It is my great pleasure to share the nominations for the 10th Annual Critics Choice Documentary Awards, an event that I co-created and continue to produce as part of my role as VP, Documentary for the Critics Choice Association. Raoul Peck’s Orwell: 2+2=5, which combines a biography of George Orwell with a visual collage representing the legacy of his work in these heavily authoritarian times, leads the pack with seven nominations, including Best Documentary Feature and Best Director.

Geeta Gandbhir’s The Perfect Neighbor, which arrives on Netflix this Friday, is close behind with six nominations, also including Best Documentary Feature and Best Director. That film follows a murder case before and after the incident, depicted almost entirely from the perspective of police officers’ body cameras. I’ve written in the past that this is a big year for Gandbhir, and that’s proven in these nominations. In addition to the six nods for her feature, her short film The Devil Is Busy received one for Best Short Documentary. She also executive-produced another short film in the running in that category, Exodus, and she directed an episode of the two-time nominated series Eyes on the Prize III: We Who Believe in Freedom Cannot Rest 1977-2015.

Speaking of Exodus and Eyes on the Prize III, Rudy Valdez was also an executive producer on the former and one of the directors of the latter. He helmed the feature Big Dreams: Little League World Series 2024, which is nominated for Best Sports Documentary. Other multi-nominees include Questlove, a director of two of this year’s Best Music Documentary contenders, Sly Lives! (aka The Burden of Black Genius) and Ladies and Gentlemen… 50 Years of SNL Music. The latter is also up for Best Editing.

Davis Guggenheim, who directed the four-time nominee Deaf President Now! is also an executive producer on the nominated features Mistress Dispeller and The Tale of Silyan. Liz Garbus, who helmed the two-time nominated true-crime series Gone Girls: The Long Island Serial Killer, also served as an executive producer on the Best Historical Documentary contender Number One on the Call Sheet.

Other interesting narratives with this year’s nominees include the recognition of two famous actors, Ben Stiller and Mariska Hargitay, for their first documentary features as directors, which are both about their parents. Another of their competitors in the Best First Documentary Feature category is also by the child of one of its subjects: Linus O’Brien’s Strange Journey: The Story of Rocky Horror. My favorite narrative, as it is every year, though, is how many returning nominees are mixed with fresh faces.

Here is my quote about this year’s nominees from the CCA’s announcement: “The nominated films and series this year remind us how documentary storytelling can illuminate truth, inspire empathy, and deepen our understanding of the world. We’re thrilled to recognize the filmmakers whose vision and dedication keep the art form evolving.” In full disclosure, I lead the nominating process for the CCDAs. Thanks to all the CCA members who screen hundreds of films and series and serve on our nominating committee. There have been so many great documentaries this year, so it was a very difficult job.

Now, here are the nominees for the 2025 Critics Choice Documentary Awards, the winners of which will be revealed in a live-streamed ceremony on November 9 (and where to watch the films and series right now):

BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
2000 Meters to Andriivka (airing on PBS in December)
The Alabama Solution (HBO Max)
Apocalypse in the Tropics (Netflix)
Cover-Up (in theaters starting December 19, ahead of its Netflix premiere)
Deaf President Now! (Apple TV)
Orwell: 2+2=5 (in theaters)
Pee-wee as Himself (HBO Max)
The Perfect Neighbor (premiering on Netflix on October 17)
Riefenstahl (in theaters)
The Tale of Silyan (coming soon to theaters and Disney+)

BEST DIRECTOR
Mstyslav Chernov – 2000 Meters to Andriivka (airing on PBS in December)
Petra Costa – Apocalypse in the Tropics (Netflix)
Nyle DiMarco & Davis Guggenheim – Deaf President Now! (Apple TV)
Geeta Gandbhir – The Perfect Neighbor (premiering on Netflix on October 17)
Andrew Jarecki & Charlotte Kaufman – The Alabama Solution (HBO Max)
Raoul Peck – Orwell: 2+2=5 (in theaters)

BEST FIRST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
Art for Everybody (coming soon)
Grand Theft Hamlet (Mubi)
My Mom Jayne: A Film by Mariska Hargitay (HBO Max)
Seeds (coming soon)
Stiller & Meara: Nothing is Lost (in theaters starting October 17, ahead of its Apple TV
premiere on October 24)
Strange Journey: The Story of Rocky Horror (in theaters)

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Ben Bernard – Architecton (VOD)
Jean Dakar – The Tale of Silyan (coming soon to theaters and Disney+)
Elizabeth Lo – Mistress Dispeller (in theaters starting October 22)
Lars Erlend Tubaas Øymo & Tor Edvin Eliassen – Folktales (VOD)
Brittany Shyne – Seeds (coming soon)
Toby Strong, Doug Anderson (Underwater Photography) – Ocean with David
Attenborough (Hulu and Disney+)

BEST EDITING
Michael Harte – Deaf President Now! (Apple TV)
James Lester & Oz Rodríguez, John MacDonald (Music Montage) – Ladies &
Gentlemen… 50 Years of SNL Music (Peacock)
Viridiana Lieberman – The Perfect Neighbor (premiering on Netflix on October 17)
Page Marsella – The Alabama Solution (HBO Max)
Michelle Mizner – 2000 Meters to Andriivka (airing on PBS in December)
Alexandra Strauss – Orwell: 2+2=5 (in theaters)

BEST SCORE
Alexei Aigui – Orwell: 2+2=5 (in theaters)
Kris Bowers – The Eyes of Ghana (coming soon)
Laura Heinzinger – The Perfect Neighbor (premiering on Netflix on October 17)
Claudia Sarne – Love + War (in theaters starting October 29, ahead of its Disney+
premiere on November 4)
Sam Slater – 2000 Meters to Andriivka (airing on PBS in December)
Paweł Szymański – Trains (coming soon)

BEST NARRATION

2000 Meters to Andriivka (airing on PBS in December)
Written by Mstyslav Chernov
Performed by Mstyslav Chernov

The American Revolution (premieres on PBS on November 16)
Written by Geoffrey C. Ward
Performed by Peter Coyote

The Americas (Peacock)
Written by Michael Gunton, Holly Spearing, Steve Cole, Kathryn Jeffs, Matt
Richards, Giles Badger, Victoria Buckley, Alex Griffiths, Hannah Hoare, Poppy
Riddle, Gillian Taylor, Nikki Waldron, Evie Wright, Charlotte Bostock, Victoria
Bobin, & Ingrid Kvale
Performed by Tom Hanks

Apocalypse in the Tropics (Netflix)
Written by Petra Costa
Performed by Petra Costa

Octopus! (Prime Video)
Written by Gabriel Bisset-Smith
Performed by Phoebe Waller-Bridge

Orwell: 2+2=5 (in theaters)
Written by George Orwell, Adapted by Raoul Peck
Performed by Damian Lewis

BEST ARCHIVAL DOCUMENTARY
One to One: John & Yoko (VOD)
Orwell: 2+2=5 (in theaters)
The Perfect Neighbor (premiering on Netflix on October 17)
Riefenstahl (in theaters)
Trains (coming soon)
WTO/99 (coming soon)

