Documentary of the Week: Recent Episodes
WNYC Studios
Every week, WNYC tells you about the best documentaries as they become available on screens of any size. Our hosts are Thom Powers and Raphaela Neihausen, co-founders of the Pure Nonfiction podcast and the DOC NYC festival, the largest non-fiction film festival in the U.S.
WNYC Studios is the producer of other leading podcasts including Radiolab, Freakonomics Radio, 2 Dope Queens, Death, Sex & Money, On the Media and many more.
'Antidote' profiles the Bulgarian journalist Christo Grozev, who's uncovered hundreds of Russian secret agents. Filmmaker James Jones follows Grozev after European authorities inform him that he's being targeted by assassins.
'River of Grass' profiles a range of figures who interact with the Everglades in the past and present, including a Miccosukee educator, a python hunter, and the pioneering environmentalist Marjory Stoneman Douglas. Filmmaker Sasha Wortzel will attend the film's New York premiere at the Margaret Mead Film Festival at the American Museum of Natural History.
'Drop Dead City' is a deeply researched history of New York's financial crisis in the mid-70s. Filmmakers Peter Yost and Michael Rohatyn interview a wide range of people who were involved at many levels.
'One to One: John & Yoko' uses archival footage, including telephone calls heard for the first time, to capture the radical politics and performances of New York in the early 1970s. Filmmaker Kevin MacDonald frames the story in a way that has eerie echoes in the present.
'We Want the Funk' explores several decades of the highly danceable music genre, ranging from James Brown to Fela Kuti. Filmmakers Stanley Nelson and Nicole London combine dazzling performance footage with sharp analysis of the politics and artistry of funk.
'Secret Mall Apartment' profiles a group of Rhode Island artists who created a hidden sanctum inside the Providence Place shopping center where they lived for four years. Filmmaker Jeremy Workman interviews the key participants, many of whom have never spoken publicly before.
'Aum: The Cult at the End of the World' looks back at the religious fanaticism behind the deadly Tokyo subway attack in 1995. Filmmakers Ben Braun and Chiaki Yanagimoto explore how Aum grew in popularity and wasn't taken seriously as a criminal enterprise.
'Art Spiegelman: Disaster is My Muse' profiles the Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist who crafted the classic Holocaust memoir 'Maus.' Filmmakers Molly Bernstein and Philip Dolin use Spiegelman's career to reveal a hidden history of comics.
'Sly Lives! (aka The Burden of Black Genius)' profiles the 1960s band Sly and the Family Stone and the pressures on its leader. Oscar winning filmmaker Ahmir 'Questlove' Thompson ('Summer of Soul') interviews musicians who were part of the group and others who took inspiration from it.
'Paint Me a Road Out of Here' tells the story of a painting that Faith Ringgold created for the women's house of detention at Rikers Island in 1971. Filmmaker Catherine Gund explores how the jail became a dangerous place for the painting's survival.
The four-part series 'The Fall of Diddy' explores multiple accusations against Sean Combs of violence and sexual abuse. The filmmakers interview an array of his former associates, some who are speaking on the record for the first time.
In a statement sent to Variety, Combs’ lawyer called this documentary series “one-sided and prejudicial” and says the accusations against Combs are “pure fiction.” The case goes to trial in Manhattan in May.
'Liza: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story' chronicles the highs and lows of an extraordinary career in show business. Filmmaker Brian David Klein captures multiple perspectives on Liza Minelli from longtime friends including Michael Feinstein, Mia Farrow and Ben Vereen.
'The Only Girl in the Orchestra' profiles Orin O'Brien, the first female musician hired full-time by the New York Philharmonic in the 1960s. The film, directed by Orin's niece Molly O'Brien, is one of 15 short documentaries selected to contend for the Oscar nominations.
'Obsessed with Light' explores the history and legacy of the trail-blazing the American performer Loïe Fuller who took Europe by storm in the 1890s with her Serpentine Dance. Filmmakers Sabine Krayenbühl and Zeva Oelbaum evoke Fuller’s work through archival footage and interviews with contemporary artists she influenced.
'Space Cowboy' profiles the sky diving cinematographer Joe Jennings as he attempts to pull off the most difficult stunt of his career. It's among over 200 films playing this week at the DOC NYC festival in Manhattan theaters and online.
'Soundtrack to a Coup D'Etat' is an eclectic film essay exploring the U.S. influence in Congo in the 1960s that ranged from jazz concerts to political subversion. Filmmaker Johan Grimonprez creates a heady swirl of history that beckons us to look and listen more closely.
'No Other Land' is directed by a collective of two Palestinians and two Israelis to document a village in the occupied West Bank. Documentary of the Week host Thom Powers spoke to two of the directors, Basel Adra and Yuval Abraham.
In 'Black Box Diaries,' Japanese journalist Shiori Ito goes public accusing a high profile figure of rape and starting a national conversation. She faces pushback from police and resorts to secretly taping their conversations to break the silence.
'Union' follows the grassroots effort to organize workers at an Amazon warehouse on Staten Island. Filmmakers Stephen Maing and Brett Story observe leader Chris Smalls and others through a contentious battle of labor activism.
'Carville: Winning is Everything, Stupid' profiles the political consultant who became a dissident in the Democratic party for saying that Joe Biden was a weak candidate in 2024. Director Matt Tyrnauer explores Carville's past and present, including his marriage to his political opposite, Mary Matalin.
'Patrice: The Movie' follows a couple with disabilities as they face a U.S. legal conundrum that they risk losing their government benefits if they get married. Despite the dire situation, the film exudes a joy and optimism in confronting adversity.
'Denial' profiles an election official named Bill Gates in Arizona's Maricopa County who faces pressure from conspiracy theorists over the voter count in 2020 and 2022. Filmmakers Paul Moakley and Daniel Lombroso present a cautionary tale for this November, now streaming for free from The New Yorker.
In 'Will & Harper,' comedian Will Ferrell takes a road trip across America with his longtime friend Harper Steele who recently came out as a woman. The two friends blend the serious with the silly on a journey to find acceptance.
'Maya and the Wave' profiles Brazilian surfer Maya Gabeira as she strives to set a world record on the monster waves in the Portugese town of Nazaré. Filmmaker Stephanie Johnes follows Gabeira for ten years as she battles sexism along with the forces of nature.
'Look Into My Eyes' takes a non-judgemental approach to watching New York psychics at work. Filmmaker Lana Wilson ('Miss Americana') captures a vibe of city dwellers in isolation looking for connections.
'Happy Campers' profiles the residents of a trailer park on the waterfront of Virginia in its final year, before the property is sold to developers. Filmmaker Amy Nicholson crafts a loving portrait from inside the community.
'Mountain Queen: The Summits of Lhakpa Sherpa' profiles an immigrant from Nepal who works at a Connecticut Whole Foods, but has another life as a record-breaking climber. Oscar-nominated director Lucy Walker follows the climber as she tries to make a better life for her daughters by climbing Mount Everest for the tenth time.
'Skywalkers: A Love Story' tells the story of a couple, Angela Nikolau and Vanya Beerkus, who share a passion for illegally climbing to the tops of skyscrapers. The film follows them as they attempt their most daring stunt by climbing the world's second tallest building.
'Sorry / Not Sorry' examines the case of Louis C.K.'s sexual misconduct - from years of rumors to the New York Times' exposure to his subsequent comeback as a Grammy-winning comedian. Filmmakers Caroline Suh and Cara Mones capture multiple perspectives including that of his accusers whose careers suffered for speaking truths.
