Menu

5 Strategies for Taking Feedback (Without Losing Your Soul)

Written by

Greetings from the filmmaker lounge at DC/DOX, a truly great film festival in Washington, DC where I gave a masterclass this morning. I was up late stressing over it, but I think it went well.

When I’m not teaching workshops, writing this newsletter, making films, and running a production company — I also work as a paid consultant on nonfiction film projects. I realized since my consulting work is so aligned with this newsletter, I should create a benefit for anyone who wants a bit of both!

Anyone who subscribes at the Patron of the Arts level will receive not only all the benefits of the paid newsletter, but also a one-hour Zoom consultation with me. You can workshop a pitch, ask for advice or feedback on something, or gift it to a friend you want me to meet.

(Also: if you are already a Patron, you can request a consult too. Just get in touch!)

Teaching and consulting has made me think a lot about the creative process: not just what makes films better, but what makes artists better. And one skill seems to matter no matter what stage you’re at on your project or in your career: the ability to take feedback, without letting it completely derail you.

Sometimes I fantasize about being so rich, I could just make films without having to take a single note from anyone! “What incredible, artistic films I would make if everyone would just get out of my way!” I say to myself, smugly.

Whether it’s during work in progress or once the work is complete, every artist says they want feedback, but what we really want, of course, is praise.1

Every single rough cut screening I walk into, what I really want to hear is, “It’s perfect. Don’t change a thing. Go take a long vacation, you deserve it — oh, and here’s an Oscar, and a million dollars for your next film.” Somehow, the world has conspired to deny me this ideal outcome. It hasn’t even happened once. The indignity!!

Then, when the film is finally out in the world, I completely forget all the reasons I knew all along it won’t be for everyone. Suddenly, I expect every viewer on earth to agree that my baby is the most beautiful baby in the world. How could they not??2

While I still fantasize about never having to take another note again, I also know without a doubt many of the ideas that made my films better came from other people seeing things I couldn’t see myself. And if “art is completed by the viewer,” as Duchamp said, then feedback is how we find out what we really made.

Over the years, I’ve developed a few rules for figuring out when and how to ask for feedback, whose feedback matters, and how to hear even the harshest criticism without immediately spiraling into self-loathing or throwing myself into the sea.

5 Strategies for Taking Feedback (Without Losing Your Soul)


Read more

Uncategorized Comments are off

‘Welcome Space Brothers’ Review

Written by

When we think of the term “cult film,” we’re usually thinking of underground movies with devoted fanbases. Or, maybe we’re thinking of movies (including documentaries) about cults. Welcome to Space Brothers reminds us that we could also think of cult films as movies produced by cults. The documentary chronicles the history of the Unarius Academy of Science, a UFO religion founded in Southern California in the 1950s that reached peak notoriety in the late 1970s as an extravagantly kitchy group known for its flamboyant costumes and promise of impending extraterrestrial visitation.

Calling Unarius a cult is probably a disservice to the group, which still exists, as they don’t appear to have been a scam (other than it not delivering on the UFO landings), nor was it headed by a predatory or abusive yet charismatic leader. Still, it fits the more innocent definition of a cult as a social organization with unusual beliefs.

Director Jodi Wille, whose last feature was the 2012 documentary The Source Family, again shows respect for her latest cult of interest (she also previously made a short about Unarius titled We Are Not Alone). That will make this less appealing to audiences looking for another group to laugh at or be shocked by. Most of the participants interviewed were or remain followers. While I will never totally understand the devotion of such individuals, I’ve never appreciated the draw of such communities more than I did thanks to this film.

Churches are best (in my opinion) as places to come together, whether it’s for worship or company. Unarius is based in spirituality goals, but it also comes across, most simplistically, as a social club for fellow folks sharing common intrigue about aliens and reincarnation, and a willingness to play dress up and maybe perform in parades and sci-fi movies.

The movies are what really grabbed me while watching Welcome Space Brothers. I couldn’t care less about the inner workings of the religion or the strained relationships among members over the years. That’s just typical of any organization. Other than co-founder and leader Ruth Norman being extravagant and sometimes controlling (even while reprimanding others for not abiding by the religion’s no-ego policy), there’s not much that’s outstanding about the personalities involved.

Yet the fact that Unarius produced some spectacularly cheesy but incredibly artistic and technically remarkable films and shows to promote themselves is fascinating. They look as good as the worst B-movies of the era that have become cult films, and I’m thinking of ordering some of them to see more. So not only is the documentary a gracious showcase of Unarius, but it might even benefit them financially.

Uncategorized Comments are off

‘Welcome Space Brothers’ Review

Written by

When we think of the term “cult film,” we’re usually thinking of underground movies with devoted fanbases. Or, maybe we’re thinking of movies (including documentaries) about cults. Welcome to Space Brothers reminds us that we could also think of cult films as movies produced by cults. The documentary chronicles the history of the Unarius Academy of Science, a UFO religion founded in Southern California in the 1950s that reached peak notoriety in the late 1970s as an extravagantly kitchy group known for its flamboyant costumes and promise of impending extraterrestrial visitation.

Calling Unarius a cult is probably a disservice to the group, which still exists, as they don’t appear to have been a scam (other than it not delivering on the UFO landings), nor was it headed by a predatory or abusive yet charismatic leader. Still, it fits the more innocent definition of a cult as a social organization with unusual beliefs.

Director Jodi Wille, whose last feature was the 2012 documentary The Source Family, again shows respect for her latest cult of interest (she also previously made a short about Unarius titled We Are Not Alone). That will make this less appealing to audiences looking for another group to laugh at or be shocked by. Most of the participants interviewed were or remain followers. While I will never totally understand the devotion of such individuals, I’ve never appreciated the draw of such communities more than I did thanks to this film.

Churches are best (in my opinion) as places to come together, whether it’s for worship or company. Unarius is based in spirituality goals, but it also comes across, most simplistically, as a social club for fellow folks sharing common intrigue about aliens and reincarnation, and a willingness to play dress up and maybe perform in parades and sci-fi movies.

The movies are what really grabbed me while watching Welcome Space Brothers. I couldn’t care less about the inner workings of the religion or the strained relationships among members over the years. That’s just typical of any organization. Other than co-founder and leader Ruth Norman being extravagant and sometimes controlling (even while reprimanding others for not abiding by the religion’s no-ego policy), there’s not much that’s outstanding about the personalities involved.

Yet the fact that Unarius produced some spectacularly cheesy but incredibly artistic and technically remarkable films and shows to promote themselves is fascinating. They look as good as the worst B-movies of the era that have become cult films, and I’m thinking of ordering some of them to see more. So not only is the documentary a gracious showcase of Unarius, but it might even benefit them financially.

Uncategorized Comments are off

This Week In Documentary

Written by

I want to start this week’s newsletter with a shoutout to filmmaker Penny Lane, whose own latest Substack newsletter alerted me to something I wasn’t aware of. In a piece entitled “Are Documentaries Movies?” she notes, “This newsletter was partly inspired by noticing the [no ratings for documentaries] trend on Letterboxd.” I don’t agree with the idea of not rating documentaries, whether they’re “movies” or not. But this is my job. I rate, rank, review, nominate, and award documentaries based on their quality. At the same time, I rarely classify my documentary reviews on Rotten Tomatoes as “rotten” because most of what I choose to write about I’d recommend, even if I don’t like it.

Like Lane, I’ve grown tired of the lazy reviews of documentaries praising them for feeling like a fiction film, and the forced efforts by documentarians to seek that sort of response. I think documentary filmmakers should still strive to tell their story in a visually compelling manner. When possible, they should concentrate on the look of their film, even if the cinematography is enhanced in post-production rather than consciously during shooting. That’s not to say raw, immediate filming can’t also be an aesthetic choice, one that perfectly suits its material. Just don’t use the motion picture format to share information without giving the audience a sensation. You can put that kind of thing on YouTube, or write a book or Substack post.

My favorite nonfiction films of the year so far deliver original, entertaining, and visually stimulating stories that go beyond the basics of documentary purpose. Maybe they are movies because they’ve got the whole package, from cinematography to score. Some even bother with sound design. They’re visionary, and well-produced, and not necessarily in a way that costs too much. But my top documentary of the year so far, Everybody to Kenmure Street, is one of these that proves even films tackling issues, histories, and important themes can be impressively cinematic while also being focused on people and ideas. It’s crucial and captivating, and that makes a big impact on viewers who are trying to be reached, not just educated or just entertained.

Below are this week’s documentary highlights, followed by daily listings for all known releases and broadcasts, along with a brief look at what’s coming soon for doc fans (including a new film from William Greaves!). Please consider becoming a paid subscriber to receive more in-depth highlights and reviews in the future, plus full access to special posts like our best-of lists, and to give me more time to watch more (if not everything) available. If you have a doc needing coverage or a mention, you can reach us at nonficseditor (at) gmail.