BEST HISTORICAL DOCUMENTARY
The American Revolution (premieres on PBS on November 16)
Cover-Up (in theaters starting December 19, ahead of its Netflix premiere)
Eyes on the Prize III: We Who Believe in Freedom Cannot Rest 1977-2015 (HBO Max)
Hurricane Katrina: Race Against Time (Hulu and Disney+)
Number One on the Call Sheet (Apple TV)
Riefenstahl (in theaters)

BEST BIOGRAPHICAL DOCUMENTARY
John Candy: I Like Me (Prime Video)
Love + War (in theaters starting October 29, ahead of its Disney+
premiere on November 4)
Mr. Scorsese (premieres on Apple TV on October 17)
My Mom Jayne: A Film by Mariska Hargitay (HBO Max)
Pee-wee as Himself (HBO Max)
Stiller & Meara: Nothing is Lost (in theaters starting October 17, ahead of its Apple TV
premiere on October 24)

BEST MUSIC DOCUMENTARY
Becoming Led Zeppelin (Netflix)
Billy Joel: And So It Goes (HBO Max)
Bono: Stories of Surrender (Apple TV)
It’s Never Over, Jeff Buckley (VOD)
Ladies & Gentlemen… 50 Years of SNL Music (Peacock)
Sly Lives! (aka The Burden of Black Genius) (Hulu)

BEST POLITICAL DOCUMENTARY
The Alabama Solution (HBO Max)
Apocalypse in the Tropics (Netflix)
Deaf President Now! (Apple TV)
The Librarians (in theaters; premieres on PBS on February 6 via Independent Lens)
My Undesirable Friends: Part I – Last Air in Moscow (tbd)
Orwell: 2+2=5 (in theaters)

BEST SCIENCE/NATURE DOCUMENTARY
The Americas (Peacock)
Checkpoint Zoo (tbd)
The Last Rhinos: A New Hope (Hulu and Disney+)
Ocean with David Attenborough (Hulu and Disney+)
Octopus! (Prime Video)
Pangolin: Kulu’s Journey (Netflix)

BEST SPORTS DOCUMENTARY
America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders (Netflix)
America’s Team: The Gambler and His Cowboys (Netflix)
Big Dreams: Little League World Series 2024 (ESPN+)
Full Court Press (ESPN+)
Southpaw: The Life and Legacy of Jim Abbott (ESPN+)
We Beat the Dream Team (HBO Max)

BEST TRUE CRIME DOCUMENTARY
The Alabama Solution (HBO Max)
Gone Girls: The Long Island Serial Killer (Netflix)
The Perfect Neighbor (premiering on Netflix on October 17)
Predators (coming soon to Paramount+ with Showtime)
Unknown Number: The High School Catfish (Netflix)
The Yogurt Shop Murders (HBO Max)

BEST SHORT DOCUMENTARY
All the Empty Rooms (coming soon to Netflix)
Classroom 4 (airing on PBS on November 25 via POV)
The Devil is Busy (HBO Max)
Exodus (tbd)
Fiddler on the Moon: Judaism in Space (tbd)
Sallie’s Ashes (tbd)
Saving Superman (premieres on Switchboard on November 10)
Shanti Rides Shotgun (tbd)

BEST LIMITED DOCUMENTARY SERIES
The American Revolution (premieres on PBS on November 16)
Eyes on the Prize III: We Who Believe in Freedom Cannot Rest 1977-2015 (HBO Max)
Gone Girls: The Long Island Serial Killer (Netflix)
Hurricane Katrina: Race Against Time (Hulu and Disney+)
Magic City: An American Fantasy (Starz)
Mr. Scorsese (premieres on Apple TV on October 17)
SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night (Peacock)
The Yogurt Shop Murders (HBO Max)

BEST ONGOING DOCUMENTARY SERIES
30 for 30 (ESPN+)
American Masters (PBS)
The Reluctant Traveler (Apple TV)
Solo Traveling with Tracee Ellis Ross (Roku Channel)
Trafficked with Mariana van Zeller (Hulu)
Trainwreck (Netflix)

New Partnership Launched with Manhattan Neighborhood Network
IDA Editorial Staff
Tue, 10/14/2025 – 13:13

New Partnership Launched with Manhattan Neighborhood Network
IDA Editorial Staff
Tue, 10/14/2025 – 13:13

Join Reason and Manhattan Institute for a screening of the new mini documentary “The Socialist Housing Plan for New York.” Following the screening, Reason Editor at Large Nick Gillespie will host a panel discussion with the Reason producer Justin Zuckerman and Manhattan Institute policy expert John Ketcham.

The film features profiles of tenants, landlords, a private investigator, and the Harvard economist Edward Glaeser. It shows how policies like “freeze the rent” are turning New York into a city exclusively for the rich or lucky.

If he becomes mayor, Zohran Mamdani says he’ll “freeze the rent” for a million regulated units. This policy would make it even harder to find an affordable place to live in New York amid a historic housing crisis.

Featuring:

• Justin Zuckerman, Producer of Documentary title, Producer, Reason
• John Ketcham, Legal Policy Fellow and Director of Cities, Manhattan Institute
• Moderated by Reason Editor at Large Nick Gillespie

WHEN:
Wednesday, October 29
6:00pm- doors open
6:20pm- screening and panel
7:30pm- reception

WHERE:
Village Underground
130 W 3rd St
New York, NY 10012

When the panel wraps up, we’ll continue the discussion with a reception at 3 Sheets Saloon next door. All are welcome!

This event is generously sponsored in part by Manhattan Institute and Reason.

COST:
$10! Please note the Village Underground will have a two item order minimum per person.

Tickets are limited.

The post Mini Doc Screening — “The Socialist Housing Plan for New York” appeared first on Reason Foundation.

In the new Netflix documentary My Father, the BTK Killer, Kerri Rawson walks viewers through her firsthand experience living with a famous serial killer

In the new Netflix documentary My Father, the BTK Killer, Kerri Rawson walks viewers through her firsthand experience living with a famous serial killer

We’re getting deep into that time of year when Oscar-seeking streamer acquisitions are making their qualifying runs in theaters. That means spotlighting them before they’re widely available. Fortunately, these films tend to premiere on their intended platforms after a week or so. That’s the case with last week’s Pick of the Week, and it will be the case for this week’s top title as well. I’ve thought about only allowing non-theatrical releases to be honored as the Pick of the Week. That’d be unfair to the films, though, and it could also further discourage people from seeing documentaries on the big screen. So be patient and take note of anything you can’t see right away.

Without further ado, below are this week’s documentary highlights, including capsule reviews of new nonfiction films and series. They are followed by daily listings for all notable releases and a brief look at what’s coming soon for doc fans. Please consider becoming a paid subscriber to receive more in-depth highlights and reviews in the future, and to give me more time to watch more (if not everything) available. If you have a doc in need of coverage or a mention in our listings, you can reach me at christopherbartoncampbell (at) gmail.

Nonfics Pick Of The Week: The Perfect Neighbor (2025)

True-crime documentaries are so popular, but (and maybe there’s some causation going both ways here) they’re mostly all the same. Once in a while, you get a conventional yet superbly crafted example from a master storyteller like Liz Garbus or Andrew Jarecki that stands out. And at least once a year, there’s something that sort of looks generic, but by its conclusion, it’s clear the filmmakers meant to subvert the genre’s tropes enough to be interesting, even though they’re still playing to the fanbase. Very rarely do we get a true-crime documentary as unique in its construction as The Perfect Neighbor, which manages to follow the lead-up to a murder and then depict some of its investigation in real time — with the former also being part of the latter, in retrospect. It’s more immersive and riveting than anything of its kind.

