In 2024, documentary filmmaking is more prevalent than ever. Documentary filmmakers play a crucial role in expanding our understanding of the world by shedding light on untold stories, marginalized voices, and pressing social issues, serving as powerful tools for education, advocacy, and social change. Offering audiences a window into diverse cultures, historical events, and contemporary challenges, filmmakers use documentary film to inspire viewers to question assumptions, confront injustices, and envision a more equitable and compassionate world.
12 Documentary Filmmakers and Projects on the Rise
The art of documentary filmmaking captures the essence of reality through storytelling, offering a lens into the complexities of the human experience and the world around us. Through a blend of visual imagery, narrative techniques, and authentic storytelling, documentaries have the power to inform, inspire, provoke thought, and evoke emotion. The following documentary filmmakers and new must-see documentaries challenge viewers to engage with diverse perspectives and uncover deeper truths about society, culture, and the human condition.
Janek Ambros, Ukrainians in Exile
MFA Producing alum Janek Ambros directed the 2022 hit Ukrainians in Exile, which was also executive-produced by NYFA Guest Speaker Janusz Kaminski. The documentary chronicles the Russian government’s invasion of Ukraine and the subsequent evacuation of Ukrainian citizens. Filmed in Przemysl, Poland, a city on the Ukrainian border, the film covers the location’s crucial hub for the evacuation efforts, providing refuge for Ukrainian refugees fleeing the conflict.
Ambros is also known for his films Son of Man, an adaptation of the book “The Grand Inquisitor,” by famous Russian author Fyodor Dostoevsky, May 15th in Paris, a film that discusses the rise of fascism in Western Europe, as well as producing the 2024 film In the Summers, directed by Alessandra Lacorazza Samudio. In The Summers was the Winner of the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance 2024 in the Dramatic category. Ambros, pictured behind the man with the camera. Image via IMDB.
Brendan Bellomo and Slava Leontyev, Porcelain War
Porcelain War is another story depicting the war in Ukraine. Directed by Brendan Bellomo and Slava Leontyev, the documentary captures the experience of three Ukrainian artists, Slava, Anya, and Andrey who choose to remain in the country after the Russian invasion. The story tackles vulnerability and creativity in tumultuous and uncertain times, balancing the literal creation of porcelain with the chaos of war. The film won the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance 2024 in the Documentary category.
Lisa Cortés, Little Richard: I Am Everything
NYFA alum Lisa Cortés, who directed National Geographic’s The Space Race (2023), produced Invisible Beauty (2023), featuring Bethann Hardison and Naomi Campbell, and also directed All In: The Fight for Democracy (2020) with Stacey Abrams, stunned audiences again with the 2023 documentary film Little Richard: I Am Everything. The film follows the famous rock ‘n’ roll icon known for hits such as “Tutti Frutti” and “Good Golly, Miss Molly.” Cortés is in post-production of upcoming projects such as The Empire of Ebony and In the Summer Pavilion.
Lucia Flórez, Shimpari: Legacies Of The River
Shimpari: Legacies Of The River was directed by NYFA grad Lucia Flórez and produced by NYFA grad Chemi Pérez. An official selection of Sundance 2023, the film follows an eleven-year-old boy, Ricky, who is a member of the Ashéninka tribe.
To officially enter manhood, he must overcome his fear of catching a giant catfish using only a single hook. Of creating the film, Flórez said: “Making this film was transformational. Working in such a remote and pristine location was both a privilege and a responsibility. It is necessary to tell these stories since ecosystems and cultures like this one are under constant threat.” Image via DOC NYC.
Maite Alberdi, The Eternal Memory
The documentary film The Eternal Memory, directed by Maite Alberi, follows Augusto and Paulina. A Chilean journalist and Chilean actress, the two have shared their lives for a quarter-century. However, their journey took a challenging turn when Augusto was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Both dread the moment when he may no longer recognize her, a fear that looms over their enduring bond. The 2023 documentary was nominated for Best Documentary Feature at the Academy Awards.
Samantha Stark, Framing Britney Spears
Directed by Samantha Stark, Framing Britney Spears is a documentary that explores the life and career of pop icon Britney Spears, focusing on the controversial conservatorship that has controlled her affairs for over a decade. The film delves into Spears’ rise to fame, the intense media scrutiny she faced, and the #FreeBritney movement led by her fans seeking to end the conservatorship. It sheds light on the complexities of fame, mental health, and the treatment of women in the entertainment industry.
Silje Evensmo Jacobsen, A New Kind of Wilderness
Silje Evensmo Jacobsen, known for films such as Faith Can Move Mountains (2021) and Kraft (2022), directed the documentary A New Kind of Wilderness (2024). The film, which takes place in the Norwegian wilderness, follows a family pursuing a life of freedom, only to face a devastating twist of fate that disrupts their solitude, forcing them to confront the challenges of modern society.
The film won the Grand Jury Prize for World Cinema in the Documentary category. Image via IMDB.
Hind Meddeb, Sudan, When Poems Fall Apart
Hind Meddeb, a French-Tunisian-Moroccan journalist and documentary filmmaker, directed the upcoming 2024 film Sudan When Poems Fall Apart. The film delves into the narratives of Sudanese activists and by sharing their stories, seeks to elevate the voices of Shajane, Muzamil, Maha, Rufaida, Hamza, and Eros. The activists, who bravely opposed military rule, strive for ideals of freedom, equality, and transformation.
Angela Patton and Natalie Rae, Daughters
In Daughters, four young girls get ready for a Daddy Daughter Dance with their incarcerated fathers, an event organized as part of a distinctive fatherhood initiative within a Washington, D.C. jail. Daughters gently illustrate how a father’s absence may amplify uncertainty and unease as children grow older. Directed by Angela Patton and Natalie Rae, the film won the 2024 Winner Audience Award for a U.S. Documentary.
Hussein Al-Asadi, She Was Not Alone
In She Was Not Alone, Fatima, aged 50, resides unmarried. Amidst the Iraqi marshlands, she tends to her buffalo, chickens, a kitten, and various other animals. Despite recounting her solitary and frequently challenging existence, she adamantly refuses to relocate to the city, believing she would struggle to survive there, akin to a fish out of water.
While the film is only nine minutes long, it follows Fatima throughout her day, telling a powerful story of her independence. The film was directed by Hussein Al-Asadi, known for films such as Eye of the Mountain. Image via The New Arab.
Rama Thiaw, Zion Music
Senegalese filmmaker and screenwriter Rama Thiaw is known for her film Boul Fallé, la Voie de la lutte (2009) and The Revolution Won’t be Televised (2016). She is currently working on Zion Music, a film around the African Reggae Music in production, and she is writing her first fiction feature film Life In A Spiral. In 2020, she has joined the selection committee of the Panorama section of The Berlinale. She is presently directing Zion Music, a film exploring African Reggae Music. She is also in the progress of writing her debut fiction feature, Life In A Spiral.
Kaouther Ben Hania, Four Daughters
In Four Daughters, audiences meet Olfa, a Tunisian mother raising four daughters. When her two eldest vanish, director Kaouther Ben Hania collaborates with professional actresses to craft a distinctive cinematic exploration, unveiling the narratives of Olfa and her daughters. Through this intimate odyssey, themes of hope, rebellion, violence, legacy, and sisterhood intertwine, challenging the fundamental structures of our societies.
Make Your Own Documentaries at NYFA
Ready to tell your own non-fiction stories? NYFA’s hands-on and intensive programs teach aspiring documentary filmmakers the fundamentals of narrative storytelling from experienced industry professionals. Learn more about our documentary filmmaking degrees, programs, and workshops today!