Storyville (TV series)


Storyville is a documentary strand presented by the BBC featuring international documentaries.

List of documentaries

2018 Series

Episode #Date first BroadcastTitleDescriptionSource
128 Jan 2018Trophy: The Big Game Hunting Controversy
211 Jun 2018City of GhostsBafta-nominated documentary about citizen journalists in Raqqa under IS control and their life as refugees after fleeing.
317 Jun 2018Eagle Huntress A 13-year old girl dreams of competing in an eagle festival
427 June 2018This is Congo
501 July 2018Olympic Dreams of Russian Gold - Over the Limit
609 July 2018John Curry: The Ice King
722 July 2018Insha'Allah Democracy
808 October 2018Jailed in America
922 October 2018A Woman Captured
1029 October 2018Selling Children
1111 November 2018Quest: Surviving in America
1219 November 2018Poisoning America: The Devil We KnowA group of citizens in West Virginia take on a powerful corporation
1326 November 2018Hurt Locker HeroThe story of a Kurdish colonel in the Iraqi army who disarmed thousands of landmines
1409 Dec 2018The Farthest: Voyager's Interstellar JourneyThe story of Voyager, an epic of human achievement, personal drama and miraculous success
1517 Dec 2018Richard Pryor: Omit the LogicA documentary about Richard Pryor, chronicling his life from his troubled youth to his meteoric rise as one of the most respected comedians of the 20th century

2016–2017 Series

Episodes from the 2015–2016 series
Episode #Date first broadcastTitleDescriptionSource
128 April 2015Himmler: The Decent OneThe story of Heinrich Himmler through the private letters, photographs and diaries discovered at his home in 1945.
213 July 2015Last Days in VietnamThe story of the final days of the Vietnam War as Saigon is about to fall to the North Vietnamese Army.
322 July 2015Circus Elephant RampageThe story of Tyke a circus elephant who went on the rampage in Honolulu. She killed her trainer in front of spectators and she was shot dead.
49 August 2015Atomic, Living in Dread and PromiseA look at life and death in the atomic age from Hiroshima to X-rays and MRI scans.
528 September 2015A Syrian Love StoryAward-winning documentary telling the story of a family torn apart by the Assad regime.
62 November 2015Lockerbie: My Brother's BomberKen Dornstein sets out to find the men responsible for the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103.
79 November 2015Dreamcatcher: Surviving Chicago's StreetsHow a former prostitute helps vulnerable women escape danger on the streets of Chicago.
816 November 2015Orion: The Man Who Would Be KingThe obscure singer who masqueraded as Elvis Presley back from the grave.
923 November 2015Cartel LandAn exposé of the Mexican drug war and the cartels operating around the Mexico/US border.
1030 November 2015FBI UndercoverFollowing an FBI counterterrorism operation with the help from a former 'Black Panther' turned FBI informer Saeed Torres.
117 December 2015The Six-Day War: Censored VoicesInterviews of Israeli soldiers returning after the Six-Day War of 1967.
1217 January 2016The Golden Age of Circus: The Show of ShowsThe story of circus performers, cabaret acts and vaudeville and fairground attractions.
1324 January 2016The Great Gangster Film FraudDocumentary about a plan to scam the British taxman by faking the production of a movie.
1431 January 2016A Death Row Tale: The Fear of 13The story of Nick Yarris, a convicted murderer on death row who was exonerated after petitioning the court asking to be executed.