'The Grab' follows reporter Nathan Halverson as he investigates how wealthy countries seek to control land outside their borders for access to food and water. The film plays like a journalistic thriller when Halverson is leaked over 10,000 emails from a business central to this story.
'Copa 71' tells the story of an international women's soccer tournament in 1971 that took place in Mexico and was erased from history. Filmmakers James Erskine and Rachel Ramsay interview players from six countries who took part, but never told their stories.
The ESPN series 'The Luckiest Guy in the World' profiles basketball great Bill Walton who passed away last month. Filmmaker Steve James ('Hoop Dreams') examines the hurdles that Walton had to overcome - including injuries and a speech impediment - on his way to winning championships and acclaim as a TV commentator.
Filmmaker Chris Wilcha tells a personal story of reckoning with youthful dreams in middle age as he tries to save an old record store in 'Flipside.' The film weaves together the perspectives of many others including Ira Glass, Judd Apatow and Starlee Kine.
'Queen of the Deuce' profiles Chelly Wilson, a Greek Jewish immigrant grandmother who ran multiple adult film theaters around New York City's 42nd Street. Filmmaker Valerie Kontakos evokes the 1970s era when adult film was on an upswing with Wilson at the center.
'A Time to Stir' is a 10-part oral history film focusing on the Columbia University student strike of 1968. Filmmaker Paul Cronin interviewed hundreds of participants to bring multiple fresh perspectives that still resonate today. Hear the director interviewed on Pure Nonfiction.
'The Contestant' explores the early days of reality TV in Japan when a man named Nasubi spent over a year naked in isolation living off prizes from magazine sweepstakes while 30 million viewers tuned in to watch. Filmmaker Clair Titley interviews all the main players in the story and explores what happened to Nasubi after he became famous.
'Uncropped' profiles the the photographer James Hamilton who has an eclectic career spanning street scenes, celebrity portraits, war coverage and more. Filmmaker D.W. Young crafts the documentary as a love letter to a bygone era of New York journalism.
'Photographic Justice: The Corky Lee Story' profiles the New York photographer who dedicated himself to covering the Asian American community for five decades. Filmmaker Jennifer Takaki chronicles the emergence of Asian American activism through the lens of Lee.
Filmmakers Ashley Sabin and David Redmon explore the mystery of what happened to the famous collection of VHS tapes and DVDs from New York's beloved rental store Kim's Video that closed in 2008. The documentary is made with the same outlaw spirit as the original store known for its bootleg editions.
'In Restless Dreams: The Music of Paul Simon' explores six decades of the musician's career while following him in the studio for the making of his recent album, 'Seven Psalms.' Filmmaker Alex Gibney delivers a wealth of insight into a monumental career.
'Carol Doda Topless at the Condor' profiles the San Francisco dancer who broke taboos with nude performances starting in 1964. In this documentary from filmmakers Marlo McKenzie and Jonathan Parker, feminist scholars unpack questions of empowerment and exploitation.
'Frida' profiles the Mexican painter Frida Kahlo by drawing upon her own words from diaries, letters and interviews. Filmmaker Carla Gutierrez taps into a rich archive of visuals and collaborates with Mexican animators to bring movement to Kahlo's autobiographical paintings.
'A Revolution on Canvas' explores the complicated history of Iranian artists Nicky Nodjoumi and Nahid Hagigat who are exiled in the United States. Their daughter Sara Nodjoumi and her co-director Till Schauder revisit hard choices made over art, revolution and family.
The HBO series 'God Save Texas' presents three films bringing fresh perspectives on the state, inspired by the book by Pulitzer Prize winner Lawrence Wright. In the episode 'La Frontera,' filmmaker Iliana Sosa reflects on her hometown of El Paso.
'Breaking the News' follows the start-up of The 19th*, a non-profit journalism outlet focused on people marginalized by gender and race. The film, streaming from PBS' Independent Lens, captures the organization's successes and internal struggles.
In 'Island in Between,' filmmaker S. Leo Chiang reflects on geopolitical tensions between Taiwan and China. He takes a personal journey to the Kinmen islands that are on the front lines of conflict between the two countries.
'Bobi Wine: The People's President' follows a Ugandan pop star who enters politics to oppose the authoritarian regime that's held power for over three decades. The Oscar-nominated film covers several tumultuous years as Bobi Wine and his wife Barbie stand up to violence and intimidation.
'The ABCs of Book Banning' gives a platform to grade school students and others to reflect on what it means when titles are pulled off their library shelves. Filmmaker Sheila Nevins, a longtime executive at HBO and MTV, makes her directorial debut with this film that's nominated for an Oscar in the category of Short Documentary.
'20 Days in Mariupol' follows Associated Press cameraman Mstyslav Chernov in the Ukrainian city that was on the front lines of Russia's invasion. When most of the press corps pulled out of the city, Chernov stayed behind to capture footage. He won the Pulitzer Prize for his coverage.
The short documentary 'Deciding Vote' looks back to 1970 when legalizing abortion in New York State hinged upon one assemblyman, George Michaels. Filmmakers Jeremy Workman and Rob Lyons explore what it took for Michaels to cast a vote that he'd knew would end his political career.
'The Disappearance of Shere Hite' explores the rise and fall of the sex researcher who emerged in the 1970s with best-selling books then faded into obscurity. Filmmaker Nicole Newnham draws upon a vast archive of footage and enlists Dakota Johnson to read from Hite's writing.
'Liv Ullmann: A Road Less Travelled' profiles the actress-director-writer who will appear in person for the film's U.S. premiere at the DOC NYC festival on November 12. The film explores her journey as a storyteller and an activist for refugees.
'Another Body' explores the rising cases of non-consensual deepfake technology used in pornography, whereby an unsuspecting woman's face is digitally edited into explicit content. The film follows a college student who investigates her own victimization when she can't find justice from police.
Filmmaker Errol Morris profiles the renowned spy novelist David Cornwell - better known as John le Carré - in the documentary 'The Pigeon Tunnel,' based on the author's memoir. Cornwell describes this interview as 'definitive.' It would the final one he gave before his death in 2020 at age 89.
'Silver Dollar Road,' based on reporting by ProPublica and The New Yorker, explores the story of the Reels family who fought developers to retain their inherited property in North Carolina. Director Raoul Peck ('I Am Not Your Negro') highlights the strength of the Reels' resistance to intimidation and legal pressure.
'Reality Winner' profiles the whistle-blower who leaked a secret NSA report about Russian attempts to interfere with the U.S. election. Filmmaker Sonia Kennebeck interviews Edward Snowden and other whistleblowers to explore the legal, political and psychological dimensions of the case.
'Joan Baez: I Am a Noise' profiles the folk singer whose career was intertwined with the civil rights and non-violence movements. The film follows her on tour at age 79 as she looks back on the relationships and politics that shaped her.
"Every Body" explores the history, science and politics of people who were born with reproductive anatomy that doesn't easily fit the categories of male or female. Filmmaker Julie Cohen profiles three people who went public with their stories.
"26.2 to Life" follows inmates at California's San Quentin prison as they train and compete for a marathon. Filmmaker Christine Yoo explores how each prisoner strives for their personal best, seeking different forms of redemption.
"The League" is a vibrant history of baseball's Negro leagues that rose up in the Jim Crow era and pushed the game in new directions. Filmmaker Sam Pollard ("MLK/FBI") covers legendary players such as Satchel Paige as well as behind the scenes figures such as Newark's club co-owner Effa Manley.
"Youth v Gov" follows young people suing the United State government to address the climate crisis. The film shows the depth of a larger activist movement that won a victory this past week in Montana's courts.
