“The Truth Behind the Artifice”: ‘Crumb’ Filmmaker Terry Zwigoff Looks Back on Learning to be a Director on the Fly In this interview, Crumb director Terry Zwigoff looks back on his documentary films and how he turned production obstacles into creative opportunities

In this interview, ‘Crumb’ director Terry Zwigoff looks back on his documentary films and how he turned production obstacles into creative opportunities. Read more at #DocumentaryMag.
www.documentary.org/online-featu...

Purple and green flyer for Getting Real '26, July 20-23, 2026. Early Bird Passes Available Now.

Early Bird Registration for Getting Real ’26 is open! Save $100 on passes. Members at the Doc Maker level and above save $75 more! Join us July 20–23, 2026, in-person in Little Tokyo, Los Angeles, and virtually worldwide. #DocsGetReal www.documentary.org/gettingreal2...

My Desirable Friends: At CPH:DOX 2026, Industry Hopes for a “European Netflix” and More Coproductions At CPH:DOX 2026, the creative doc industry bands together for a “European Netflix” and more coproductions

At CPH:DOX 2026, the creative doc industry bands together for a “European Netflix” and more coproductions. Read more at #DocumentaryMag. By @antkaufman.bsky.social.

documentary.org/online-featu...

Making It: Pietra Brettkelly and The Critics Break Down ‘Crocodile,’ A Collaborative Portrait of the Nigerian Filmmaking Collective With their DIY sci-fi shorts, The Critics built a film career from scratch in Kaduna. Co-directed by Pietra Brettkelly, their documentary portrait Crocodile is reintroducing the Nigerian collective to...

With their DIY sci-fi shorts, The Critics built a film career from scratch in Kaduna. Co-directed by Pietra Brettkelly, their documentary portrait ‘Crocodile’ is reintroducing the Nigerian collective to the world. Read more at #DocumentaryMag.
documentary.org/online-featu...

Rock Star: Matty Wishnow Talks About ‘The Last Critic,’ His Portrait of Trailblazing Music Writer Robert Christgau In this interview, first-time doc filmmaker Matty Wishnow talks about directing The Last Critic, a portrait of trailblazing music writer Robert Christgau

In this interview, first-time doc filmmaker Matty Wishnow talks about directing The Last Critic, a portrait of trailblazing music writer Robert Christgau. Read more at #DocumentaryMag. documentary.org/online-featu...

Core Strength: Developing Your Documentary Through Application Writing Core Strength: Virtual IDA Members Workshop. IDA will host an in-person Core App evening workshop. At the IDA offices, filmmakers in LA seeking to edit and hone their application language are welcome ...

Led by IDA staff, IDA members are invited to a virtual workshop where selected IDA member projects will be reviewed. Everyone will have the chance to give and receive feedback from their peers. Register today or become a member to attend! documentary.org/event/core-s...

Exclusive: Trailer for Dmytro Sukholytkyy-Sobchuk’s documentary ‘Silent Flood’ Watch the trailer for Dmytro Sukholytkyy-Sobchuk’s documentary on a pacifist community in western Ukraine grappling with war and natural disasters alike

Watch the exclusive trailer for Dmytro Sukholytkyy-Sobchuk’s documentary on a pacifist community in western Ukraine grappling with war and natural disasters alike. documentary.org/exclusive-ne...

Unsigned Gems: Amid an Overwhelming Lineup, SXSW 2026 Offered a Number of American Docs Worth Seeking Out Even amid a program that felt overwhelmed by consumer-friendly “content,” the Austin fest still offered some documentaries worth seeking out

Even amid a program that felt overwhelmed by consumer-friendly “content,” the Austin fest still offered some documentaries worth seeking out. Read more at #DocumentaryMag. documentary.org/online-featu...

Small Wonders: Lucas Paleocrassas on ‘Bugboy’ and the Fragile Beauty of Growing Up In this interview, Lucas Paleocrassas discusses what drew him to craft the coming-of-age tale that doubles as a nature doc alongside his protagonist, the titular Bugboy

In this interview, Paleocrassas discusses what drew him to craft the coming-of-age tale that doubles as a nature doc alongside his protagonist, the titular Bugboy. Read more at #DocumentaryMag. documentary.org/online-featu...

