MAY. 25, 2026  ·  UPDATED DAILY  ·  INDEPENDENT
Documentary Report
All the non-fiction news fit to print
PHOTO › Variety — from a still in 'Music of My Soul'
Gregg Allman Doc 'Music of My Soul' Gets Theatrical Release This June
James Keach's definitive portrait of the late Allman Brothers legend lands June 17 across 200+ U.S. theaters.
Variety
Sony Pictures Classics Acquires Cannes' Documentary Prizewinner 'Rehearsals for a Revolution'
Iranian director Pegah Ahangarani's debut feature wins L'Oeil d'Or documentary prize and lands major distribution deal with Sony Pictures Classics.
Variety
'Rehearsals for a Revolution' Doc Acquired by Sony Pictures Classics After L'Œil d'Or Win at Cannes
Pegah Ahangarani's personal documentary tracing decades of Iranian history wins top prize and secures international distribution.
The Wrap
Ron Howard's Avedon Documentary Premieres at Cannes; Full Archive Access Granted
Oscar winner Ron Howard returns to Croisette with his first-ever authorized Avedon doc, marking first-time family access to the legendary photographer's private archives.
Deadline
Golden Globes Backs 'Documentary Filmmaker Award' at Cannes; Major Prize Celebrates Social Impact Cinema
Golden Globes, Artemis Rising Foundation return filmmaker award to Cannes celebrating nonfiction cinema tackling urgent social issues.
Variety
Now Playing🎬 In Release
Strange Journey: The Story of Rocky Horror trailer▶ TRAILER
Rocky Horror Doc
Strange Journey: The Story of Rocky Horror
dir. Linus O'Brien  ·  Week 2
An affectionate, personal look at the 50-year cult phenomenon, with intimate access to Richard O'Brien, Tim Curry, and Susan Sarandon.
Read review · Hollywood Reporter →
American Agitators trailer▶ TRAILER
Abramorama
American Agitators
dir. Raymond Telles  ·  Week 1
Narrated by Luis Valdez, Telles traces the legacy of organizer Fred Ross Sr., mentor to Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta.
Read review · Deadline →
Pretty Ugly: The Story of the Lunachicks trailer▶ TRAILER
Giant Pictures
Pretty Ugly: The Story of the Lunachicks
dir. Ilya Chaiken  ·  Week 2
Chaiken chronicles the East Village punk band's rise from gritty NYC teens to feminist trailblazers, with Deborah Harry, L7, and the Go-Go's.
Read review · Deadline →
Cave of Forgotten Dreams (6K Restoration) trailer▶ TRAILER
IFC
Cave of Forgotten Dreams (6K Restoration)
dir. Werner Herzog  ·  Week 2
Herzog's Chauvet Cave doc returns in a 6K restoration with new Atmos mix, in IMAX and arthouse rollout.
Read review · IndieWire →
Notable on Streaming🆕 Now Streaming
Worst Ex Ever S2Recently added
Hulk Hogan: Real AmericanRecently added
The Truth and Tragedy of Moriah WilsonRecently added
Recent additions across major streamers  ·  Updated weekly
In Development📣 Just Greenlit
Netflix to Launch Tom Hanks History Docuseries 'The American Experiment' for 250th AnniversaryReal Screen
Idris Elba, King Charles to Spotlight King's Trust in Netflix DocumentaryWhat's on Netflix
'Papertown' Documentary Sets Premiere at MountainFilm FestivalVariety
Boy George Doc Gets U.S. Release This JuneVariety
Sheffield DocFest Opens With Just Stop Oil DocumentaryScreen Daily
Directors in the News🎥 Directors
'He Was Outspoken From a Place of Love': Steven Soderbergh on His John Lennon Doc
'He Was Outspoken From a Place of Love': Steven Soderbergh on His John Lennon Doc
Steven Soderbergh discusses his documentary about John Lennon's final interview, conducted hours before the musician's death in 1980.
