All by Benjamin Hollis
You've seen documentaries about video games, their creation, their rise to prominence, perhaps their ever growing impact on the public psyche. But have you ever seen one shot entirely in GTA's Los Santos ? Or one who's script is composed of World of Warcraft gamelogs ? The “machinima” genre is currently having a moment, particularly when it comes to documentary.
Doc Weekly was in Biarritz to interview director Lee Shulman for the premiere of I Am Martin Parr at Fipadoc 2025, a rare portrait of the unassuming photographer who, under cover of an irresistible sense of humour has impacted his art form beyond recognition.
Doc Weekly was in attendance at the 2024 edition of International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA) where Trains by Maciej J. Drygas picked up the Best Film and Best Editing in the International Competition. A bitter sweet archival portrait of the people of 20th century Europe, Trains captures their hopes, desires, dramas, and tragedies.
Doc Weekly was at this year’s États généraux du film documentaire in Lussas, France, for a rare screening of “The Invasion”, (2024) followed by a Q&A with Sergei Loznitsa. Weeks after seeing it, scenes and characters from Sergei Loznitsa’s new film, “The Invasion”, documenting daily life in Ukraine since Russia’s invasion, remain burned into the retina.
World-renowned wildlife photographer Vincent Munier and novelist Sylvain Tesson’s search, deep in the Tibetan highlands, for the Snow Leopard, notoriously one of the world’s rarest animals.
From director Garett Bradley comes an exceptional epic of love, devotion and perseverance more cinematic than any fiction released this year. Hot off its Sundance win and with a solid 9/10 from us, ‘Time’ is a rare example of documentary in its ultimate form: art.
Marc Isaac’s film is a brazen hybrid featuring himself and a cast of real people that gather in his home to a scripted narrative on the theme of hospitality inspired by their personal backgrounds. Although some of the scenes (including the opener) genuinely ring true, there’s no knowing just how much is artifice.
“Film About A Father Who…” is Sachs’ attempt to understand her wayward and seemingly unknowable father Ira and the complex web of family ties woven by decades of his promiscuity. Filmed over the course of 35 years in a variety of formats, the film charts Ira’s multiple wives, innumerable girlfriends and his ever-growing list of offspring.
Like in so many other Caribbean countries, life is tough for the inhabitants of Jamaica. But with this immersive first-time documentary, director Louis Josek chooses to explore the country from the perspective of its indignant, ambitious youth, the key instigators of a growing cultural shift in the island’s society.
With their latest release, Dogwoof and director Natalie Johns introduce genius composer Max Richter and re-acquaint us with a much-needed good night’s sleep. The result is an exquisitely soothing film to be enjoyed cuddled up on the sofa after dark.
Amongst Sundance London’s brilliant short film selection, our non-fiction eye was caught by two in particular: “Beyond the North Winds: A Post Nuclear Reverie” and “Junior Bangers”.
Since “Boys State” won Best Documentary at Sundance (beating audience award-winner “Crip Camp”), it’s received a steady stream of critical acclaim including a five-star review from the Guardian and even a few shouts for best film of the year. Exceptionally, its now premiering online as part of Sundance London on the 9th of August and we highly recommend you tune in.
‘2040’ is best described as an optimist’s guide to the future, starring director, narrator and presenter Damon Gameau as the science teacher every child dreams of, one that makes it fun! The result is a 90-minute blend of educational material and uplifting “fact-based dreaming”, in contrast with pretty much any other climate change documentary there is.
‘I Am Breathing’ is a surreal and moving dichotomy of a man’s story, told through his life and his death, aptly and sensitively portrayed by directors Emma Davie and Louise Oswald, Neil’s widow. Despite what you might expect, a regular dose of dry humour keeps the film lively, almost upbeat and certainly not depressing.
We’ve teamed up with the New York-based Black Documentary Collective (BDC) to bring you our latest Top Docs - ten of the best documentaries made by black directors, as voted by the members of the collective.
In the beautifully shot “Upstream”, flatmates Charlie and Harry took up the lockdown challenge of rowing the 346 kilometre length of the thames… on rowing machines… in 48 hours.
Netflix’s Athlete A deep dives into the shocking case of mental, physical and sexual abuse that went on for decades within USA Gymnastics (USAG), the USA’s elite gymnastics organisation and the sport’s dominant olympic force.
Filmmaker Karen Winther still struggles with the Neo-Nazi ghost of her past. How could she become part of such a hateful cult? She sets out to meet other former extremists and ask why they also put the violence behind them.
In a dark room of Paris’ Grand Café in 1895, secretary Alice Guy-Blaché is one of the first people in history to witness the ‘cinématographe’. That day, Alice’s fate as one of the most important figures of early cinema was sealed, but whether she’d be remembered was far less certain.
Not only is a there a cash prize up for grabs, the winner will also receive expert mentoring from four extraordinary judges from the world of TV and film.