"Stephen Curry: Underrated" tells the origin story of the NBA All-Star from his college days at Davidson College when he grabbed the attention of fans with a series of March Madness upsets. Filmmaker Peter Nicks weaves that history together with Curry's storybook run at the NBA finals in 2022.
Sundance Film Festival prize winner "Kokomo City" is sexy, sassy and surprising in its portrait of four transgender sex workers. Hip-hop producer turned filmmaker D. Smith brings tremendous vitality to celebrating these lives in language that's mostly too raw for public radio.
"While We Watched" profiles India's TV news anchor Ravish Kumar as he faces death threats and other pressures while trying to practice journalism in an age of rising extremism. The film, directed by Vinay Shukla, has won multiple festival awards.
"Casa Susanna" reflects on a haven for transgender expression in the Catskills that was kept secret for decades. French filmmaker Sébastien Lifshitz profiles four people whose lives were profoundly intertwined with this history.
"The Stroll" explores the history of transgender sex workers who worked the streets of New York's Meatpacking District before the neighborhood's gentrification. Directors Kristen Lovell and Zackary Drucker document the intense pressures, but also the activism, sisterhood and self-empowerment in the community.
"Victim/Suspect" follows reporter Rae de Leon as she investigates a pattern of cases where women reported sexual assault only to be accused by police of lying. Filmmaker Nancy Schwartzman explores the underlying biases behind this trend.
The actor, John Leguizamo takes a road trip to Latin American communities across the country in, "Leguizamo Does America." He engages prominent locals in lively conversations about their history, food, music and culture.
New York based-filmmaker Jon-Sesrie Goff traces his family's roots in the Gullah community of South Carolina in "After Sherman," a title evoking the Civil War general. The film is more poetic than didactic as it connects the past to the present.
"Being Mary Tyler Moore" explores how the actress compared and contrasted in real life to the characters she portrayed. Director James Adolphus chronicles how Moore was constantly evolving.
"Love to Love You, Donna Summer" explores the life of the disco hit maker and her complicated experiences with sex and religion. Her daughter Brooklyn Sudano co-directs with Oscar-winner Roger Ross Williams.
In "1000% Me: Growing Up Mixed," Director W. Kamau Bell interviews mixed race people across three generations to understand their challenges and insights. The film is an opportunity to listen and learn.
"32 Sounds" is a documentary essay that enlists composers, scientists, Hollywood effects specialists and others to contemplate how we listen. Filmmaker Sam Green has created an interactive experience best experienced in a movie theater.
"Little Richard: I Am Everything" brings a fresh perspective on the history of rock 'n' roll with insights from Mick Jagger and Billy Porter. Director Lisa Cortes explores what it meant to be Black and queer when both were subject to intense discrimination and violence.
"Wild Life" tells the love story of Doug and Kris Tompkins who gave up careers running North Face and Patagonia to devote themselves to conservation. Oscar-winning filmmaker E. Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin ("Free Solo") chronicle how the Tompkins orchestrated the largest national park land donation in history.
In "The First Step," we follow progressive activist Van Jones as forges an unlikely alliance with Jared Kushner in the Trump administration to pass criminal justice reform. The film-making brothers, Brandon and Lance Kramer show how political coalitions are hard to win and easy to lose.
The American soldiers who were interviewed 20 years ago for the documentary "Gunner Palace" about the war in Iraq, look back on their experiences today in "The Army We Had." While many Americans may want to forget the war, filmmakers Petra Epperlein and Michael Tucker keep the memories of these soldiers alive.
"Nam June Paik: Moon is the Oldest TV" profiles the ground-breaking video artist whose work in the 1970s and 80s anticipated numerous artistic and technological innovations that came afterward. Filmmaker Amanda Kim interviews Paik's friends and admirers who put his legacy in perspective.
"All the Beauty and the Bloodshed" profiles the artist Nan Goldin and her fight to have the Sackler family held accountable for the opioid epidemic. Oscar-winning filmmaker Laura Poitras explores Goldin's complex history as an artist and activist while chronicling her recent campaign to have art institutions disassociate themselves from the Sacklers as donors.
"Navalny" follows the Russian dissident Alexei Navalny as he investigates a Kremlin plot to assassinate him. Today, Navalny is in prison, but this film by Daniel Roher keeps his voice alive and is nominated for an Academy Award.
"Framing Agnes" brings to life archival interviews with transgender men and women from the 1950s. Filmmaker Chase Joynt leads a team of trans collaborators including Zackary Drucker, Angelica Ross and Max Wolf Valerio to shed light on this earlier generation.
"The 1619 Project" adapts the Pulitzer Prize-winning journalism of Nikole Hannah-Jones into a six-part series on Hulu. Filmmaker Roger Ross Williams teams with The New York Times and Oprah Winfrey to reexamine Black American history.
"Nothing Lasts Forever" explores how the rise of synthetic diamonds is disrupting the longtime monopoly of the company De Beers. Filmmaker Jason Kohn interviews a wide range of industry insiders including jewelry designer and historian Aja Raden.
"Body Parts" explores Hollywood's complicated history of filming nudity and sexuality. We hear from actors such as Jane Fonda and Rose McGowan about their frequent experiences of being coerced into explicit scenes against their better judgment - and how they found their voice to push for change.
"Roberta" chronicles how the singer of "Killing Me Softly" went from being a classically trained musician to a soul sensation. Director Antonino D'Ambrosio draws upon interviews with Roberta Flack and her contemporaries such as Jesse Jackson and Angela Davis along with music scholars Emily Lordi and Jason King.
"Angola Do You Hear Us?" follows Liza Jessie Peterson as she performs her one woman show, "The Peculiar Patriot" at Louisiana's Angola Prison. Filmmaker Cinque Northern captures how the event raises excitement for the inmates and tensions for the guards.
"38 at the Garden" looks back on Jeremy Lin's phenomenal scoring streak with the New York Knicks in 2012 and what it meant for Asian Americans. Filmmaker Frank Chi interviews Lin along with comedian Hassan Minaj, journalist Lisa Ling and others who reflect on how "Linsanity" became about more than just basketball.
In "Bad Axe," filmmaker David Siev documents his immigrant family running their restaurant during the 2020 challenges of COVID and a racial reckoning. When tensions rise, the family has to choose when and how to make a stand.
"Turn Every Page: The Adventures of Robert Caro and Robert Gottlieb" looks at the relationship between Lyndon Johnson's biographer and his editor. Filmmaker Lizzie Gottlieb brings a personal perspective as the editor's daughter.
Joyce Chopra, who made the ground-breaking 1972 personal documentary "Joyce at 34," has published a new memoir called "Lady Director." A collection of her films is now available on Criterion.
"To the End" follows young activists with the Sunrise Movement and Justice Democrats as they join forces with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to push the Green New Deal. Filmmaker Rachel Lears examines the idealism, road blocks and breakthroughs as the activists face pushback from the fossil fuel industry and its political supporters.
"2nd Chance" profiles the complicated life Richard Davis whose invention of body armor saved lives while he ducked scandals. Filmmaker Ramin Bahrani explores American myth-making around guns, retribution and redemption.
"Descendant" explores the legacy of the last known slave ship that arrived in Mobile, Alabama in 1860. Filmmaker Margaret Brown profiles the descendants of enslaved Africans who were aboard the ship and the family that financed it.
Before there was Robert Downey Jr., there was his namesake father, an underground filmmaker, who's profiled in "Sr." Documentarian Chris Smith follows the two generations of Downeys as they seek to become closer and the father feels his mortality.