1514 February 2016Decadence and Downfall: The Shah of Iran's Ultimate PartyThe documentary of the Celebration of the 2,500 years of the Persian monarchy
1721 February 2016The Black PanthersThe documentary of the Black Panthers
1828 February 2016Bolshoi BabylonThe documentary of the Bolshoi Ballet
1923 June 2016Unlocking the CageThe documentary of the animal rights lawyer Steven Wise
207 November 2016Being Evel KnievelThe documentary of the success of Evel Knievel

2014–2015 Series

Episodes from the 2014–2015 series:
Episode #Date first broadcastTitleDescriptionSource
23My Mother the Secret BabyDaisy Asquith tells the story of her mother's conception after a dance in 1940s Ireland
22Masterspy of Moscow - George BlakeFilm about the spy George Blake, who escaped from jail and fled to the Soviet Union
21The Lost Gold of the HighlandsA man searches a mysterious Scottish loch for a lost fortune he believes is hidden there
20Rocking Cambodia: Rise of a Pop DivaDocumentary telling the story of the rise of the band Cambodian Space Project
19India's DaughterThe story of the brutal gang rape and murder of 23-year-old medical student Jyoti on a moving bus in Delhi in 2012, and the unprecedented protests and riots which this horrific event ignited throughout India
181.7 Billion Dollar Fraud: Full ExposureIn October 2011, Olympus Corporation, a multibillion-dollar Japanese optical company, dismissed its president and CEO, British-born Michael Woodford, over cultural differences in management style
17The Great European Disaster MovieAuthored documentary by Italian director Annalisa Piras and former editor of The Economist Bill Emmott, which explores the crisis facing Europe.
16The Great Sex Addict Heist: The DogDocumentary about John Wojtowicz who is the inspiration for the 1975 movie Dog Day Afternoon
15Love HotelDocumentary about a love hotel in Osaka, day-to-day life of its staff and its patrons.
14Love Is All: 100 Years of Love and CourtshipA magical and moving archive trip through the universal theme of love, set to a stunning soundtrack by Richard Hawley.
13Bulldozers, Paving Stones and Power: The Chinese MayorDocumentary which looks into how power works in the Chinese Communist Party, focused through the mission of one local mayor.
12Mugabe and the DemocratsPolitical documentary thriller set in Zimbabwe, following two political enemies forced on a joint mission.
11Documentary which explores the life of Aaron Swartz, an activist for social justice and political organising on the internet, and the circumstances that led to his early death.
10The Arabian Motorcycle AdventuresDocumentary about an American man, Matt Van Dyke's, multi-year, 35,000-mile motorcycle trip through northern Africa and the Middle East, which saw him fight in the Libyan conflict against Gaddafi.
9Panto! Mayhem, Make Up and MagicFilm following a cast of Nottingham amateur actors who are staging a production of Puss in Boots, reflecting the vital and life-changing role the theatre plays in people's lives.
8Exposed: Magicians, Psychics and FraudsHow magician James Randi has debunked faith healers, fortune tellers and psychics.
7112 WeddingsA filmmaker finds out what happened to some of the couples whose wedding videos he shot.
6Particle Fever: The Hunt for the Higgs BosonDocumentary which follows six scientists during the launch of the Large Hadron Collider.
5Arms Dealer: The Notorious Mr BoutDocumentary following Viktor Bout - entrepreneur, arms smuggler and amateur film-maker.
4Web Junkies - China's Addicted TeensFilm following Chinese teenagers in a Beijing rehabilitation centre for internet addicts.
3VeloramaDocumentary using BFI archive footage to look back at a century of cycling.
2The Lance Armstrong Story - Stop at NothingFilm telling the story of the man behind the greatest fraud in recent sporting history.
1Searching for Sugar ManHow the forgotten 1960s American rocker Rodriguez became a phenomenon in South Africa.

2013–2014 series

Episodes from previous series:
Episode #Date first broadcastTitleDescriptionSource
.Russia's Toughest Prison: The Condemned
.The Gatekeepers
.The Himalayan Boy and the TV Set
.The Legend of Billie Jean King - Battle of the SexesThe story of the 1973 tennis match between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs.
.Which Way is the Front Line from Here? The Life and Time of Tim HetheringtonFilm about Tim Hetherington, the war photographer killed during the Libyan civil war.
24Shooting Bigfoot: America's Monster HuntersDocumentary about the obsessive, competitive and divided cult of Bigfoot hunting.
.Brakeless: Why Trains CrashDocumentary exploring one of Japan's biggest train crashes in modern history.
."Muscle Shoals: The Greatest Recording Studio in the World"Film about the town with two recording studios where some of America's most creative and defiant music was made.
