Vanessa Roth

The Girl and The Picture

Vanessa Roth

This is a story of loss, legacy, and the power to change the future. It's about family and the memories we leave behind, a story that began 80 years ago in 1937, when eight-year-old Xia Shuqin witnessed the murder of her family in the horror known as the Nanjing Massacre. In just six weeks, 300,000 people were slaughtered at the hands of Japanese soldiers - victims of mass rape and murder. Xia Shuqin and her 4-year-old sister hid from the soldiers for ten long days, concealing themselves under the corpses of their parents and siblings. Madame Xia, now 88, shares her legacy of loss and survival.

Forrest Gump

Robert Zemeckis

Tom Hanks, Robin Wright

A man with a low IQ has accomplished great things in his life and been present during significant historic events—in each case, far exceeding what anyone imagined he could do. But despite all he has achieved, his one true love eludes him.

The Texas Promise

Vanessa Roth

The Texas Promise follows the debate over the direction of Texas public education and its impact on the nation. With a lawsuit brought against the state by a collection of school districts claiming that the cutting of over 5 billion dollars from public education was unconstitutional, and a variety of contested bills up for passage in the 83rd Legislature, the film explores what is at stake for students in the Texas school system and what the policy decisions might mean for the future of Texas.

Aging Out

Roger Weisberg, Vanessa Roth

Artfully directed by award-winning filmmakers Roger Weisberg and Vanessa Roth, "Aging Out" chronicles the daunting obstacles that three young people in foster care encounter as they "age out" of the system and are suddenly on their own for the first time. "Aging Out" is more than a dark chronicle of young people who move from foster care into the welfare, mental health, and criminal justice systems. This emotionally complex film is also a portrait of young adults struggling to overcome the scars of their troubled childhood in order to realize their dreams of independence and fulfillment.

The Third Monday in October

Alexandra Dickson Gray, Vanessa Roth

As America faced a divisive presidential election in 2004, filmmaker Vanessa Roth took her camera to another series of elections: student council races in four diverse middle schools across the country. The kids discuss issues ranging from updating school textbooks and equipment to improving school lunches. With humor and insight, this documentary explores the impact of family, geography, class and national politics on the students' choices.

No Tomorrow

Roger Weisberg, Vanessa Roth

After being profiled in the film AGING OUT, Risa Bejarano, a foster care success story, was brutally murdered. NO TOMORROW poses a difficult question: What role did the filmmakers previous documentary play in this chilling death penalty trial?

American Teacher

Vanessa Roth

Erik Benner, Neil Cavuto

As the debate over the state of America's public school system rages on, one thing everyone agrees on is the need for great teachers. Yet, while research proves that teachers are the most important school factor in a child's future success, America's teachers are so woefully underpaid that almost a third must divide their time between a second job in order to make a living. Chronicling the stories of four teachers in different areas of the country, American Teacher reveals the frustrating realities of today's educators, the difficulty of attracting talented new teachers, and why so many of our best teachers feel forced to leave the profession altogether. But this wake-up call to our system's failings also looks at possibilities for reform. Can we re-value teaching in the United States and turn it into a prestigious, financially attractive and competitive profession? With almost half of American teachers leaving the field in the next five years, now is the time to find out.

Mary J. Blige's My Life

Vanessa Roth

Mary J. Blige, Sean Combs

Mary J. Blige set the music world on fire with her trailblazing 1994 LP "My Life." The singer, producer and actress reveals the demons and blessings that inspired the record and propelled her to international stardom. She celebrates the 25th anniversary of her most influential work by performing the album live for the first time.

The Other Side

Vanessa Roth

When 18 children – nine from Palestine and nine from Israel – come together to form a kids soccer team, they come face-to-face with the other side for the first time in their lives. United by the common goals of teamwork and dedication to a shared purpose, they confront generations of fear head on. Is peace through sports really possible, or is it hopelessly naive to think that a handful of 12-year-old soccer players can begin to change their world?