The Gate and Dogwoof are pleased to announce a month of amazing documentary screenings. 

BEING ELMO

Tuesday 1 May, 6.30

Every day, millions tune in to Sesame Street to see one of the world's most adored and recognisable characters - a furry red monster named Elmo. This is the story of Kevin Clash, the man behind the iconic puppet. Kevin had wanted to be a puppeteer since he was a teenager in the 1970s. More specifically, he wanted to be part of Jim Henson's team, the creative force responsible for delivering the magic of Sesame Street on a daily basis. With a supportive family behind him, Kevin made his dreams come true. Combining amazing archival footage with material from the present day, this personal documentary explores Kevin's story in vivid detail and chronicles the meteoric rise of Jim Henson in the process. It has won numerous awards at film festivals, including a Special Jury Prize at Sundance 2011.

ABENDLAND

Sunday 6 May, 12.00

ABENDLAND is an observation of Europe at night. Under the cover of darkness, people don't just sleep; they work and play, are born and die. Systems are maintained, many of them protected. A large number of night jobs involve surveillance and exclusion. What kind of Europe is this that we don't let others participate in? Darkness can help us see things more clearly.

PUTIN'S KISS

Sunday 13 May, 12.00

PUTIN'S KISS is a rare insight into the core of Russian democracy 'Putin-style'. We meet Masha, 19, who has become a spokesperson for Nashi, a political youth organization working to support the current political system. Their agenda, however, is also to keep the political opposition from spreading their views among the Russians. When Masha is up for election, she starts questioning her role in the Nashi movement for the first time.

TOWN OF RUNNERS + Director Q&A

Sunday 20 May, 12.00

The world's best long-distance runners hail from one small town in Ethiopia. See how they do it! Long-distance running is a way of life in the Arsi region of Ethiopia. In a country long associated with poverty, famine and war, world-record beating athletes are a source of pride. Many of the world's greatest runners hail from Bekoji, a remote town in the southern Highlands. In the Beijing Olympics, runners from Bekoji won all four gold medals in the long-distance track events - more medals than most industrialised countries. TOWN OF RUNNERS is a feature documentary about the young athletes born and raised in Bekoji, who hope to emulate their local heroes and compete on the world stage. Filmed over three years, the film follows their fortunes as they move from school track to national competition and from childhood to adulthood.

Following the screening, the director will be present to answer your questions.

REVENGE OF THE ELECTRIC CAR

Sunday 27 May, 12.30

By 2006, thousands of new electric cars had been deliberately destroyed by the same car companies that had built them. Today, only six years later, the electric car is back... with a vengeance. In REVENGE OF THE ELECTRIC CAR, director Chris Paine takes his film crew behind the closed doors of Nissan, GM and the Silicon Valley start-up Tesla Motors to chronicle the story of the global resurgence of electric cars. With almost every major car manufacturer now jumping to produce new electric models, REVENGE... follows the race to be the first and the best, and to win the hearts and minds of the public around the world. It's not just the next generation of green cars that's on the line; it's the future of the automobile itself.

About Dogwoof

Dogwoof is the UK's leading independent documentary film distributor, responsible for the highly successful distribution of films such as THE AGE OF STUPID, THE END OF THE LINE, BURMA VJ, RESTREPO, and most recently DREAMS OF A LIFE. Dogwoof is a great supporter of independent, innovative filmmaking that challenges audiences and brings important stories into the public eye. For further information, visit www.dogwoof.com.