and how separation of powers ensures that no one branch of government obtains too much power.

The film examines how President Obama's promise of change and unity collided with racial and political realities. Part Two examines racial tensions in America, the war for control of the GOP, and the growing dysfunction in Washington.

Filmmaker Michael Moore examines the current state of American politics, particularly the Donald Trump presidency and gun violence, while highlighting the power of grassroots democratic movements.

This documentary follows the 1972 campaign waged by Shirley Chisholm, the first African-American woman to run for a major party's nomination for United States President. Chisholm first made her mark on American political history when, in 1968, she became the first African-American woman elected to Congress, representing New York.

Profiles an American institution whose ideals and actions affect us all.

An exposé on the state of American democracy and the fracturing of the Republican Party, Citizen Koch investigates the money behind the Tea Party and traces the impact of unlimited election spending by corporations and billionaires.

A look at the lobbying system in Washington, D.C., and the influence of money on modern politics.

Documentary about a penniless former Catholic priest who runs for the US Senate in his home state of Wyoming, inspiring a ragtag band of idealistic volunteers determined to shake up the political status quo. Challenging the belief that our political process is fair and democratic, the film explores the question of how an honest and sincere person without money can make a difference running for higher office, and more broadly, whether, in the spirit of Don Quixote, it is worth fighting an unbeatable foe and dreaming an impossible dream

Every decade, the major political parties gear up for a cartographic war that determines who gets to control Congress for the next ten years, and possibly more. It is the ultimate political weapon: the ability to directly determine the outcomes of elections and it is perfectly legal.

The film shows the maneuverings of political candidates as they try to get elected, and the people hired to sell them to the public, the media consultants.

An industrialist runs for the Presidency and is caught between his principled estranged wife and a power-hungry newspaper owner.

Inspired by a true story, Cecil Gaines is a devoted husband, father, and White House butler who served eight Presidential administrations during the turbulent politics and civil rights battles of twentieth century America.

The story of Dick Cheney, the most powerful Vice President in history, and how his policies changed the world as we know it.

An idealistic, newly-appointed senator heads to Washington where he single-handedly battles ruthless politicians out to destroy him.

In order to gain influence over their North Carolina district, two CEOs seize an opportunity to oust long-term congressman Cam Brady by putting up a rival candidate. Their man, naive Marty Huggins, is director of the local Tourism Center.

During the frantic last days before a heavily contested Ohio presidential primary, an up-and-coming campaign press secretary finds himself involved in a political scandal that threatens to upend his candidate's shot at the presidency.

Jack Stanton is a virtually unknown Southern governor on a quest for the White House.

In a remarkable turn-of-events, the result of the presidential election comes down to one man's vote.

When the President is caught in a sex scandal less than 2 weeks before the election, "Mr. Fix-it" decides they need a war to distract the public's attention and he calls on Hollywood's top producer to create it.

Story of two candidates for their party's presidential nomination. One is an intellectual with a sense of morality, the other an opportunist who would win at all costs.

A widowed U.S. President running for reelection and an environmental lobbyist fall in love.

He was where he shouldn't have been and saw what he shouldn't have seen. Now, who will believe the word of a career thief and ex-con when he says he saw a woman killed, and that the man responsible for her death is the President of the United States?

U.S. President Judson Hammond, a corrupt politician, survives an auto accident to miraculously become virtuous, proclaiming himself dictator, curing the Depression, subduing organized crime, and attaining world peace.

A U.S. Army platoon, captured in the Korean conflict, is whisked to Manchuria for experimental drug-and-hypnosis-induced conditioning to carry out the orders of the enemy upon release. When a decorated Korean War veteran who has been brainwashed starts to commit political assassinations, his old military commander begins to suspect and must stop him.

An outspoken, idealistic young lawyer from California is persuaded to run for the Senate, and finds himself up against a political machine.

A hard-working and successful student is determined to be the president of her class, but a popular teacher urges an improbable candidate to run against her.

Dictator Adenoid Hynkel tries to expand his empire while a poor Jewish barber tries to avoid persecution from Hynkel's regime.

During the Nazi occupation of Poland, an acting troupe becomes embroiled in a Polish soldier's efforts to track down a German spy.

Explores one of the most dramatic and controversial events in recent U.S. election history, which shook a nation's faith in the ability to stage a fair and open election.

An opportunist turns corruption into a promising political career but struggles to stay on top when he tries to go honest.

Chaos erupts when a general orders an attack on the Russians, which subsequently will trigger the Russian "Doomsday Device." The President and his aides struggle to find a way to stop the impending doom.