Nonfics Pick Of The Week: Eno (2024)

Brian Eno in Eno

Earlier this month, a handful of Gary Hustwit documentaries hit The Criterion Channel, including his Design Trilogy and the feature Rams, which is about an industrial designer. Until finally seeing Hustwit’s latest, Eno, I didn’t know how the documentary fit into the filmmaker’s area of focus. Now I can appreciate that the subject, Brian Eno, is something of a designer himself. Technically, in addition to being an iconic musician, songwriter, visual artist, pioneer of the ambient genre, and legendary record producer, he’s considered a professional sound designer. But as this film shows, he’s essentially also a music designer. Isn’t that just another term for songwriter or composer? Not really. Eno is both of those things as well, but based on how he describes his work, I’d say he’s more of a music designer.

Eno is a documentary that fits its subject’s concept of generative music, as Hustwit has employed a software system (human-coded, not AI as previously thought) to produce variations on its construction. Each time it’s shown, Eno can have a new edit, with different versions being in the quintillions. I wondered how that would work when it’s eventually put on a streaming site. The Criterion Channel has an answer: each month, the streamer will change the version of Eno available to subscribers.

I’ve only watched one version so far, so I don’t know if this gimmick really does anything noticeable. I do think that the film I saw works well to represent Eno, while not laying out his biography and career in an informative way. It’s more a sense of him and his life. Eno does much of the work that makes the documentary so riveting, since it’s mostly him talking about his work and how he came to be one of the world’s most sought-after recording artists and record producers, despite not initially knowing how to play any instruments or write music.

Eno has a way of explaining the brilliance of his music factually, so its genius isn’t something being bragged about. I’d much rather hear it from him than a bunch of peers, critics, fans, and historians spouting hyperbole about why he’s a legend. I could also listen to Eno talk about the importance of music for many more hours, or even more of him just asking if it’s time for lunch. As a speaker, he’s almost as entrancing as his music. He also, like his music, makes smooth work out of complexity. Is there more of this material that isn’t seen in this version but will be in others? I’m unclear. I’d have loved to hear him talk more about music’s role in spatial design.

Eno begins streaming exclusively on The Criterion Channel on June 16, 2026.

Other Documentary Highlights

America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders

The Age Of Disclosure (2025)

With its focus on people brought together over UFOs, Welcome Space Brothers (highlighted below) made a great accompaniment to my viewing of Steven Spielberg’s Disclosure Day last week, to the point that I could also consider it a Doc Option tied to the new sci-fi blockbuster. But I’d already committed to sharing The Age of Disclosure, a documentary about the U.S. government’s nearly 80-year cover-up of evidence of extraterrestrial sightings and contact. It’s also directed by a filmmaker (Dan Farah) who previously produced a Spielberg movie (Ready Player One).

I asked my friend Emma “Mulder” Loggins, the founder and Editor in Chief of FanBolt and a UFO/aliens expert and junkie, to choose the best documentary for a Disclosure Day Doc Option, and she picked this one without question. So, I think it’s best to share part of her review of the film:

“The Age of Disclosure accomplishes something genuinely impressive. It takes decades of fragmented information, whistleblower testimony, Congressional hearings, declassified documents, and military encounters and weaves them into a coherent narrative that’s accessible to people who haven’t been following this topic obsessively.

“For those of us who have been paying attention, the film serves as validation. For newcomers, it’s a crash course in why so many credible people are taking this seriously. Whether or not the Academy recognizes it, The Age of Disclosure has already accomplished something remarkable. It’s made UFOs a legitimate topic of conversation in Washington’s corridors of power and Hollywood’s screening rooms simultaneously. That alone is worth celebrating.”

The Age of Disclosure is available to rent or purchase digitally from Prime Video.

America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders Season 3

Fun fact: Two years ago, we nominated America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders for Best Limited Documentary Series at the Critics Choice Documentary Awards. It didn’t win, but it also — obviously, now that it’s in its third season — is not a limited series. At the time, I don’t think even the show’s producers knew it’d be so popular as to warrant more seasons.

Well, here we are. The show has since won Best Sports Documentary at the CCDAs (one year after the first nomination) and been recognized by the Emmys and the Cinema Eye Honors. It’s not really my thing, fan-wise, but I have to highlight it for its objective achievement.

America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders Season 3 premieres in full on Netflix on Tuesday, June 16, 2026.

Flag Day (2026)

Every other holiday has movies associated with the occasion, so why not Flag Day? Unfortunately, I can’t recommend this feature documentary for watching on June 14 or any other date. Flag Day is a good-looking film, and it sounds good, too. In fact, much of the documentary consists of montages of scenes set to unsurprising soundtrack choices such as “Small Town” by John Mellencamp and a cover of Simon & Garfunkel’s “America.”

The rest introduces us to common people in Three Oaks, Michigan, home of the nation’s largest Flag Day parade. None of them has anything particularly interesting to say, and some seem to be acting for the camera. The not-quite-verite film perfectly represents the American Flag, a thin, ceremoniously majestic representation of our country. But I get more out of just staring at the flag.

Flag Day will be released in theaters on Friday, June 12, 2026, with additional nationwide screenings being held on June 14 and June 15.

The Gas Station Attendant (2025)

We’ve seen plenty of documentaries like The Gas Station Attendant. The filmmaker, Karla Murthy, examines her cultural identity as an Asian American while also sharing the story of her father’s journey to this country from India and the titular stereotype that he fell into. Some of it is standard fare, and some of it is specific and distinct. While the film is fairly unexceptional, I still can’t resist any of these cinematic memoirs because it’s always interesting and endearing subject matter.

Plus, Murthy’s father is a figure representing America better than any piece of cloth or small-town-set documentary named for it, as a kind, hard-working, and grateful immigrant. This is also one of the appreciated rare documentaries of its kind, where it genuinely honors the parent rather than coming off as completely self-centered. No wonder Geeta Gandbhir and Stanley Nelson signed on as executive producers.

The Gas Station Attendant will be released in theaters, beginning with New York City’s DCTV Firehouse Cinema, on Friday, June 12, 2026.

Gianfranco Rosi Documentaries

This week’s filmmaker spotlight is on Gianfranco Rosi in honor of the Metrograph’s retrospective kicking off in New York City on Friday, June 12, 2026. Titled “Gianfranco Rosi: Firmament of the Real,” the program includes eight of his essential nonfiction features plus a film that had a big influence on his work. Rosi is all about documentary being cinema, or movies, yet not necessarily in a comfortable manner. As Robert Greene put it in a column championing one of Rosi’s films, “What is documentary if not the gift of going somewhere and not turning away from what you find?” Even those of Rosi’s films that I don’t love, I wouldn’t have liked to miss.

Rosi’s eight titles being screened (and where to watch them if you can’t be in NYC) are Boatman (Kanopy and Kino Film Collection), Below Sea Level (Kanopy), El Sicario, Room 164 (PVOD), the Golden Lion-winning Sacra Gra (Kanopy), Fire at Sea (Kanopy and Kino Film Collection), Notturno (Kanopy), In Viaggio: The Travels of Pope Francis (Hulu), and his latest, Pompei: Below the Clouds (Mubi). The extra curation is Roberto Rossellini’s 1959 hybrid film India: Matri Bhumi (The Criterion Channel).

Gregg Allman: The Music Of My Soul (2026)

The latest music documentary from actor-turned-director James Keach (Glen Campbell: I’ll Be Me) is fairly conventional in its biographical treatment of its subject. But as with Eno and other elevated examples of the genre, it’s best when it lets its main character do the talking. Gregg Allman: The Music of My Soul features relatively recent interviews with the titular rock legend, who died in 2017, including some never-before-seen footage from a decade ago. I think the challenge with this film is not making it an Allman Brothers Band, and Keach rises to that challenge by keeping it purely focused on Gregg Allman. He’s not presented as a part of the band; the band is presented as a part of him.

Gregg Allman: The Music of My Soul will screen in theaters nationwide on Wednesday, June 17, 2026.

Welcome Space Brothers (2023)

When we think of the term “cult film,” we’re usually thinking of underground movies with devoted fanbases. Or, maybe we’re thinking of movies (including documentaries) about cults. Welcome to Space Brothers reminds us that we could also think of cult films as movies produced by cults. The documentary chronicles the history of the Unarius Academy of Science, a UFO religion founded in Southern California in the 1950s that reached peak notoriety in the late 1970s as an extravagantly kitchy group known for its flamboyant costumes and promise of impending extraterrestrial visitation.

Calling Unarius a cult is probably a disservice to the group, which still exists, as they don’t appear to have been a scam (other than it not delivering on the UFO landings), nor was it headed by a predatory or abusive yet charismatic leader. Still, it fits the more innocent definition of a cult as a social organization with unusual beliefs.

Director Jodi Wille, whose last feature was the 2012 documentary The Source Family, again shows respect for her latest cult of interest (she also previously made a short about Unarius titled We Are Not Alone). That will make this less appealing to audiences looking for another group to laugh at or be shocked by. Most of the participants interviewed were or remain followers. While I will never totally understand the devotion of such individuals, I’ve never appreciated the draw of such communities more than I did thanks to this film.

Churches are best (in my opinion) as places to come together, whether it’s for worship or company. Unarius is based in spirituality goals, but it also comes across, most simplistically, as a social club for fellow folks sharing common intrigue about aliens and reincarnation, and a willingness to play dress up and maybe perform in parades and sci-fi movies.