.The Village that Fought Back: Five Broken CamerasThe video diary of a Palestinian farmer who films unrest in his West Bank village.
.Soccer Coach Zoran and his African TigersA Serbian coach attempts to forge South Sudan's first national football team.
.Cutie and the BoxerDocumentary about the chaotic 40-year marriage of two Japanese artists in New York.
.K2: The Killer SummitDocumentary looking at how 11 climbers were killed during a descent of K2 in August 2008.
.Mad Dog: Gaddafi's Secret WorldInsiders who gave shape to Gaddafi's dark dreams talk about his terrifying regime.
.The Big Melt - How Steel Made Us HardArchive footage and a live score tell the story of steel and the story of Sheffield.
.'Learning about Chinese artists Ai Weiwei, whose works have brought him notoriety and a prison sentence.
.Mandela, The Myth and MeExamining questions regarding the legacy of Nelson Mandela.
.Fame in ChinaHow the senior class at China's top drama academy staged the musical, Fame.
.Blackfish - The Whale that Killed
.The Spy who Went into the Cold: Kim Philby, Soviet Super Spy
.The Disappeared
.Hotel Folly - Folie à DeuxFilmed over five years, this is an emotional rollercoaster of a documentary which explores the sometimes extreme highs and lows of one of life's biggest gambles - buying a home. Part black comedy, part nail-biting journey, this shows the human cost of the mortgage crisis.
.The Great Hip Hop HoaxCalifornian hip-hop duo Silibil N' Brains were going to be massive. No one knew the pair were really Scottish, with fake American accents and made up identities.
8Smash & Grab: The Story of the Pink PanthersDocumentary about a gang of diamond thieves called the Pink Panthers.
7'How a group of young, feminist punk rockers known as Pussy Riot captured the world's attention by protesting against Putin's Russia.
.I Will Be MurderedA murdered Guatemalan lawyer foretells his death and names the culprits.
.How Hackers Changed the World: We Are LegionDocumentary about the radical online 'hacktivist' collective Anonymous.
.The Pirate BayHow the founders of a file sharing site were taken to court by the entertainment industry.
.Google and the World BrainDocumentary about a campaign by authors to stop the Google Books website.
.Expedition to the End of the WorldA group of scientists and artists venture by ship into uncharted territory.
.Death on the Staircase: The Last ChanceDocumentary which follows the hearing of a murder case which split a family.
.The Queen of VersaillesThe story of a couple whose plans of building a mansion are hit by the economic crisis.
.Harry Belafonte: Sing Your SongDocumentary surveying the life and times of singer/actor/activist Harry Belafonte.
.The House I Live InFilm looking at America's War on Drugs, painting a portrait of individuals at all levels.
.The Other Irish TravellersDocumentary looking at the history of Ireland's vanished Anglo-Irish classes.
.From the Sea to the Land Beyond: Britain's Coast on FilmA meditation on Britain's unique coastline and the role it plays in our lives.
.The Chef Who Conquered New York: Serving Up Paul LiebrandtA look at the driven and talented British celebrity chef, Paul Liebrandt.
.JFK's Road to White House: Primary 1960Film following John F Kennedy during his 1960 Wisconsin presidential primary run.
.Olympic Massacre: One Day In SeptemberRecounting the tragic events of the 1972 'Munich Massacre'.
.The $750 Million ThiefFilm about Marc Stuart Dreier, a Manhattan attorney who orchestrated a fraud that netted over $750 million.
.Racing DreamsFilm about three children competing in the World Karting Association's national series.
.The Queen of Africa: The Miriam Makeba StoryFilm about the life of South African singer and civil rights activist Miriam Makeba.
.Hitler, Stalin and Mr JonesWas a Welsh journalist killed in 1935 for revealing Stalin's policies in the Ukraine?
.Albino Witchcraft MurdersTwo people with albinism try to follow their dreams in the face of prejudice in Tanzania.
.Girl ModelDocumentary exposing the supply of ever younger girls to the Japanese modelling industry.