Of course, documentary purists would rather a film this exceptional not be lumped into that genre, and true-crime aficionados would likely ignore it for not being standard fare. I wonder if the director would object to labeling The Perfect Neighbor as “true-crime.” By the way, that director is Geeta Gandbhir, whom I recently celebrated for being the documentarian of the year, given all that she’s had released in 2025 (including The Devil is Busy and episodes of Eyes on the Prize III and Katrina: Come Hell and High Water). This film, which consists entirely of footage captured by police body cams, is especially worth commending for its editing by Viridiana Lieberman. I expect she will one day make the jump from that role to directing, like Gandbhir did.

One thing I find curious about the achievement of The Perfect Neighbor is that initially, it reminded me of the pioneering nonfiction series Cops, which today is heavily scrutinized for being “copaganda” and glorifying the offensive tactics of the police, and for making a sensationalized spectacle of the alleged criminals they’re pursuing. Gandbhir’s documentary doesn’t align itself with the cops involved in its storytelling, however. It only uses their access, through which the viewer is allowed their own perspective. The film’s sourcing and its aesthetic are reminiscent of Bill Morrison’s recent Oscar-nominated short Incident, which consists entirely of surveillance cameras. Unlike in that film, The Perfect Neighbor’s murderer is a civilian, but they share racial implications as well as indications that mass documentation has value.

The Perfect Neighbor opens in theaters on Friday, October 10, and begins streaming on Netflix on Friday, October 17.

Other Documentary Highlights

The Alabama Solution

The Alabama Solution (2025)

This film was our Pick of the Week last week, so I’ll make this brief, but here’s another extraordinary feature that could be considered a true-crime documentary. A least in the case, one of its directors, Andrew Jarecki, has been associated with the genre before, having helmed the phenomenally notable series The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst. Here’s a brief excerpt from my review of The Alabama Solution from the last newsletter: “One of the few that serves as great reporting itself. The film covers several years yet feels current and urgent. Part of it involves a murder mystery that plays out with unfolding twists (one that’s tragically shocking), rivaling any fictional thriller.”

The Alabama Solution premieres on HBO and begins streaming on HBO Max on Friday, October 10, at 8 pm ET/PT.

The American Southwest (2025)

I also recently showcased The American Southwest as a Pick of the Week, and I want to highlight it again because, while similarly unconventional, it’s not likely to receive the same sort of recognition that The Perfect Neighbor and The Alabama Solution get from other critics and awards groups. Here’s a repeat of the beginning of my previous write-up on the latest from underrated director Ben Masters (The River and the Wall): “If you’re tired of nature documentaries falling into the same familiar boxes (anthropomorphizing and narrativizing Disney films; epic-scope David Attenborough-voiced series; over-produced and over-narrated yet ultimately underwhelming bombastic efforts like The Americas), you will find The American Southwest absolutely refreshing, as I did.”

The American Southwest will be released digitally on PVOD platforms, including Amazon’s Prime Video and Apple TV, on Friday, October 10.

John Candy: I Like Me (2025)

I don’t know if John Candy: I Like Me is being campaigned for awards consideration, but unlike The Perfect Neighbor and The Alabama Solution, it’s going straight to streaming without any theatrical run that I’m aware of. That’s for the best, since it’s pretty ordinary as far as biographical documentaries go. Directed by Colin Hanks (All Things Must Pass), whose father appears as an interviewee, the film is an endearing tribute to the titular actor, who died more than 30 years ago but is still as beloved as ever. It’s rather slow, fairly repetitive in its sentiments, and extremely sappy. As someone who grew up with Candy’s movies and even his Saturday morning cartoon, and counts himself as a huge fan, I don’t feel I got anything out of watching this film.

John Candy: I Like Me begins streaming on Prime Video on Friday, October 10.

Louie Bluie (1985)

Imagine a Les Blank documentary but raunchy. That’s how I describe Terry Zwigoff’s debut, Louie Bluie, which turns 40 years old on Friday, October 10. The medium-length film profiles musician Howard “Louie Bluie” Armstrong and features a handful of casual performances in a way akin to Blank’s music-focused films, and maybe parts of Shirley Clarke’s Ornette: Made in America. Yet Louie Bluie is ultimately memorable for Armstrong’s erotic drawings and the discussions of women and sex between him and other musicians. Those parts of this documentary seem to anticipate Zwigoff’s breakout follow-up, Crumb. It’s funny that the director has said he may have focused too much on that stuff than he would today. I think it makes the film stand out.

Louie Bluie is part of the Criterion Collection and is currently streaming on The Criterion Channel.

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Documentary Release Calendar 10/10/25 – 10/16/25

The American Southwest

Friday, October 10, 2025

The Alabama Solution (2025) – A documentary feature by Andrew Jarecki (The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst) and Charlotte Kaufman investigating a cover-up in an Alabama prison. Read our review of The Alabama Solution. (HBO Max)

Always, Lady London (2025) – A documentary series following the titular rap star as she records her first album. (Tubi)

American Skyjacker (2025) – A true-crime documentary about a 1972 airline hijacking and a manhunt that followed. (In Theaters)

The American Southwest (2025) – A documentary feature narrated by Quannah ChasingHorse focused on water and wildlife conservation. Read our review of The American Southwest. (VOD)

Among Neighbors (2024) – A documentary feature by Yoav Potash (Crime After Crime) about a murder in a small Polish town. (In Theaters)

Assembly (2025) – A documentary on artist Rashaad Newsome and his installation at New York’s Park Avenue Armory exploring Black and queer identity. (In Theaters)

The Dating Game (2025) – A documentary feature following a seven-day dating camp in China. (In Theaters)

A Dream of Love (1938) – A short biographical film by James A. FitzPatrick about composer Franz Liszt. (TCM)

Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958-1989 (2024) – A documentary by Göran Hugo Olsson (The Black Power Mixtape 1967-1975) about reportage in Sweden on the Israel and Palestine conflict. (In Theaters)

John Candy: I Like Me (2025) – A biographical documentary about the titular actor (Prime Video)

King of Them All: The Story of King Records (2025) – A documentary feature about the titular record company. (PBS)

Knife Edge: Chasing Michelin Stars (2025) – A docuseries following Michelin Guide inspectors as they dine in and rate restaurants. (Apple TV+)

The Perfect Neighbor (2025) – A documentary feature by Geeta Gandbhir about a dispute between neighbors that turned deadly. (In Theaters)

Project Q: War, Peace and Quantum Mechanics (2024) – A documentary feature about the future of quantum science. (OVID)

Searchers for a Special City (1965) – A short documentary about the making of the film Mister Buddwing. (TCM)

Star Night at the Cocoanut Grove (1934) – A short film in which MGM stars enjoy a music performance and fashion show. (TCM)

Susan Feniger: Forked (2023) – A documentary feature following the titular chef as she opens her first solo restaurant in Los Angeles. (VOD)

There Was, There Was Not (2024) – A documentary feature following four Armenian women during the surprise invasion of Artsakh. (In Theaters)

We Were Here: The Untold History of Black Africans in Renaissance Europe (2025) – A historical documentary about Africans in Europe during the Renaissance. (In Theaters)

