Looking ahead, categorically

Access Denied

Economists, politicians, anti-poverty activists and impoverished citizens discuss whether the true nature of contemporary poverty is rooted in colonialism and its consequences. Featuring Amartya Sen, Joseph Stiglitz, Susan George, Eric Toussaint, John Perkins. Directed by Philippe Diaz. Cinema Libre Studio, October.

Blindsight

Six blind Tibetan teenagers are inspired to climb a 23,000-foot peak near Mt. Everest. Directed by Lucy Walker. Robson Entertainment, March 14.

Bloodline

Filmmakers discover papers from a 19th century priest in the Languedoc region of southern France claiming to have evidence that Jesus did not die on the cross and married Mary Magdalene, who bore him children. Directed by Bruce Burgess. Cinema Libre Studio, May

The Business of Being Born

Actress Ricki Lake explores the economics of childbirth and child-rearing after the birth of her first. Directed by Abby Epstein. Red Envelope Entertainment, Wednesday.

The First Basket

Writer-director David Vyorst explores the Jewish contribution to basketball and the game’s role in the assimilation of immigrants. With Red Auerbach, Red Holzman, Dolph Schayes, Ossie Schectman (a New Yorker who netted the first basket in NBA history) and others. Narrated by Peter Riegert. Laemmle/Zeller Films, October.

Gonzo: The Life and Work of Dr. Hunter S. Thompson

Director Alex Gibney (“Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room,” “Taxi to the Dark Side”) profiles the ups and downs experienced by the late “Fear and Loathing” journalist. Magnolia Pictures, May.

Morning Light

Neophyte sailors with six months’ training compete against seasoned veterans in the 2,000-mile-plus Transpac transpacific yacht race. Directed by Mark Monroe and Paul Crowder. Walt Disney Pictures, fall.

Orthodox Stance

Director Jason Hutt follows the paradoxical path of Russian immigrant Dmitriy Salita -- a boxer and devout Orthodox Jew -- as he prepares for his first professional fight. Oxbow Lake Films, April 11.

Praying With Lior

The connection between disabilities and faith are explored in this look at a mentally challenged Jewish boy, described as a “spiritual genius,” and his family as he approaches his bar mitzvah. Directed by Ilana Trachtman. First Run Features, March 14.

Religulous

Comedian Bill Maher teams with “Borat” director Larry Charles for this provocative, globe-trotting exploration of God and religion. Lionsgate, July 2.

Standard Operating Procedure

Errol Morris (“The Fog of War”) investigates the cases of abuse and torture of suspected terrorists at the hands of U.S. forces at the Abu Ghraib prison. Sony Pictures Classics, spring.

Surfwise

The story of Dorian “Doc” Paskowitz, a nonconformist who walked away from a medical career in the 1960s to go to Israel, surf and raise a family. Directed by Doug Pray. Magnolia Pictures, April 11.

Taxi to the Dark Side

The death of an Afghan cabbie at Bagram Air Base leads filmmaker Alex Gibney to examine the Bush administration’s policies on torture. ThinkFilm, Friday.

To the Limit

Brothers Alexander and Thomas Huber push mental and physical boundaries as they attempt to break the speed-climbing record while scaling El Capitan in Yosemite National Park. Directed by Pepe Danquart. First Run Features, spring.

Trumbo

Based on the play by his son Christopher Trumbo, the celebrated writer Dalton Trumbo’s tumultuous career is depicted through interviews and letters read by actors including Joan Allen, Michael Douglas, Paul Giamatti and Donald Sutherland. Directed by Peter Askin. Samuel Goldwyn Films, second quarter.

The Unforeseen

Through analysis of a development near Austin, Texas, filmmaker Laura Dunn explores the environmental and philosophical issues of humanity’s interaction with nature. Features the poetry of Wendell Berry. Cinema Guild, March 14.

A Walk to Beautiful

Five Ethiopian women struggle to regain their dignity after suffering devastating childbirth injuries. Directed by Mary Olive Smith. Engel Entertainment, Feb. 29.

Where in the World Is Osama Bin Laden?

“Super Size Me’s” cheeky Morgan Spurlock goes in search of the Al Qaeda leader. Directed by Spurlock. Written by Jeremy Chilnick and Spurlock. The Weinstein Co., spring.