The 50 Best Documentaries of the 21st Century

It serves as a compelling case study of ambition clashing with reality in the film industry. “Collective” starts as one of the greatest journalism movies of all time, and then it goes one step further, exposing democracy at war with itself. Romanian director Alexander Nanau’s bracing, relentless documentary tracks the aftermath of the 2015 fire that killed 64 people, hovering at the center of a system on the verge of collapse.

Documentaries That Shed Light on the Struggles of Independent Filmmaking

• As OCEANIA maintains a tension between both discovery and potential loss, we are invited to recenter our relationship to climate science data and facts—feeling the emotional, social and spiritual dimensions of the ecological crisis.
• By the following year, two New Hollywood directors had become sufficiently established for Coppola to be offered oversight of Paramount’s The Godfather (1972) and Lucas had obtained studio funding for American Graffiti (1973) from Universal.
• Then I was honored to have received multiple Spirit Awards nominations and two wins, including the $25,000 Producers Award, which kept my indie producer head above water until my next film got financed.
• Non-fiction cinema has been evolving since the birth of the medium while capturing a world in motion.

Unlike the production code, this rating system posed a threat to independent films in that it would affect the number of tickets they could sell and cut into the grindhouse theaters’ share of the youth market. This change would further widen the divide between commercial and non-commercial films. The efforts of the SIMPP and the advent of inexpensive portable cameras during World War II effectively independent documentary made it possible for any person in America with an interest in making films to write, produce, and direct one without the aid of any major film studio. These circumstances soon resulted in a number of critically acclaimed and highly influential works, including Maya Deren’s Meshes of the Afternoon in 1943, Kenneth Anger’s Fireworks in 1947, and Morris Engel, Ruth Orkin and Ray Abrashkin’s Little Fugitive in 1953. Filmmakers such as Ken Jacobs, with little or no formal training, began to experiment with new ways of making and shooting films. By establishing a new system of production, distribution, and exhibition which was independent of The Edison Trust in New York, these studios opened up new horizons for cinema in the United States.

When he heard about their scheme, Richard A. Rowland, head of Metro Pictures, is said to have observed, “The inmates are taking over the asylum.” The rise of independent filmmaking was fueled by technological advancements and socio-political factors. Innovations in camera equipment and film processing made it easier for smaller studios and individual filmmakers to produce quality content.

In an attempt to capture this audience, the Studios hired a host of young filmmakers (many of whom were mentored by Roger Corman) and allowed them to make their films with relatively little studio control. Warner Brothers offered first-time producer Warren Beatty 40% of the gross on his film Bonnie and Clyde (1967) instead of a minimal fee. These initial successes paved the way for the studio to relinquish almost complete control to the film school generation and began what the media dubbed “New Hollywood.”

Ari Folman’s tortured masterpiece is a difficult thing to classify, and not just because an animated documentary sounds like such a contradiction of terms. No, “Waltz with Bashir” is such a strange bird because it exists on the highly contested border between reality and imagination — it doesn’t belong to fact or fiction, but rather the hazy middle ground of memory. Asif Kapadia’s primary skill as a documentarian is his ability to assemble miles upon miles of archival footage into coherent, insightful, and often deeply emotional looks at singular lives.

Josh changed my life, helping to jump start my career, then continued to find ways to support me over the years. I will forever be grateful for his passion, conviction, commitment and ardent support. Unlike large studios, independent filmmakers do not have the same access to extensive distribution networks. Without these channels, reaching a wide audience becomes highly challenging. This limitation often confines the film to smaller, regional festivals instead of achieving global exposure.

As massive and sprawling as anything Wiseman has ever made, this four-hour portrait of life on the famous university campus might seem daunting at first, but it quickly blossoms into a fascinating and accessible non-fiction epic about the sheer magnitude of sustaining a school of that size. On the morning of July 15, 1974, a Sarasota news reporter named Christine Chubbuck read through a few of the day’s top stories and then calmly shot herself in the head on live television. Footage of the (ultimately fatal) event has never been seen since, though a tape supposedly exists under a law firm’s lock-and-key. For “Actress” filmmaker Robert Greene, who has always been fascinated by the mythic power of images and the implications of creating them, Chubbuck’s performative suicide was an irresistible subject. And his unforgettable documentary feature debut, which was filmed over the course of a decade, poignantly articulates all the ways in which that’s always been true for himself and his two closest friends.

“The Look of Silence” is every bit as searing and essential as the film that preceded it. Switching his focus from the perpetrators of mass murder to the survivors, Oppenheimer hones in on an optometrist named Adi whose brother was killed in the slaughter. If Jim Jarmusch made a movie about two alcoholic friends hanging out in the woods, it might look something like the Dutch documentary “Don’t Leave Me” (“Ne Me Quitte Pas”).

Featured Films

The Producers Award, now in its 28th year, honors emerging producers who, despite highly limited resources, demonstrate the creativity, tenacity, and vision required to produce quality independent films. Securing adequate funding is a primary challenge for many independent filmmakers. Traditional financial backing is often scarce, leading to reliance on crowdfunding, grants, and support from non-profits. Despite these efforts, funding can quickly run out, causing significant delays or even halting production altogether.

Impact of Independent Documentaries

Goldwyn and Disney left for RKO, Wanger for Universal Pictures, Selznick and Korda for retirement. By the late 1940s, United Artists had virtually ceased to exist as either a producer or distributor. For me, it came full circle when I was invited to serve on Film Independent’s Board of Directors, where I was able to see up close Josh’s ability to lead and inspire with the utmost grace and humanity—always with indie filmmakers at the forefront of his mind and heart. My own heart now aches and goes out to Josh’s family, friends, and the entire film community. Most importantly, they persuade Babudar to sit for interviews and to observe his life after he is released on bail.

Social media offers some relief, but it requires a solid understanding of digital marketing strategies to be effective. Independent filmmaking has a rich and varied history, evolving significantly from its roots to the present day. Key developments have shaped the landscape, influencing how these films are funded, produced, and distributed. For those interested in the art of filmmaking, ‘The Cutting Edge’ is an insightful resource. It provides a detailed look into the editing process and its impact on a film’s success. The film is rich with historical context and contemporary advancements in editing technology.