The movies are what really grabbed me while watching Welcome Space Brothers. I couldn’t care less about the inner workings of the religion or the strained relationships among members over the years. That’s just typical of any organization. Other than co-founder and leader Ruth Norman being extravagant and sometimes controlling (even while reprimanding others for not abiding by the religion’s no-ego policy), there’s not much that’s outstanding about the personalities involved.

Yet the fact that Unarius produced some spectacularly cheesy but incredibly artistic and technically remarkable films and shows to promote themselves is fascinating. They look as good as the worst B-movies of the era that have become cult films, and I’m thinking of ordering some of them to see more. So not only is the documentary a gracious showcase of Unarius, but it might even benefit them financially.

Welcome Space Brothers screens on Saturday, June 13, 2026, with a live performance by Moby afterward, and will be playing in theaters nationwide through this fall.

Subscribe now

Documentary Release Calendar 6/12/26 – 6/18/26

Flag Day

Friday, June 12, 2026

Dance of the Wild (2026) – A documentary feature about humanity’s relationship to wild horses. (In Theaters)

Deadliest Catch Season 22, Episode 6: “Rocked to the Core” – The latest installment of a series that follows Alaskan crab fishermen. (Discovery Channel)

Flag Day (2026) – A verite documentary of life in Three Oaks, Michigan, home of the largest Flag Day parade. See our highlights section for more info and a brief review. (In Theaters)

The Gas Station Attendant (2025) – A documentary feature by Karla Murthy about her father’s life, from fleeing his Indian village as a child to later emigrating to the United States in pursuit of the American Dream. See our highlights section for more info and a brief review. (In Theaters)

It’s Dorothy! (2025) – A documentary feature about the legacy of the Wizard of Oz character Dorothy Gale. (PVOD)

Maternal Instinct (2026) – A true-crime documentary about a woman who faked a pregnancy to kill another mother and steal her baby. (Netflix)

Unbroken: The Untold Story of Shen Yun (2026) – A documentary feature about the dance studio Shen Yun Performing Arts. (PVOD)

Saturday, June 13, 2026

Craig Ferguson: American on Purpose Episode 3: “The First Amendment” – The third installment of a five-part docuseries on what it means to be American. (CNN)

Welcome Space Brothers (2023) – A documentary feature by Jodi Wille (The Source Family) about the extraterrestrial-channeling spiritual movement that became the Unarius Academy of Science. See our highlights section for more info and a brief review. (In Theaters)

Sunday, June 14, 2026

Best of the World with Antoni Porowski Episodes 3 & 4: “New York City” & “London” – The third and fourth installments of a travel docuseries starring Antoni Porowski. (National Geographic)

The Food That Built America Season 7, Episode 8: “Rice to Riches” – The latest installment of a docuseries about popular American foods. This episode involves innovations with rice. (History)

Hazardous History with Henry Winkler Season 2, Episode 8: “Fatal Attractions” – The latest installment of a docuseries about dangerous toys and household items that used to be common. This episode involves dangerous tourist attractions. (History)

In the Eye of the Storm: Chasers Episode 5: “Spin City” – The fifth installment of a six-part spinoff of the docuseries In the Eye of the Storm that follows weather spotters and storm chasers as they record tornadoes. (Discovery Channel)

The Killer Among Us Episode 5: “Betrayal in Blue” – The latest installment of a docuseries hosted by Alan Cumming about murders in close-knit communities. This episode involves the killing of a newly elected sheriff. (Oxygen True Crime)

This Land Episodes 3 & 4: “Sea to Shining Sea” & “Star Border” – The third and fourth installments of a limited docuseries that explores the history of America through six defining frontiers. (CNN)

Monday, June 15, 2026

History’s Greatest Machines with Dolph Lundgren Episode 3: “Monster Machines” – The latest installment of a docuseries about the machines that shaped our world. (History)

The Last Twins (2025) – A documentary feature about Erno “Zvi” Spiegel, who saved several sets of twins from experimentation during the Holocaust. Read our review of The Last Twins. (PBS)

Lethally Blonde Season 2, Episode 5: “Dressed to Kill” – The latest installment of a true-crime docuseries involving people pursuing beauty and fame. This episode involves a former Los Angeles Raiders cheerleader. (Investigation Discovery)

Tuesday, June 16, 2026

America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders Season 3 – The return of an award-winning docuseries about the Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders. See our highlights section for more info. (Netflix)

Becoming Katharine Graham (2025) – A documentary feature about the titular Washington Post publisher. (PBS)

The Cinema Within (2024) – A documentary feature about film editing. (OVID)

Eno – A documentary feature directed by Gary Hustwit (Helvetica) — with 52 quintillion possible variations, each reedited by a human-coded software system — about the music artist Brian Eno. See our highlights section for more info and a brief review. *NONFICS PICK* (The Criterion Channel)

He Calls Me Daughter (2026) – A documentary feature celebrating God as the perfect father figure for women. (DVD)

MGM Parade Show #7 (1955) – The sixth installment of a documentary series devoted to promoting MGM’s films. This short spotlights The Great Ziegfeld and The Tender Trap. (TCM)

The Proof is Out There: Unexplained Edition Season 2, Episode 3: “Death Defying Mysteries” – The return of a docuseries about strange phenomena captured on camera. (History)

The Secret of Skinwalker Ranch Season 7, Episode 5: “Home Sweet Homestead” – The latest installment of a docuseries about UFO phenomena at the Skinwalker Ranch. (History)

Stolen Kingdom (2025) – A documentary feature about theft and other misdeeds committed at Walt Disney World over 30 years. Read our review of Stolen Kingdom. (PVOD)

Wednesday, June 17, 2026

The Face Doctors Season 2, Episode 6: “I Can’t Smile” – The latest installment of a nonfiction series about facial reconstruction specialists and their patients. (TLC)

Gregg Allman: The Music of My Soul (2026) – A documentary about the titular singer-songwriter and musician. See our highlights section for more info and a brief review. (In Theaters)

Under the Flags, the Sun (2025) – An archival documentary about Alfredo Stroessner’s 35-year dictatorship in Paraguay. (OVID)

Thursday, June 18, 2026

On the Roam Season 2, Episode 6 – The latest installment of a nonfiction series that follows actor Jason Momoa as he meets extraordinary people around the country. (HBO Max)

Surviving Earth Episode 2: “When the Climate Broke” – The second installment of an eight-part docuseries about extinct creatures. This episode involves a hippo-like herbivore. (NBC)

Welcome to Wrexham Season 5, Episode 7: “Touching Grass” – The latest installment of a docuseries about a Welsh soccer team co-owned by actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney. (FXX)

Share Nonfics

Sneak Peek At What’s Coming Soon

6/19 – Enongo – A hybrid animated and documentary about rapper/producer/Ph.D. candidate Enongo Lumumba-Kasongo, a.k.a. Sammus. (Indiepix Unlimited)

6/21 – On the Trail of UFOs: The Disclosure Era – An investigative docuseries in the On the Trail of UFOs franchise about the government declassification of files on UAP, aka UFOs. Watch the new trailer for the series below. (VOD)

6/23 – The Welcome Table – A documentary feature by Oscar-nominated filmmaker Josh Fox (Gasland) about climate refugees. (HBO and HBO Max)

6/24 – The American Experiment – A five-part docuseries by Brian Knappenberger (Turning Point: The Bomb And The Cold War) about the founding of America. (Netflix)

6/26 – Jackass: Best and Last – The fifth and final feature-length installment of the Jackass franchise, which looks back at classic stunts and presents new ones. Watch a new clip from the film below. (In Theaters)

6/27 – Possibilities – A documentary about the legacy of Helen Keller. (VOD)

6/30 – Bang My Box: The Robin Byrd Story – A documentary about the titular public access TV host. Watch the first trailer for the film below. (HBO and HBO Max)

7/3 – Sherman’s March – A 4K re-release of a classic first-person documentary by Ross McElwee about his romantic pursuits amidst his Civil War history project. *NONFICS PICK* (In Theaters)

7/5 – National Geographic Sharkfest Season 8 – The return of a nature series about sharks. This season includes the new documentary Hammerhead Sharks Up Close with Bertie Gregory. Watch the new trailer for that film below. (National Geographic)

7/12 – The Salisbury Poisonings: A Spy Next Door – A documentary feature about the 2018 poisoning of Russian/British double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter. (CNN)

10/16 – Once Upon a Time in Harlem – A documentary feature co-directed by the late William Greaves (Symbiopsychotaxiplasm: Take One), resurrecting footage he shot in 1972 of a get-together of Harlem Renaissance legends. Watch the new teaser trailer for the film below. (In Theaters)

Nonfics is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Uncategorized Comments are off

This Week In Documentary

Written by

I want to start this week’s newsletter with a shoutout to filmmaker Penny Lane, whose own latest Substack newsletter alerted me to something I wasn’t aware of. In a piece entitled “Are Documentaries Movies?” she notes, “This newsletter was partly inspired by noticing the [no ratings for documentaries] trend on Letterboxd.” I don’t agree with the idea of not rating documentaries, whether they’re “movies” or not. But this is my job. I rate, rank, review, nominate, and award documentaries based on their quality. At the same time, I rarely classify my documentary reviews on Rotten Tomatoes as “rotten” because most of what I choose to write about I’d recommend, even if I don’t like it.