"Fragments of Paradise" celebrates the life of Jonas Mekas, co-founder of New York's Anthology Film Archives, who left a lasting legacy on the New York film world. Directed by KD Davison, the film premieres among nearly 200 films at the DOC NYC festival in theaters and online.
"Fragments of Paradise" premieres Saturday, Nov. 12 at DOC NYC.
"The Best Chef in the World" profiles Sally Schmitt, founder of the legendary restaurant The French Laundry. Oscar-winning filmmaker Ben Proudfoot captures her history as a trail blazer when it was rare for a woman to run a restaurant.
"Louis Armstrong's Black & Blues" explores the legendary trumpet player and singer in all his complexity. Filmmaker Sacha Jenkins draws upon Armstrong's private audio diaries and interviews to tell his own story.
Filmmaker Nausheen Dadabhoy interviews American Muslims from diverse backgrounds to create a mosaic of voices in "An Act of Worship." The film shows how love can serve as an antidote to discrimination and hate.
"The Last Out" follows several Cuban baseball players trying to emigrate to the United States to follow their major league dreams. We watch them be challenged physically and mentally in a competitive marketplace where raw talent alone isn't enough.
In "Last Flight Home," director Ondi Timoner chronicles her entrepreneur father Eli, creator of Air Florida, in the final weeks of his life. The film captures their family's experience as the 92-year-old patriarch chooses to exercise California's legal right to end his own life.
"The U.S. and the Holocaust" looks at the World War II era when many European Jews fleeing the Nazis were turned away by America. Filmmakers Ken Burns, Lynn Novick and Sarah Botstein tell a story that deeply resonates today as the United States grapples with the arrival of asylum seekers.
In "The American Dream and Other Fairy Tales," filmmaker Abigail Disney examines how the corporation built by her grandfather Roy and great uncle Walt treats its workers today. The film delivers a broader study of how American business trends have widened economic inequality.
"Moonage Daydream" explores the artistry of David Bowie through his music, paintings, acting and interviews drawn from his private archives. Filmmaker Brett Morgen creates a visual spectacle as bold as his subject.
"We Met in Virtual Reality" takes a unique approach to documentary by filming on the platform VR Chat and interviewing users through their avatars. Filmmaker Joe Hunting puts the emphasis less on technology and more on the search for human connection.
The 3-part series "Victoria's Secret: Angels and Demons" explores the legacy of the company's leader Leslie Wexner and his close ties to Jeffrey Epstein who died in prison awaiting trial on numerous accusations of sex trafficking. Filmmaker Matt Tyrnauer explores the rise and fall of the multi-billion dollar lingerie brand.
"The Last Movie Stars" is a six-part series exploring the 50-year marriage of Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward. The filmmaker Ethan Hawke taps an archive of unpublished interviews along with extensive film clips to dive into their complexities.
"Free Chol Soo Lee" explores the legacy of a 1973 murder in San Francisco's Chinatown and a young Korean immigrant who was initially convicted of the crime. Filmmakers Julia Ha and Eugene Yi offer a nuanced profile of the complex man behind the slogan.
"Mija" follows talent manager Doris Muñoz and singer Jacks Haupt as they navigate the highs and lows of the music business. Filmmaker Isabel Castro captures them balancing family obligations while they forge their own identities.
The HBO documentary series "Mind Over Murder" explores why several people confessed to a crime they didn't commit. Filmmaker Nanfu Wang isn't focused on the "whodunit" as much as the more complicated question of how to find reconciliation after a tragedy.
The Netflix series "How to Change Your Mind" follows author Michael Pollan as he explores the psychedelic worlds of LSD, psilocybin, MDMA and mescaline. Filmmaker Lucy Walker and her team tell a story of how these drugs were once demonized but are now being reconsidered in a more positive light.
"Dreaming Walls" profiles the longtime residents of New York's legendary Chelsea Hotel who stayed during the many years the building went under reconstruction. Filmmakers Amélie van Elmbt and Maya Duverdier aren't attempting a comprehensive history, but rather a dreamy portrait of a place.
"The Martha Mitchell Effect" profiles the woman who played a key role in exposing the depths of Watergate and bringing down President Nixon. Filmmaker Anne Alvergue and Debra McClutchy use archival footage to trace how Martha Mitchell was maligned by the Nixon administration until people realized the truth of her statements.
In "Beba," filmmaker Rebeca Huntt makes a stunning debut that is personal, political and poetic all at once. She traces the roots of her immigrant parents from the Dominican Republic and Venezuela to face her demons and find her voice.
The Oscar nominated documentary "Who Killed Vincent Chin?" examines a case from 40 years ago that galvanized Asian Americans to rally against racial violence. Filmmaker Christine Choy and Renee Tajima-Peña delve into the background tensions of Detroit's auto industry in the 1980s that were a backdrop to a tragedy.
"The Janes" profiles a group of Chicago women who created a network to perform illegal abortions in the days before the Supreme Court's Roe v Wade decision. Filmmakers Tia Lessin and Emma Pildes capture the defiance and dedication of these women who operated under the threat of imprisonment.
"Joe Papp in Five Acts" profiles the founder of New York's Shakespeare in the Park and the Public Theater. The film includes interviews with Meryl Streep, James Earl Jones, Martin Sheen and others who explore Papp in all his complexity.
"Like a Rolling Stone: The Life and Times of Ben Fong-Torres" profiles the music journalist known for his insightful interviews. Filmmaker Suzanne Joe Kai weaves Fong-Torres' own story in with his encounters with legends such as Jim Morrison, Ray Charles, Tina Turner and many others.
The Showtime series "Couples Therapy" returns for season three as Dr. Orna Guralnik treats four New York couples in long-term relationships going through a crisis. We watch as they dig into thorny issues of infidelity, addiction, childhood trauma and kitchen cleanliness.
"Sheryl" profiles the singer songwriter Sheryl Crow whose catchy hits such as "Soak Up the Sun" were sometimes at odds with her struggles behind the scenes. Filmmaker Amy Scott gives us a deeper appreciation for her talents and tribulations.
"White Hot: The Rise & Fall of Abercrombie & Fitch" explores allegations of racism, discrimination and sexual harassment at the clothing store marketed to the "cool kids." Filmmaker Alison Klayman. Interviews company insiders and outsiders to document how the CEO's self-declared mission to be "exclusionary" stopped working.
"La Madrina: The [Savage] Life of Lorine Padilla" profiles a member of the South Bronx gang the Savage Skulls who became a community activist. Filmmaker Raquel Cepeda uncovers a hidden history of Latinas who overcame multiple adversities.
Filmmaker Jay Rosenblatt reflects on a Brooklyn schoolyard incident from 1965 in the Oscar nominated short documentary, "When We Were Bullies." He employs visual techniques of collage and stop motion animation to deconstruct and reconstruct the past.
"Sub Eleven Seconds" captures Sha'Carri Richardson, one of the fastest women to ever run the 100 meter race, as she competes to qualify for the Olympics in 2021. In the span of a short documentary, the 28-year-old filmmaker and photographer, Bafic, combines athleticism and artistry for a poignant meditation on time.
"The Andy Warhol Diaries" is a six-part series capturing the artist's personal life in his own words — using AI technology to recreate his voice. Filmmaker Andrew Rossi brings a fresh perspective to understanding the mercurial icon and his times.
"Calendar Girl" profiles Ruth Finley who created the Fashion Calendar that was an indispensable resource for designers. Filmmaker Christian D. Bruun illuminates a hidden history through interviews with fashion icons such as Carolina Herrera, Nicole Miller and Diane von Furstenberg.
