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Documentary
Years

Popular Documentary Movies

How to Dance in Ohio
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How to Dance in Ohio
In Columbus, Ohio, a group of autistic teenagers and young adults role-play this transition by going through the deceptively complex social interactions of preparing for a spring formal. Focusing on several young women as they go through an iconic American rite of passage, we are given intimate access to people who are often unable to share their experiences with others. With humor and heartbreak, How to Dance in Ohio shows the daily courage of people facing their fears and opening themselves to the pain, worry, and joy of the social world.
How to Dance in Ohio 2015
My So-Called High School Rank
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My So-Called High School Rank
A deep dive into the lives of high school students in three radically disparate communities as they navigate the pressures around college while staging a musical, until seismic events upend their dreams and expectations.
My So-Called High School Rank 2022
One Nation Under Stress
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One Nation Under Stress
Dr. Sanjay Gupta explores how advances in neuroscience are shedding light on the origins and impact of stress.
One Nation Under Stress 2019
God Is the Bigger Elvis
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God Is the Bigger Elvis
Dolores Hart left a successful Hollywood acting career to become a nun. A true story.
God Is the Bigger Elvis 2012
Meet the Donors: Does Money Talk?
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Meet the Donors: Does Money Talk?
Alexandra Pelosi looks at money in politics and interviews wealthy donors to Republican and Democratic parties to ask them about their contributions and philosophies. Also: a look at efforts to enact campaign-finance reform.
Meet the Donors: Does Money Talk? 2016
Just a Boy From Tupelo: Bringing Elvis to the Big Screen
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Just a Boy From Tupelo: Bringing Elvis to the Big Screen
Director Baz Luhrmann, actors Austin Butler and Tom Hanks, and others explore the life and legacy of Elvis Presley and the making of the acclaimed hit film, ELVIS.
Just a Boy From Tupelo: Bringing Elvis to the Big Screen 2023
Mavis!
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Mavis!
A look at the life and music of legendary singer and civil rights activist, Mavis Staples.
Mavis! 2015
It's a Hard Truth Ain't It
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It's a Hard Truth Ain't It
"It’s a Hard Truth Ain’t It" is a companion piece to "O.G.", a narrative drama also directed by Madeleine Sackler. It is co-directed by thirteen men incarcerated at the Pendleton Correctional Facility in Pendleton, Indiana. Given unprecedented access to a maximum security prison, filmmaker Madeleine Sackler worked with a group of inmates to tell their own stories, giving rise to this collaborative, intimate documentary project.
It's a Hard Truth Ain't It 2018
Pelosi in the House
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Pelosi in the House
Documentarian Alexandra Pelosi offers a candid, behind-the-scenes chronicle of the life of her mother and Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, through her career milestones leading up to the inauguration of President Joseph Biden in January 2021.
Pelosi in the House 2022
Crisis: Behind a Presidential Commitment
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Crisis: Behind a Presidential Commitment
During a two-day period before and after the University of Alabama integration crisis, the film uses five camera crews to follow President John F. Kennedy, attorney general Robert F. Kennedy, Alabama governor George Wallace, deputy attorney general Nicholas Katzenbach and the students Vivian Malone and James Hood. As Wallace has promised to personally block the two black students from enrolling in the university, the JFK administration discusses the best way to react to it, without rousing the crowd or making Wallace a martyr for the segregationist cause. Preserved by the Academy Film Archive in partnership with The Film Foundation in 1999.
Crisis: Behind a Presidential Commitment 1963
A La Calle
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A La Calle
A firsthand account of the extraordinary efforts of ordinary Venezuelans to reclaim their democracy from the dictatorship of Nicolás Maduro, whose corrupt and brutal policies have plunged the country into economic ruin. Working with a network of clandestine camera crews, the filmmakers spent three years recording exclusive interviews with key opposition figures including Leopoldo López and grassroots activist Nixon Leal, as well as a host of everyday citizens, and captured the remarkable courage of the Venezuelan people as they unite to restore liberty to their country.
A La Calle 2020
Habla Men
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Habla Men
Habla Men will enlighten audiences on what it means to be Latino in the United States through the perspective of a diverse group of Hispanic role models whose personal stories are told straight into the camera. Raw, humorous yet sincere, this series will feature the likes of a handsome sensitive man, a "tough guy" actor, a gay championship boxer, a legendary wrestler, a Pulitzer Prize-winning author, and a 6'2 transgendered blond bombshell among others. The personal experiences each of the participants openly disclose will keep viewers not only entertained, but challenge preconceived notions.
Habla Men 2014
Sermon on the Mount
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Sermon on the Mount
Jerrod Carmichael explores aspects of the black experience through interviews with his family in this HBO Special.
Sermon on the Mount 2019
The Newspaperman: The Life and Times of Ben Bradlee
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The Newspaperman: The Life and Times of Ben Bradlee
An intimate portrait of Washington Post executive editor Ben Bradlee, tracing his remarkable ascent from a young Boston boy stricken with polio to the one of the most pioneering and consequential journalistic figures of the 20th century.
