DOXA Documentary Film Festival unveils inspirational lineup

Documentary-lovers will be pleased to know that the lineup for Vancouver's DOXA Documentary Film Festival 2009 has been revealed and tickets are now available online.

This year, the festival has expanded from six to ten days, from May 22 to 31, and screen a total of 75 films.

With the economic downturn weighing on everyone's minds, this year festival will focus on uplifting and inspirational subjects.

The story of inspiring individuals will be showcased in a number of selections.

In Nobody's Perfect, twelve Thalidomide survivors, who have faced lifelong challenges due to birth defects such as shortened limbs, band together to pose for a nude photo shoot. They illustrate the struggle against societal pressures and expectations of how people "should" be and the triumph of accepting one's self, imperfections and all.

The first-ever all-female Afghani soccer team is highlighted in Afghan Girls Can Kick. The women struggled against obstacles to form the team and to also play their first international tournament.

The struggles that African music star and human rights advocate Youssou N'Dour, a devout Sufi Muslim, faced when he released a controversial album, Egypt, to promote greater understanding of Islam is detailed in Youssou N'Dour: I Bring What I Love.

Meanwhile, environmental issues will also be addressed.

But rather than just depress audiences with end-of-the-world facts and figures, there's Upstream Battle. The film follows the Hoopa tribe's seemingly impossible attempt to have a dam, which has decimated salmon populations, removed from the Klamath River in California.

Waterlife looks both the beauty and environmental distress of the Great Lakes water system. Along with narration from The Tragically Hip's Gord Downie (plus music by Sam Roberts, Sufjan Stevens, Sigur Ros, Robbie Robertson, and Brian Eno), a group of individuals tell their stories about the Lakes and what it means to them.

The joy of music is celebrated in films like Soneros: The Sound of the Music, about  the culutral revival of Mexican folk music by youth in Veracruz, and ”¦and music, which follows a year in the life of students at a school in Sherbrooke, Quebec in which music permeates every subject.

With 75 films in total, there are numerous other selections. Things will kick off with Inside Hana's Suitcase and an opening night party at the Vancouver Art Gallery.

Running throughout the festival, there'll also be a celebrity camera auction. Up for bid will be  undeveloped snapshots  from the likes of CBC host George Stroumboulopoulos; director Denys Arcand, actors Kristin Kreuk and Jennifer Beals; music stars k-os, Sarah Slean, Jann Arden, Issa, Randy Bachman, Matthew Good, and Veda Hille; and more.

Starting on Monday (April 27), tickets will also be available for purchase  at Videomatica (1855 West 4th Avenue), Biz Books (302 West Cordova), and Bibliophile (2010 Commercial).