Rolling Stone
David Lean Documentary Set To Premiere At Cannes Film FestivalDirector Barnaby Thompson discusses his documentary 'Maverick: The Epic Adventures of David Lean,' premiering in the Cannes Classics section.Deadline
Cannes ACID 2026: 'A Secret Heart' Documentary Film InterviewFrench filmmaker Tom Fontenille discusses his feature directorial debut 'A Secret Heart,' a family chronicle about his father's gender transition.Hollywood Reporter
Director Mark Cousins Brings 'The Story Of Documentary Film' To CannesThe Northern Irish director discusses his 16-chapter documentary history project premiering at Cannes, examining the evolution of nonfiction cinema with focus on the 1970s.Deadline
Cate Blanchett Reveals Mo Amer, Bao Nguyen, 'Palestine 36' Director Annemarie Jacir as Displacement Film Fund Recipients in CannesBao Nguyen among five filmmakers selected for the second cycle of the Displacement Film Fund at Cannes for short film production grants.Hollywood Reporter
Awards & Festivals🏆 Awards & Festivals
Teyana Taylor to Host 'Through Her Lens' Conversation at 2026 Tribeca Festival
Teyana Taylor to Host 'Through Her Lens' Conversation at 2026 Tribeca Festival
Oscar and Grammy-nominated performer Teyana Taylor to host 'Through Her Lens' conversation on mentorship and women's leadership in filmmaking at Tribeca on June 7
Variety
25th Tribeca Festival Announces 2026 Jury And Tribeca & Chanel Artist Awards ProgramTribeca announces acclaimed 2026 jury including Mira Nair, Nas, Catherine Hardwicke, and Alexis Bledel to select breakthrough talent across film, games, and podcastsTribeca
Millennium Docs Against Gravity Launches Inaugural Documentary Grand Prix AwardPoland's largest festival introduces FIPRESCI prize; opens May 7-17 with 180,000+ admissions expected.Variety
Sheffield DocFest 2026 Lineup: 45 World Premieres in 64 CountriesFestival opens June 10 with Rich Felgate's climate activism doc; includes films on Irish lesbian telephone lines and Nigerian politician.Screen Daily
Lighthouse International 2026: My NDA, Seized Lead Doc CompetitionLong Beach Island festival (June 10-14) features Sundance breakouts exploring NDAs, police raids, and LGBTQ+ resistance.Deadline
Money & Distribution💰 Money & Distribution
Kino Lorber Acquires North American Rights to Sundance Doc 'Soul Patrol'
Kino Lorber Acquires North American Rights to Sundance Doc 'Soul Patrol'
Distributor Kino Lorber has acquired North American rights to J.M. Harper's 'Soul Patrol,' which reunites America's first all-Black special operations team from the Vietnam War.
Variety
Kino Lorber Acquires North American Rights to Mark Cousins' 'The Story of Documentary Film'Kino Lorber has secured North American distribution rights to Mark Cousins' 16-volume history of documentary cinema, with plans to release the epic on all platforms later this year.Variety
Yellow Veil Pictures Acquires North American Rights to Documentary 'Boorman and the Devil'Yellow Veil Pictures has acquired North American theatrical rights to the documentary about John Boorman's troubled Exorcist II production, planning August/September theatrical release.Deadline
Mubi Acquires U.S. Rights to Sundance Prize Winner 'Nuisance Bear'Mubi acquired the documentary about polar bears in Arctic Canada that won the U.S. Documentary Grand Jury Prize at Sundance, with release plans to be announced soon.IndieWire
Netflix Acquires Four Documentaries from Festival Circuit Including Free Leonard Peltier and Room to MoveNetflix has acquired four documentaries that premiered at major festivals including Sundance, Tribeca, and Telluride, with releases scheduled for May and October.The Hollywood Reporter
Streamers & Studios📺 Streamers & Studios
Ron Howard on Capturing Photographer Richard Avedon's 'Artistic Endurance' in Cannes Documentary: 'You Can Be Commercial and Not a Sellout'
Ron Howard on Capturing Photographer Richard Avedon's 'Artistic Endurance' in Cannes Documentary: 'You Can Be Commercial and Not a Sellout'
Ron Howard debuts his documentary about legendary photographer Richard Avedon, exploring how his singular artistic vision reshaped the visual language of the 20th century.
