#documentary-controversy

[ follow ]
Television
fromThe Atlantic
2 days ago

Seven Documentaries for Fans of Fiction

Documentaries can effectively tell engaging stories, appealing even to those typically averse to the genre.
Film
fromABC7 Los Angeles
21 hours ago

Beyond breaking news: local reporter follows his passion for film making

Sean Au emphasizes the emotional connection movies create between characters and audiences, inspiring his journey as a filmmaker.
Artificial intelligence
fromwww.nytimes.com
1 hour ago

Video: Why Is Everyone Spooked by Claude Mythos Preview?

Claude Mythos Preview by Anthropic can identify zero-day exploits in software faster than human teams, raising significant implications for cybersecurity.
Independent films
fromKotaku
2 days ago

Soderbergh Says He's "Obligated" To Use AI On John Lennon Doc

Steven Soderbergh plans to incorporate AI in future projects, including a documentary about John Lennon's final interview.
NYC politics
fromNew York Post
2 days ago

Mamdani's trademark smug videos now undermining agenda: 'Might be a price to pay'

Slick online videos that aided Mayor Mamdani's campaign are now creating political challenges and enemies in his administration's early days.
#cannes-film-festival
NYC LGBT
fromQueerty
3 days ago

Everyone knows what gay director Ira Sachs' latest film is about... So why won't they say it out loud? - Queerty

The 2026 Cannes Film Festival features a lineup of LGBTQ+ filmmakers, including Ira Sachs' new film The Man I Love.
Independent films
fromwww.theguardian.com
5 days ago

Cannes looks beyond Hollywood as US film-makers mostly fail to make the grade

Cannes 2023 selection favors world cinema over Hollywood, showcasing prominent international directors and reflecting geopolitical tensions.
Independent films
fromVulture
5 days ago

Cannes Is Coming, With or Without Hollywood

The Cannes Film Festival lineup features minimal American films, with only Ira Sachs' The Man I Love in competition.
NYC LGBT
fromQueerty
3 days ago

Everyone knows what gay director Ira Sachs' latest film is about... So why won't they say it out loud? - Queerty

The 2026 Cannes Film Festival features a lineup of LGBTQ+ filmmakers, including Ira Sachs' new film The Man I Love.
Independent films
fromwww.theguardian.com
5 days ago

Cannes looks beyond Hollywood as US film-makers mostly fail to make the grade

Cannes 2023 selection favors world cinema over Hollywood, showcasing prominent international directors and reflecting geopolitical tensions.
Independent films
fromVulture
5 days ago

Cannes Is Coming, With or Without Hollywood

The Cannes Film Festival lineup features minimal American films, with only Ira Sachs' The Man I Love in competition.
Arts
fromHyperallergic
6 days ago

Saad Khan Archives the Detritus of Censored Culture

Khajistan is an archive preserving censored media from South Asia to the Maghreb, founded by Saad Khan in 2019.
fromwww.mediaite.com
6 days ago

Michael Moore Trashes Democrats as Cowards' and Insists Leadership Supports' Trump's Iran War

Iran is the cradle of one of the greatest civilizations this planet has ever seen. While our ancestors in Europe were still figuring out how to build a hut, the Persians had already written the world's first declaration of human rights, built a multicultural empire that treated conquered peoples with dignity, and were doing math and medicine that we wouldn't catch up to for a thousand years.
Left-wing politics
#faces-of-death
Film
fromWIRED
9 hours ago

A New Horror Movie Depicts Realistic Snuff. That's Not the Most Disturbing Thing About It

The reboot of Faces of Death reflects modern society's exposure to real violence through social media and its impact on viewers.
Independent films
fromFilmmaker Magazine
4 days ago

"Decontextualized Little Clips of Violence": Daniel Goldhaber and Isa Mazzei on Faces of Death

Faces of Death reflects society's evolving relationship with graphic depictions of death and violence over the decades.
Independent films
fromVulture
4 days ago

No, You Don't Need to Watch the Original Faces of Death

Faces of Death is a notorious 1978 mondo-horror film that blends real and faked footage of death, influencing a new 2026 film adaptation.
Independent films
fromIndieWire
6 days ago

From Columbine to the 9/11 Attacks, Real-Life Violence Informed the New 'Faces of Death'

The new 'Faces of Death' film reflects on the impact of violence in American culture, influenced by the filmmakers' upbringing in Boulder, Colorado.
Film
fromWIRED
9 hours ago

A New Horror Movie Depicts Realistic Snuff. That's Not the Most Disturbing Thing About It

The reboot of Faces of Death reflects modern society's exposure to real violence through social media and its impact on viewers.
Independent films
fromFilmmaker Magazine
4 days ago

"Decontextualized Little Clips of Violence": Daniel Goldhaber and Isa Mazzei on Faces of Death

