Documentaries
“I Wanted to Understand the Brainwash”: ‘THR Presents’ Q&A With ‘Rojek’ Director Zaynê Akyol
Zaynê Akyol’s latest documentary feature, Rojek, was born out of her time working on the 2016 documentary Gulîstan, Land of Roses. In that film, the director followed a group of female soldiers in Iraqi Kurdistan as she searched for her old babysitter (the titular Gulîstan), who had mysteriously vanished one day in Akyol’s childhood to […]
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From Michael J. Fox to an Iconic Sex Researcher: THR Documentary Roundtable on Trust and Truth Telling
Six directors of standout 2023 documentary features gathered at The Hollywood Reporter’s Los Angeles offices in mid-November for THR’s annual Documentary Roundtable. Among them were two revered veterans with Oscars to their name: Davis Guggenheim (2006’s An Inconvenient Truth), who helmed Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie, a film about the life and struggles of the […]
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IDA Documentary Awards: ‘Bobi Wine: The People’s President’ Wins Best Feature
Bobi Wine: The People’s President won the top prize of best feature documentary at the 2023 International Documentary Awards on Tuesday night. The film follows music star, activist and opposition leader Bobi Wine amid Uganda’s 2021 presidential election. Accepting the award during the International Documentary Association’s virtual awards show, co-director Moses Bwayo said, “The awareness […]
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‘To Kill a Tiger’ Depicts an Indian Father as a Model for Male Allyship
In her documentary To Kill a Tiger, which won the prize for best Canadian film at the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival, filmmaker Nisha Pahuja tackles the most harrowing subject of her career: the fight of an Indian farmer to demand justice for his 13-year-old daughter, Kiran, after she was gang-raped by three men in […]
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Tales of Triumph and Iconic Personas: THR’s Guide to the Oscars’ Top Documentaries
AKA Mr. Chow (HBO Documentary Films) This portrait directed by Nick Hooker follows the life and career of painter turned restaurateur Michael Chow, the owner of the Mr Chow restaurant chain, as he returns to the art world with his first solo show in nearly 60 years. American Symphony (Netflix) Matthew Heineman switches gears from […]
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Director Sam Green, Sound Designer Mark Mangini on the Power of Immersive Doc ‘32 Sounds’
One may think filmmaker Sam Green’s 32 Sounds is aimed at the sound community, but with his immersive exploration of the noises we hear, Green says he hopes to reach general audiences and inspire them to “hear the world in a different way.” Sound designer Mark Mangini feels the same way, pointing to the narrative […]
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Pappi Corsicato on Revealing the Private Jeff Koons
For his fans, Jeff Koons is a pop artist icon, the heir to Andy Warhol and Salvador Dali, or legendary “anti-artist” Marcel Duchamp. His often oversized sculptures using toys, ornaments and ordinary objects, are among the most recognizable, and sought-after works on the market. His “Balloon Dog (Orange)” sold for $58.4 million in 2013, “Rabbit” […]
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International Documentary Awards: ‘Apolonia, Apolonia’ Lands Leading Four Nominations
Apolonia, Apolonia leads the 2023 International Documentary Awards nominations with four nods. Other top nominees include The Mother of All Lies and Milisuthando, which earned three nominations apiece. All three films are up for the top prize of best feature documentary, along with two-time nominees Against the Tide, ANHELL69, Going to Mars: The Nikki Giovanni […]
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‘The Walk’ Review: ‘Honeyland’ Director’s Effective Fusion of Political Urgency and Poetic Creativity
Tamara Kotevska’s second feature documentary interweaves refugee children’s stories with scenes from a project that uses the art of puppetry to raise awareness about young lives upended by war and persecution.
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IDA Documentary Awards Unveils 2023 Shortlists for Best Features, Shorts
The International Documentary Association (IDA) on Tuesday announced its best feature and short shortlists for the 2023 IDA Documentary Awards. The ceremony will be held during the week of Dec. 11 in Los Angeles — venue information is set to follow. Starting Nov. 7, IDA members will be able to view each of the shortlisted […]
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Cinema Eye Honors Announces 2024 Nominees in Broadcast Categories, Shorts List
Cinema Eye Honors, an organization that recognizes nonfiction and documentary films and series, on Thursday announced its nominees in five broadcast categories, as well as its annual Shorts List, the films on the Audience Choice Prize Long List and its Unforgettables honorees. Hulu’s The 1619 Project, executive produced by Oprah Winfrey, as well as Showtime’s […]
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Critics Choice Documentary Awards: ‘American Symphony’ Leads With Six Nominations
Matthew Heineman’s American Symphony, a portrait of musician Jon Batiste as he experiences professional success amid the personal challenge of his wife Suleika Jaouad’s cancer battle, leads the nominations for the 2023 Critics Choice Documentary Awards. American Symphony is up for six awards including best documentary feature. The film is also nominated for best director […]
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