Since it’s World Premiere in Sundance 2013, “Google and the World Brain” has been screened at more than 70 festivals, including Sheffield DOC/FEST, DOXA, CPH:DOX, San Francisco, New York, & Real Film to mention but a few, and broadcasted on more than 20 channels worldwide.
Furthermore, earlier this year the film was awarded the prestigious journalism award: First Place National Headliner Award for Documentary.
If you haven’t had the opportunity to watch it yet, don’t worry! DVDs are on sale now from Polar Star Films Shop, and, for you digital bunnies, we are also delighted to announce that it’s available for streaming worldwide now on our website through Distrify.
The documentary tells the story of the most ambitious project ever conceived on the Internet. In 2002 Google began to scan millions of books in an effort to create a giant global library, containing every book in existence. They had an even greater purpose – to create a higher form of intelligence, something that HG Wells had predicted in his 1937 essay “World Brain”. But over half the books Google scanned were in copyright, and authors across the world launched a campaign to stop Google, which climaxed in a New York courtroom in 2011. A film about the dreams, dilemmas and dangers of the Internet.
This is what the press said about the film:
“Endlessly fascinating and engaging… It’s probably the best documentary you’ll see all year.” Huffington Post – Lucas McNelly
“‘Google and the World Brain’ is a masterful documentary. It will undoubtedly have an effect on anyone who sees it.” Indiewire – Julie Fischer
“As Ben Lewis’s well-argued documentary shows, Google started their bold initiative apparently without realising the storm it would create. But opposition came from authors who held the copyright to their books: they regarded Google’s scheme as corporate theft.” The Telegraph – David Gritten,
To buy the DVD please visit www.shop.polarstarfilms.com
To watch online please visit https://www.polarstarfilms.com/en/watch_google-and-the-world-brain.php