Best Documentary Films

Documentary Category

Nick Bentgen Chronicles the Adventurous Outlook of a Teenage Self-Love Collective in Documentary Short ‘#LoveYourz’

Nick Bentgen reveals the free-flowing, mixed format, organic shooting process of his doc about a group of free spirited teens in the outer boroughs of NYC.

Documentary

Louis Moir’s ‘A Brush With Comedy’ Explores the Seemingly Conflicting Relationship Between Comedy and Art

Louis Moir talks through the practical challenges of expanding his grad short into his debut feature doc exploring the creative process on stage and on canvas.

Documentary, Premiere

A Viral Internet Moment Propels a Leeds Bakery Into the Limelight in Alison Grasso’s Documentary ‘Hope You Fail’

Alison Grasso delves into finding the character driven heart of her film about a UK baker's Sprinklegate fight over the use of illegal American sprinkles.

Animation, Documentary

Journey Through a Young Woman’s Battle With Mental Health and Self-Acceptance in Melanie Cura Daball’s ‘Trust Me’

Melanie Cura Daball reveals why an ethical approach was an essential pillar in the making of her hybrid doc about her friend's battle with a bipolar diagnosis.

Animation, Documentary

How a Sextortion Scam Inspired Eugene Kolb’s Imaginative Exploration of Masturbation Shame ‘ur heinous habit’

Eugene Kolb speaks about striking the right balance between the salacious subject matter and the correlating animations of his doc about self-gratification.

Documentary, Premiere

Henry Behel Chronicles the Life-Affirming Perspective of a Daredevil Pilot in Documentary Short ‘26,000 Days’

Henry Behel deconstructs the ambitious mix of plane and FPV drone aerial photography choreographed for his contemplative doc about Airshow Pilot Eric Tucker.

Documentary, Premiere

Nick Aldridge Initiates a Critical Mental Health Conversation in ‘The Men And The Chair In Front Of My Window’

Nick Aldridge walks through the genesis of his doc which takes a poignant look at male mental health struggles through a series of intimate conversations.

Documentary, Premiere

Nicholas Woytuk’s ‘The Alchemy of David’ Finds a Renowned Artist Reflecting on His Place in the Digital Age

Nicholas Woytuk discusses the organic Black & White 16mm shooting process he employed for his documentary about veteran photographer David Michael Kennedy.

Documentary

Ancient Chinese Tea Culture Lives on in Anna-Claria Ostasenko Bogdanoff’s Cadent Documentary ‘Her Scents of Pu Er’

Anna-Claria Ostasenko Bogdanoff details how she captured sensorial experiences for her documentary unveiling the ancient tea tasting practices of a master.

Documentary

A Personal Search for Identity Is Reflected Through a Wider Geopolitical Context in S. Leo Chiang’s ‘Island in Between’

S. Leo Chiang discusses his aim for achieving a universality of understanding in his Oscar doc examining the complicated relationship between Taiwan & China.

Documentary

Ben Proudfoot & Kris Bowers Celebrate the Unsung Heroes of L.A. Music in Oscar Winning Doc ‘The Last Repair

Ben Proudfoot & Kris Bowers reveal how their improvisational backgrounds were a crucial tool in the creation of their inspirational Oscar winning short.

Animation, Documentary

Samantha Moore Champions the Curative Power of Knitting in Her BAFTA Nominated Stop Motion Doc ‘Visible Mending’

Samantha Moore breaks down the slyly subversive framework of her tactile and therapeutic animated documentary expressing the restorative power of knitting.