.Surviving ProgressDocumentary about the grave risks we pose to our own survival in the name of progress.
.The Real Great EscapeThe story of the mastermind behind World War II's Great Escape, Roger Bushel.
.MurderballDocumentary exploring the sport of wheelchair rugby, unofficially known as murderball.
.'The story of the 1974 kidnap of teenage newspaper heiress Patty Hearst.
.When China Met AfricaA historic gathering of over fifty African heads of state in Beijing reverberates in Zambia where the lives of three characters unfold.
.Cod WarsFilm about the disputes between Iceland and the UK over ownership of fishing zones.
.Barbados at the Races: Bajan Born and BredAn exploration of what it is to be Bajan.
.Barbados at the Races: The Jockey's PrayerA look at the lives of three Bajan jockeys.
.Barbados at the Races: Run Cat Run!How a new breed of small trainer is determined to break into the exclusive Turf Club.
.Barbados at the Races: The FavouriteThe build-up to the Derby seen through the eyes of those responsible for the favourite.
.'Documentary film by Kurt Kuenne which chronicles the murder of Andrew Bagby and the efforts of his parents to gain custody of his child from his alleged killer.
.Hi Society - The Wonderful World of Nicky HaslamDocumentary about the British socialite and wit Nicky Haslam.
.The Jazz BaronessDocumentary about the British baroness who fell in love with jazz genius Thelonious Monk.
.Robert Capa - In Love and WarA look at the life, loves and career of iconic war photographer Robert Capa.
.Prostitution Behind the VeilDocumentary following the lives of two Iranian women who have resorted to prostitution.
.Fashion VictimHow fashion designer Gianni Versace was murdered on the steps of his Miami mansion.
.Blast!Scientists launch a revolutionary telescope to try and explain the formation of galaxies.
.I'm Not Dead YetDocumentary about the inheritance of a Gothic home and a family's unspoken past.
.Prodigal SonsTranssexual filmmaker Kim and her brother Marc meet up at their high school reunion.
.When Borat Came to TownRomanian villagers attempt to clear their name after being portrayed in the film Borat.
.Shot in BombayDocumentary on Bollywood superstar Sanjay Dutt, after conviction for firearms offences.
.'Re-examining Polanski's conviction for having unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor.
.Dirty Tricks: The Man Who Got the Bushes ElectedProfile of Lee Atwater, who became chairman of the GOP and mentor to George W Bush.
.Martin Luther King: Citizen King 1967-1968Documentary about the final five years of civil rights activist Martin Luther King's life.
.1968Documentary exploring what happened throughout the world in the seminal year of 1968.
.The Day after PeaceDocumentary charting filmmaker Jeremy Gilley's attempts to establish a Day of Peace.
.: Episode 2A filmmaker reassesses her life by talking to women around the world about theirs.
.: Episode 1A filmmaker reassesses her life by talking to women around the world about theirs.
.The Burning SeasonOne young Australian entrepreneur's attempt to save the rainforests, and make a fortune.
.The Chuck ShowDocumentary exploring the contradictions and passions of painter Chuck Connelly.
.Wheel of TimeDocumentary by Werner Herzog exploring the Buddhist Kalachakra movement for world peace.
.The Father, the Son and the HousekeeperDocumentary about Father Michael Cleary, an Irish priest who had his own TV chat show.
.Death of a WAGDocumentary about the murder of an Iranian football star's wife by his mistress.
.The Biggest Chinese Restaurant in the World: CompilationOwner Qin Linzi and her staff show how to run a successful restaurant business in China.
.The Biggest Chinese Restaurant in the World: Bright FutureThere's a banquet for a new baby and an anniversary show to celebrate its third year.
.The Biggest Chinese Restaurant in the World: Family DutiesExploring the strong sense of duty implicit in family relationships in China.
.The Biggest Chinese Restaurant in the World: A Good MatchExamining attitudes towards marriage in contemporary China.
.The Biggest Chinese Restaurant in the World: EnterpriseWhat it takes to run a successful restaurant business in China.