"Dear Mr. Brody" takes us back to 1970 when a 21-year-old heir to a fortune in Scarsdale, New York promised to give away his money - causing thousands of people to write him letters describing their needs. Filmmaker Keith Maitland explores the mystery of Brody and the contents of those letters.
"The Automat" tells a lively history of the restaurant chain Horn & Hardart through the memories of famous customers like Mel Brooks, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and Colin Powell. Filmmaker Lisa Hurwitz explores the changing demographics of urban culture that caused the Automat's fortunes to rise and fall.
"We Need to Talk About Cosby" grapples with the legacy of the once-beloved comedian who's been accused by over 60 women of rape and sexual assault. Director W. Kamau Bell interviews a wide range of people including Cosby's accusers, former colleagues, and journalists for the four-part series streaming on Showtime.
"Ronnie's" tells the history of London's legendary jazz club and its co-founder, tenor saxophonist Ronnie Scott. Filmmaker Oliver Murray weaves in vintage performances by Chet Baker, Ella Fitzgerald, Nina Simone and other musical greats recorded at the club.
"Maurice Hines: Bring Them Back" profiles the dancer who was a child performer with his younger brother Gregory before they took divergent paths. Filmmaker John Carluccio explores their history that had a fictional parallel in the characters they portrayed in "The Cotton Club."
Christine Turner's short documentary "Lynching Postcards" examines the history of racial terror lynchings in America that were memorialized with photographic souvenirs. Historians Terry Anne Scott, Yohuru Williams and Leigh Raiford explain how the postcards flourished and were eventually used as evidence by anti-lynching activists.
The Netflix phenomenon "Cheer" returns for a second season, following the college cheerleading squad Navarro as they compete against rival Trinity Valley for a national championship. The show's success is now part of the story as the teams cope with fame, COVID and criminal charges against a beloved Navarro cheerleader.
Lawyer Jeffery Robinson delivers a version of history different from what's taught in schools in "Who We Are: A Chronicle of Racism in America." Filmmakers Sarah and Emily Kunstler travel with Robinson to American landmarks where he interviews figures who connect the past to the present.
"American Insurrection" on PBS's Frontline investigates vigilante groups active in the storming of the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. Correspondent A.C. Thompson of ProPublica studies how groups such as the Proud Boys and Boogaloo Boys are constantly shifting.
"Fauci" profiles the doctor who's served as an adviser to seven American presidents as he grapples with the science and politics of Covid-19. Filmmakers John Hoffman and Janet Tobias look at Dr. Anthony Fauci's full career — including his previous work as an AIDS researcher.
"Reopening Night" captures the cast and crew of Shakespeare in the Park as they produce "Merry Wives" after the pandemic shutdown. The new production adapted by playwright Jocelyn Bioh sets the romantic misadventures of Falstaff in modern day Harlem.
"Street Gang: How We Got to Sesame Street" looks at the origins of the groundbreaking children's television show. Documentary maker Marilyn Agrelo profiles both famous figures such as Jim Henson and Frank Oz as well as lesser-known people behind the scenes.
The half-hour documentary "Takeover" recounts how the radical Puerto Rican group the Young Lords took over a South Bronx hospital in 1970. Filmmaker Emma Francis-Snyder conducts new interviews with Young Lords members to reconstruct what happened through archival footage and recreations.
The documentary "Listening to Kenny G" profiles the saxophonist whose instrumental hits helped popularize the radio format of smooth jazz and created a backlash. Filmmaker Penny Lane explores a bigger question: how do we decide what music is good or bad?
"The First Wave" profiles hospital workers in Queens during the early months of Covid-19 and the street protests against police violence. Oscar-nominated filmmaker Matthew Heineman ("Cartel Land") and his crew capture the perseverance of New Yorkers during one of the city's darkest periods.
"Hold Your Fire," premiering at the DOC NYC festival, looks at the longest hostage siege in NYPD history in 1973. Filmmaker Stefan Forbes teams with producer Fab Five Freddy to cover multiple perspectives, and mysteries that linger decades later.
The documentary "Hold Your Fire" reexamines a 1973 hostage siege in New York City. (Courtesy of "Hold Your Fire" film.)
"Queen of Basketball" profiles Lusia Harris who was a star basketball player in the 1970s. Filmmaker Ben Proudfoot interviews Harris about her experiences winning college championships, going to the Olympics and being the first and only woman ever drafted by NBA.
"Attica" tells the story of the largest prison uprising in U.S. history that took place in upstate New York in 1971. Director Stanley Nelson and co-director Traci Curry interview dozens of participants and unearth extensive archival film and audio to tell a chapter of history that resonates strongly today.
"Becoming Cousteau" is a complex portrait of the explorer who helped the world fall in love with oceans. Oscar-nominated director Liz Garbus ("What Happened, Miss Simone?") traces Cousteau's journey from adventurer to environmentalist.
Filmmaker Todd Haynes tells the story of "The Velvet Underground" and the artistic milieu of 1960s New York. He draws upon new interviews with living band members and eyewitnesses along with a treasure trove of archival material.
"The Rescue" profiles the cave diving hobbyists who came from around the world to help save a Thai boys soccer team trapped underground. Oscar winning filmmakers Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin ("Free Solo") gain access to extraordinary footage from inside the mission.
"My Name is Pauli Murray" profiles the multi-hyphenate activist, lawyer, poet and priest who had a non-binary gender identity and was a pioneer in civil rights and feminism. Filmmakers Julie Cohen and Betsy West, who previously directed the Oscar-nominated "RBG," show how Murray set precedents for later chapters of history that became famous.
"Homeroom" chronicles the senior class of Oakland High School through the tumultuous school year of 2019-2020. For filmmaker Peter Nicks, this look at education completes a thematic trilogy preceded by "The Waiting Room" on health care and "The Force" on policing. All three films are streaming on Hulu.
"Pray Away" profiles several former leaders of the movement that advocated to convert LGBTQ people to become straight. Filmmaker Kristine Stolakis examines how many of them now renounce the movement that continues without them.
"The Capote Tapes" draws upon conversations with Truman Capote's friends and admirers to document his complex personality. Filmmaker Ebs Burnough explores Capote's career highlights including "Breakfast at Tiffany's," "In Cold Blood," and his unfinished final work "Answered Prayers."
Award-winning filmmaker Nanfu Wang ("One Child Nation") investigates how the Chinese and the United States governments tried to shape public perceptions ofCOVID-19 in her film "In the Same Breath." Wang creates a powerful essay drawing upon the work of independent Chinese journalists and never-before-seen footage from the early days of the outbreak.
"Lily Topples the World" follows a 20-year-old domino artist known as Lily Hevesh through a pivotal year of her life. Filmmaker Jeremy Workman captures her dazzling creations of domino structures that take days to build — and seconds to fall down.
"The Meaning of Hitler" is a documentary essay enlisting writers such as Martin Amis and Francine Prose to make connections between the past and the present. Filmmakers Petra Epperlein and Michael Tucker explore how Hitler tapped into chaos and victimhood, laying down strategies that demagogues still use today.
"Whirlybird" profiles transgender journalist Zoey Tur, who — along with her then-spouse, Marika Gerrard — pioneered helicopter news coverage in Los Angeles, covering car chases, street violence, natural disasters — and the police pursuit of OJ Simpson. Amidst all the action, filmmaker Matt Yoka creates space for self-reflection amidst a high adrenaline lifestyle that went awry.
