Documentary

Presented in partnership with the Hopp Ground Garden Club of Bedford, Five Seasons: The Gardens of Piet Oudolf follows filmmaker Thomas Piper as he explores the work and creative vision of influential designer Piet Oudolf. Moving through the seasons and across locations from the Netherlands to New York and beyond, the film offers an intimate look at Oudolf’s process—from abstract sketches to ecological philosophy—while also documenting the creation of a major new garden at Hauser & Wirth Somerset, highlighting how he has redefined what gardens can be.

Set high in the majestic French Pyrenees, The Shepherd and The Bear explores a conflict provoked by the reintroduction of brown bears in the midst of a traditional shepherding community. The film follows an ageing shepherd who struggles to find a successor as bears prey on his flock, and a teenage boy who becomes obsessed with tracking the bears. Through its breathtaking cinematography and immersive storytelling, The Shepherd and The Bear is a modern folktale about tradition, community and humanity’s relationship with a vanishing natural world.

Over six decades, photographer Steve Schapiro bore witness to some of the most significant social and cultural moments in modern American history such as the civil rights movement, March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom and the Selma to Montgomery marches. Shot shortly before his passing by filmmaker Maura Smith, Steve Schapiro: Being Everywhere is a loving tribute to a man who was the quintessential “fly on the wall,” waiting for moments to unfold and capturing them with a naturalism and skill that’s nothing short of dazzling. A Q&A with Maura Smith follows the film.

A panel discussion led by Shane Killoran of Hit House Film will follow the screening. HERE. IS. BETTER. is a powerful and hopeful documentary exploring the mental health crisis facing millions of Americans living with PTSD. Veterans are up to three times more likely to experience PTSD, and the film follows four of them—each with different backgrounds and service experiences—as they undergo evidence-based trauma therapies. Featured individuals include former presidential candidate Jason Kander, a Vietnam Veteran still grappling with decades-old memories, and women Veterans whose stories are too often overlooked. With unprecedented access to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the film weaves together their journeys toward healing, offering insight and hope to millions.