.Bob Dylan's Indian BirthdayThe village of Shillong, North India, comes together each year to celebrate Bob Dylan.
.Flipping Out - Israel's Drug GenerationWhy so many young Israelis have fallen victim to drug culture while backpacking in India.
.My IsraelHow an Israeli woman who survived a terrorist attack has come to deal with the situation.
.The Battle for JerusalemLiran Atzmor's film documents a battle that took place in Jerusalem's Old City in 1948.
.My Secret Agent AuntieHow apparent heroine Baroness Moura Budberg may have actually been a callous Soviet agent.
.Somebody Has to Live: The Journey of Ariel DorfmanDocumentary about author Ariel Dorfman, who survived the bloody 1973 coup in Chile.
.Standing in the Shadows of MotownDocumentary that tells the story of The Funk Brothers, the successful Motown musicians.
.Dolce Vita AfricanaDocumentary about celebrated Malian photographer Malick Sidibé.
.Tito's GhostDocumentary revealing how the worship of Marshal Tito continues in the former Yugoslavia.
."Dance with a Serial Killer"French homicide cop Jean Francois Abgrall recounts bringing serial killer, Francis Heaulme to justice.
.Very Russian GeniusesHow the political changes of the 1980s affected the intellectual elite in Russia.
.Orthodox StanceFilm about Dmitriy Salita - Russian immigrant, professional boxer and religious Jew.
.The Polish Ambulance MurdersHow a cabal of undertakers bribed paramedics and doctors into murdering their patients.
.Hitler's SecretaryHitler's private secretary from Autumn 1942 talks about her role in the Third Reich.
.The Devil Came on HorsebackA look at how the Arab Sudanese government seems intent on destroying its black citizens.
.Jonestown: The World's Biggest Mass SuicideIn 1978, 900 members of the Jonestown cult died in possibly history's biggest mass suicide
.Cannibals in the Andes: Stranded!The survivors of a famous plane crash relive their experiences 30 years later.
.'The story of a cameraman imprisoned in Baghdad, accused of plotting to kill Tony Blair.
.'Documentary about an 82-year-old man who has never known love, and a young Russian nun.
.My Life as a SpyLeslie Woodhead recalls his time as a Russian-speaking sleuth during the Cold War.
.444 DaysThe story of the 1979 hostage crisis at the American Embassy in Tehran.
.Hammer and TickleDocumentary telling the real history of Communism through jokes told by ordinary people.
.The Russian Newspaper MurdersDocumentary about the murders of six Russian journalists between 1995 and 2003.
.Startup.comDocumentary following two high-school friends as they begin an internet startup.
.Little Dieter Needs to FlyWerner Herzog's film recreates the ordeal of US pilot Dieter Dengler, shot down over Laos.
.The Madrid ConnectionDocumentary about the men lead the terrorist cell behind the 2004 Madrid train bombings.
.WednesdayA revealing portrait of a generation growing up in a changing Russia.
.Power TripDocumentary telling the story of the chaotic post-Soviet transition in Tbilisi, Georgia.
.Gods of BrazilDocumentary telling the story of legendary Brazilian footballers Pelé and Garrincha.
.Barca - The Inside StoryDocumentary following the fortunes of Barcelona Football Club over a year of crisis.
.Gimme ShelterDocumentary recalling the events surrounding a free concert by the Rolling Stones in 1969.
.New York DollDocumentary which details the turbulent history of the New York Dolls.
.Etre et avoirDocumentary portrait of life in a tiny one-class primary school in France's Auvergne.
.The Ministry of TruthDocumentary about Richard Symons' campaign for truth in the Houses of Parliament.
.Oona and MeDocumentary about ex-Labour MP Oona King.
.Sitting for ParliamentBelfast artist Noel Murphy paints all 108 members of the Northern Ireland Assembly.
.Bloody CartoonsKarsten Kjaer looks at the events when a small Danish newspaper chose to print a selection of cartoons depicting Muhammad.
.Dinner with the PresidentPresident Musharraf explores the different influences on political life in Pakistan.
