In this daily 30-minute talk program from the producers of The Daily: Weekend Edition, some of the entertainment world’s most iconic figures – from Bob Newhart to Florence Henderson – reflect candidly on their lives and careers, from their earliest dreams of fame to their darkest moments and greatest triumphs. [more]
Official Website: http://unscripted.ca

The Path To Shaolin

Soft-spoken and unassuming, with boyish good looks and a ready smile, Tim Mrazek seems like the kind of average Joe you’d expect to meet at Canadian Tire or a junior hockey game. Except that he’s also a 32nd generation Shaolin warrior monk. The Path to Shaolin is the story of how an ordinary guy from the Canadian prairies becomes part of an ancient Zen Buddhist tradition – and how that tradition itself is evolving and changing in the 21st century. **Part of VisionTV's Birthday Tribute to the Dalai Lama

Twist of Faith

Belief influences the actions of peoples and nations, and entwines itself into every global happening, from our fight against terrorism to the struggle to save our environment. Veteran Canadian foreign correspondent Martin Himel (End of Days, Jenin: Massacring Truth) embarks on an epic journey around the world to find out how religious faith is shaping current events – and how current events are affecting the nature of belief.

Five Roads to Freedom

Until 1994, South Africa was reviled internationally for its system of institutionalized racial discrimination, or apartheid. Few who lived under this system could have imagined that South Africa would embrace civil rights and democracy in the course of their lifetimes, let alone win the respect of the international community. Five Roads to Freedom: From Apartheid to the World Cup is an original new Canadian documentary that looks at South Africa’s revolutionary transformation through the eyes of five men and women who lived under the shadow of apartheid.

In a country as diverse as Canada, marriages between people of different cultures and faiths are increasingly common. A recent study showed that more than 90 percent of Canadians are now accepting of such unions. But it’s still not easy for mixed couples to make it to the altar. This engaging new documentary series looks at what happens when two people from different cultural and religious backgrounds fall in love.

John and Yoko: Give Peace A Song

From John Lennon and Yoko Ono's famous bed-in in 1969 sprung "Give Peace a Chance", the first global peace anthem. This program revisits that moment and the song with fresh eyes. Featurin Yoko Ono's longest interview with the media in 25 years and showcases never-before-seen bed-in footage from her private archive. Other people who were there, like Petula Clark and Life Magazine photographer Gerry Deiter, tell their stories for the first time. Peter Seeger makes a special appearance, singing "Give Peace a Chance".

Investigating Easter

One man’s death changed the course of human history. Canada’s multi-faith network VisionTV will mark the Easter season with two weeks of special programming that investigates the mystery and meaning of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection, which will include the NEW Documentary Premieres of The Naked Archaeologist Season 3, Writing The Dead Sea Scrolls, Beasts of The Bible, and Remaking The Shroud.

God Bless America

In this six-part documentary series, award-winning Canadian broadcast journalist Ralph Benmergui visits our southern neighbour to learn how and why religious faith has come to play such an important role in the political life of the United States.

Ralph Benmergui: My Israel

One of Canada’s most renowned broadcast journalists immerses himself in the fascinating complexities and contradictions of present-day Israel. The five-part series ponders the past, present and future of the Jewish state. The program brings Benmergui face to face with Israelis from all walks of life and reveals the Holy Land in ways that few Canadians have been privileged to experience. ›› Click here to visit the Official Website

Remembering The King: Elvis Presley’s 75th birthday
Famous Families: The Presley Family
Love Me Tender: The Love Songs of Elvis

Canada’s VisionTV pays its own birthday tribute to Elvis in the New Year with a series of prime time documentaries, movies and music specials airing from Wednesday, Jan. 6 to Friday, Jan. 8. With more than 30 years after his passing, Elvis remains the undisputed King of Rock ’n’ Roll.

I Prophesy: The Future Revealed

Human beings are obsessed with trying to predict what will come tomorrow – and these efforts tell us much about who we are today. The I Prophesy documentaries consider some of the possible futures that await us: from a world in which physical sex no longer exists and humans live for a thousand years, to doomsday scenarios in which our civilization is erased by asteroid collisions or epic floods. [more]
Gemini Award Nomination: Best Cross Platform Project
James Milward, Sissy Federer - http://iprophesy.net

Inspirational Leaders Documentary Specials

VisionTV wraps up 2009 with a series of specials celebrating men and women around the world, from the past and the present, who have lived exemplary lives. VisionTV’s “Inspirational Leaders” event airing from Monday, Dec. 28 through Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2009 features documentaries on Nelson Mandela, Pope John Paul II, The Aga Khan, John Lennon, Billy Graham and many others whose words and actions have changed the world – and shown us the kind of greatness we can aspire to in our own lives.