Like Lane, I’ve grown tired of the lazy reviews of documentaries praising them for feeling like a fiction film, and the forced efforts by documentarians to seek that sort of response. I think documentary filmmakers should still strive to tell their story in a visually compelling manner. When possible, they should concentrate on the look of their film, even if the cinematography is enhanced in post-production rather than consciously during shooting. That’s not to say raw, immediate filming can’t also be an aesthetic choice, one that perfectly suits its material. Just don’t use the motion picture format to share information without giving the audience a sensation. You can put that kind of thing on YouTube, or write a book or Substack post.

My favorite nonfiction films of the year so far deliver original, entertaining, and visually stimulating stories that go beyond the basics of documentary purpose. Maybe they are movies because they’ve got the whole package, from cinematography to score. Some even bother with sound design. They’re visionary, and well-produced, and not necessarily in a way that costs too much. But my top documentary of the year so far, Everybody to Kenmure Street, is one of these that proves even films tackling issues, histories, and important themes can be impressively cinematic while also being focused on people and ideas. It’s crucial and captivating, and that makes a big impact on viewers who are trying to be reached, not just educated or just entertained.

Below are this week’s documentary highlights, followed by daily listings for all known releases and broadcasts, along with a brief look at what’s coming soon for doc fans (including a new film from William Greaves!). Please consider becoming a paid subscriber to receive more in-depth highlights and reviews in the future, plus full access to special posts like our best-of lists, and to give me more time to watch more (if not everything) available. If you have a doc needing coverage or a mention, you can reach us at nonficseditor (at) gmail.

Nonfics Pick Of The Week: Eno (2024)

Brian Eno in Eno

Earlier this month, a handful of Gary Hustwit documentaries hit The Criterion Channel, including his Design Trilogy and the feature Rams, which is about an industrial designer. Until finally seeing Hustwit’s latest, Eno, I didn’t know how the documentary fit into the filmmaker’s area of focus. Now I can appreciate that the subject, Brian Eno, is something of a designer himself. Technically, in addition to being an iconic musician, songwriter, visual artist, pioneer of the ambient genre, and legendary record producer, he’s considered a professional sound designer. But as this film shows, he’s essentially also a music designer. Isn’t that just another term for songwriter or composer? Not really. Eno is both of those things as well, but based on how he describes his work, I’d say he’s more of a music designer.

Eno is a documentary that fits its subject’s concept of generative music, as Hustwit has employed a software system (human-coded, not AI as previously thought) to produce variations on its construction. Each time it’s shown, Eno can have a new edit, with different versions being in the quintillions. I wondered how that would work when it’s eventually put on a streaming site. The Criterion Channel has an answer: each month, the streamer will change the version of Eno available to subscribers.

I’ve only watched one version so far, so I don’t know if this gimmick really does anything noticeable. I do think that the film I saw works well to represent Eno, while not laying out his biography and career in an informative way. It’s more a sense of him and his life. Eno does much of the work that makes the documentary so riveting, since it’s mostly him talking about his work and how he came to be one of the world’s most sought-after recording artists and record producers, despite not initially knowing how to play any instruments or write music.

Eno has a way of explaining the brilliance of his music factually, so its genius isn’t something being bragged about. I’d much rather hear it from him than a bunch of peers, critics, fans, and historians spouting hyperbole about why he’s a legend. I could also listen to Eno talk about the importance of music for many more hours, or even more of him just asking if it’s time for lunch. As a speaker, he’s almost as entrancing as his music. He also, like his music, makes smooth work out of complexity. Is there more of this material that isn’t seen in this version but will be in others? I’m unclear. I’d have loved to hear him talk more about music’s role in spatial design.

Eno begins streaming exclusively on The Criterion Channel on June 16, 2026.

Other Documentary Highlights

America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders

The Age Of Disclosure (2025)

With its focus on people brought together over UFOs, Welcome Space Brothers (highlighted below) made a great accompaniment to my viewing of Steven Spielberg’s Disclosure Day last week, to the point that I could also consider it a Doc Option tied to the new sci-fi blockbuster. But I’d already committed to sharing The Age of Disclosure, a documentary about the U.S. government’s nearly 80-year cover-up of evidence of extraterrestrial sightings and contact. It’s also directed by a filmmaker (Dan Farah) who previously produced a Spielberg movie (Ready Player One).

I asked my friend Emma “Mulder” Loggins, the founder and Editor in Chief of FanBolt and a UFO/aliens expert and junkie, to choose the best documentary for a Disclosure Day Doc Option, and she picked this one without question. So, I think it’s best to share part of her review of the film:

“The Age of Disclosure accomplishes something genuinely impressive. It takes decades of fragmented information, whistleblower testimony, Congressional hearings, declassified documents, and military encounters and weaves them into a coherent narrative that’s accessible to people who haven’t been following this topic obsessively.

“For those of us who have been paying attention, the film serves as validation. For newcomers, it’s a crash course in why so many credible people are taking this seriously. Whether or not the Academy recognizes it, The Age of Disclosure has already accomplished something remarkable. It’s made UFOs a legitimate topic of conversation in Washington’s corridors of power and Hollywood’s screening rooms simultaneously. That alone is worth celebrating.”

The Age of Disclosure is available to rent or purchase digitally from Prime Video.

America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders Season 3

Fun fact: Two years ago, we nominated America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders for Best Limited Documentary Series at the Critics Choice Documentary Awards. It didn’t win, but it also — obviously, now that it’s in its third season — is not a limited series. At the time, I don’t think even the show’s producers knew it’d be so popular as to warrant more seasons.

Well, here we are. The show has since won Best Sports Documentary at the CCDAs (one year after the first nomination) and been recognized by the Emmys and the Cinema Eye Honors. It’s not really my thing, fan-wise, but I have to highlight it for its objective achievement.

America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders Season 3 premieres in full on Netflix on Tuesday, June 16, 2026.

Flag Day (2026)

Every other holiday has movies associated with the occasion, so why not Flag Day? Unfortunately, I can’t recommend this feature documentary for watching on June 14 or any other date. Flag Day is a good-looking film, and it sounds good, too. In fact, much of the documentary consists of montages of scenes set to unsurprising soundtrack choices such as “Small Town” by John Mellencamp and a cover of Simon & Garfunkel’s “America.”

The rest introduces us to common people in Three Oaks, Michigan, home of the nation’s largest Flag Day parade. None of them has anything particularly interesting to say, and some seem to be acting for the camera. The not-quite-verite film perfectly represents the American Flag, a thin, ceremoniously majestic representation of our country. But I get more out of just staring at the flag.

Flag Day will be released in theaters on Friday, June 12, 2026, with additional nationwide screenings being held on June 14 and June 15.

The Gas Station Attendant (2025)

We’ve seen plenty of documentaries like The Gas Station Attendant. The filmmaker, Karla Murthy, examines her cultural identity as an Asian American while also sharing the story of her father’s journey to this country from India and the titular stereotype that he fell into. Some of it is standard fare, and some of it is specific and distinct. While the film is fairly unexceptional, I still can’t resist any of these cinematic memoirs because it’s always interesting and endearing subject matter.

Plus, Murthy’s father is a figure representing America better than any piece of cloth or small-town-set documentary named for it, as a kind, hard-working, and grateful immigrant. This is also one of the appreciated rare documentaries of its kind, where it genuinely honors the parent rather than coming off as completely self-centered. No wonder Geeta Gandbhir and Stanley Nelson signed on as executive producers.

The Gas Station Attendant will be released in theaters, beginning with New York City’s DCTV Firehouse Cinema, on Friday, June 12, 2026.

Gianfranco Rosi Documentaries

This week’s filmmaker spotlight is on Gianfranco Rosi in honor of the Metrograph’s retrospective kicking off in New York City on Friday, June 12, 2026. Titled “Gianfranco Rosi: Firmament of the Real,” the program includes eight of his essential nonfiction features plus a film that had a big influence on his work. Rosi is all about documentary being cinema, or movies, yet not necessarily in a comfortable manner. As Robert Greene put it in a column championing one of Rosi’s films, “What is documentary if not the gift of going somewhere and not turning away from what you find?” Even those of Rosi’s films that I don’t love, I wouldn’t have liked to miss.

Rosi’s eight titles being screened (and where to watch them if you can’t be in NYC) are Boatman (Kanopy and Kino Film Collection), Below Sea Level (Kanopy), El Sicario, Room 164 (PVOD), the Golden Lion-winning Sacra Gra (Kanopy), Fire at Sea (Kanopy and Kino Film Collection), Notturno (Kanopy), In Viaggio: The Travels of Pope Francis (Hulu), and his latest, Pompei: Below the Clouds (Mubi). The extra curation is Roberto Rossellini’s 1959 hybrid film India: Matri Bhumi (The Criterion Channel).

Gregg Allman: The Music Of My Soul (2026)

The latest music documentary from actor-turned-director James Keach (Glen Campbell: I’ll Be Me) is fairly conventional in its biographical treatment of its subject. But as with Eno and other elevated examples of the genre, it’s best when it lets its main character do the talking. Gregg Allman: The Music of My Soul features relatively recent interviews with the titular rock legend, who died in 2017, including some never-before-seen footage from a decade ago. I think the challenge with this film is not making it an Allman Brothers Band, and Keach rises to that challenge by keeping it purely focused on Gregg Allman. He’s not presented as a part of the band; the band is presented as a part of him.