The Newspaperman: The Life and Times of Ben Bradlee 2017
Unlocking the Cage
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Unlocking the Cage
Renowned filmmakers D A Pennebaker and Chris Hegedus follow determined animal rights activist Steven Wise into the courtroom for an unprecedented battle that seeks to utilize the writ of habeas corpus to expand legal “personhood” to include certain animals. Wise’s unusual plaintiffs—chimpanzees Tommy and Kiko, once famed showbiz stars—are now living in filth, struggling to survive. Wise and his impassioned legal team take us into the field, revealing gripping evidence of such abuse and plunging us into the intricacies of their case as they probe preconceived notions of what it means to be a non-human animal.
Unlocking the Cage 2016
The Cold Blue
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The Cold Blue
A meditation on youth, war and stunning bravery, featuring footage, taken from the National Archives, from the documentary filmed in 1943 by legendary Hollywood director William Wyler about the famous Memphis Belle flying fortress and the gripping narration from some of the last surviving B-17 pilots.
The Cold Blue 2018
Romeo Santos: King of Bachata
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Romeo Santos: King of Bachata
KING OF BACHATA, directed by Charles Todd and Devin Amar, and produced by Sony Music Latin, Chimby Productions and Scheme Engine, combines the making of and best moments of this ambitious concert with the travels of Dominican late-night host, writer and comedian, Joel “The Kid Mero" Martinez as he journeys to the Caribbean nation to find the soul of bachata. Mero’s journey takes us to the restaurants and bars of the countryside of the Dominican Republic, where the sound originated and retraces its rise to international recognition. We also get a behind-the-scenes look at Santos’ creative process, his inspirations, and his tireless work in the studio. This documentary film and concert is a love letter to the genre, inspired by Romeo’s Utopia album. Featuring surprise performances from Cardi B and Aventura, the concert is a once-in-a-lifetime celebration of Latin culture and a defining moment in the history of Latin music.
Romeo Santos: King of Bachata 2021
The Latin Explosion: A New America
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The Latin Explosion: A New America
With more than 50 million Latinos now living in the United States, Latinos are taking their seat at the table as the new American power brokers in the world of entertainment, business, politics and the arts. As Latinos’ influence in American society has soared, they have entered mainstream American culture, and the proof is in the music. Executive produced by legendary music mogul Tommy Mottola, THE LATIN EXPLOSION: A NEW AMERICA features a dazzling array of artists at the center of Latino cultural power and influence, including Marc Anthony, Emilio Estefan Jr., Gloria Estefan, José Feliciano, Eva Longoria, George Lopez, Jennifer Lopez, Los Lobos, Cheech Marin, Ricky Martin, Rita Moreno, Pitbull, Romeo Santos, Shakira, Thalía and Sofía Vergara. Narrated by John Leguizamo.
The Latin Explosion: A New America 2015
One Nation Under Dog
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One Nation Under Dog
.Americans have had a long love affair with dogs, with many of us referring to our canine companions as best friends, significant others, soul mates, even children. But lost amidst all the pampering and pedestaling are hard and often tragic truths surrounding dog ownership, care and commerce, not to mention the daunting odds continuing to face millions of unwanted shelter dogs. Divided into three parts – “Fear,” “Loss” and “Betrayal” – this 73-minute documentary is comprised of eight case studies that probe the complicated and conflicted relationship we have with canines. Collectively, the segments reveal the sobering realities behind our relationship with dogs, showing not only how far some dog lovers will go for their pets, but how far we as nation have to go in order to treat all dogs humanely.
One Nation Under Dog 2012
Homeschool Musical: Class of 2020
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Homeschool Musical: Class of 2020
Inspired by the viral success of Tony-winner Laura Benanti's #sunshinesongs, this feel-good docu-special spotlights a talented group of high school seniors as they give show-stopping performances from home to capture their 2020 experiences.
Homeschool Musical: Class of 2020 2020
One Survivor Remembers
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One Survivor Remembers
Co-produced by the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum Research Institute, this Academy Award-winning documentary relates the harrowing story of Gerda Weissmann Klein and her journey of survival and remembering both before and after the war.
One Survivor Remembers 1995
The Spirit of Salsa
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The Spirit of Salsa
People from all over New York City meet in Spanish Harlem once a week at Santo Rico Dance School, where they learn the art of salsa.
The Spirit of Salsa 2010
No Place on Earth
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No Place on Earth
This extraordinary testament to survival from Emmy-winning producer/director Janet Tobias brings to light a story that remained untold for decades: that of thirty-eight Ukrainian Jews who survived World War II by living in caves for eighteen months. (TIFF)
No Place on Earth 2013
Yusuf Hawkins: Storm Over Brooklyn
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Yusuf Hawkins: Storm Over Brooklyn
The 30-year legacy of the murder of black teenager Yusuf Hawkins by a group of young white men in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, as his family and friends reflect on the tragedy and the subsequent fight for justice that inspired and divided New York City.
Yusuf Hawkins: Storm Over Brooklyn 2020
Home Videos
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Home Videos
Jerrod Carmichael explores aspects of the black experience through interviews with his family. In this special, Carmichael focuses on the strong black women in his life, returning home to North Carolina for informal, intimate conversations with his family and friends, who speak candidly about subjects such as sex, confidence, beauty standards and feminism.