Fungal Cinema: Otilia Portillo Padua on Profiling Two Indigenous Mycologists in her SXSW And CPH:DOX Doc ‘Daughters of the Forest’ In this interview, Otilia Portillo Padua talks about having a mycological (and sci-fi) approach to her SXSW and CPH:DOX film, Daughters of the Forest

In this interview, Otilia Portillo Padua talks about having a mycological (and sci-fi) approach to her SXSW and CPH:DOX film, ‘Daughters of the Forest.’ Read more at #DocumentaryMag. documentary.org/online-featu...

Sofia Coppola Unwittingly Goes Back to Her 90s Scrapbook Sensibility in Her Feature Doc, ‘Marc by Sofia’ In this interview, Sofia Coppola looks back at her scrappy ’90s TV project, Hi Octane, and portraying friend Marc Jacobs in her first doc, Marc by Sofia

In this interview, Sofia Coppola looks back at her scrappy ’90s TV project, 'Hi Octane,' and portraying friend Marc Jacobs in her first doc, 'Marc by Sofia.' Read more at #DocumentaryMag. documentary.org/online-featu...

Against History: Robinson Devor and Charles Mudede’s ‘Suburban Fury’ Continues Their Fascination With the Glare of the Spotlight The decades-long collaboration between Robinson Devor and Charles Mudede is marked by mining real-life stories in the borderlands of American history

The decades-long collaboration between Robinson Devor and Charles Mudede is marked by mining real-life stories in the borderlands of American history. Read more on #DocumentaryMag. documentary.org/online-featu...

Personal Effects: Berlinale 2026 Prizes Personal Docs With a Hands-on or Handmade Form The 76th edition of the European festival prized personal docs as well as projects that put accountability front and center

The 76th edition of the European festival prized personal docs, as well as projects that put accountability front and center. By @nicolasrapold.bsky.social. Read more on #DocumentaryMag. documentary.org/online-featu...

IDA Members Mixer - Hosted by DOCUMENTARY magazine in celebration of the launch of the print Spring 2026 issue On March 12, 2026, join IDA to celebrate the arrival of Documentary magazine’s latest issue. We will gather at All Season Brewing Company for a casual mixer where IDA members can get to know the folks...

Calling all IDA Members! Join us on March 12, 2026, to celebrate the arrival of Documentary magazine’s latest issue. We will gather for a casual mixer where IDA members can get to know the folks behind #DocumentaryMag. RSVP for this members-only event today! www.documentary.org/event/ida-me...

The Synthesis: AI Enhancement Isn’t Assistance—It’s Reconstruction, And That Changes Everything As the distinction between AI’s use as an assistant and as a creative tool blurs, what this means for AI enhancement demands close scrutiny

As the distinction between AI’s use as an assistant and as a creative tool blurs, what this means for AI enhancement demands close scrutiny. Read more at #DocumentaryMag.
documentary.org/column/synth...

Exclusive: Clip From Yael Bridge’s ‘Who Moves America,’ Premiering at True/False Watch a clip from Yael Bridge’s sophomore feature, which chronicles the on-the-ground organizing of the 2023 UPS Teamsters contract fight

Watch an exclusive clip from Yael Bridge’s sophomore feature, ‘Who Moves America, ’ which chronicles the on-the-ground organizing of the 2023 UPS Teamsters contract fight. An #IDA Direct Access Fund grantee, the film will world premiere at True/False today. www.documentary.org/exclusive-ne...

Film stills from A Song Without Home, Kikuyu Land, All Rivers Spill Their Stories to the Sea, The Phantom Pain of Rojava, Aanikoobijigan [ancestor/great-grandparent/great-grandchild], and To Hold a Mountain.

Congratulations to the 2 IDA fiscal sponsored projects and 4 grantees premiering at CPH:DOX 2026 - A Song Without Home, Kikuyu Land, All Rivers Spill Their Stories to the Sea, The Phantom Pain of Rojava, Aanikoobijigan [ancestor/great-grandparent/great-grandchild], and To Hold a Mountain.

“Some Have Called This a Documentary”: How ‘Melania’ Bends Documentary to Serve the Rich and Powerful How Melania serves its titular subject, its filmmakers, and its financier by invoking documentary’s authenticity but not its accountability

How ‘Melania’ serves its titular subject, its filmmakers, and its financier is by invoking documentary’s authenticity but not its accountability. Read more at #DocumentaryMag. www.documentary.org/feature/some...

Fiscal Sponsorship Program Manager, International Documentary Association The Fiscal Sponsorship Program Manager oversees the day-to-day operation of the IDA’s field-leading fiscal sponsorship program, which serves hundreds of documentary projects and filmmakers at all prof...