Where I Became (2023) – A documentary feature about 14 South African women given the opportunity to study at Smith College in the U.S. (OVID)

Saturday, October 11, 2025

Austin City Limits Season 51, Episode 2: “The Marias” – The latest installment of a music docuseries features a performance by The Marias. (PBS)

Keep Quiet and Forgive (2025) – A documentary feature on sexual abuse in the Amish community. (In Theaters)

Lucky Dog: Down Under Season 1, Episode 2: “Parmigiana & Aspen” – A docuseries in the Lucky Dog franchise starring animal trainer Brandon McMillan as he works in Australia. (CBS)

Lucky Dog: Reunions Season 3, Episode 2: “Riley Reunion” – A docuseries starring animal trainer Brandon McMillan as he revisits past clients. (CBS)

Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom Protecting the Wild Season 3, Episode 2: “Leader of the Pack” – A nature series focused on wildlife conservation. This installment involves Mexican wolves. (NBC)

Sunday, October 12, 2025

This is the Bowery (1941) – A short documentary about the Manhattan neighborhood. (TCM)

Van Gogh: Darkness Into Light (1956) – A short documentary about the making of the biopic film Lust for Life. (TCM)

White Peril (1956) – A short documentary in the RKO Pathé Screenliner series about the research of the Cascade Mountains’ “snow patrol” and how the U.S. Geological Survey uses it. (TCM)

Monday, October 13, 2025

After Action Season 3, Episode 2: “From the Front” – The latest installment of a docuseries spotlighting U.S. military veterans. (PBS)

Ancient Aliens: Origins Season 2, Episode 2: “Extraterrestrial Rituals” – A docuseries in the Ancient Aliens franchise that looks back at the original show’s greatest mysteries. (History)

Arctic Roundup (1957) – A short documentary following an expedition to study musk ox in Canada. (TCM)

Häxan (1922) – A hybrid film about the history of witchcraft. (TCM)

A Mother Apart (2024) – A documentary feature following poet and LGBTQ+ activist Staceyann Chin in an exploration of motherhood. Presented as an episode of POV. (PBS)

TV We Love (2025) – A docuseries celebrating some of the most iconic television shows in history. (The CW)

Tuesday, October 14, 2025

ABBA: The Movie (1977) – A music film following a radio DJ attempting to interview the titular Swedish pop group as they tour Australia. (TCM)

Angelheaded Hipster: The Songs of Marc Bolan & T. Rex (2022) – A documentary feature about a tribute album honoring the glam rock icon Marc Bolan. (DVD)

The Car That Became a Star (1965) – A short documentary about the titular vehicle from the film The Yellow Rolls-Royce. (TCM)

Conor McGregor: Notorious (2017) – A documentary feature following the rise of the titular MMA fighter. (DVD and Blu-ray)

Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore (2025) – A documentary about the titular actress. Read our review of Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore. Presented as an episode of American Masters. (In Theaters)

Mellodrama (2008) – A documentary feature about the first musical keyboard to sample the sounds of other instruments. (OVID)

The Memory of Darkness, Light, and Ice (2025) – A medium-length documentary about the Greenland Ice Sheet. (DVD and Blu-ray)

Susan Feniger: Forked (2023) – A documentary feature following the titular chef as she opens her first solo restaurant in Los Angeles. (DVD)

Trillion Boys (2025) – A documentary feature following an elite high school football team. (VOD)

Without Lying Down: Frances Marion and the Power of Women in Hollywood (2000) – A documentary narrated by Uma Thurman about the titular screenwriter. (TCM)

Wednesday, October 15, 2025

From Rails to Trails (2025) – A medium-length documentary narrated by Edward Norton about the transformation of abandoned railroads into bike and walking trails in the U.S. (PBS)

Fugitives Caught on Tape Season 2, Episodes 3 & 4 – The latest installments of a docuseries following law enforcement in their pursuit of fugitives. (A&E)

Glimpses of Western Germany (1954) – A short documentary installment of James A. FitzPatrick’s TravelTalks travelogue franchise that explores Germany. (TCM)

Ice Road Truckers Season 12, Episode 3: “Ice and Fire” – The latest installment of a nonfiction series about the job of driving trucks on frozen lakes. (History)

Thursday, October 16, 2025

Harry Warren: America’s Foremost Composer (1933) – A short film starring the titular composer and showcasing performances of some of his tunes. (TCM)

Long Haulers (2020) – A documentary feature about women who defy stereotypes. (OVID)

Starting 5 Season 2 – The return of a docuseries following five NBA basketball players (this time Tyrese Haliburton, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jaylen Brown, Kevin Durant, and James Harden) over the course of the last season. (Netflix)

Share Nonfics

Sneak Peek At What’s Coming Soon

10/20 – Ratified – A documentary feature about the fight to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment. Presented as an episode of Independent Lens. (PBS)

10/29 – Coexistence, My Ass! – A Sundance award-winning documentary about comedian Noam Shuster Eliassi and her one-woman show about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. (In Theaters)

10/31 – Walk With Me – A documentary feature by casting director Heidi Levitt about her husband’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis. (In Theaters)

11/3 – Life After – A Sundance-winning documentary by Reid Davenport (I Didn’t See You There) about a disabled woman who sought “the right to die.” (PBS)

11/5 – Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk – A documentary feature about a Palestinian woman’s life under bombardment in Gaza. Watch the new trailer for the film below. (In Theaters)

12/10 – Rolling Stones — At the Max – A re-release of the 1991 concert film starring the titular rock band. (In IMAX Theaters)

12/16 – The Secrets We Bury – A true-crime documentary following a family in their quest for information on their father’s disappearance. (ID: Investigation Discovery)

12/19 – Cover-Up – A documentary feature by Oscar winner Laura Poitras (Citizenfour) and Mark Obenhaus about journalist Seymour Hersh. (In Theaters)

We’re getting deep into that time of year when Oscar-seeking streamer acquisitions are making their qualifying runs in theaters. That means spotlighting them before they’re widely available. Fortunately, these films tend to premiere on their intended platforms after a week or so. That’s the case with last week’s Pick of the Week, and it will be the case for this week’s top title as well. I’ve thought about only allowing non-theatrical releases to be honored as the Pick of the Week. That’d be unfair to the films, though, and it could also further discourage people from seeing documentaries on the big screen. So be patient and take note of anything you can’t see right away.

Without further ado, below are this week’s documentary highlights, including capsule reviews of new nonfiction films and series. They are followed by daily listings for all notable releases and a brief look at what’s coming soon for doc fans. Please consider becoming a paid subscriber to receive more in-depth highlights and reviews in the future, and to give me more time to watch more (if not everything) available. If you have a doc in need of coverage or a mention in our listings, you can reach me at christopherbartoncampbell (at) gmail.

Nonfics Pick Of The Week: The Perfect Neighbor (2025)

True-crime documentaries are so popular, but (and maybe there’s some causation going both ways here) they’re mostly all the same. Once in a while, you get a conventional yet superbly crafted example from a master storyteller like Liz Garbus or Andrew Jarecki that stands out. And at least once a year, there’s something that sort of looks generic, but by its conclusion, it’s clear the filmmakers meant to subvert the genre’s tropes enough to be interesting, even though they’re still playing to the fanbase. Very rarely do we get a true-crime documentary as unique in its construction as The Perfect Neighbor, which manages to follow the lead-up to a murder and then depict some of its investigation in real time — with the former also being part of the latter, in retrospect. It’s more immersive and riveting than anything of its kind.