Faces of Death reflects society's evolving relationship with graphic depictions of death and violence over the decades.
Independent films
fromVulture
4 days ago

No, You Don't Need to Watch the Original Faces of Death

Faces of Death is a notorious 1978 mondo-horror film that blends real and faked footage of death, influencing a new 2026 film adaptation.
Independent films
fromIndieWire
6 days ago

From Columbine to the 9/11 Attacks, Real-Life Violence Informed the New 'Faces of Death'

The new 'Faces of Death' film reflects on the impact of violence in American culture, influenced by the filmmakers' upbringing in Boulder, Colorado.
Media industry
fromFast Company
1 day ago

Hollywood stars blast the Paramount-Warner merger in an open letter

Hollywood professionals oppose the Paramount-Warner Bros. merger, citing job losses and reduced opportunities for creators.
Television
fromSan Francisco Bay Times
4 days ago

The World of Broadcasting as Depicted on the Big and Little Screen - San Francisco Bay Times

Movies like 'A Face in the Crowd' and 'Network' accurately depict the broadcasting industry's cruelty and complexities.
Film
fromwww.theguardian.com
1 day ago

Ken Loach revisits I, Daniel Blake: We were asking if food banks are tolerable. Now they're an institution'

The film 'I, Daniel Blake' highlights the cruelty of a system that blames poverty on the poor and the struggles of those in need.
Film
fromFilmmaker Magazine
4 days ago

Exclusive: Watch a Clip of the LAFM World Premiere Drinking and Driving

Drinking and Driving is a lo-fi film exploring youthful recklessness and stagnation in small-town life.
Independent films
fromFilmmaker Magazine
4 days ago

"Personal Storytelling, Experimentation, and a DIY Spirit": A Look Inside LAFM 2026

This year's festival showcases debut features emphasizing personal storytelling and experimentation from both international and local filmmakers.
Film
fromwww.theguardian.com
4 days ago

I'm not a commercial director I'm not even a professional film-maker': Jim Jarmusch on the seven-year journey to make his new film

Jim Jarmusch's film Night on Earth features Gena Rowlands, who brought depth and melancholy to her role as a casting director.
#sundance-film-festival
Independent films
fromIndieWire
5 days ago

Sundance Heads South: Festival Announces Lineup for Third CDMX Edition in Mexico

The 2026 Sundance Film Festival CDMX will showcase 15 feature films and six shorts in Mexico City from April 30 to May 3.
Independent films
fromIndieWire
5 days ago

Sundance Heads South: Festival Announces Lineup for Third CDMX Edition in Mexico

The 2026 Sundance Film Festival CDMX will showcase 15 feature films and six shorts in Mexico City from April 30 to May 3.
fromwww.nytimes.com
1 month ago

The Next Stop for a Sundance Director: Leading New York's Film Forum

Under her leadership, Jackson said, 'The most important thing is to make sure that Film Forum continues its mission.' This reflects her commitment to the organization and its role in independent cinema.
Film
fromThe Independent
6 days ago

Netflix users say same thing about 'essential' true-crime documentary

The Truth and Tragedy of Moriah Wilson on Netflix is so good. I've followed this case since day one, and I'm so glad they finally did a documentary that honours her life and brilliance as an athlete, not just the tragedy.
Film
#independent-film
Independent films
fromIndieWire
1 week ago

Brands Won't Save Indie Film: They're Changing It

Independent filmmakers face financing challenges while brands are shifting towards storytelling, but brands won't fill the financing gap for traditional filmmaking.
Independent films
fromIndieWire
1 week ago

Brands Won't Save Indie Film: They're Changing It

Independent filmmakers face financing challenges while brands are shifting towards storytelling, but brands won't fill the financing gap for traditional filmmaking.
Film
fromInsideHook
1 week ago

"The Drama" Has No Idea How to Handle Its Controversial Twist

The Drama presents a romantic comedy that takes a dark turn with a shocking revelation about a character's past involvement in a school shooting plot.
fromFilmmaker Magazine
6 days ago

"What Solidarity Really Looks Like": Yael Bridge on Who Moves America

Drivers were delivering packages in deadly heat with no air conditioning; part-time employees, the majority of UPS' workforce, have been unable to receive benefits. Wages aren't rising at the same rate as the cost of living.
Independent films
fromwww.theguardian.com
6 days ago

I have to betray them to save them': how undercover film-makers exposed a sinister polygamous cult

These films that I'm making, says Dretzin, that other documentarians are making, are often more effective than the legal system at affecting change; psychological change and also sometimes systemic and criminal change.
Film
Film
fromwww.theguardian.com
6 days ago

Charli xcx's Brat movie marks the moment the mockumentary died | Zach Schonfeld

The mockumentary genre has become stale, lacking the innovative spirit that characterized earlier works by directors like Christopher Guest and Rob Reiner.
fromThe New Yorker
1 week ago