Gregg Allman: The Music of My Soul will screen in theaters nationwide on Wednesday, June 17, 2026.

Welcome Space Brothers (2023)

When we think of the term “cult film,” we’re usually thinking of underground movies with devoted fanbases. Or, maybe we’re thinking of movies (including documentaries) about cults. Welcome to Space Brothers reminds us that we could also think of cult films as movies produced by cults. The documentary chronicles the history of the Unarius Academy of Science, a UFO religion founded in Southern California in the 1950s that reached peak notoriety in the late 1970s as an extravagantly kitchy group known for its flamboyant costumes and promise of impending extraterrestrial visitation.

Calling Unarius a cult is probably a disservice to the group, which still exists, as they don’t appear to have been a scam (other than it not delivering on the UFO landings), nor was it headed by a predatory or abusive yet charismatic leader. Still, it fits the more innocent definition of a cult as a social organization with unusual beliefs.

Director Jodi Wille, whose last feature was the 2012 documentary The Source Family, again shows respect for her latest cult of interest (she also previously made a short about Unarius titled We Are Not Alone). That will make this less appealing to audiences looking for another group to laugh at or be shocked by. Most of the participants interviewed were or remain followers. While I will never totally understand the devotion of such individuals, I’ve never appreciated the draw of such communities more than I did thanks to this film.

Churches are best (in my opinion) as places to come together, whether it’s for worship or company. Unarius is based in spirituality goals, but it also comes across, most simplistically, as a social club for fellow folks sharing common intrigue about aliens and reincarnation, and a willingness to play dress up and maybe perform in parades and sci-fi movies.

The movies are what really grabbed me while watching Welcome Space Brothers. I couldn’t care less about the inner workings of the religion or the strained relationships among members over the years. That’s just typical of any organization. Other than co-founder and leader Ruth Norman being extravagant and sometimes controlling (even while reprimanding others for not abiding by the religion’s no-ego policy), there’s not much that’s outstanding about the personalities involved.

Yet the fact that Unarius produced some spectacularly cheesy but incredibly artistic and technically remarkable films and shows to promote themselves is fascinating. They look as good as the worst B-movies of the era that have become cult films, and I’m thinking of ordering some of them to see more. So not only is the documentary a gracious showcase of Unarius, but it might even benefit them financially.

Welcome Space Brothers screens on Saturday, June 13, 2026, with a live performance by Moby afterward, and will be playing in theaters nationwide through this fall.

Subscribe now

Documentary Release Calendar 6/12/26 – 6/18/26

Flag Day

Friday, June 12, 2026

Dance of the Wild (2026) – A documentary feature about humanity’s relationship to wild horses. (In Theaters)

Deadliest Catch Season 22, Episode 6: “Rocked to the Core” – The latest installment of a series that follows Alaskan crab fishermen. (Discovery Channel)

Flag Day (2026) – A verite documentary of life in Three Oaks, Michigan, home of the largest Flag Day parade. See our highlights section for more info and a brief review. (In Theaters)

The Gas Station Attendant (2025) – A documentary feature by Karla Murthy about her father’s life, from fleeing his Indian village as a child to later emigrating to the United States in pursuit of the American Dream. See our highlights section for more info and a brief review. (In Theaters)

It’s Dorothy! (2025) – A documentary feature about the legacy of the Wizard of Oz character Dorothy Gale. (PVOD)

Maternal Instinct (2026) – A true-crime documentary about a woman who faked a pregnancy to kill another mother and steal her baby. (Netflix)

Unbroken: The Untold Story of Shen Yun (2026) – A documentary feature about the dance studio Shen Yun Performing Arts. (PVOD)

Saturday, June 13, 2026

Craig Ferguson: American on Purpose Episode 3: “The First Amendment” – The third installment of a five-part docuseries on what it means to be American. (CNN)

Welcome Space Brothers (2023) – A documentary feature by Jodi Wille (The Source Family) about the extraterrestrial-channeling spiritual movement that became the Unarius Academy of Science. See our highlights section for more info and a brief review. (In Theaters)

Sunday, June 14, 2026

Best of the World with Antoni Porowski Episodes 3 & 4: “New York City” & “London” – The third and fourth installments of a travel docuseries starring Antoni Porowski. (National Geographic)

The Food That Built America Season 7, Episode 8: “Rice to Riches” – The latest installment of a docuseries about popular American foods. This episode involves innovations with rice. (History)

Hazardous History with Henry Winkler Season 2, Episode 8: “Fatal Attractions” – The latest installment of a docuseries about dangerous toys and household items that used to be common. This episode involves dangerous tourist attractions. (History)

In the Eye of the Storm: Chasers Episode 5: “Spin City” – The fifth installment of a six-part spinoff of the docuseries In the Eye of the Storm that follows weather spotters and storm chasers as they record tornadoes. (Discovery Channel)

The Killer Among Us Episode 5: “Betrayal in Blue” – The latest installment of a docuseries hosted by Alan Cumming about murders in close-knit communities. This episode involves the killing of a newly elected sheriff. (Oxygen True Crime)

This Land Episodes 3 & 4: “Sea to Shining Sea” & “Star Border” – The third and fourth installments of a limited docuseries that explores the history of America through six defining frontiers. (CNN)

Monday, June 15, 2026

History’s Greatest Machines with Dolph Lundgren Episode 3: “Monster Machines” – The latest installment of a docuseries about the machines that shaped our world. (History)

The Last Twins (2025) – A documentary feature about Erno “Zvi” Spiegel, who saved several sets of twins from experimentation during the Holocaust. Read our review of The Last Twins. (PBS)

Lethally Blonde Season 2, Episode 5: “Dressed to Kill” – The latest installment of a true-crime docuseries involving people pursuing beauty and fame. This episode involves a former Los Angeles Raiders cheerleader. (Investigation Discovery)

Tuesday, June 16, 2026

America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders Season 3 – The return of an award-winning docuseries about the Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders. See our highlights section for more info. (Netflix)

Becoming Katharine Graham (2025) – A documentary feature about the titular Washington Post publisher. (PBS)

The Cinema Within (2024) – A documentary feature about film editing. (OVID)

Eno – A documentary feature directed by Gary Hustwit (Helvetica) — with 52 quintillion possible variations, each reedited by a human-coded software system — about the music artist Brian Eno. See our highlights section for more info and a brief review. *NONFICS PICK* (The Criterion Channel)

He Calls Me Daughter (2026) – A documentary feature celebrating God as the perfect father figure for women. (DVD)

MGM Parade Show #7 (1955) – The sixth installment of a documentary series devoted to promoting MGM’s films. This short spotlights The Great Ziegfeld and The Tender Trap. (TCM)

The Proof is Out There: Unexplained Edition Season 2, Episode 3: “Death Defying Mysteries” – The return of a docuseries about strange phenomena captured on camera. (History)

The Secret of Skinwalker Ranch Season 7, Episode 5: “Home Sweet Homestead” – The latest installment of a docuseries about UFO phenomena at the Skinwalker Ranch. (History)

Stolen Kingdom (2025) – A documentary feature about theft and other misdeeds committed at Walt Disney World over 30 years. Read our review of Stolen Kingdom. (PVOD)

Wednesday, June 17, 2026

The Face Doctors Season 2, Episode 6: “I Can’t Smile” – The latest installment of a nonfiction series about facial reconstruction specialists and their patients. (TLC)

Gregg Allman: The Music of My Soul (2026) – A documentary about the titular singer-songwriter and musician. See our highlights section for more info and a brief review. (In Theaters)

Under the Flags, the Sun (2025) – An archival documentary about Alfredo Stroessner’s 35-year dictatorship in Paraguay. (OVID)

Thursday, June 18, 2026

On the Roam Season 2, Episode 6 – The latest installment of a nonfiction series that follows actor Jason Momoa as he meets extraordinary people around the country. (HBO Max)

Surviving Earth Episode 2: “When the Climate Broke” – The second installment of an eight-part docuseries about extinct creatures. This episode involves a hippo-like herbivore. (NBC)

Welcome to Wrexham Season 5, Episode 7: “Touching Grass” – The latest installment of a docuseries about a Welsh soccer team co-owned by actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney. (FXX)

Share Nonfics

Sneak Peek At What’s Coming Soon

6/19 – Enongo – A hybrid animated and documentary about rapper/producer/Ph.D. candidate Enongo Lumumba-Kasongo, a.k.a. Sammus. (Indiepix Unlimited)

6/21 – On the Trail of UFOs: The Disclosure Era – An investigative docuseries in the On the Trail of UFOs franchise about the government declassification of files on UAP, aka UFOs. Watch the new trailer for the series below. (VOD)

6/23 – The Welcome Table – A documentary feature by Oscar-nominated filmmaker Josh Fox (Gasland) about climate refugees. (HBO and HBO Max)

6/24 – The American Experiment – A five-part docuseries by Brian Knappenberger (Turning Point: The Bomb And The Cold War) about the founding of America. (Netflix)

6/26 – Jackass: Best and Last – The fifth and final feature-length installment of the Jackass franchise, which looks back at classic stunts and presents new ones. Watch a new clip from the film below. (In Theaters)