Of course, documentary purists would rather a film this exceptional not be lumped into that genre, and true-crime aficionados would likely ignore it for not being standard fare. I wonder if the director would object to labeling The Perfect Neighbor as “true-crime.” By the way, that director is Geeta Gandbhir, whom I recently celebrated for being the documentarian of the year, given all that she’s had released in 2025 (including The Devil is Busy and episodes of Eyes on the Prize III and Katrina: Come Hell and High Water). This film, which consists entirely of footage captured by police body cams, is especially worth commending for its editing by Viridiana Lieberman. I expect she will one day make the jump from that role to directing, like Gandbhir did.

One thing I find curious about the achievement of The Perfect Neighbor is that initially, it reminded me of the pioneering nonfiction series Cops, which today is heavily scrutinized for being “copaganda” and glorifying the offensive tactics of the police, and for making a sensationalized spectacle of the alleged criminals they’re pursuing. Gandbhir’s documentary doesn’t align itself with the cops involved in its storytelling, however. It only uses their access, through which the viewer is allowed their own perspective. The film’s sourcing and its aesthetic are reminiscent of Bill Morrison’s recent Oscar-nominated short Incident, which consists entirely of surveillance cameras. Unlike in that film, The Perfect Neighbor’s murderer is a civilian, but they share racial implications as well as indications that mass documentation has value.

The Perfect Neighbor opens in theaters on Friday, October 10, and begins streaming on Netflix on Friday, October 17.

Other Documentary Highlights

The Alabama Solution

The Alabama Solution (2025)

This film was our Pick of the Week last week, so I’ll make this brief, but here’s another extraordinary feature that could be considered a true-crime documentary. A least in the case, one of its directors, Andrew Jarecki, has been associated with the genre before, having helmed the phenomenally notable series The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst. Here’s a brief excerpt from my review of The Alabama Solution from the last newsletter: “One of the few that serves as great reporting itself. The film covers several years yet feels current and urgent. Part of it involves a murder mystery that plays out with unfolding twists (one that’s tragically shocking), rivaling any fictional thriller.”

The Alabama Solution premieres on HBO and begins streaming on HBO Max on Friday, October 10, at 8 pm ET/PT.

The American Southwest (2025)

I also recently showcased The American Southwest as a Pick of the Week, and I want to highlight it again because, while similarly unconventional, it’s not likely to receive the same sort of recognition that The Perfect Neighbor and The Alabama Solution get from other critics and awards groups. Here’s a repeat of the beginning of my previous write-up on the latest from underrated director Ben Masters (The River and the Wall): “If you’re tired of nature documentaries falling into the same familiar boxes (anthropomorphizing and narrativizing Disney films; epic-scope David Attenborough-voiced series; over-produced and over-narrated yet ultimately underwhelming bombastic efforts like The Americas), you will find The American Southwest absolutely refreshing, as I did.”

The American Southwest will be released digitally on PVOD platforms, including Amazon’s Prime Video and Apple TV, on Friday, October 10.

John Candy: I Like Me (2025)

I don’t know if John Candy: I Like Me is being campaigned for awards consideration, but unlike The Perfect Neighbor and The Alabama Solution, it’s going straight to streaming without any theatrical run that I’m aware of. That’s for the best, since it’s pretty ordinary as far as biographical documentaries go. Directed by Colin Hanks (All Things Must Pass), whose father appears as an interviewee, the film is an endearing tribute to the titular actor, who died more than 30 years ago but is still as beloved as ever. It’s rather slow, fairly repetitive in its sentiments, and extremely sappy. As someone who grew up with Candy’s movies and even his Saturday morning cartoon, and counts himself as a huge fan, I don’t feel I got anything out of watching this film.

John Candy: I Like Me begins streaming on Prime Video on Friday, October 10.

Louie Bluie (1985)

Imagine a Les Blank documentary but raunchy. That’s how I describe Terry Zwigoff’s debut, Louie Bluie, which turns 40 years old on Friday, October 10. The medium-length film profiles musician Howard “Louie Bluie” Armstrong and features a handful of casual performances in a way akin to Blank’s music-focused films, and maybe parts of Shirley Clarke’s Ornette: Made in America. Yet Louie Bluie is ultimately memorable for Armstrong’s erotic drawings and the discussions of women and sex between him and other musicians. Those parts of this documentary seem to anticipate Zwigoff’s breakout follow-up, Crumb. It’s funny that the director has said he may have focused too much on that stuff than he would today. I think it makes the film stand out.

Louie Bluie is part of the Criterion Collection and is currently streaming on The Criterion Channel.

Subscribe now

Documentary Release Calendar 10/10/25 – 10/16/25

The American Southwest

Friday, October 10, 2025

The Alabama Solution (2025) – A documentary feature by Andrew Jarecki (The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst) and Charlotte Kaufman investigating a cover-up in an Alabama prison. Read our review of The Alabama Solution. (HBO Max)

Always, Lady London (2025) – A documentary series following the titular rap star as she records her first album. (Tubi)

American Skyjacker (2025) – A true-crime documentary about a 1972 airline hijacking and a manhunt that followed. (In Theaters)

The American Southwest (2025) – A documentary feature narrated by Quannah ChasingHorse focused on water and wildlife conservation. Read our review of The American Southwest. (VOD)

Among Neighbors (2024) – A documentary feature by Yoav Potash (Crime After Crime) about a murder in a small Polish town. (In Theaters)

Assembly (2025) – A documentary on artist Rashaad Newsome and his installation at New York’s Park Avenue Armory exploring Black and queer identity. (In Theaters)

The Dating Game (2025) – A documentary feature following a seven-day dating camp in China. (In Theaters)

A Dream of Love (1938) – A short biographical film by James A. FitzPatrick about composer Franz Liszt. (TCM)

Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958-1989 (2024) – A documentary by Göran Hugo Olsson (The Black Power Mixtape 1967-1975) about reportage in Sweden on the Israel and Palestine conflict. (In Theaters)

John Candy: I Like Me (2025) – A biographical documentary about the titular actor (Prime Video)

King of Them All: The Story of King Records (2025) – A documentary feature about the titular record company. (PBS)

Knife Edge: Chasing Michelin Stars (2025) – A docuseries following Michelin Guide inspectors as they dine in and rate restaurants. (Apple TV+)

The Perfect Neighbor (2025) – A documentary feature by Geeta Gandbhir about a dispute between neighbors that turned deadly. (In Theaters)

Project Q: War, Peace and Quantum Mechanics (2024) – A documentary feature about the future of quantum science. (OVID)

Searchers for a Special City (1965) – A short documentary about the making of the film Mister Buddwing. (TCM)

Star Night at the Cocoanut Grove (1934) – A short film in which MGM stars enjoy a music performance and fashion show. (TCM)

Susan Feniger: Forked (2023) – A documentary feature following the titular chef as she opens her first solo restaurant in Los Angeles. (VOD)

There Was, There Was Not (2024) – A documentary feature following four Armenian women during the surprise invasion of Artsakh. (In Theaters)

We Were Here: The Untold History of Black Africans in Renaissance Europe (2025) – A historical documentary about Africans in Europe during the Renaissance. (In Theaters)

