HBO Documentary Film Series

On February 13, 2010, American-led coalition forces launched the biggest military operation since the beginning of the Afghanistan War. Their target was the town of Marjah, a Taliban stronghold in southern Afghanistan. There, the Marines had four tasks: remove the Taliban, hold all ground seized, build infrastructure and governance, and transfer control to Afghan security forces. In this powerful account, award-winning journalist Ben Anderson tells the story of Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 6th Marines, and its commanding officer, Captain Ryan Sparks. At the battle's outset, Sparks and the 272 men of Bravo are flown 12 miles and dropped into the center of Marjah, where the Taliban lie in wait. For the young Marines, their first task begins. Embedded with Bravo Company, Anderson provides an intimate and sobering look at the realities of counterinsurgency warfare

A documentary commemorating the 100th anniversary of the famous Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire in New York City, which killed 146 workers and prompted labor reform in the United States

Growing up and surviving school is tough. Being stigmatized as "learning disabled" can drive a child right to the edge. Giving hope to students whose dyslexia makes them fear the written word, this enlightening and lighthearted film looks at young people living with learning differences as well as adults who struggled in school, and then succeeded in life. The result is a documentary that addresses the public's misunderstanding of the issue and demonstrates the great potential of each dyslexic individual.

The story of a college basketball dynasty and its controversial coach, Jerry Tarkanian.

Chronicles the financial meltdown of 2008 and centers on Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson.

A documentary feature that explores the tragic and bizarre life of the late chess master Bobby Fischer, from his troubled childhood, to his rock star status as a World Champion and Cold War icon, and his life as a fugitive on the run. This film explores one of the most mysterious characters of the 20th century

A MATTER OF TASTE: SERVING UP PAUL LIEBRANDT (June 13) documents the career of the acclaimed chef – and the cutthroat world of haute cuisine – over eight years. The film follows Liebrandt as he matures from young renegade to one of New York City’s most celebrated chefs with the opening of his renowned Michelin two-star restaurant Corton in Tribeca. Directed by Sally Rowe in her documentary directorial debut. A selection of the 2011 Tribeca Film Festival.

SEX CRIMES UNIT (June 20) takes an unprecedented look inside the Manhattan District Attorney’s famed Sex Crimes Unit, the first unit dedicated to the prosecution of sexual assault to be established in the U.S. The film follows the day-to-day work of prosecutors as they deal with investigations, trials and plea bargains. Among other cases, it tracks The People v. Kevin Rios, in which a prostitute makes an accusation of rape, and follows one woman’s experience with the Cold Case Unit when her accused assailant, originally indicted on the basis of his DNA profile, is finally identified and brought to justice 16 years after the crime. Directed by Emmy® winner Lisa F. Jackson (HBO’s “The Greatest Silence: Rape in the Congo”).

Children talk about what they think it would be like to be president of the United States.

HOT COFFEE (June 27) examines the dangers of so-called tort reform and its threat to the civil justice system. Using the now-infamous legal battle over a spilled cup of McDonald’s coffee as a springboard, the film follows four people, including McDonald’s plaintiff Stella Liebeck, whose lives have been affected by their inability to access the courts, as well as caps on punitive damages, and examines the role of corporations and a complicit media in promoting tort reform. Directed by former trial lawyer and first-time filmmaker Susan Saladoff. A selection of the 2011 Sundance Film Festival.

CITIZEN U.S.A.: A 50-STATE ROAD TRIP (July 4) follows director Alexandra Pelosi (HBO’s Emmy®-winning “Journeys with George”) as she travels across the U.S. to attend naturalization ceremonies in all 50 states and meets brand-new citizens to find out why they chose America as their home. Commemorating the Fourth of July, the documentary intersperses stories of newly naturalized citizens and interviews with notable first-generation Americans, including Madeleine Albright, Arianna Huffington, Henry Kissinger and Gene Simmons.

Follows the struggle of 138 mostly immigrant workers who strike to save their jobs at a famous bakery in the Bronx when a private equity firm buys the bakery and demands wage cuts of up to 30%.