6/27 – Possibilities – A documentary about the legacy of Helen Keller. (VOD)

6/30 – Bang My Box: The Robin Byrd Story – A documentary about the titular public access TV host. Watch the first trailer for the film below. (HBO and HBO Max)

7/3 – Sherman’s March – A 4K re-release of a classic first-person documentary by Ross McElwee about his romantic pursuits amidst his Civil War history project. *NONFICS PICK* (In Theaters)

7/5 – National Geographic Sharkfest Season 8 – The return of a nature series about sharks. This season includes the new documentary Hammerhead Sharks Up Close with Bertie Gregory. Watch the new trailer for that film below. (National Geographic)

7/12 – The Salisbury Poisonings: A Spy Next Door – A documentary feature about the 2018 poisoning of Russian/British double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter. (CNN)

10/16 – Once Upon a Time in Harlem – A documentary feature co-directed by the late William Greaves (Symbiopsychotaxiplasm: Take One), resurrecting footage he shot in 1972 of a get-together of Harlem Renaissance legends. Watch the new teaser trailer for the film below. (In Theaters)

Nonfics is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Uncategorized Comments are off

This Week In Documentary

Written by

I want to start this week’s newsletter with a shoutout to filmmaker Penny Lane, whose own latest Substack newsletter alerted me to something I wasn’t aware of. In a piece entitled “Are Documentaries Movies?” she notes, “This newsletter was partly inspired by noticing the [no ratings for documentaries] trend on Letterboxd.” I don’t agree with the idea of not rating documentaries, whether they’re “movies” or not. But this is my job. I rate, rank, review, nominate, and award documentaries based on their quality. At the same time, I rarely classify my documentary reviews on Rotten Tomatoes as “rotten” because most of what I choose to write about I’d recommend, even if I don’t like it.

Like Lane, I’ve grown tired of the lazy reviews of documentaries praising them for feeling like a fiction film, and the forced efforts by documentarians to seek that sort of response. I think documentary filmmakers should still strive to tell their story in a visually compelling manner. When possible, they should concentrate on the look of their film, even if the cinematography is enhanced in post-production rather than consciously during shooting. That’s not to say raw, immediate filming can’t also be an aesthetic choice, one that perfectly suits its material. Just don’t use the motion picture format to share information without giving the audience a sensation. You can put that kind of thing on YouTube, or write a book or Substack post.

My favorite nonfiction films of the year so far deliver original, entertaining, and visually stimulating stories that go beyond the basics of documentary purpose. Maybe they are movies because they’ve got the whole package, from cinematography to score. Some even bother with sound design. They’re visionary, and well-produced, and not necessarily in a way that costs too much. But my top documentary of the year so far, Everybody to Kenmure Street, is one of these that proves even films tackling issues, histories, and important themes can be impressively cinematic while also being focused on people and ideas. It’s crucial and captivating, and that makes a big impact on viewers who are trying to be reached, not just educated or just entertained.

Below are this week’s documentary highlights, followed by daily listings for all known releases and broadcasts, along with a brief look at what’s coming soon for doc fans (including a new film from William Greaves!). Please consider becoming a paid subscriber to receive more in-depth highlights and reviews in the future, plus full access to special posts like our best-of lists, and to give me more time to watch more (if not everything) available. If you have a doc needing coverage or a mention, you can reach us at nonficseditor (at) gmail.

Nonfics Pick Of The Week: Eno (2024)

Brian Eno in Eno

Earlier this month, a handful of Gary Hustwit documentaries hit The Criterion Channel, including his Design Trilogy and the feature Rams, which is about an industrial designer. Until finally seeing Hustwit’s latest, Eno, I didn’t know how the documentary fit into the filmmaker’s area of focus. Now I can appreciate that the subject, Brian Eno, is something of a designer himself. Technically, in addition to being an iconic musician, songwriter, visual artist, pioneer of the ambient genre, and legendary record producer, he’s considered a professional sound designer. But as this film shows, he’s essentially also a music designer. Isn’t that just another term for songwriter or composer? Not really. Eno is both of those things as well, but based on how he describes his work, I’d say he’s more of a music designer.

Eno is a documentary that fits its subject’s concept of generative music, as Hustwit has employed a software system (human-coded, not AI as previously thought) to produce variations on its construction. Each time it’s shown, Eno can have a new edit, with different versions being in the quintillions. I wondered how that would work when it’s eventually put on a streaming site. The Criterion Channel has an answer: each month, the streamer will change the version of Eno available to subscribers.

I’ve only watched one version so far, so I don’t know if this gimmick really does anything noticeable. I do think that the film I saw works well to represent Eno, while not laying out his biography and career in an informative way. It’s more a sense of him and his life. Eno does much of the work that makes the documentary so riveting, since it’s mostly him talking about his work and how he came to be one of the world’s most sought-after recording artists and record producers, despite not initially knowing how to play any instruments or write music.

Eno has a way of explaining the brilliance of his music factually, so its genius isn’t something being bragged about. I’d much rather hear it from him than a bunch of peers, critics, fans, and historians spouting hyperbole about why he’s a legend. I could also listen to Eno talk about the importance of music for many more hours, or even more of him just asking if it’s time for lunch. As a speaker, he’s almost as entrancing as his music. He also, like his music, makes smooth work out of complexity. Is there more of this material that isn’t seen in this version but will be in others? I’m unclear. I’d have loved to hear him talk more about music’s role in spatial design.

Eno begins streaming exclusively on The Criterion Channel on June 16, 2026.

Other Documentary Highlights

America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders

The Age Of Disclosure (2025)

With its focus on people brought together over UFOs, Welcome Space Brothers (highlighted below) made a great accompaniment to my viewing of Steven Spielberg’s Disclosure Day last week, to the point that I could also consider it a Doc Option tied to the new sci-fi blockbuster. But I’d already committed to sharing The Age of Disclosure, a documentary about the U.S. government’s nearly 80-year cover-up of evidence of extraterrestrial sightings and contact. It’s also directed by a filmmaker (Dan Farah) who previously produced a Spielberg movie (Ready Player One).

I asked my friend Emma “Mulder” Loggins, the founder and Editor in Chief of FanBolt and a UFO/aliens expert and junkie, to choose the best documentary for a Disclosure Day Doc Option, and she picked this one without question. So, I think it’s best to share part of her review of the film:

“The Age of Disclosure accomplishes something genuinely impressive. It takes decades of fragmented information, whistleblower testimony, Congressional hearings, declassified documents, and military encounters and weaves them into a coherent narrative that’s accessible to people who haven’t been following this topic obsessively.

“For those of us who have been paying attention, the film serves as validation. For newcomers, it’s a crash course in why so many credible people are taking this seriously. Whether or not the Academy recognizes it, The Age of Disclosure has already accomplished something remarkable. It’s made UFOs a legitimate topic of conversation in Washington’s corridors of power and Hollywood’s screening rooms simultaneously. That alone is worth celebrating.”

The Age of Disclosure is available to rent or purchase digitally from Prime Video.

America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders Season 3

Fun fact: Two years ago, we nominated America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders for Best Limited Documentary Series at the Critics Choice Documentary Awards. It didn’t win, but it also — obviously, now that it’s in its third season — is not a limited series. At the time, I don’t think even the show’s producers knew it’d be so popular as to warrant more seasons.

Well, here we are. The show has since won Best Sports Documentary at the CCDAs (one year after the first nomination) and been recognized by the Emmys and the Cinema Eye Honors. It’s not really my thing, fan-wise, but I have to highlight it for its objective achievement.

America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders Season 3 premieres in full on Netflix on Tuesday, June 16, 2026.

Flag Day (2026)

Every other holiday has movies associated with the occasion, so why not Flag Day? Unfortunately, I can’t recommend this feature documentary for watching on June 14 or any other date. Flag Day is a good-looking film, and it sounds good, too. In fact, much of the documentary consists of montages of scenes set to unsurprising soundtrack choices such as “Small Town” by John Mellencamp and a cover of Simon & Garfunkel’s “America.”

The rest introduces us to common people in Three Oaks, Michigan, home of the nation’s largest Flag Day parade. None of them has anything particularly interesting to say, and some seem to be acting for the camera. The not-quite-verite film perfectly represents the American Flag, a thin, ceremoniously majestic representation of our country. But I get more out of just staring at the flag.

Flag Day will be released in theaters on Friday, June 12, 2026, with additional nationwide screenings being held on June 14 and June 15.

The Gas Station Attendant (2025)

We’ve seen plenty of documentaries like The Gas Station Attendant. The filmmaker, Karla Murthy, examines her cultural identity as an Asian American while also sharing the story of her father’s journey to this country from India and the titular stereotype that he fell into. Some of it is standard fare, and some of it is specific and distinct. While the film is fairly unexceptional, I still can’t resist any of these cinematic memoirs because it’s always interesting and endearing subject matter.

Plus, Murthy’s father is a figure representing America better than any piece of cloth or small-town-set documentary named for it, as a kind, hard-working, and grateful immigrant. This is also one of the appreciated rare documentaries of its kind, where it genuinely honors the parent rather than coming off as completely self-centered. No wonder Geeta Gandbhir and Stanley Nelson signed on as executive producers.