In Film, Sometimes the Greatest Drama Is Offscreen

"Cinematic Immunity" offers a workers'-eye view of Hollywood on the Hudson, revealing the intricate dynamics of filmmaking in New York City from 1954 to 9/11.
Independent films
Berlin
fromwww.theguardian.com
1 month ago

Berlin film festival head to keep job after Gaza free speech row

Berlin film festival head Tricia Tuttle retains her position after Gaza-related free speech controversy, though the festival must develop new antisemitism code of conduct.
Media industry
fromIndieWire
1 month ago

If You've Been Waiting for Normal in Hollywood, Here It Is

YouTube surpassed Disney as the world's largest media company while accomplished independent producers like Ted Hope struggle to find industry support, signaling a fundamental shift in entertainment's structure and sustainability.
Film
fromVulture
1 week ago

Should A24 Be Worried About The Drama's Plot-Twist Drama?

The Drama features a controversial plot twist involving a character's admission of a near mass shooting, sparking significant backlash.
US news
fromwww.theguardian.com
2 months ago

Seized review captivating documentary goes inside a shocking newspaper raid

Police seized devices and reporting materials from Marion County Record, sparking national outcry as a symbolic threat to press freedom and fracturing local community.
fromFilmmaker Magazine
3 weeks ago

From Fables to Forensics: Five Documentaries from CPH:DOX 2026

De Pue's Mariinka strikes a rare balance between artfulness and urgency, capturing the lives of orphaned children affected by the Russo-Ukrainian war.
Independent films
fromIndieWire
3 weeks ago

Thierry Fremaux on Why 'Today, We Never Trust Images We See' - but We Can Trust the Lumiere Brothers and 'Apocalypse Now'

The invention of the Cinématographe was ready right away. The process of the invention was longer, and there were a lot of inventors before Lumière.
Independent films
Arts
fromHyperallergic
1 month ago

How the Berlinale Turned Into a Horror Show of German Censorship

Berlin International Film Festival Director Tricia Tuttle faces potential removal after prizewinners criticized Israel during acceptance speeches, prompting film professionals to defend the festival's artistic independence.
Independent films
fromIndieWire
3 weeks ago

Indie Film Has an Architecture Problem

The indie film model is structurally designed to fail, with misaligned incentives between investors, filmmakers, distributors, and audiences, resulting in only 0.025% of screenplays achieving profitable theatrical outcomes.
fromTechRepublic
2 months ago

New Sundance Film Examines AI Anxiety, Power, and the Future of Humanity - TechRepublic

"The AI Doc: Or How I Became an Apocaloptimist," co-directed by Oscar-winning film-maker Daniel Roher and Charlie Tyrell, examines the promises and risks of AI through a personal lens, while bringing together some of the most influential voices shaping the global AI conversation. The film arrives at a moment when AI systems are being adopted faster than regulatory frameworks can keep pace, raising urgent questions about safety, governance and social impact.
Artificial intelligence
#berlinale
Television
fromIndieWire
2 months ago

'Public Access' Review: A Serviceable Primer of Free-Speech Television Fails to Capture Its Bizarre Spirit

Public-access television enabled uncensored, authentic self-expression and allowed diverse creators to reach niche audiences outside commercial media.
Film
fromEsquire
1 month ago

Do Original Movies Have Any Hope Left? I Went on a Journey to Find Out.

Theaters must create unique event experiences to compete with home entertainment, driving elaborate marketing stunts and premium screen innovations.
Film
fromEsquire
1 month ago

The Best Documentaries of 2026 (So Far)

A 1985 fan-made Star Trek film starring George Takei, lost for 40 years, has resurfaced, documenting early fandom culture before it became a mainstream commercial force.
Independent films
fromwww.theguardian.com
1 month ago

You cannot unsee it': what happened next for this year's Oscar documentary nominees?

2025 brought exceptional nonfiction films to the Oscar slate despite distribution challenges, showcasing documentaries on courage, systemic oppression, and personal resilience through innovative filmmaking methods.
Film
fromIndieWire
1 month ago

How to Craft a Film Festival That Appeals to All Ages (No, Really, All Ages)

The New York International Children's Film Festival demonstrates how specialized festivals can serve diverse audiences through rigorous curation, year-round engagement, and inclusive programming strategies applicable to festivals of all sizes.
Film
fromIndieWire
1 month ago

Have You Been Hurt by Media Consolidation? I Have.