They wouldn’t be there if they weren’t guilty. That’s the prevailing mindset of almost everyone in Love Crimes of Kabul, even the women who find themselves in jail in Afghanistan’s capital. In the documentary, director Tanaz Eshaghian gets out of the way to let the stories of three women in Badam Bagh Women’s Prison speak

A look at the life and times of Curt Flood, whose baseball life went from two-time World Series champion to plaintiff in a U.S. Supreme Court case against Major League Baseball, and how that journey both set the stage for high-dollar free agent contracts and turned his own life upside down.

MANN V. FORD (July 18) follows members of the Ramapo Indian tribe in Upper Ringwood, NJ in their eight-year search for justice through a major class-action lawsuit. From the middle ‘50s through the late ‘70s, the Ford Motor Company operated an assembly plant in Mahwah, NJ that produced millions of cars each year, dumping what has been described as “thousands of tons of paint sludge and other waste” into abandoned mine shafts and residential land. Working-class residents of the area have been suffering from a range of ailments, including skin problems, bleeding disorders and increased rates of cancer and miscarriage, ever since. The film charts their uphill battle to secure a healthy future for their children. Directed by Maro Chermayeff (HBO’s “The Kindness of Strangers”) and Micah Fink (“Frontline”).

On Sunday, July 26, 2009, Diane Schuler left the campgrounds in upstate New York where she was vacationing with her family and set off towards home on Long Island, a drive she had made numerous times before. With her were five young children: her son, her daughter and three nieces. Four hours later, she drove the wrong way on the Taconic State Parkway for nearly two miles – eventually crashing into an oncoming SUV,killing herself and seven others. One of the worst motor-vehicle accidents in New York State history, the tragedy quickly became national news and her actions on that day, and in the past, were thrust under a microscope in a desperate search for answers. In the aftermath, Diane Schuler was portrayed as a reckless drunk and a mother who cracked. But was she the monster the public made her out to be? Or the perfect wife and mother described by so many who knew her?

With the cooperation of Derek Jeter and the Yankees, MLB Productions gained extensive access to Jeter both at and away from the ballpark. For the first time ever, Jeter wore a microphone during two games, including the one in which he reached the 3,000 career hit milestone. He also allowed MLB Productions camera crews to follow him on multiple occasions and in a variety of settings, including in his home and during rehabilitation from a calf injury. Derek Jeter 3K also will feature exclusive interview footage with the Yankee captain, which was recorded shortly after he became only the 28th player in MLB history to achieve the milestone. Produced by MLB Productions in collaboration with HBO Sports, Derek Jeter 3K will include reflections on Jeter’s entire career, including footage in the Major League Baseball Film and Video Archive ranging from his early days with the Yankees through his five World Series Championships. The special will include new interviews with his family and friends, as well as with Yankees executives, legends and teammates such as Hal Steinbrenner, Brian Cashman, Joe Girardi, Joe Torre, Curtis Granderson, Dave Winfield, Minka Kelly, Billy Crystal and many more. Liev Schreiber will narrate.

KORAN BY HEART (Aug. 1) visits the world’s oldest Koran memorization contest, which takes place each year in Cairo, drawing Muslim children from as far as the Maldives and Tajikistan to perform before a panel of prominent judges. This inspirational film follows these talented youngsters from intense preparation through the rigorous rounds of the tournament, offering an engaging look at the unique experiences and aspirations of Muslim children throughout the world. Directed by Greg Barker (HBO’s “Sergio”). A selection of the 2011 Tribeca Film Festival.

A favorite at this year's Slamdance Film Festival, Superheroes is a look inside the zany world of Real Life Superheroes

GLORIA: IN HER OWN WORDS (Aug. 15) recounts how Gloria Steinem became one of the driving forces of feminism. Beginning as a reporter writing an exposé on the working conditions of Playboy Bunnies, she was transformed by learning about women’s horrifying experiences while covering a New York abortion hearing in 1969. The film includes archival footage and interviews showcasing Steinem’s sharp sense of humor, love of life and compassion for humankind. Today, she remains a feminist icon, ever-present on the frontlines of social and political activism. Filmmakers, Peter Kunhardt and Dyllan McGee (HBO’s Emmy®-winning “Teddy: In His Own Words”).