"Enemies of the State" investigates the complex case of Matt DeHart, a hacker with the group Anonymous who was arrested for child pornography. Director Sonia Kennebeck teams with executive producer Errol Morris to follow a story that continuously calls into question how we establish the truth.
"No Ordinary Man" examines the life of jazz musician Billy Tipton, who became an inspiration to the transgender community after his death in 1989. Filmmakers Aisling Chin-Yee and Chase Joynt explore how Tipton's story was at first sensationalized and now re-framed by a new generation.
"Can You Bring It: Bill T. Jones and D-Man in the Waters" follows a group of young dancers as they stage a new production of a work that debuted in response to the AIDS epidemic. Filmmakers Rosalynde LeBlanc and Tom Hurwitz show how Jones' work, "D Man in the Waters," remains as powerful today as it was in 1989.
"The One and Only Dick Gregory" profiles the comedian who took America to task over civil rights, the Vietnam war and unhealthy diets. Filmmaker Andre Gaines taps a deep archive and interviews contemporary comedians including W. Kamau Bell, Chris Rock and Wanda Sykes for their perspectives.
"Summer of Soul (...or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised)" taps into a rich musical archive that went unseen for 50 years capturing the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival. Filmmaker Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson celebrates the Black performers who took the stage.
"Kenny Scharf: When Worlds Collide" profiles the street artist who emerged in the 1980s alongside Keith Haring and Jean-Michel Basquiat. Directed by Kenny's daughter, Malia Scharf, as well as Max Basch, the film explores the artist's evolution over four decades.
"Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go For It" profiles the trail-blazing artist whose wide-ranging work includes "West Side Story," "The Electric Company" and "Oz." Filmmaker Mariem Pérez Riera explores the highs and lows of Moreno's professional and personal life.
The Showtime series "Couples Therapy" follows three New York couples as they work through conflicts with the counseling of Dr. Orna Guralnik. It may sound voyeuristic, but as we watch these couples experience breakthroughs in self-awareness, it becomes therapeutic.
The Netflix series "High on the Hog" explores the wide-ranging influence of African-American food traditions. Host Stephen Satterfield talks to chefs and historians throughout West Africa and the United States for an eye-opening and mouth-watering journey.
"Five Years North" profiles two figures on the opposite sides of immigration struggles in New York City: an undocumented Guatemalan teenager and an ICE agent. Filmmakers Chris Temple and Zach Ingrasci deepen our understanding of the human effects of America's policies. The documentary opens theatrically this weekend at New York’s Film Forum.
The new documentary The Crime of the Century studies how Purdue Pharma and other companies fostered an opioid epidemic. Oscar-winning filmmaker Alex Gibney interviews author Patrick Radden Keefe ("Empire of Pain") and others to expose the secrets that Big Pharma tried to conceal.
“The Boy From Medellin” follows reggaeton superstar J Balvin as he prepares the biggest concert of his career against the backdrop of political turmoil in Colombia. Oscar-nominated director Matthew Heineman follows Balvin over a dramatic week as he grapples with how to use his voice in a time of protest.
In “Duty Free,” filmmaker Sian-Pierre Regis takes his mom on a bucket list journey after she loses her job at age 75. Well-timed for Mother’s Day, the emotional film explores what happens when an elderly parents have to rely on their adult children.
The eight-part series “Philly D.A.” follows District Attorney Larry Krasner as he carries out a progressive agenda to reduce incarceration in Philadelphia. The series invites comparisons to “The Wire” for its dramatic twists and turns as Krasner tries to live up to his principles against fierce opposition.
“Down a Dark Stairwell” examines how Black and Asian activists were galvanized in different ways over the 2014 New York police shooting of Akai Gurley. Filmmaker Ursula Liang covers the complex case from multiple viewpoints.
“Oliver Sacks: His Own Life” profiles the neurologist and best-selling author of “The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat.” Filmmaker Ric Burns examines the life experiences that influenced Sacks and how he reinvigorated the literary genre of scientific case histories.
“WeWork: or the Making and Breaking of a $47 Billion Unicorn” dissects the company that soared on the charisma of its co-founder Adam Neumann until its bubble burst. Filmmaker Jed Rothstein (“The China Hustle”) interviews WeWork insiders and journalists to tell a story of financial chicanery that fits alongside recent documentaries on the Fyre festival and Theranos.
“Tina” draws upon rare archives and new interviews to profile Tina Turner with a fresh perspective on her iconic story. Oscar-winning filmmakers Dan Lindsay and T.J. Martin (“Undefeated”) capture the star’s power on stage and vulnerability behind the scenes.
“Operation Varsity Blues: The College Admissions Scandal” tells the story of Rick Singer who helped rich parents use bribes to get their kids into elite schools.
Filmmaker Chris Smith (“Fyre”) uses actors, including Matthew Modine as Singer, to artfully recreate the FBI wiretaps that led to arrests.
Filmmaker Leon Gast died this week at age 84 leaving a rich legacy of work including his documentary “When We Were Kings” about Muhammad Ali in Africa.
Gast took over 20 years to complete the film. It won an Oscar and he produced a follow up called “Soul Power.”
“Made You Look: A True Story About Fake Art” tells the story of the New York gallery that sold over 60 forgeries attributed to art superstars such as Mark Rothko, Jackson Pollock, and Robert Motherwell for over $80 million. Filmmaker Barry Avrich profiles the con artists, the duped collectors, and the master forger.
The documentary “’Til Kingdom Come” explores why American Evangelicals are preoccupied with Israel. Filmmaker Maya Zinshtein travels from Jerusalem to Washington to Kentucky to study the confluence between religion and politics that supports the right wing policies of Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu.
“Softie” follows Kenyan journalist Boniface Mwangi and his wife Njeri as their family faces death threats when he runs for Parliament. Filmmaker Sam Soko explores both the political and personal challenges of standing up for your beliefs.
"Black Art: In the Absence of Light," directed by Sam Pollard, profiles a range of artists of different generations—from 90-year-old Faith Ringgold to President Obama’s portrait painter Kehinde Wiley. Visually, the film dazzles with painting, photography, collage, sculpture, conceptual art and more.
Official trailer:
“9to5: The Story of a Movement” tells the history of the women’s labor movement that inspired the Hollywood comedy and Dolly Parton’s song.
Oscar-winning filmmakers Julia Reichert and Steven Bognar (“American Factory”) interview women from across the country who describe their battles over sexual harassment, child care, and equal pay.
Official trailer:
The four-part series “We Are the Brooklyn Saints” looks at a grade school football team in East New York. Filmmaker Rudy Valdez profiles Coach Gawuala and other mentors who inspire young players for challenges on and off the field.
Official trailer:
“How It Feels to Be Free” profiles six Black women entertainers who broke barriers of racial discrimination. Filmmaker Yoruba Richen traces the histories of Lena Horne, Diahann Carroll, Cicely Tyson, Abbey Lincoln, Nina Simone, and Pam Grier.
Official trailer:
The documentary “Assassins” investigates the bizarre 2017 plot to murder Kim Jong-Nam, the half brother to North Korea’s Supreme Leader. His killing was carried out in a Malaysian airport lobby by two young women who thought they were performing for a TV prank show.
Official trailer:
“The Dissident” investigates the plan by Saudi Arabia's government to murder journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Oscar-winning director Bryan Fogel, who made “Icarus” about the Russian Olympic doping program, brings a strong commitment of speaking truth to power.
Official trailer:
In “David Attenborough: A Life on our Planet,” the acclaimed nature documentary maker combines stunning visuals of wildlife with a passionate appeal for humans to rescue the planet. Attenborough outlines how humans need to make changes to how we eat, farm and get energy in order to preserve our future.