The infrastructure supporting independent film production and distribution has collapsed, eliminating financing options, distribution channels, and profit opportunities that sustained filmmakers for decades.
Film
fromEntrepreneur
1 month ago

This Cult Filmmaker Learned Something About Audiences Every Entrepreneur Needs to Know'Make Them Feel Something'

Kevin Smith built a personal brand by connecting directly with fans, which created lasting career opportunities beyond individual film projects in an unpredictable industry.
Film
fromTruthout
1 month ago

Nearly 4 Years After His Death, Documentary About Journalist Nominated for Oscar

Photojournalist Brent Renaud was killed by Russian soldiers in Ukraine in 2022, and his brother Craig's documentary about him is nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature.
Film
fromFilmmaker Magazine
1 month ago

ESG, Ross McElwee, and Other Exciting Artists Take Over True/False 2026

The True/False Film Festival's 23rd edition runs March 5-8 in Columbia, Missouri, featuring non-fiction films, musical performances, and art installations under the theme 'You Are Here.'
Film
fromNo Film School
1 month ago

Reclaiming Distribution: A Modern Indie Release Strategy

Filmmaker Gille Klabin abandoned traditional distribution for his second feature, choosing self-distribution with transparent data-driven marketing to maintain creative control and maximize returns on his low-budget film.
fromIndieWire
2 months ago

Every Documentary Filmmaker Should Be Worried About the Success of 'Melania'

It's not because "Melania" is an exquisitely made, informative documentary. It's not even a documentary. Instead, it falls in the category of glossy advertisement or unconvincing propaganda film with a multimillion-dollar music licensing budget. Amazon MGM Studios paid $40 million for the rights to film. That offer came with a jaw-dropping $35 million marketing budget, which Amazon spent while also cutting 16,000 corporate jobs.
Film
Film
fromRoger Ebert
2 months ago

Sundance 2026: The Disciple, Jane Elliott Against the World, Troublemaker | Festivals & Awards | Roger Ebert

Three idiosyncratic documentary premieres offered hopeful roadmaps for resisting oppressive systems while centering dynamic personal narratives and creative agency.
Film
fromwww.dw.com
2 months ago

Livestream: 4 award-winning filmmakers on risk-taking cinema

European filmmakers are embracing risk, political engagement, intimacy and formal freedom in opposition to franchise- and algorithm-driven global film trends.
#sundance-2026
Film
fromThe Atlantic
2 months ago

The Real Secret to a Filmmaker's Success

Coppola, Lucas, and Spielberg in the 1970s combined artistic daring with commercial ambition, reshaping Hollywood through auteurism and blockbuster filmmaking.
Film
fromFilmmaker Magazine
2 months ago

"We Will Be Passing Out Little NOT AI Buttons to Our Audiences": Valerie Veatch on Her Sundance-premiering Ghost in the Machine

AI functions as a continuation of exclusionary, grift-driven efforts by powerful white men aiming to reshape society in their own image.
Film
fromThe New Yorker
1 month ago

Nonprofessional Actors Are the Heart of the Movies

This year's Oscar contenders feature nonprofessional actors alongside established performers, creating authentic performances that distinguish these films in the new casting achievement category.
Film
fromIndieWire
1 month ago

The Academy's Doc Branch Knows Its Oscar Nomination Process Needs to Change. It Can't Agree on How

The Academy documentary branch faces calls for reform amid perceptions of bias in nominations and disagreement among members over how to change eligibility and voting.
fromFilmmaker Magazine
2 months ago

The Quirks of the Best Documentary Category

Best documentary has become the toughest Oscar category to predict in recent years, especially when it comes to nominations. The documentary branch has become famously quirky in recent years, passing over such populist, acclaimed, and decorated titles as Won't You Be My Neighbor? , American Symphony, and Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story . Past performance is no guarantee of success-I've even heard rumors that some voters will refuse on principle to nominate a film by a previous Oscar winner-and geography is not destiny.
Film
Film
fromFilmmaker Magazine
2 months ago

"We Can Keep Living in a Glacial World": Sara Dosa on Time and Water

Time and Water is an elegiac documentary portraying receding glaciers through family archival footage, evoking awe and helplessness as ice becomes water.
Film
fromThe Washington Post
2 months ago

Review | 'Holding Liat' embraces hard questions but leaves too much unsaid

A family's generational split shows competing impulses toward reconciliation and revenge after Hamas kidnapped relatives during the Oct. 7, 2023 attack.
Film
fromRoger Ebert
2 months ago

Sundance 2026: Birds of War, One in a Million, Silenced | Festivals & Awards | Roger Ebert

Three documentaries follow long-term personal journeys through the Syrian conflict and global #MeToo legal fallout, revealing the profound personal costs of resilience.
Film
fromFilmmaker Magazine
2 months ago

Barbara Forever, The Lake, Closure and Other Sundance Docs Still Seeking Distribution

Undistributed gems like Barbara Forever and The Lake showcase experimental queer filmmaking and community-driven environmental-science conflicts deserving wider distribution.
[ Load more ]