Where I Became (2023) – A documentary feature about 14 South African women given the opportunity to study at Smith College in the U.S. (OVID)

Saturday, October 11, 2025

Austin City Limits Season 51, Episode 2: “The Marias” – The latest installment of a music docuseries features a performance by The Marias. (PBS)

Keep Quiet and Forgive (2025) – A documentary feature on sexual abuse in the Amish community. (In Theaters)

Lucky Dog: Down Under Season 1, Episode 2: “Parmigiana & Aspen” – A docuseries in the Lucky Dog franchise starring animal trainer Brandon McMillan as he works in Australia. (CBS)

Lucky Dog: Reunions Season 3, Episode 2: “Riley Reunion” – A docuseries starring animal trainer Brandon McMillan as he revisits past clients. (CBS)

Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom Protecting the Wild Season 3, Episode 2: “Leader of the Pack” – A nature series focused on wildlife conservation. This installment involves Mexican wolves. (NBC)

Sunday, October 12, 2025

This is the Bowery (1941) – A short documentary about the Manhattan neighborhood. (TCM)

Van Gogh: Darkness Into Light (1956) – A short documentary about the making of the biopic film Lust for Life. (TCM)

White Peril (1956) – A short documentary in the RKO Pathé Screenliner series about the research of the Cascade Mountains’ “snow patrol” and how the U.S. Geological Survey uses it. (TCM)

Monday, October 13, 2025

After Action Season 3, Episode 2: “From the Front” – The latest installment of a docuseries spotlighting U.S. military veterans. (PBS)

Ancient Aliens: Origins Season 2, Episode 2: “Extraterrestrial Rituals” – A docuseries in the Ancient Aliens franchise that looks back at the original show’s greatest mysteries. (History)

Arctic Roundup (1957) – A short documentary following an expedition to study musk ox in Canada. (TCM)

Häxan (1922) – A hybrid film about the history of witchcraft. (TCM)

A Mother Apart (2024) – A documentary feature following poet and LGBTQ+ activist Staceyann Chin in an exploration of motherhood. Presented as an episode of POV. (PBS)

TV We Love (2025) – A docuseries celebrating some of the most iconic television shows in history. (The CW)

Tuesday, October 14, 2025

ABBA: The Movie (1977) – A music film following a radio DJ attempting to interview the titular Swedish pop group as they tour Australia. (TCM)

Angelheaded Hipster: The Songs of Marc Bolan & T. Rex (2022) – A documentary feature about a tribute album honoring the glam rock icon Marc Bolan. (DVD)

The Car That Became a Star (1965) – A short documentary about the titular vehicle from the film The Yellow Rolls-Royce. (TCM)

Conor McGregor: Notorious (2017) – A documentary feature following the rise of the titular MMA fighter. (DVD and Blu-ray)

Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore (2025) – A documentary about the titular actress. Read our review of Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore. Presented as an episode of American Masters. (In Theaters)

Mellodrama (2008) – A documentary feature about the first musical keyboard to sample the sounds of other instruments. (OVID)

The Memory of Darkness, Light, and Ice (2025) – A medium-length documentary about the Greenland Ice Sheet. (DVD and Blu-ray)

Susan Feniger: Forked (2023) – A documentary feature following the titular chef as she opens her first solo restaurant in Los Angeles. (DVD)

Trillion Boys (2025) – A documentary feature following an elite high school football team. (VOD)

Without Lying Down: Frances Marion and the Power of Women in Hollywood (2000) – A documentary narrated by Uma Thurman about the titular screenwriter. (TCM)

Wednesday, October 15, 2025

From Rails to Trails (2025) – A medium-length documentary narrated by Edward Norton about the transformation of abandoned railroads into bike and walking trails in the U.S. (PBS)

Fugitives Caught on Tape Season 2, Episodes 3 & 4 – The latest installments of a docuseries following law enforcement in their pursuit of fugitives. (A&E)

Glimpses of Western Germany (1954) – A short documentary installment of James A. FitzPatrick’s TravelTalks travelogue franchise that explores Germany. (TCM)

Ice Road Truckers Season 12, Episode 3: “Ice and Fire” – The latest installment of a nonfiction series about the job of driving trucks on frozen lakes. (History)

Thursday, October 16, 2025

Harry Warren: America’s Foremost Composer (1933) – A short film starring the titular composer and showcasing performances of some of his tunes. (TCM)

Long Haulers (2020) – A documentary feature about women who defy stereotypes. (OVID)

Starting 5 Season 2 – The return of a docuseries following five NBA basketball players (this time Tyrese Haliburton, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jaylen Brown, Kevin Durant, and James Harden) over the course of the last season. (Netflix)

Share Nonfics

Sneak Peek At What’s Coming Soon

10/20 – Ratified – A documentary feature about the fight to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment. Presented as an episode of Independent Lens. (PBS)

10/29 – Coexistence, My Ass! – A Sundance award-winning documentary about comedian Noam Shuster Eliassi and her one-woman show about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. (In Theaters)

10/31 – Walk With Me – A documentary feature by casting director Heidi Levitt about her husband’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis. (In Theaters)

11/3 – Life After – A Sundance-winning documentary by Reid Davenport (I Didn’t See You There) about a disabled woman who sought “the right to die.” (PBS)

11/5 – Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk – A documentary feature about a Palestinian woman’s life under bombardment in Gaza. Watch the new trailer for the film below. (In Theaters)

12/10 – Rolling Stones — At the Max – A re-release of the 1991 concert film starring the titular rock band. (In IMAX Theaters)

12/16 – The Secrets We Bury – A true-crime documentary following a family in their quest for information on their father’s disappearance. (ID: Investigation Discovery)

12/19 – Cover-Up – A documentary feature by Oscar winner Laura Poitras (Citizenfour) and Mark Obenhaus about journalist Seymour Hersh. (In Theaters)

We’re getting deep into that time of year when Oscar-seeking streamer acquisitions are making their qualifying runs in theaters. That means spotlighting them before they’re widely available. Fortunately, these films tend to premiere on their intended platforms after a week or so. That’s the case with last week’s Pick of the Week, and it will be the case for this week’s top title as well. I’ve thought about only allowing non-theatrical releases to be honored as the Pick of the Week. That’d be unfair to the films, though, and it could also further discourage people from seeing documentaries on the big screen. So be patient and take note of anything you can’t see right away.

Without further ado, below are this week’s documentary highlights, including capsule reviews of new nonfiction films and series. They are followed by daily listings for all notable releases and a brief look at what’s coming soon for doc fans. Please consider becoming a paid subscriber to receive more in-depth highlights and reviews in the future, and to give me more time to watch more (if not everything) available. If you have a doc in need of coverage or a mention in our listings, you can reach me at christopherbartoncampbell (at) gmail.

Nonfics Pick Of The Week: The Perfect Neighbor (2025)

True-crime documentaries are so popular, but (and maybe there’s some causation going both ways here) they’re mostly all the same. Once in a while, you get a conventional yet superbly crafted example from a master storyteller like Liz Garbus or Andrew Jarecki that stands out. And at least once a year, there’s something that sort of looks generic, but by its conclusion, it’s clear the filmmakers meant to subvert the genre’s tropes enough to be interesting, even though they’re still playing to the fanbase. Very rarely do we get a true-crime documentary as unique in its construction as The Perfect Neighbor, which manages to follow the lead-up to a murder and then depict some of its investigation in real time — with the former also being part of the latter, in retrospect. It’s more immersive and riveting than anything of its kind.