Variety
'The Match': An Exciting, Accessible Documentary About Soccer and WarJuan Cabral and Santiago Franco's documentary examines the controversial 1986 World Cup quarter-final and the geopolitical histories that shaped it.Variety
'Bodies (of War)' Explores Lives Reshaped by Ukraine ConflictMałgorzata Szumowska and Michał Englert's documentary feature documents the toll of Ukraine's war through the perspectives of veterans, refugees, and civilians.Variety
Kylie Minogue on Netflix Docuseries, '90s Tabloids, Michael HutchenceKylie Minogue discusses her three-hour Netflix docuseries directed by Michael Harte, which explores her three-decade career and constant reinvention.Variety
How 'U.S. Against the World' Filmmakers Made a 4-Year-Long DocumentaryThe HBO documentary series following the U.S. Men's National Soccer Team premiered May 12, four years after cameras began documenting their 2022 World Cup campaign in Qatar.Hollywood Reporter
International Docs🌎 International Docs
Katábasis crowned as best work in Cannes' Immersive Competition
Katábasis crowned as best work in Cannes' Immersive Competition
French filmmaker Ugo Arsac's interactive documentary exploring New York's subterranean maze wins the Cannes Immersive Competition award.
Cineuropa
Joshua and Rebecca Tickell Win Golden Globes Prize for Documentary at Cannes Film FestivalThe husband-and-wife filmmaking duo honored for 'Groundswell,' a documentary about regenerative farming across five continents.Variety
Fusee Films Enters Documentary Territory at Cannes, Unveils Slate of International ProjectsThree non-fiction projects spanning Vietnam, Philippines, Canada, Belgium, and France highlight Cannes market debuts.Variety
Ron Howard Premieres Richard Avedon Documentary at Cannes Film FestivalOscar-winning director debuts 'Avedon,' examining legendary photographer Richard Avedon's 60-year career.Variety
'Rehearsals for a Revolution' Wins L'Oeil d'Or at CannesPegah Ahangarani's Iranian-Czech-Spanish co-production about 40 years of political repression in Iran wins the Cannes Film Festival's top documentary prize.Deadline
Cinematographers & Editors🎞 Craft
A Cut Above: Film Independent Announces 2026 Documentary Story Lab Fellows
A Cut Above: Film Independent Announces 2026 Documentary Story Lab Fellows
Nine filmmakers selected for intensive documentary program, including cinematographer Vanessa Carr and editor Cecilia Brown, focusing on character-driven storytelling.
Film Independent
'Papertown' Features Collaborative Local Filmmaking TeamJeremy Seifert leads North Carolina community effort to document mill closure impact.Variety
Impact🌿 Justice & Change
Nuisance Bear. Sundance Grand Jury Prize Doc. Acquired by Mubi.
Nuisance Bear. Sundance Grand Jury Prize Doc. Acquired by Mubi.
Gabriela Osio Vanden and Jack Weisman's polar bear portrait wins Sundance. Charts coexistence crisis as climate change drives bears into human settlements.
The Wrap
Climate Activists Take Center Stage At Sheffield DocFest'We, The Hated' chronicles Just Stop Oil protesters in opening night selection.Screen Daily
'Papertown' Captures Economic Devastation in Real TimeJeremy Seifert's doc follows North Carolina community grappling with mill closure and corporate betrayal over three turbulent months.Variety
Essays & Criticism📚 Essays & Criticism
Documentary Storytelling in Era of Transformation
Documentary Storytelling in Era of Transformation
Sheffield DocFest explores 'Realities in Motion' theme reflecting world of uncertainty and constant change.
Cineuropa
Our Land (Nuestra Tierra) movie review: Lucrecia Martel fights the silencing of indigenous ArgentinesComprehensive review of Martel's first documentary feature exploring indigenous dispossession and colonial violenceRogerEbert.com

The Documentary Report

The Documentary Report is a daily news aggregator dedicated entirely to the world of non-fiction film. Updated every morning, we scour the web so you don't have to — bringing together the most important stories, profiles, reviews, festival news, and industry developments from across the documentary world into one place.

Our mission is simple: to keep the documentary community informed about everything happening in non-fiction film — every day, all in one place.

The Documentary Report is independently published and has no financial relationship with any studio, streamer, or distributor. All links belong to their original publishers.