What does Santa Claus have to do with the birth of Jesus? Why do we kiss under the mistletoe? This documentary traces the roots of our contemporary Christmas traditions, and reveals that many have their origin in pagan celebrations that began thousands of years before the birth of Christ.

A Song For Africa

This hour-long documentary tells the story of the Watoto Children's Choir of Uganda, a world-renowned ensemble made up of youngsters orphaned by AIDS. Founded by Canadian missionaries, the choir has performed all over the globe, helping to raise awareness of Africa's AIDS crisis. Viewers will get to know some of the youthful members of Watoto, along with Jennifer Banas, a young mother from Alberta who makes an eye-opening journey to Uganda to work with the choir.

Darwin and Beyond: The Battle of Faith and Science

On Nov. 24, 1859, an English naturalist named Charles Darwin published a book that would change our understanding of life on earth, and touch off a battle between faith and science that rages to this day. VisionTV marks the 150th anniversary of The Origin of Species with documentary specials, I Prophesy: Designing Humanity, God Bless America: The Evangelical Right, American Experience: The Monkey Trial and the VISIONTV PREMIERES of The Science of the Soul and Darwin’s Lost Paradise.

Apocalyptic Visions

The world will end on December 21, 2012. That’s the premise, anyway, of 2012, a big-budget, CGI-laden disaster flick from Independence Day director Roland Emmerich, which premieres this Friday. On Friday, Nov. 20, Canada’s VisionTV considers the end of the world, with an evening of documentary specials, I Prophesy: 2012 and the VISIONTV PREMIERES of End Times: How Close Are We?, and ideaCity: Ronald Weinland.

VisionTV commemorates Remembrance Day

Each year, Remembrance Day honours the sacrifices of those, past and present, who have given their lives in battle. VisionTV marks the occasion with a series of special documentary presentations: The Trench (11 pm ET), Canada Remembers: Our Lasting Legacy (12:30 am ET) and the VisionTV PREMIERE of Canada Remembers: Their Achievements and Sacrifice (10 pm ET).

VisionTV commemorates Holocaust Education Week

Holocaust Education Week is a time to reaffirm our collective responsibility to oppose the kind of murderous hatred that claimed six million Jewish lives in World War Two. VisionTV commemorates this solemn occasion with a series of special documentary presentations: Into the Arms of Strangers (midnight ET), the VisionTV PREMIERES of Hana's Suitcase (11 pm ET), and Great Souls: Elie Wiesel (10 pm ET).

20th anniversary of the Berlin Wall’s fall

November 9, 1989 marks the collapse of the infamous Berlin Wall, allowing East Berliners to pass freely to the West for the first time in 28 years. VisionTV celebrates the role of faith in this historic event with a series of special documentary presentations: The Life and Times of Pope John Paul II (midnight ET) and the VisionTV PREMIERES of Der Tunnel (9 pm ET), and Great Souls: Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn (11 pm ET).

Beyond The Lost Symbol

VisionTV examines the truth behind Dan Brown’s latest thriller, The Lost Symbol, on Tuesday, Sept. 29 at 10:30 p.m. ET / 7:30 p.m. PT with the presentation of Supernatural Investigator: Occult Architecture, a documentary that reveals the facts behind Dan Brown’s fiction. Occult Architecture will be followed by Enigma: Masonic Conspiracies on Sept. 29 at 11 p.m. ET / 8 p.m. PT, which investigates the dark rumours of evil deeds that have surrounded the secretive Freemasons for centuries.

Here in North America, we enjoy more wealth and material comfort than any other society in human history. But are we happy? On the far side of the world, a tiny Buddhist kingdom has made a point of rejecting the Western philosophy that equates prosperity with contentment. Canadian filmmakers Tanya Ballantyne Tree and Josephine Mackay travel to remote Bhutan to learn how the government and its people are putting the GNH principle into practice as they grapple with the challenges of rapid modernization.

Life and Times: Terry Fox

Terry Fox never expected to be a hero. A sports fanatic, he was neither big nor talented. But what he lacked in these areas he made up for in determination and perseverance – qualities that would serve him well when he launched his legendary “Marathon of Hope.” The hour-long documentary features interviews with the people who were closest to him, and includes never-before-seen footage from his unforgettable cross-country odyssey.

Extreme Clergy

In war-torn nations where non-combatants are caught in the crossfire; in rich lands where natural resources generate untold wealth for the few and deprivation for the many; in parched deserts where those who seek freedom often find death: who will stand up for the forgotten and oppressed? Extreme Clergy, a documentary series, follows pastors, ministers, priests and rabbis into the world’s most dangerous places. [Official Website]