Of course, documentary purists would rather a film this exceptional not be lumped into that genre, and true-crime aficionados would likely ignore it for not being standard fare. I wonder if the director would object to labeling The Perfect Neighbor as “true-crime.” By the way, that director is Geeta Gandbhir, whom I recently celebrated for being the documentarian of the year, given all that she’s had released in 2025 (including The Devil is Busy and episodes of Eyes on the Prize III and Katrina: Come Hell and High Water). This film, which consists entirely of footage captured by police body cams, is especially worth commending for its editing by Viridiana Lieberman. I expect she will one day make the jump from that role to directing, like Gandbhir did.

One thing I find curious about the achievement of The Perfect Neighbor is that initially, it reminded me of the pioneering nonfiction series Cops, which today is heavily scrutinized for being “copaganda” and glorifying the offensive tactics of the police, and for making a sensationalized spectacle of the alleged criminals they’re pursuing. Gandbhir’s documentary doesn’t align itself with the cops involved in its storytelling, however. It only uses their access, through which the viewer is allowed their own perspective. The film’s sourcing and its aesthetic are reminiscent of Bill Morrison’s recent Oscar-nominated short Incident, which consists entirely of surveillance cameras. Unlike in that film, The Perfect Neighbor’s murderer is a civilian, but they share racial implications as well as indications that mass documentation has value.

The Perfect Neighbor opens in theaters on Friday, October 10, and begins streaming on Netflix on Friday, October 17.

Other Documentary Highlights

The Alabama Solution

The Alabama Solution (2025)

This film was our Pick of the Week last week, so I’ll make this brief, but here’s another extraordinary feature that could be considered a true-crime documentary. A least in the case, one of its directors, Andrew Jarecki, has been associated with the genre before, having helmed the phenomenally notable series The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst. Here’s a brief excerpt from my review of The Alabama Solution from the last newsletter: “One of the few that serves as great reporting itself. The film covers several years yet feels current and urgent. Part of it involves a murder mystery that plays out with unfolding twists (one that’s tragically shocking), rivaling any fictional thriller.”

The Alabama Solution premieres on HBO and begins streaming on HBO Max on Friday, October 10, at 8 pm ET/PT.

The American Southwest (2025)

I also recently showcased The American Southwest as a Pick of the Week, and I want to highlight it again because, while similarly unconventional, it’s not likely to receive the same sort of recognition that The Perfect Neighbor and The Alabama Solution get from other critics and awards groups. Here’s a repeat of the beginning of my previous write-up on the latest from underrated director Ben Masters (The River and the Wall): “If you’re tired of nature documentaries falling into the same familiar boxes (anthropomorphizing and narrativizing Disney films; epic-scope David Attenborough-voiced series; over-produced and over-narrated yet ultimately underwhelming bombastic efforts like The Americas), you will find The American Southwest absolutely refreshing, as I did.”

The American Southwest will be released digitally on PVOD platforms, including Amazon’s Prime Video and Apple TV, on Friday, October 10.

John Candy: I Like Me (2025)

I don’t know if John Candy: I Like Me is being campaigned for awards consideration, but unlike The Perfect Neighbor and The Alabama Solution, it’s going straight to streaming without any theatrical run that I’m aware of. That’s for the best, since it’s pretty ordinary as far as biographical documentaries go. Directed by Colin Hanks (All Things Must Pass), whose father appears as an interviewee, the film is an endearing tribute to the titular actor, who died more than 30 years ago but is still as beloved as ever. It’s rather slow, fairly repetitive in its sentiments, and extremely sappy. As someone who grew up with Candy’s movies and even his Saturday morning cartoon, and counts himself as a huge fan, I don’t feel I got anything out of watching this film.

John Candy: I Like Me begins streaming on Prime Video on Friday, October 10.

Louie Bluie (1985)

Imagine a Les Blank documentary but raunchy. That’s how I describe Terry Zwigoff’s debut, Louie Bluie, which turns 40 years old on Friday, October 10. The medium-length film profiles musician Howard “Louie Bluie” Armstrong and features a handful of casual performances in a way akin to Blank’s music-focused films, and maybe parts of Shirley Clarke’s Ornette: Made in America. Yet Louie Bluie is ultimately memorable for Armstrong’s erotic drawings and the discussions of women and sex between him and other musicians. Those parts of this documentary seem to anticipate Zwigoff’s breakout follow-up, Crumb. It’s funny that the director has said he may have focused too much on that stuff than he would today. I think it makes the film stand out.

Louie Bluie is part of the Criterion Collection and is currently streaming on The Criterion Channel.

Subscribe now

Documentary Release Calendar 10/10/25 – 10/16/25

The American Southwest

Friday, October 10, 2025

The Alabama Solution (2025) – A documentary feature by Andrew Jarecki (The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst) and Charlotte Kaufman investigating a cover-up in an Alabama prison. Read our review of The Alabama Solution. (HBO Max)

Always, Lady London (2025) – A documentary series following the titular rap star as she records her first album. (Tubi)

American Skyjacker (2025) – A true-crime documentary about a 1972 airline hijacking and a manhunt that followed. (In Theaters)

The American Southwest (2025) – A documentary feature narrated by Quannah ChasingHorse focused on water and wildlife conservation. Read our review of The American Southwest. (VOD)

Among Neighbors (2024) – A documentary feature by Yoav Potash (Crime After Crime) about a murder in a small Polish town. (In Theaters)

Assembly (2025) – A documentary on artist Rashaad Newsome and his installation at New York’s Park Avenue Armory exploring Black and queer identity. (In Theaters)

The Dating Game (2025) – A documentary feature following a seven-day dating camp in China. (In Theaters)

A Dream of Love (1938) – A short biographical film by James A. FitzPatrick about composer Franz Liszt. (TCM)

Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958-1989 (2024) – A documentary by Göran Hugo Olsson (The Black Power Mixtape 1967-1975) about reportage in Sweden on the Israel and Palestine conflict. (In Theaters)

John Candy: I Like Me (2025) – A biographical documentary about the titular actor (Prime Video)

King of Them All: The Story of King Records (2025) – A documentary feature about the titular record company. (PBS)

Knife Edge: Chasing Michelin Stars (2025) – A docuseries following Michelin Guide inspectors as they dine in and rate restaurants. (Apple TV+)

The Perfect Neighbor (2025) – A documentary feature by Geeta Gandbhir about a dispute between neighbors that turned deadly. (In Theaters)

Project Q: War, Peace and Quantum Mechanics (2024) – A documentary feature about the future of quantum science. (OVID)

Searchers for a Special City (1965) – A short documentary about the making of the film Mister Buddwing. (TCM)

Star Night at the Cocoanut Grove (1934) – A short film in which MGM stars enjoy a music performance and fashion show. (TCM)

Susan Feniger: Forked (2023) – A documentary feature following the titular chef as she opens her first solo restaurant in Los Angeles. (VOD)

There Was, There Was Not (2024) – A documentary feature following four Armenian women during the surprise invasion of Artsakh. (In Theaters)