.Looking for the RevolutionLooking at President Evo Morales' struggles building socialist policies in Bolivia.
.Taxi to the Dark SideDocumentary investigating a young man's death just days after his arrest by US forces.
.Russia's Village of FoolsDocumentary about Russian patriot and businessman Mikhail Morozov.
.Campaign! The Kawasaki CandidateFilmmaker Kazuhiro Soda follows his friend Yamauchi on the campaign trail in Japan.
.Egypt: We Are Watching YouThree Egyptian women start a movement to educate and empower the public
.Please Vote for MeA group of Chinese schoolchildren learn about democracy for the first time.
.Iron Ladies of LiberiaDocumentary about Liberian president Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf.
.Belgrade Radio Warriors - Turn On, Tune In, Slob OutDocumentary about the Belgrade youth radio station, B92.
.Iraq in FragmentsDocumentary which illuminates post-war Iraq in three acts.
.The UndertakingDocumentary about American-Irish poet-philosopher, essayist and undertaker, Thomas Lynch.
.This Film is Not Yet RatedDocumentary about the Motion Picture Association of America's rating system.
.Glow of White WomenExamination of the personal impact of discriminatory laws in Apartheid era South Africa.
.Hollywood OvernightDocumentary about the rise and fall of film maker Troy Duffy.
.Riot On!Award-winning documentary about the spectacular failure of a Finnish media company.
.Andrew and Jeremy Get MarriedThe extraordinary love story between a retired bus driver and a retired teacher.
.Children and Cancer - A Lion in the HouseDocumentary following the challenges facing five families with children who have cancer.
.TV JunkieDocumentary about drug addiction, edited from home videos of a drug addict.
.Every Good Marriage Begins with TearsBengali sisters travel from London to Bangladesh to undertake arranged marriages.
.'Players, coaches and journalists recall the all-star New York Cosmos of the seventies.
.Kike Like MeJamie Kastner finds out what it means to be Jewish in the modern world.
.Office Tigers: Part 4Series which goes inside the closed world of Western corporate outsourcing.
.Office Tigers: Part 3Series which goes inside the closed world of Western corporate outsourcing.
.Office Tigers: Part 2Series which goes inside the closed world of Western corporate outsourcing.
.Office Tigers: Part 1Series which goes inside the closed world of Western corporate outsourcing.
.Paris BrothelMark Kidel's film looks at the unique licensed brothels of Paris which existed until 1946.
.Winged MigrationOscar-nominated documentary on the migratory patterns of birds.
.The Natural History of the ChickenDocumentary expanding the frontiers of popular awareness over the chicken's many virtues.
.Laughing with HitlerExamining the history of the Third Reich through the jokes told about the Nazis.
.Why We FightFilm exploring the joint venture between the US government and the arms industry.
.Journeys with GeorgeAlexandra Pelosi's informal portrait of George W. Bush, filmed over nearly a year.
.Heirs to an ExecutionIvy Meeropol tells how her family was torn apart when her grandparents were executed.
.RFKDavid Grubin's biography reassesses the remarkable and tragic life of Bobby Kennedy.
.How Vietnam Was LostThe story of two seemingly unconnected events that changed the course of the Vietnam War.
.Children of the Chinese CircusDocumentary looking at Shanghai Circus school.
.Black SunDocumentary about a blind man who travels the world alone.
.How Much is Your Life Worth?Documentary about the work of attorneys and adjusters involved in cases of wrongful death.
.Oswald's GhostDocumentary which deconstructs the mythologies surrounding the JFK assassination.
.Cuba! Africa! Revolution: Part 2Second of a two-part documentary telling the story of Cuba's interventions in Africa.
.Cuba! Africa! Revolution: Part 1Two-part documentary about Cuban intervention in Africa from the 1960s onwards.
.A Story of People in War and PeaceDocumentary about the Nagorno-Karabakh War.
.In Search of GandhiIndian filmmaker Lalit Vachani retreads the route of Mahatma Gandhi's famous Salt March.
.Law of the DragonSeries following the work of Judge Chen and his travelling court in China