As we consider the previous year, a selection of outstanding feature-length pieces emerges. These narratives explore multifaceted topics ranging from geopolitical intrigue and scientific revelations to deeply human stories.
A Puzzling Author and the Soul of a Country
An author rose to fame in the post-Soviet era with biting satires on power. While numerous of his literary peers have faced suppression or left the nation, he continues to move vast numbers of books. It raises a pertinent question: Has he evolved into an supporter for the Kremlin?
Survival and Complicity in the Syrian Brutal Conflict
The tale of a young man, who at 18 was given an ultimatum that his only path out of prison was to join the government military. Following fourteen long years, his past as one of Assad's soldiers could now put him in mortal danger.
The Acrimonious Feud Over Our Earliest Beginnings
The discovery of fossilised remains in the Djurab desert in the early 2000s was proclaimed as completely rewriting the story of our human race. But, a faction was convinced. The resulting intense argument has taken over the lives of researchers ever since.
A British Sect That Operated in the Open
Philippa Barnes was just a child when her family joined the Jesus Fellowship. As an adult, she played a key role in uncover the appalling extent of exploitation it had committed.
A Leader's Curious Stance on International Law
Numerous voters expected that the former human rights lawyer would renew the UK's commitment to human rights. But, the performance over the past year has been strikingly mixed.
Shattering a Country's Myth
A film featuring a repentant con artist as she records unscrupulous clients with hidden cameras poses complex queries: Is she really a new person, and is the filmmaker's own intentions?
The Person Who Cleans Britain's Most Difficult Scenes
From murder scenes to biological waste, an extreme cleaner has encountered – and restored – it all. In their stickiest times, individuals rely on him to restore order.
Will an Famous Museum Endure an "Omni-Crisis"?
Plagued by colonial controversy, strained finances and the exposure of an internal thief, the UK's leading museum is in a major crisis. The question remains: Is it possible to repair its legacy?
Beyond "Pregnancy Nausea": The Agony of Extreme Condition
Called hyperemesis gravidarum and once labeled 'dangerous sickness' by the Victorians, this illness has long lacked an reliable medical solution – until perhaps now.
A Legacy of Extremism in Contemporary Government
A violent fanatic and pioneer of bigotry, Meir Kahane died a political pariah thirty-five years ago. Today, his ideas shape the highest echelons of the state.
The English Gentleman With a Fraudulent Secret
With his keen intellect and sterling reputation, it's little wonder that high-net-worth clients entrusted him with their assets. Until they began to get suspicious.
The Tiny State That Emerged as the World's Mediation Capital
An astonishingly wealthy Gulf state has transformed into a significant player on the international scene, working to mediate some of the most complex conflicts. What are driving this unprecedented role?
A Close-Up View at a Leader Preparing for International Summitry
Deeply unpopular at home, the French leader thrives on the international arena, where he projects himself as the statesman most equipped to deal with a certain sitting US president. Seven years after their previous encounter, a writer accompanied him as he readied himself for the fray.
During the Court Case of a Tragic Case
What led to the daughter of an wealthy family end up at the Old Bailey with her companion, facing charges with the death of their two-week-old infant?
The End of a Major Development Agency: Not Universal Mourning
When actions were made to dismantle a prominent development organization, many around the globe were taken aback. But on the front lines in a West African nation, this latest betrayal was not unexpected.
The Shocking 1960s Study on South Asian Women
When details about a scientific experiment in the sixties were revealed, there was immense outrage. But the exact nature of what happened remains partially unclear.
A "Mozart" of the Attention Economy
He's spent a full day in slime, two days buried alive – and given away huge sums of cash to selected participants. But are these stunts simply incredibly savvy clickbait – or works of daring brilliance?
Existence in a Country Endangered by the Encroaching Seas
With sea levels increasing, much of this Pacific island nation's residents is confronting the prospect that their homeland may soon become uninhabitable. The pressing question is: To where are they supposed to relocate?
One Sorrowful Case of Childhood Destitution
As I encountered Craig he was thirteen and homeless. I still believed his life could change for the better. I was tragically misplaced.
A International AI Competition and a Crucial Defection
In the recent past, after living half his life in the US, Song-Chun Zhu took a one-way ticket to China. Today, he could possess the key to which nation wins the worldwide technological rivalry.
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