The Gas Station Attendant will be released in theaters, beginning with New York City’s DCTV Firehouse Cinema, on Friday, June 12, 2026.

Gianfranco Rosi Documentaries

This week’s filmmaker spotlight is on Gianfranco Rosi in honor of the Metrograph’s retrospective kicking off in New York City on Friday, June 12, 2026. Titled “Gianfranco Rosi: Firmament of the Real,” the program includes eight of his essential nonfiction features plus a film that had a big influence on his work. Rosi is all about documentary being cinema, or movies, yet not necessarily in a comfortable manner. As Robert Greene put it in a column championing one of Rosi’s films, “What is documentary if not the gift of going somewhere and not turning away from what you find?” Even those of Rosi’s films that I don’t love, I wouldn’t have liked to miss.

Rosi’s eight titles being screened (and where to watch them if you can’t be in NYC) are Boatman (Kanopy and Kino Film Collection), Below Sea Level (Kanopy), El Sicario, Room 164 (PVOD), the Golden Lion-winning Sacra Gra (Kanopy), Fire at Sea (Kanopy and Kino Film Collection), Notturno (Kanopy), In Viaggio: The Travels of Pope Francis (Hulu), and his latest, Pompei: Below the Clouds (Mubi). The extra curation is Roberto Rossellini’s 1959 hybrid film India: Matri Bhumi (The Criterion Channel).

Gregg Allman: The Music Of My Soul (2026)

The latest music documentary from actor-turned-director James Keach (Glen Campbell: I’ll Be Me) is fairly conventional in its biographical treatment of its subject. But as with Eno and other elevated examples of the genre, it’s best when it lets its main character do the talking. Gregg Allman: The Music of My Soul features relatively recent interviews with the titular rock legend, who died in 2017, including some never-before-seen footage from a decade ago. I think the challenge with this film is not making it an Allman Brothers Band, and Keach rises to that challenge by keeping it purely focused on Gregg Allman. He’s not presented as a part of the band; the band is presented as a part of him.

Gregg Allman: The Music of My Soul will screen in theaters nationwide on Wednesday, June 17, 2026.

Welcome Space Brothers (2023)

When we think of the term “cult film,” we’re usually thinking of underground movies with devoted fanbases. Or, maybe we’re thinking of movies (including documentaries) about cults. Welcome to Space Brothers reminds us that we could also think of cult films as movies produced by cults. The documentary chronicles the history of the Unarius Academy of Science, a UFO religion founded in Southern California in the 1950s that reached peak notoriety in the late 1970s as an extravagantly kitchy group known for its flamboyant costumes and promise of impending extraterrestrial visitation.

Calling Unarius a cult is probably a disservice to the group, which still exists, as they don’t appear to have been a scam (other than it not delivering on the UFO landings), nor was it headed by a predatory or abusive yet charismatic leader. Still, it fits the more innocent definition of a cult as a social organization with unusual beliefs.

Director Jodi Wille, whose last feature was the 2012 documentary The Source Family, again shows respect for her latest cult of interest (she also previously made a short about Unarius titled We Are Not Alone). That will make this less appealing to audiences looking for another group to laugh at or be shocked by. Most of the participants interviewed were or remain followers. While I will never totally understand the devotion of such individuals, I’ve never appreciated the draw of such communities more than I did thanks to this film.

Churches are best (in my opinion) as places to come together, whether it’s for worship or company. Unarius is based in spirituality goals, but it also comes across, most simplistically, as a social club for fellow folks sharing common intrigue about aliens and reincarnation, and a willingness to play dress up and maybe perform in parades and sci-fi movies.

The movies are what really grabbed me while watching Welcome Space Brothers. I couldn’t care less about the inner workings of the religion or the strained relationships among members over the years. That’s just typical of any organization. Other than co-founder and leader Ruth Norman being extravagant and sometimes controlling (even while reprimanding others for not abiding by the religion’s no-ego policy), there’s not much that’s outstanding about the personalities involved.

Yet the fact that Unarius produced some spectacularly cheesy but incredibly artistic and technically remarkable films and shows to promote themselves is fascinating. They look as good as the worst B-movies of the era that have become cult films, and I’m thinking of ordering some of them to see more. So not only is the documentary a gracious showcase of Unarius, but it might even benefit them financially.

Welcome Space Brothers screens on Saturday, June 13, 2026, with a live performance by Moby afterward, and will be playing in theaters nationwide through this fall.

Subscribe now

Documentary Release Calendar 6/12/26 – 6/18/26

Flag Day

Friday, June 12, 2026

Dance of the Wild (2026) – A documentary feature about humanity’s relationship to wild horses. (In Theaters)

Deadliest Catch Season 22, Episode 6: “Rocked to the Core” – The latest installment of a series that follows Alaskan crab fishermen. (Discovery Channel)

Flag Day (2026) – A verite documentary of life in Three Oaks, Michigan, home of the largest Flag Day parade. See our highlights section for more info and a brief review. (In Theaters)

The Gas Station Attendant (2025) – A documentary feature by Karla Murthy about her father’s life, from fleeing his Indian village as a child to later emigrating to the United States in pursuit of the American Dream. See our highlights section for more info and a brief review. (In Theaters)

It’s Dorothy! (2025) – A documentary feature about the legacy of the Wizard of Oz character Dorothy Gale. (PVOD)

Maternal Instinct (2026) – A true-crime documentary about a woman who faked a pregnancy to kill another mother and steal her baby. (Netflix)

Unbroken: The Untold Story of Shen Yun (2026) – A documentary feature about the dance studio Shen Yun Performing Arts. (PVOD)

Saturday, June 13, 2026

Craig Ferguson: American on Purpose Episode 3: “The First Amendment” – The third installment of a five-part docuseries on what it means to be American. (CNN)

Welcome Space Brothers (2023) – A documentary feature by Jodi Wille (The Source Family) about the extraterrestrial-channeling spiritual movement that became the Unarius Academy of Science. See our highlights section for more info and a brief review. (In Theaters)

Sunday, June 14, 2026

Best of the World with Antoni Porowski Episodes 3 & 4: “New York City” & “London” – The third and fourth installments of a travel docuseries starring Antoni Porowski. (National Geographic)

The Food That Built America Season 7, Episode 8: “Rice to Riches” – The latest installment of a docuseries about popular American foods. This episode involves innovations with rice. (History)

Hazardous History with Henry Winkler Season 2, Episode 8: “Fatal Attractions” – The latest installment of a docuseries about dangerous toys and household items that used to be common. This episode involves dangerous tourist attractions. (History)

In the Eye of the Storm: Chasers Episode 5: “Spin City” – The fifth installment of a six-part spinoff of the docuseries In the Eye of the Storm that follows weather spotters and storm chasers as they record tornadoes. (Discovery Channel)

The Killer Among Us Episode 5: “Betrayal in Blue” – The latest installment of a docuseries hosted by Alan Cumming about murders in close-knit communities. This episode involves the killing of a newly elected sheriff. (Oxygen True Crime)

This Land Episodes 3 & 4: “Sea to Shining Sea” & “Star Border” – The third and fourth installments of a limited docuseries that explores the history of America through six defining frontiers. (CNN)

Monday, June 15, 2026

History’s Greatest Machines with Dolph Lundgren Episode 3: “Monster Machines” – The latest installment of a docuseries about the machines that shaped our world. (History)

The Last Twins (2025) – A documentary feature about Erno “Zvi” Spiegel, who saved several sets of twins from experimentation during the Holocaust. Read our review of The Last Twins. (PBS)

Lethally Blonde Season 2, Episode 5: “Dressed to Kill” – The latest installment of a true-crime docuseries involving people pursuing beauty and fame. This episode involves a former Los Angeles Raiders cheerleader. (Investigation Discovery)

Tuesday, June 16, 2026

America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders Season 3 – The return of an award-winning docuseries about the Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders. See our highlights section for more info. (Netflix)

Becoming Katharine Graham (2025) – A documentary feature about the titular Washington Post publisher. (PBS)

The Cinema Within (2024) – A documentary feature about film editing. (OVID)

Eno – A documentary feature directed by Gary Hustwit (Helvetica) — with 52 quintillion possible variations, each reedited by a human-coded software system — about the music artist Brian Eno. See our highlights section for more info and a brief review. *NONFICS PICK* (The Criterion Channel)

He Calls Me Daughter (2026) – A documentary feature celebrating God as the perfect father figure for women. (DVD)

MGM Parade Show #7 (1955) – The sixth installment of a documentary series devoted to promoting MGM’s films. This short spotlights The Great Ziegfeld and The Tender Trap. (TCM)

The Proof is Out There: Unexplained Edition Season 2, Episode 3: “Death Defying Mysteries” – The return of a docuseries about strange phenomena captured on camera. (History)

The Secret of Skinwalker Ranch Season 7, Episode 5: “Home Sweet Homestead” – The latest installment of a docuseries about UFO phenomena at the Skinwalker Ranch. (History)

Stolen Kingdom (2025) – A documentary feature about theft and other misdeeds committed at Walt Disney World over 30 years. Read our review of Stolen Kingdom. (PVOD)