THE LATINO LIST (debuting Sept. 29) focuses on an impressive group of Latino artists and leaders as they pose for a series of highly personal video portraits that offer a unique glimpse into the vibrant and burgeoning culture of Hispanic America. Directed by Timothy Greenfield-Sanders (HBO’s “The Black List”), the film spotlights, among others, Cuban-Americans, Mexican-Americans, Puerto Rican-Americans, Honduran-Americans and Columbian-Americans, all of whom share a language, but have varying experiences depending on their birth country. The film features interviews with such notables as Sonia Maria Sotomayor, Eva Jacqueline Longoria, Gloria Estefan, America Ferrera, Juan Antonio “Chi-Chi” Rodriguez, Jose Moreno Hernandez and Pitbull.

LIVING IN THE MATERIAL WORLD: GEORGE HARRISON (Oct. 5 and 6) traces Harrison’s life from his musical beginnings in Liverpool through his life as a musician, a seeker, a philanthropist and a filmmaker, weaving together interviews with Harrison and his closest friends, performances, home movies and photographs. Much of the material in the film has never been seen or heard before. This two-part documentary from director Martin Scorsese (HBO “Public Speaking”) includes interviews with those closest to Harrison, including Eric Clapton, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, George Martin, Paul McCartney, Yoko Ono, Tom Petty, Phil Spector, Ringo Starr and Jackie Stewart.

SING YOUR SONG (Oct. 17) celebrates the life of singer-actor-activist Harry Belafonte. A tenacious hands-on activist, Belafonte’s groundbreaking career paralleled the American civil rights movement. He worked intimately with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and John F. Kennedy among others, mobilizing celebrities for social justice, working with Nelson Mandela in the struggle against apartheid in South Africa and taking action to counter gang violence, promote prison reform and address the incarceration of youth. This official selection of the Sundance, Berlin and Tribeca film festivals is a film by Susanne Rostock; producers, Michael Cohl, Belafonte’s daughter Gina Belafonte, Jim Brown, William Eigen, Julius R. Nasso.

THE EDUCATION OF DEE DEE RICKS (Oct. 27) is the intimate story of one woman’s mission to defeat cancer and help others do the same. After being diagnosed with breast cancer and undergoing a double mastectomy, Dee Dee Ricks traded a hedge-fund career for philanthropy, raising money for a Harlem cancer clinic that treats underserved and uninsured patients. The film follows Ricks over a three-year period as she battles her disease, struggles to raise $2.5 million for the clinic and reevaluates her purpose in life. Directed by Perri Peltz.

PARADISE LOST 3: PURGATORY (Nov.) revisits the case of Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin and Jessie Misskelley, who were incarcerated for the 1993 “West Memphis Three” child murders, which they maintain they did not commit. For nearly two decades, Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky have chronicled the fight to prove their innocence. From full courtroom access and jailhouse interviews to behind-the-scenes strategy meetings and intimate portraits of grief-stricken families, this third, comprehensive look at the case uncovers shocking new developments since the last film ten years ago. Directed by Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky.

Sampat Pal is the leader of the Gulabi Gang (aka the Pink Gang), a vigilante group of women in Northern India distinguished by their distinctive bright pink saris.  Like many other women, Pal was married as a young girl into a family that made her work hard and often beat her.  Unlike most other Indian women, she overcame her problems to become an outspoken, self-described "messiah" for women.             Though domestic abuse is illegal in India, tradition and the caste system are steadfastly upheld by many, especially in the rural areas where the Pink Gang operates.  By tradition, women are not allowed to live with their own parents once they are married, and are at the mercy of the husband's family.  If a woman comes from a lower caste, she is often not allowed to marry a man of higher rank.  Pal's strategy is to expose abusive husbands, in-laws and other offenders by settling family matters out in the open, turning the tables on those who did the damage.

MARATHON BOY (Dec.) is the story of four-year-old Budhia Singh, who is plucked from the slums of India by coach Biranchi Das and trained to become India’s greatest runner. In the first six months of coaching, the youngster runs more than 24 half-marathons and by the next year, he has run 48 full marathons. With the world looking on and an international storm brewing, the Indian government decides to intervene, accusing the coach of cruelty and threatening to take his newly-adopted son into care. What starts as a rags-to-riches tale turns into a story of greed, envy and broken dreams. An official selection of the 2011 Tribeca Film Festival, the documentary is directed by Gemma Atwal.