Official trailer:
"Giving Voice” celebrates the legacy of August Wilson by looking at a competition of high school students performing his monologues on a Broadway stage. Filmmakers James D. Stern and Fernando Villena also bring in the perspectives of actors like Viola Davis and Denzel Washington who are well-versed in Wilson’s work.
Official trailer:
“40 Years a Prisoner” follows Mike Africa Jr. as he seeks to reunite with his parents after they were imprisoned for the 1978 shootout between Philadelphia’s police and the radical group MOVE. Filmmaker Tommy Oliver interviews eyewitnesses from multiple sides to explore the tragic dynamics that led to the violent confrontation and the flawed system of justice that followed. Official Trailer:
"Through the Night” pays tribute to working mothers by looking at a 24-hour child care facility run by Deloris “Nunu” Hogan and and her husband Patrick in New Rochelle, NY. Filmmaker Loira Limbal won DOC NYC’s Special Jury Prize for the Ethics of Care for her poignant treatment of these essential workers.
Official trailer:
The documentary “76 Days” was filmed inside hospitals in Wuhan, China during the city's lockdown at the outbreak of Covid-19. A rare independent documentary given China’s tight media control, the trio of directors Hao Wu, Weixi Chen and Anonymous present an unprecedented period of history with the pacing of a thriller.
Official trailer:
“Fireball: Visitors from Darker Worlds” takes a global journey to study meteors from the past and present. Directed by Werner Herzog and Clive Oppenheimer, the film interviews people obsessed with fallen bits of stardust from Norwegian jazz musician Jon Larsen to planetary scientist Meenakshi Wadhwa.
Official trailer:
"I Am Greta” follows teenage climate activist Greta Thunberg over the year she rose from obscurity to becoming the voice of a generation. Swedish filmmaker Nathan Grossman had unique access to Thunberg, including her trip by sailboat across the Atlantic to speak at the United Nations in 2019.
The film is streaming on Hulu. Official Trailer:
“MLK/FBI” returns us to a time when J. Edgar Hoover led a campaign of surveillance and harassment against Martin Luther King, Jr.
The film is being previewed online at the DOC NYC festival where filmmaker Sam Pollard is being honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award.
DOC NYC Trailer:
Journalist Robert Fisk, who died at 74 this week, is profiled in “This Is Not A Movie” covering his long career in the Middle East. Filmmaker Yung Chang follows Fisk on reporting trips to Syria, Lebanon, Palestine’s West Bank, and more.
Official Trailer:
The film is currently screening at Anthology Film Archives.
Master documentarian Frederick Wiseman continues his 50-year project of observing institutions with a look at Boston in “City Hall.” At the center of the film is Mayor Marty Walsh as he takes on issues of immigration, racial justice, and job creation.
The film is now streaming at Film Forum. Here is the official trailer.
The documentary “Time” focuses on Fox Rich, an ex-convict turned successful entrepreneur, as she raises her family and struggles to get her husband Rob freed from prison. Filmmaker Garrett Bradley draws upon 20 years worth of family archives for a poetic and profound look at the impact of incarceration on a family.
Official Trailer:
“Totally Under Control” takes a sobering look at why Covid-19 had a more devastating impact in the United States than in other countries. Oscar-winning filmmaker Alex Gibney leads a film team that interviews Trump administration insiders and frontline health experts to understand what went wrong.
The official trailer:
Filmmaker Bernardo Ruiz travels the United States to explore a broad spectrum of political perspectives for "The Latino Vote." He covers different nuances between the young vs old, light-skinned vs dark-skinned, and how religious convictions can skew either liberal or conservative.
“Kingdom of Silence” explores the life of journalist Jamal Khashoggi who was murdered by Saudi operatives on Oct. 2, 2018. Filmmaker Richard Rowley investigates the politics behind Khashoggi’s life and death with contributions from journalist Lawrence Wright, human rights activist Mohamed Soltan, former U.S. Deputy of National Security Ben Rhodes and others.
“Women Make Film” is a 14-part documentary series narrated by Tilda Swinton and others that showcases the immense contribution of women filmmakers from around the globe. Turner Classic Movies is rolling out the series every Tuesday from now until December, alongside a collection of 100 related films directed by women.
In the Showtime series “Love Fraud,” filmmakers Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady conduct an investigation into a con man who has romanced women and stolen their money for twenty years. We watch his former victims band together to seek justice, turning their pain into a purpose.
In “The Social Dilemma” the harshest critique of social media comes from its former creators at Facebook, Twitter and other tech companies. Filmmaker Jeff Orlowski makes a devastating case that it’s time to rethink the relationship to our apps.
The whimsical documentary “The Mole Agent” looks at an amateur spy in Chile who’s recruited to investigate a nursing home. Acclaimed filmmaker Maite Alberdi (“Tea Time”) combines humor and poignancy to study an older generation searching for connections.
— Raphaela Neihausen and Thom Powers
For more information, click here to visit the film web site.
The documentary “Mr. Soul!” profiles Ellis Haizlip who hosted a ground-breaking television series about Black culture starting in 1968. He was the uncle of filmmaker Melissa Haizlip who covers his life with nuance and complexity while serving up an astonishing archive featuring a Who’s Who of Black musicians, writers, activists, dancers and others from that era.
— Raphaela Neihausen and Thom Powers
For more information, click here to visit the official film web site.
In 1972, the pioneering filmmaker William Greaves captured the National Black Political Convention in Gary, Indiana for his documentary “Nationtime - Gary.” The work has gone unseen for decades, but has now been restored by IndieCollect. It will have a rare screening online at the Blackstar Film Festival.
— Raphaela Neihausen and Thom Powers
For more information, click here to visit the film web site.
The documentary “Boys State” follows more than a thousand teenage boys in Texas as they participate in a weeklong program of mock elections sponsored by the American Legion. Filmmakers Jesse Moss and Amanda McBaine capture political impulses from a wide spectrum. Like many elections, the suspense builds to the very end.
— Raphaela Neihausen and Thom Powers
For more information, click here to visit the film web site.
The documentary “A Thousand Cuts” profiles the courageous journalist Maria Ressa, who leads The Rappler news website in the Philippines. Filmmaker Ramona Diaz follows Ressa and her team as they investigate the regime of autocratic President Rodrigo Duterte in the face of intimidation, death threats and legal harassment.
— Raphaela Neihausen and Thom Powers
For more information, click here to visit the official film web site.
“The Fight” covers the American Civil Liberties Union lawyers as they battle the Trump administration all the way to the Supreme Court. The filmmaking trio behind Weiner - Eli Despres, Josh Kriegman & Elyse Steinberg - put us on the front lines of legal battles over immigration, abortion, LGBTQ equality and voting rights.
— Raphaela Neihausen and Thom Powers
For more information, click here to visit the film web site.
The started out in the L.A. punk scene and catapulted into pop stardom. The documentary “The Go-Gos” examines the brief and brilliant history of the band behind MTV hits like “We Got the Beat” and “Vacation.” Director Alison Ellwood shows how each band member made a unique contribution to make them the most successful all-female rock band, although they continue to be neglected by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
— Raphaela Neihausen and Thom Powers
For more information, click here to visit the film web site.
The documentary “Disclosure” examines how transgender people have been portrayed in film and television from harmful stereotypes to more positive representations. Mixing film clips with commentary, director Sam Feder and executive producer Laverne Cox illustrate recent progress in shows like "Orange is the New Black" and “Pose.”
