Technology has made non-fiction film easier to make, more available and more popular than ever before. Here, WNYC selects the best documentaries as they come to screens of any size.
'The ABCs of Book Banning' listens to students
The ABCs of Book Banning (2024) · Feb 2, 2024
'The Pigeon Tunnel' profiles John le Carré
The Pigeon Tunnel (2023) · Oct 27, 2023
'Silver Dollar Road' tells a story of Black resistance
Silver Dollar Road (2023) · Oct 20, 2023
"After Sherman" reflects on Black Americans returning to the South
After Sherman (2022) · Jun 2, 2023
Exploring audio in "32 Sounds"
32 Sounds (2023) · Apr 28, 2023
"Little Richard: I Am Everything" celebrates a rock 'n' roll pioneer
Little Richard: I Am Everything (2023) · Apr 21, 2023
"Nothing Lasts Forever" looks at the diamond industry
Nothing Lasts Forever (2022) · Feb 10, 2023
New documentary "Roberta" profiles the soul singer
Roberta (2022) · Jan 27, 2023
'Hold Your Fire' Reexamines a Hostage Siege
Hold Your Fire (2021) · Nov 12, 2021
A History of "The Velvet Underground"
The Velvet Underground (2021) · Oct 15, 2021
"My Name is Pauli Murray" Profiles a Trailblazer
My Name Is Pauli Murray (2021) · Oct 1, 2021
In "Homeroom," Students Find Their Voices
Homeroom (2021) · Sep 24, 2021
"The Capote Tapes" Profiles the Iconic Writer
The Capote Tapes (2021) · Sep 10, 2021
"In the Same Breath" Investigates Covid Misinformation
In the Same Breath (2021) · Sep 3, 2021
Billy Tipton is "No Ordinary Man"
No Ordinary Man (2021) · Jul 23, 2021
Exploring African-American Cuisine in "High on the Hog"
High on the Hog (2019) · Jun 4, 2021
Seeking Justice in 'Down a Dark Stairwell'
Down a Dark Stairwell (2020) · Apr 16, 2021
Exploring the College Admissions Scandal in Operation Varsity Blues'
A Journalist's 'Kingdom Of Silence'
Kingdom of Silence (2020) · Oct 2, 2020
The Next Generation of Political Leaders
Boys State (2020) · Aug 14, 2020
Celebrating John Lewis
John Lewis: Celebrating a Hero (2020) · Jul 3, 2020
Civil Rights for Artificial Intelligence
Coded Bias (2020) · Jun 12, 2020
A Pandemic of Lies
After Truth: Disinformation and the Cost of Fake News (2020) · Mar 20, 2020
The Gift of Johnny Cash
The Gift: The Journey of Johnny Cash (2019) · Oct 11, 2019
Diego Maradona, Larger Than Life
Diego Maradona (2019) · Oct 4, 2019
Photographer Jay Maisel Has to Move
Jay Myself (2019) · Aug 2, 2019
Up Close with Chelsea Manning
XY Chelsea (2019) · Jun 14, 2019
Beto’s Run for Senate
Running with Beto (2019) · May 31, 2019
Sketching Orson Welles
The Eyes of Orson Welles (2018) · Mar 15, 2019
Remembering Teddy Pendergrass
Teddy Pendergrass: If You Don't Know Me (2018) · Feb 8, 2019
Blowing the Whistle on the NYPD
Crime + Punishment (2018) · Aug 24, 2018
Documenting the Death of Coral
Chasing Coral (2017) · Jul 14, 2017
Who Was Gertrude Bell?
Letters from Baghdad (2017) · Jun 2, 2017
Teenager with a Megaphone
Joshua: Teenager vs. Superpower (2017) · May 26, 2017
When Hollywood Went to War
Five Came Back (2017) · Apr 7, 2017
“Titicut Follies” Turns Fifty
Titicut Follies (1967) · Dec 30, 2016
The DOC NYC Festival Opens With a Portrait of Jane Jacobs
Citizen Jane: Battle for the City (2017) · Nov 10, 2016
Cold War On Ice
Cold War on Ice: Summit Series '72 (2012) · Jun 5, 2015