We’re looking to hire a new Fiscal Sponsorship Program Manager who will elevate how we serve our filmmaker community. For more information on responsibilities, qualifications, and benefits, visit www.documentary.org/fiscal-spons....

Market Notes: FIPADOC Coproduction Forum 2026 Daily diaries from the French documentary coproduction market in Biarritz

Daily diaries from the French documentary coproduction market in Biarritz. Read more at #DocumentaryMag.
www.documentary.org/online-featu...

The Feedback: Kimberlee Bassford Describes the Unexpected Developments that Continue to Shift the Structure of ‘Before the Moon Falls’ Kimberlee Bassford looks back on the unexpected developments that continue to shift the structure of her Sia Figiel doc Before the Moon Falls

Kimberlee Bassford looks back on the unexpected developments that continue to shift the structure of her Sia Figiel doc ‘Before the Moon Falls.’ Read more on #DocumentaryMag.
www.documentary.org/online-featu...

For our next virtual IDAinsight, Dale Nelson (partner at Donaldson Califf Perez) and Jan Bernd Nordemann (attorney and an honorary professor) will present the most recent and impactful case law on AI. Register today www.documentary.org/event/ai-and...

The APA Sits Down With Getty to Discuss the Role of the Archive in the Age of AI In this interview, Getty Images execs discuss media trust, licensing fee structures, and generative AI tools at the storied archive

In this interview, Getty Images execs discuss media trust, licensing fee structures, and generative AI tools at the storied archive. Read more at #DocumentaryMag. www.documentary.org/online-featu...

Student Press Freedom Day Join the Student Press Law Center and the student journalism community as we fight for press freedom!

We are proud to partner with @splc.org for #StudentPressFreedom Day. Join PEN America today in celebrating student journalists’ resilience in action and standing up for their First Amendment rights:
studentpressfreedom.org

Atomic Light: How the Bomb Became Documentary Seven decades of nuclear documentaries oscillate between state propaganda and radical witness, revealing more about power than atoms

Seven decades of nuclear documentaries oscillate between state propaganda and radical witness, revealing more about power than atoms. Read more on #DocumentaryMag.
www.documentary.org/feature/atom...

Core Strength: Developing Your Documentary Through Application Writing IDA will host an in-person Core App evening workshop. At the IDA offices, filmmakers in LA seeking to edit and hone their application language are welcome to attend. Submit an Interest Form with a sam...

On Thursday, February 26, 2026, at 7 PM PT, we will host an in-person Core App workshop at our LA offices. Filmmakers seeking to edit and hone their application language are welcome to attend. Submit an Interest Form with a writing sample to register. documentary.org/event/core-s...

An Eye for Portraiture: A New Raymond Depardon Retrospective Makes a Case for the Humanism Inherent in the French Filmmaker’s Oeuvre A new Raymond Depardon retrospective presents the full breadth of the French filmmaker and photojournalist’s keen-eyed documentary impulses

A new Raymond Depardon retrospective presents the full breadth of the French filmmaker and photojournalist’s keen-eyed documentary impulses. Read more #DocumentaryMag. www.documentary.org/online-featu...

Remembering Frederick Wiseman, A Filmmaker Known for His Long Epics Anchored by a Deep Humanity Documentary editor Abby Sun pays tribute to the renowned filmmaker who championed a vision of uncompromising artistic independence

‘Documentary’ editor Abby Sun pays tribute to the renowned filmmaker who championed a vision of uncompromising artistic independence. A week ago, Frederick Wiseman passed away. As a filmmaker, his work is indelible. Read more at #DocumentaryMag. documentary.org/online-featu...

In Construction: Madhusree Dutta Talks Bridging History and Memory in Her Berlinale-Premiering ‘Flying Tigers’ Madhusree Dutta discusses Flying Tigers, her decades-spanning Berlinale doc about memories and histories reclaimed

Madhusree Dutta discusses ‘Flying Tigers,’ her decades-spanning Berlinale doc about memories and histories reclaimed. Read more on #DocumentaryMag. documentary.org/online-featu...

“A New Way to Care”: Kevin B. Lee on Expanding the Desktop Documentary With His Feature Debut ‘Afterlives’ In this interview, Kevin B. Lee discusses why he needed to expand the desktop documentary to craft his feature debut, Afterlives

In this interview, Kevin B. Lee discusses why he expanded the desktop documentary to craft his feature debut, ‘Afterlives.’ Read more at #DocumentaryMag. documentary.org/online-featu...