ROCO Films

12/21/2024

Remember “Goodnight Moon”, “The Very Hungry Caterpillar,” “Where the Wild Things Are”? “Story and Pictures By” spotlights these and other classic picture books from the golden age of children’s literature.

Story & Pictures By is a captivating documentary exploring the vibrant world of children’s picture books. It spotlights Christian Robinson, Yuyi Morales, and Mac Barnett, pioneers of a new “golden age” [...]

12/19/2024

A Common Sense Media Entertainment pick, “She Rises Up” reveals the economic clout of women’s businesses. The film follows radically different women from Sri Lanka, Peru, and Senegal as they fight to build businesses and contribute to the reduction of of poverty in their communities. https://rocofilms.com/films/she-rises-up/

12/16/2024

In an era of government censorship, when there are books and ideas forbidden to our children, it’s important to reflect on LaVar Burtons’ “Reading Rainbow.” A children’s show, it offered a passport to the universe through books, and made lifelong readers of millions. “Butterfly. In the Sky explores the joy and wonder of a legacy on hold. https://rocofilms.com/films/butterfly-in-the-sky/ Ra

For 26 seasons, PBS’s Reading Rainbow met young viewers in their living rooms, whisking them away on far-off adventures into the boundless world of books. With the help of celebrity [...]

12/14/2024

As his term in office comes to an end, President Joe Biden has extended clemency to a Pennsylvania judge. The focus of the 2013 documentary, “Kids for Cash”, Judge Michael T. Conahan had been serving time for his part in a judicial scandal that saw 3,000 kids locked up in for profit prisons without legal council, in exchange for $2milllion in kickbacks. The corruption case created a national scandal, destroyed countless lives, and seriously eroded public confidence in the judicial system.

All 193 United Nations member countries have ratified the convention on the Rights of the Child...except Somalia and the United States.

12/10/2024

Featured in “The Grab.” Human Rights attorney, Brigadier Siachitema presented the film to attorneys attending the Environmental Litigation Workshop in Johannesburg, South Africa. The film, which documents a dangerous global land grab, is a useful training tool in the fight to save the world’s food and water supplies from an international group intent on controlling those resources at the expense of entire populations.

Quietly and seemingly out of sight, governments, private investors and mercenaries are working to seize food and water resources at the expense of entire populations. These groups are establishing themselves [...]

12/09/2024

Directed by Greg Kohs, “The Thinking Game” explores one of the world’s leading AI labs as it works to unravel one of the most important and perilous scientific adventures of our time—-the potential of artificial general intelligence (AGI) to reshape our world.

The Thinking Game takes you on a fascinating journey into the heart of DeepMind, one of the world’s leading AI labs, as it strives to unravel the mysteries of artificial [...]

12/06/2024

Soon to be a Broadway musical, Mark Levinson’s documentary, “Particle Fever,” follows six of the 10,000 scientists preparing to launch CERN, the largest machine ever built, to discover the Higgs-bosson, the tiny particle that holds the universe together.

As they seek to unravel the mysteries of the universe, 10,000 scientists from over 100 countries joined forces in pursuit of a single goal

12/03/2024

As the dangers of climate change escalate , ‘An Inconvenient Sequel’ follows former Vice President Al Gore’s pursuit of the idea that “while the stakes have never been higher, the perils of climate change can be overcome with human ingenuity and passion.” The question remains, ‘does humanity have the necessary will?

A decade after AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH brought the climate crisis into the heart of popular culture, comes the riveting and rousing follow up.

12/02/2024

On December 1, 2024, the International Court of Justice began hearings to set legal guidelines for help to vulnerable nations as they combat the devastation of climate change . ‘Anote’s Ark’ illustrates the extent of that devastation with the story of one man’s efforts to relocate his island’s population of 100,000 before the ocean swallows up their homes, and begs the question, ‘what , if any, are the world’s legal obligations to extend aid?’

Interweaving two stories of survival and resilience, Anote's Ark explores what it takes to migrate an entire nation with dignity.

11/30/2024

Comprised of musicians from all over the world, ‘The Music of Strangers: Yo-Yo Ma and the Silk Road Ensemble’ celebrates the beauty of our differences and the universal power of music. Something to think about and enjoy as we begin the holiday season.

Over the past 15 years, an extraordinary group of musicians has come together to celebrate the universal power of music. Named for the ancient trade route linking Asia, Africa and Europe, The Silk Road Ensemble, an international collective created by legendary cellist Yo—Yo Ma, exemplifies music's...

11/28/2024

On this Thanksgiving Day the ROCOfilms team is full of gratitude for the blessings of family, good friends, and colleagues, and the hope that your holiday is filled with the joy of good food shared with the people you love.

11/27/2024

Narrated by Woody Harrelson, ‘Kiss the Ground’ reveals that the ground beneath your feet is more than just the soil that grows our food. It is, in fact, the solution to our climate crisis. Something to think about when you’re enjoying that holiday feast.

A movement to accomplish the impossible – to solve humanity’s greatest challenge, to balance the climate and secure our species future.

11/25/2024

T’is the season to start writing those letters to Santa Claus, but before you send that wish list to the North Pole,may we suggest you get together with some friends and have a look at ‘Sh*tthropocene.’ David Garrett Byars’s delightfully thoughtful documentary will have you checking your list twice and wondering if you really need all that sh*t.

You might have noticed that a lot of things seem to suck right now. This film isn’t about all the things that suck—that would be a really, really long film. [...]

11/22/2024

URGENT NOTICE TO FEATURE LENGTH DOCUMENTARY FILMMAKERS!
DocPitch is now accepting submissions offering $100,000 awards for five in-progress documentary projects. As part of , presented by institute, one filmmaker will be selected by a vote from the general public, and the second by an industry jury. The deadline for submissions is December 13th. Follow the link for more information. bit.ly/30N8WT

11/20/2024

Studies show that more than half of all Americans are unable to read past a sixth grade level. Arguing that the deficit robs citizens of such basic rights as voting, an Oakland based NAACP activist proposes a better way to teach reading. ‘The Right to Read’ examines the new method and the potential benefits to Americans of all ages.

When a child can’t read, their chances of incarceration, homelessness, and unemployment increase. That’s why Oakland-based NAACP activist Kareem Weaver believes literacy is one of the greatest civil rights issues [...]

11/18/2024

What if today’s Capitalism focused on people, rather than profit? Drawing parallels between Renaissance trailblazers and modern innovators, ‘Why is Mona Lisa Smiling?’ offers an encouraging ‘yes’ and offers some creative steps to make it happen.

Why Is Mona Lisa Smiling? is a documentary linking the revolutionary spirit of the Renaissance to today’s reimagining of capitalism. Just as the Black Plague spurred innovation and capitalism in [...]

11/15/2024

Annie Roney, ROCO Films’ founder and CEO, is headed for Amsterdam and the IDFA film festival. ROCO is representing the brilliant Sandi DuBroski documentary, ‘Savage Queen.’

11/14/2024

From prestigious heir of 38 generations of Orthodox rabbis, to rebel drag queen, bio-dad, and founder of a pop-up, God-optional congregation, ‘Sabbath Queen’ follows one man’s quest to define what Jewish survival means in a difficult, rapidly changing 21st century. Screening at IDFA tomorrow night, (November 15th) this Sandi DuBroski film is a must see.