Wednesday, June 17, 2026

The Face Doctors Season 2, Episode 6: “I Can’t Smile” – The latest installment of a nonfiction series about facial reconstruction specialists and their patients. (TLC)

Gregg Allman: The Music of My Soul (2026) – A documentary about the titular singer-songwriter and musician. See our highlights section for more info and a brief review. (In Theaters)

Under the Flags, the Sun (2025) – An archival documentary about Alfredo Stroessner’s 35-year dictatorship in Paraguay. (OVID)

Thursday, June 18, 2026

On the Roam Season 2, Episode 6 – The latest installment of a nonfiction series that follows actor Jason Momoa as he meets extraordinary people around the country. (HBO Max)

Surviving Earth Episode 2: “When the Climate Broke” – The second installment of an eight-part docuseries about extinct creatures. This episode involves a hippo-like herbivore. (NBC)

Welcome to Wrexham Season 5, Episode 7: “Touching Grass” – The latest installment of a docuseries about a Welsh soccer team co-owned by actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney. (FXX)

Share Nonfics

Sneak Peek At What’s Coming Soon

6/19 – Enongo – A hybrid animated and documentary about rapper/producer/Ph.D. candidate Enongo Lumumba-Kasongo, a.k.a. Sammus. (Indiepix Unlimited)

6/21 – On the Trail of UFOs: The Disclosure Era – An investigative docuseries in the On the Trail of UFOs franchise about the government declassification of files on UAP, aka UFOs. Watch the new trailer for the series below. (VOD)

6/23 – The Welcome Table – A documentary feature by Oscar-nominated filmmaker Josh Fox (Gasland) about climate refugees. (HBO and HBO Max)

6/24 – The American Experiment – A five-part docuseries by Brian Knappenberger (Turning Point: The Bomb And The Cold War) about the founding of America. (Netflix)

6/26 – Jackass: Best and Last – The fifth and final feature-length installment of the Jackass franchise, which looks back at classic stunts and presents new ones. Watch a new clip from the film below. (In Theaters)

6/27 – Possibilities – A documentary about the legacy of Helen Keller. (VOD)

6/30 – Bang My Box: The Robin Byrd Story – A documentary about the titular public access TV host. Watch the first trailer for the film below. (HBO and HBO Max)

7/3 – Sherman’s March – A 4K re-release of a classic first-person documentary by Ross McElwee about his romantic pursuits amidst his Civil War history project. *NONFICS PICK* (In Theaters)

7/5 – National Geographic Sharkfest Season 8 – The return of a nature series about sharks. This season includes the new documentary Hammerhead Sharks Up Close with Bertie Gregory. Watch the new trailer for that film below. (National Geographic)

7/12 – The Salisbury Poisonings: A Spy Next Door – A documentary feature about the 2018 poisoning of Russian/British double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter. (CNN)

10/16 – Once Upon a Time in Harlem – A documentary feature co-directed by the late William Greaves (Symbiopsychotaxiplasm: Take One), resurrecting footage he shot in 1972 of a get-together of Harlem Renaissance legends. Watch the new teaser trailer for the film below. (In Theaters)

Nonfics is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Uncategorized Comments are off

Half-Time! 10 Soccer Documentaries to Enrich Your World Cup Experience

Written by

Canada is all set to host its first Men’s Football World Cup. National flags adorn cars of all shapes and sizes, retro jerseys challenge the sea of monochrome Patagonia vests, and after an especially debilitating winter, everywhere you look, the city appears to be alive and kickin’ (pun intended). To keep the soccer fever raging, even on the downtime, POV has put together a list of 10 documentaries that are sure to make you fall in love with the beautiful game.

FIFA Uncovered – Netflix

Echoing the poignant words of the Walrus’ Harley Rustad, “I love soccer. I hate FIFA.” The Fédération Internationale de Football Association is a deeply corrupted and soulless institution that has consistently privileged the money in football over of the sport itself. FIFA’s bootlicking is perfectly demonstrated by their decision to award the inaugural FIFA ‘Peace’ Prize to the man who most recently threatened to kill off an entire civilization. It would take an unreasonably long film to completely catalogue the despicable nature of the men who run FIFA, but nevertheless, FIFA Uncovered is a necessary and competent investigation into the organization’s history of financial corruption and influence on global politics and why celebrating the World Cup in our country might come with its complications.

Next Goal Wins – VOD

Following the national football team of American Samoa in their bid for a place at the 2014 Men’s World Cup, Next Goal Wins was called, “the Cool Runnings of sports documentaries,” by POV Magazine’s Pat Mullen. A true underdog story, the film is centred around the coach Thomas Rongen and the relationships that he builds with his players to inspire a team that in 2001 lost 31-0 to Australia, in the largest defeat in an international men’s football match. Next Goal Wins is sure to make you perspire, it is sure to inspire, and it is one of the most authentic depictions of why our game is in fact called, the beautiful game. You can also watch Taika Waititi’s dramatic remake on Disney+.

Soccer – NFB

As vague as the title stands, it completely encapsulates what the film is about. Soccer is a short doc from 1974, directed by Shelah Reljic, that explores the culture of football in British Columbia, which at the time was the most played sport in the province. With stunning cinematography of games and electric music, the film privileges the pulsating excitement of the sport and what it meant to the country’s immigrant populations from Italy, Hungary, England, and Scotland. Over 50 years later, as Canada prepares to host its first Men’s World Cup game, Soccer will transport you back in time and make you think of the countless understated and unknown efforts that have made Canadian football culture a reality.

The Pitch – TVO

The Pitch follows Canadian soccer superstar Diana Matheson’s post-retirement quest to establish the first professional women’s soccer league in Canada. The film exposes the performative attitudes towards equity that continue to exist today, in relaying the struggles Matheson and her colleagues endured to actualize their vision. As director Michèle Hozer dubs it not a sports doc, but “a more universal story,” The Pitch is a must watch for anyone who wants to understand the game beyond the field and through the emotions of the billions of people who partake in it.

Captains of the World – Netflix

This documentary series follows the men’s football captains of six countries–Brazil, Croatia, Gabon, Jamaica, Lebanon, Vanuatu–in their respective journeys for a spot at the 2022 Men’s World Cup in Qatar. Hearing from the captains offers enriching insight into what it means for these players to represent their countries on the biggest stage, and how pride and pressure impact their performances throughout.

Ultras – Netflix

Filmed over seven years, across eight countries and four continents, Ultras is a unique film that privileges the perspective of the passionate, die-hard, and life-long football superfan. In both club and international football, ‘ultras’ are a collective of fans who go above and beyond in celebrating their team, its players, and the football. Ragnhild Ekner’s sensitive portrait of these ultras conveys the highs and the lows that accompanies such an unfiltered attachment to football. A must watch for anyone seeking to understand how instrumental the fan is to the game.

Copa 71 – CBC Gem

Before the official FIFA Women’s World Cup was held in 1991, there was a tournament held in Mexico City in 1971 called the Women’s World Cup. Despite drawing nearly 100,000 fans, the tournament has virtually been forgotten in the sport’s modern era. Directed by Rachel Ramsay and James Erskine, Copa 71 uses “a trove of archival footage,” as POV’s Susan G. Cole notes in her review,  to trace the glorious history of this tournament, contextualizing the battles women had to fight on and off the field to attain the right to play the sport on their own terms.

Diego Maradona – Crave

One of soccer’s most remembered names, Diego Maradona has left a lasting imprint on the sport and the culture surrounding it. For a legend of Maradona’s stature, it is quite fitting that the man in charge of sharing his story with the world is Asif Kapadia, a legend in his own right when it comes to documentaries. Crafted from over 500-hours of never-seen-before footage, Diego Maradona offers an unfiltered, unbiased, and unprecedented look into the life of the “The Golden Boy,” magnified on the years he spent playing for Italian side, SSC Napoli.

Untold UK: Liverpool’s Miracle of Istanbul – Netflix

For those looking for a more Last Dance-esque, Netflix documentary, Liverpool’s Miracle of Istanbul is the perfect film that offers behind-the-scenes footage of one of the sport’s greatest comebacks. The doc dives into the events leading up to the iconic 2005 Champions League final where a below-par Liverpool side came back from a 3-0 deficit at halftime to trump  A.C. Milan, one of the strongest sides in world soccer at the time. Through a combination of player & coach interviews and archival footage tracing the year leading up to the final, the film relays the immense stakes of the game for Liverpool and offers to viewers the story of what truly happened during the half-time break that led to one of the sport’s most memorable stories.

Sir Alex Ferguson: Never Give In – Prime Video

The most decorated manager in English football, Sir Alex Ferguson cemented Manchester United as the premier football club in the country during his 26-year tenure with the team. Produced by BAFTA winner Andrew Macdonald and directed by Ferguson’s son Jason, Sir Alex Ferguson: Never Give In paints a heartfelt portrait of the man(ager), chronicling his life from early days to the heights of his career. Through stories shared by Ferguson, the film shows the demands faced by a football manager and how the sport impacts mimics life itself, in more ways than one.

 

 

The post Half-Time! 10 Soccer Documentaries to Enrich Your World Cup Experience appeared first on POV Magazine.

Uncategorized Comments are off
© Copyright 2022 by Zen Violence Films LLC, all rights reserved. To read the site privacy policy and ethics statement, click here.