We Were Here: The Untold History of Black Africans in Renaissance Europe (2025) – A historical documentary about Africans in Europe during the Renaissance. (In Theaters)

Where I Became (2023) – A documentary feature about 14 South African women given the opportunity to study at Smith College in the U.S. (OVID)

Saturday, October 11, 2025

Austin City Limits Season 51, Episode 2: “The Marias” – The latest installment of a music docuseries features a performance by The Marias. (PBS)

Keep Quiet and Forgive (2025) – A documentary feature on sexual abuse in the Amish community. (In Theaters)

Lucky Dog: Down Under Season 1, Episode 2: “Parmigiana & Aspen” – A docuseries in the Lucky Dog franchise starring animal trainer Brandon McMillan as he works in Australia. (CBS)

Lucky Dog: Reunions Season 3, Episode 2: “Riley Reunion” – A docuseries starring animal trainer Brandon McMillan as he revisits past clients. (CBS)

Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom Protecting the Wild Season 3, Episode 2: “Leader of the Pack” – A nature series focused on wildlife conservation. This installment involves Mexican wolves. (NBC)

Sunday, October 12, 2025

This is the Bowery (1941) – A short documentary about the Manhattan neighborhood. (TCM)

Van Gogh: Darkness Into Light (1956) – A short documentary about the making of the biopic film Lust for Life. (TCM)

White Peril (1956) – A short documentary in the RKO Pathé Screenliner series about the research of the Cascade Mountains’ “snow patrol” and how the U.S. Geological Survey uses it. (TCM)

Monday, October 13, 2025

After Action Season 3, Episode 2: “From the Front” – The latest installment of a docuseries spotlighting U.S. military veterans. (PBS)

Ancient Aliens: Origins Season 2, Episode 2: “Extraterrestrial Rituals” – A docuseries in the Ancient Aliens franchise that looks back at the original show’s greatest mysteries. (History)

Arctic Roundup (1957) – A short documentary following an expedition to study musk ox in Canada. (TCM)

Häxan (1922) – A hybrid film about the history of witchcraft. (TCM)

A Mother Apart (2024) – A documentary feature following poet and LGBTQ+ activist Staceyann Chin in an exploration of motherhood. Presented as an episode of POV. (PBS)

TV We Love (2025) – A docuseries celebrating some of the most iconic television shows in history. (The CW)

Tuesday, October 14, 2025

ABBA: The Movie (1977) – A music film following a radio DJ attempting to interview the titular Swedish pop group as they tour Australia. (TCM)

Angelheaded Hipster: The Songs of Marc Bolan & T. Rex (2022) – A documentary feature about a tribute album honoring the glam rock icon Marc Bolan. (DVD)

The Car That Became a Star (1965) – A short documentary about the titular vehicle from the film The Yellow Rolls-Royce. (TCM)

Conor McGregor: Notorious (2017) – A documentary feature following the rise of the titular MMA fighter. (DVD and Blu-ray)

Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore (2025) – A documentary about the titular actress. Read our review of Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore. Presented as an episode of American Masters. (In Theaters)

Mellodrama (2008) – A documentary feature about the first musical keyboard to sample the sounds of other instruments. (OVID)

The Memory of Darkness, Light, and Ice (2025) – A medium-length documentary about the Greenland Ice Sheet. (DVD and Blu-ray)

Susan Feniger: Forked (2023) – A documentary feature following the titular chef as she opens her first solo restaurant in Los Angeles. (DVD)

Trillion Boys (2025) – A documentary feature following an elite high school football team. (VOD)

Without Lying Down: Frances Marion and the Power of Women in Hollywood (2000) – A documentary narrated by Uma Thurman about the titular screenwriter. (TCM)

Wednesday, October 15, 2025

From Rails to Trails (2025) – A medium-length documentary narrated by Edward Norton about the transformation of abandoned railroads into bike and walking trails in the U.S. (PBS)

Fugitives Caught on Tape Season 2, Episodes 3 & 4 – The latest installments of a docuseries following law enforcement in their pursuit of fugitives. (A&E)

Glimpses of Western Germany (1954) – A short documentary installment of James A. FitzPatrick’s TravelTalks travelogue franchise that explores Germany. (TCM)

Ice Road Truckers Season 12, Episode 3: “Ice and Fire” – The latest installment of a nonfiction series about the job of driving trucks on frozen lakes. (History)

Thursday, October 16, 2025

Harry Warren: America’s Foremost Composer (1933) – A short film starring the titular composer and showcasing performances of some of his tunes. (TCM)

Long Haulers (2020) – A documentary feature about women who defy stereotypes. (OVID)

Starting 5 Season 2 – The return of a docuseries following five NBA basketball players (this time Tyrese Haliburton, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jaylen Brown, Kevin Durant, and James Harden) over the course of the last season. (Netflix)

Share Nonfics

Sneak Peek At What’s Coming Soon

10/20 – Ratified – A documentary feature about the fight to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment. Presented as an episode of Independent Lens. (PBS)

10/29 – Coexistence, My Ass! – A Sundance award-winning documentary about comedian Noam Shuster Eliassi and her one-woman show about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. (In Theaters)

10/31 – Walk With Me – A documentary feature by casting director Heidi Levitt about her husband’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis. (In Theaters)

11/3 – Life After – A Sundance-winning documentary by Reid Davenport (I Didn’t See You There) about a disabled woman who sought “the right to die.” (PBS)

11/5 – Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk – A documentary feature about a Palestinian woman’s life under bombardment in Gaza. Watch the new trailer for the film below. (In Theaters)

12/10 – Rolling Stones — At the Max – A re-release of the 1991 concert film starring the titular rock band. (In IMAX Theaters)

12/16 – The Secrets We Bury – A true-crime documentary following a family in their quest for information on their father’s disappearance. (ID: Investigation Discovery)

12/19 – Cover-Up – A documentary feature by Oscar winner Laura Poitras (Citizenfour) and Mark Obenhaus about journalist Seymour Hersh. (In Theaters)

The Piano Therapy Virtual Tour is a compelling concert film and documentary that explores the mental health journey of Canadian composer and pianist Frank Horvat. Through deeply personal storytelling and emotionally resonant performances of his original compositions, Frank shares his lived experience with depression—offering insight, empathy, and inspiration.

Interwoven with his music, Frank’s narrative invites audiences into his world, highlighting both the struggles and triumphs of managing mental health as a creative individual. The result is a moving and honest reflection on vulnerability, resilience, and the healing power of art.

🎶 Featured themes in this concert:

Depression, resilience, and recovery

Music as therapy and mindfulness

Contemporary solo piano performance

Personal stories behind the music

For more information, resources and sheet music: http://frankhorvat.com/ptvt

——

COMPOSITION CHAPTERS

0:00 Despair

4:15 Distant

8:55 ZeeZoo Snaps

16:25 Crestfallen

19:34 The Resolve

28:40 Life for Mars

35:04 Almost an Island

40:05 Silent Struggle

43:33 Diverging Crossroads

——

Many thanks to director, Andrew Lamb, Erin, Alex and Iain at Endless Films, Noble Street Studios, and audio mastering engineer, Dennis Patterson, for making this possible. A special thanks to Ingrid Taheri from High Notes Avante for her support along the way.

Project funded in part thanks to the generous support of the @CanadaCouncil.

FOLLOW Frank:

https://frankhorvat.com

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