— Raphaela Neihausen and Thom Powers
For more information, click here to visit the film web site.
The documentary “And She Could Be Next” is a two-part PBS documentary covering women of color across the U.S. who ran for political office in 2018. The filmmakers cover Rashida Tlaib, Lucy McBath, Stacey Abrams and others who fight hard battles against staggering odds.
— Raphaela Neihausen and Thom Powers
For more information, click here to visit the film web site.
The documentary “John Lewis: Good Trouble” examines the career of the civil rights crusader over six decades, from his non-violent protests in the 1960s to his career as Congressman from Georgia. Filmmaker Dawn Porter shows how Lewis continues to inspire a younger generation of crusaders like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Rashida Tlaib.
— Raphaela Neihausen and Thom Powers
For more information, click here to visit the film web site.
The documentary “Welcome to Chechnya” follows the suspenseful rescue missions of activists helping members of the LGBTQ community escape from persecution in the Russian territory. Oscar-nominated director David France works with Russian film crews to capture the dangerous work up close, inspired by the reporting of The New Yorker’s Masha Gessen.
— Raphaela Neihausen and Thom Powers
For more information, click here to visit the film web site.
In “Dads,” filmmaker Bryce Dallas Howard pays loving tribute to a wide range of fathers including her own, Ron Howard. She gains candid and humorous insights from an array of comedians such as Jimmy Fallon, Will Smith, and Hasan Minhaj.
— Raphaela Neihausen and Thom Powers
For more information, click here to visit the film web site.
The documentary “Coded Bias,” playing online at the Human Rights Watch Film Festival, examines the prejudice built-in to computer code that’s mainly written by white men. Filmmaker Shalini Kantayya looks at the Algorithmic Justice League and other activists who are lobbying for more government oversight.
— Raphaela Neihausen and Thom Powers
For more information, click here to visit the film web site.
“Be Water” explores the life of martial arts film star Bruce Lee, from Hollywood to Hong Kong. Filmmaker Bao Nguyen interviews Lee’s family and friends, including Kareem Abdul-Jabar, about the actor’s effort to forge his own identity.
— Raphaela Neihausen and Thom Powers
For more information, click here to visit the film web site.
“On the Record” follows former music executive Drew Dixon as she weighs going public along with others in accusing Russell Simmons of rape. Oscar-nominated filmmakers Kirby Dick and Amy Ziering have a long history of covering sexual assault in films such as “The Hunting Ground.”
— Raphaela Neihausen and Thom Powers
For more information, click here to visit the film web site.
The documentary “The Painter and the Thief” explores a strange relationship when an artist chooses to make a portrait of the gangster who stole her work. Filmmaker Benjamin Ree achieves a remarkable intimacy filming in the quiet spaces of a studio and couples therapy. This film is a testament to the power of art.
— Raphaela Neihausen and Thom Powers
For more information, click here to visit the official film web site.
The five-hour PBS series “Asian Americans” traces the complex history of a multifaceted ethnic identity and experience. Series producer Renee Tajima-Peña collaborates with a team of Asian American directors to highlight remarkable lives from silent screen actress Anna May Wong to Yahoo co-founder Jerry Yang.
— Raphaela Neihausen and Thom Powers
For more information, click here to visit the series web site.
“Spaceship Earth” tells the story of eight researchers who locked themselves into the self-contained ecosystem of Biosphere 2 in the Arizona desert for two years. Filmmaker Matt Wolf documents the interpersonal dramas and scientific controversies with an approach that has more respect than ridicule for the grandiose undertaking.
— Raphaela Neihausen and Thom Powers
For more information, click here to visit the film web site.
“Capital in the Twenty-First Century” adapts the best-selling book by French economist Thomas Piketty into a lively documentary set to a pop soundtrack. Director Justin Pemberton enlists economic analysts ranging from Nobel prize winner Joseph Stiglitz to Rana Foroohar to Piketty himself.
— Raphaela Neihausen and Thom Powers
For more information, click here to visit the film web site.
“Circus of Books” looks at the iconic Los Angeles bookstore known for stocking gay pornography. The unlikely owners were the parents of filmmaker Rachel Mason. The film is a multi-layered exploration of gay history, First Amendment rights and family secrets.
— Raphaela Neihausen and Thom Powers
For more information, click here to visit the film web site.
The Netflix series “The Innocence Files” follows cases of wrongfully convicted prisoners whose cases are championed by The Innocence Project. Executive producers Liz Garbus, Alex Gibney and Roger Ross Williams uncover the effects of bad evidence, mistaken witnesses and corrupt prosecutors.
— Raphaela Neihausen and Thom Powers
For more information, click here to visit the series web site.
“Kill Chain: The Cyber War on America’s Elections” follows security expert Harri Hursti and others who reveal alarming vulnerabilities in U.S. electronic voting machines. Filmmakers Simon Ardizzone, Russell Michaels and Sarah Teale illuminate paper-balloting solutions, and point to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell as a key impediment to passing the Secure Elections Act that has bipartisan support.
— Raphaela Neihausen and Thom Powers
For more information, click here to visit the film web site.
Gerrymandering might seem like an arcane political topic, but the documentary “Slay the Dragon” shows how citizen activists are fighting to bring greater democracy to the process of drawing Congressional maps. Filmmakers Barak Goodman and Chris Durrance create an emotional and suspenseful narrative for crusades across the country.
— Raphaela Neihausen and Thom Powers
For more information, click here to visit the film web site.
The documentary “Crip Camp” tells the history of Camp Jened in the Catskills, where young adults became activists in the civil rights movement for people with disabilities. Filmmaker Jim Lebrecht, a former camper who witnessed the movement from the inside, teams with co-director Nicole Newnham for a rousing story of resistance, transgression and hard won freedoms.
— Raphaela Neihausen and Thom Powers
For more information, click here to visit the film web site.
"After Truth: Disinformation and the Cost of Fake News" studies the rise of lies in politics and their weaponization with social media. Filmmaker Andrew Rossi examines conspiracies such as Pizzagate and the operatives who foster them among both Republicans and Democrats.
— Raphaela Neihausen and Thom Powers
For more information, click here to visit the film web site.
"Dirty Money" returns for a second season exposing corruption, crime and other violations of common decency, including an episode on Wells Fargo bank. Executive producer Alex Gibney leads a team of skilled filmmakers for a series that will leave you more informed and irate.
— Raphaela Neihausen and Thom Powers
For more information, click here to visit the film web site.
“The Booksellers” looks at the world of antiquarian booksellers and highlights a new generation that’s breaking the stereotype of the profession as white, male and slow to change. Filmmaker D.W. Young celebrates the legendary New York stores of Argosy, The Strand and others.
— Raphaela Neihausen and Thom Powers
For more information, click here to visit the official film web site.
“The Kingmaker” traces the fall and rise of Imelda Marcos, the disgraced First Lady of the Philippines, who’s on a quest to bring her family back to power in alliance with President Rodrigo Duterte. Filmmaker Lauren Greenfield gains insightful interviews with the Marcos family and their critics.
— Raphaela Neihausen and Thom Powers
For more information, click here to visit the film web site.
In the documentary “Once Were Brothers: Robbie Robertson and The Band,” filmmaker Daniel Roher explores the history of the legendary roots rock group from their formation and work with Bob Dylan to their final performance in “The Last Waltz.” Robertson, The Band’s founder, reflects on the chemistry of the five members that caused their rise and fall.
— Raphaela Neihausen and Thom Powers
For more information, click here to visit the official film web site.