Home Videos 2019
Finding the Way Home
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Finding the Way Home
A look at the distressing circumstances for millions of children living in orphanages and other institutions around the world as J.K. Rowling's LUMOS foundation works to reunite them with family members or place them in foster homes.
Finding the Way Home 2019
Eyes on the Prize: Hallowed Ground
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Eyes on the Prize: Hallowed Ground
This documentary special honors Henry Hampton’s masterpiece Eyes on the Prize and conjures ancestral memories, activates the radical imagination and explores the profound journey for Black liberation through the voices of the movement.
Eyes on the Prize: Hallowed Ground 2021
First Cousin Once Removed
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First Cousin Once Removed
Filmmaker Alan Berliner documents his first cousin, the poet-translator Edwin Honig, as he succumbs to Alzheimer's.
First Cousin Once Removed 2012
The Strange History of Don't Ask, Don't Tell
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The Strange History of Don't Ask, Don't Tell
The strange history of the now abandoned American 1993-bill, «Don't ask, don't tell» where sexual orientation was a "non-talk" policy in the American forces, leading to 13.368 getting kicked out before 2011.
The Strange History of Don't Ask, Don't Tell 2011
Supervillains: An Investigation
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Supervillains: An Investigation
An in-depth exploration of supervillains across comic book history, this French documentary zooms in on the complex motivations, origins, and morals behind these sinister yet fascinating characters.
Supervillains: An Investigation 2023
Salt Lake 2002: Stories of Olympic Glory
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Salt Lake 2002: Stories of Olympic Glory
Award-winning sports chronicler Bud Greenspan delivers a powerful and emotional look at six individual stories in the official film of the 2002 Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City. Greenspan goes beyond highlight footage to tell the story of how these athletes overcome incredible obstacles to achieve Olympic glory.
Salt Lake 2002: Stories of Olympic Glory 2003
Simple As Water
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Simple As Water
A meditation on the elemental bonds of family told through portraits of four Syrian families in the aftermath of war.
Simple As Water 2021
Bleed Out
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Bleed Out
After a routine partial hip replacement operation leaves his mother in a coma with permanent brain damage, what starts as a son's video diary becomes a citizen's investigation into the future of American health care.
Bleed Out 2018
Mann v. Ford
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Mann v. Ford
Thirty years after Ford Motor Company began dumping toxic waste in their backyard – and after one too many premature deaths – the Ramapo Mountain Indians filed a major class-action lawsuit: Mann v. Ford. This tiny tribe and their team of passionate lawyers took on the 'big dogs' – Ford and the Environmental Protection Agency.
Mann v. Ford 2011
Covid Diaries NYC
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Covid Diaries NYC
Five young filmmakers share stories of their families, who were on the frontlines during the first wave of the Coronavirus. These intimate accounts shine a light on families caught in chaos and crisis, in a city hiding from a deadly virus, in a country riven by social upheaval.
Covid Diaries NYC 2021
Bananas!*
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Bananas!*
Juan “Accidentes” Dominguez is on his biggest case ever. On behalf of twelve Nicaraguan banana workers he is tackling Dole Food in a ground-breaking legal battle for their use of a banned pesticide that was known by the company to cause sterility. Can he beat the giant, or will the corporation get away with it?
Bananas!* 2009
It's Me, Hilary: The Man Who Drew Eloise
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It's Me, Hilary: The Man Who Drew Eloise
This portrait of Hilary Knight, the artist behind the iconic Eloise books, sees him reflecting on his life as an illustrator and his relationship to his most successful work.
It's Me, Hilary: The Man Who Drew Eloise 2015
Scandalous: The Untold Story of the National Enquirer
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Scandalous: The Untold Story of the National Enquirer
The sensational true story of the most infamous tabloid in US history, a wild, probing look at how one newspaper's prescient grasp of its readers' darkest curiosities led it to massive profits and influence.
Scandalous: The Untold Story of the National Enquirer 2019
Hear and Now
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Hear and Now
Filmmaker Irene Taylor Brodsky aims her camera at her own life to capture the remarkable transformation of her deaf parents, who decided to undergo a life-changing procedure to restore their hearing after spending 65 years in silence. Chronicling her parents' experiences over their first year of having sound in their lives, Brodsky tells a deeply personal tale that moved viewers to bestow it with the Documentary Audience Award at Sundance 2007.
Hear and Now 2007
Solitary
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Solitary
There are 100,000 US citizens in solitary confinement across the country, a staggering number prompting comment from both President Obama and the Pope. Situated in rural Virginia, 300 miles from any urban center, Red Onion State Prison is one of over 40 supermax prisons across the US built to hold prisoners in eight-by-ten-foot cells for 23 hours a day. Filmed over the course of one year, this eye-opening film braids stark prison imagery, stories from correction officers, and intimate reflections from the men who are locked up in isolation. The inmates share the paths that led them to prison and their daily struggles to maintain their sanity.
Solitary 2016