Best Documentary

Return to the deadliest Ebola outbreak in history through the doctors, nurses, ambulance drivers, survivors and citizens who faced an invisible killer on the front lines of West Africa.

Trace the extraordinary rise, public collapse and relentless comebacks of the athlete who transformed golf, shattered barriers and struggled beneath the weight of a global myth.

An analytical journey through the Sahel examines the expansion of armed groups since 2013 and the political, economic and human forces driving a major regional crisis.

Years after the 2011 earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disaster, travel through Fukushima’s scarred communities and examine why the region’s population remains dramatically reduced.

A month-long social experiment enters Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside to look beyond stereotypes and confront the realities of homelessness, addiction, illness and survival.

Neuroscientists explain the remarkable biology of facial recognition while technology experts investigate the promise and risks of AI-powered biometric surveillance.

Located on the shores of the Baltic Sea, between Poland and Lithuania, Kaliningrad is a piece of Russia in the heart of Europe. A curious territory, isolated from Moscow after the fall of the USSR, today transformed into a military fortress facing NATO. In Kaliningrad, headquarters of the Russian Baltic fleet, there are 30,000 soldiers, hypersonic missiles and nuclear capability. We were able to enter this territory almost inaccessible since the war in Ukraine. In this closely guarded enclave, the journalists followed the elections for the new governor. The outgoing candidate, Antone Alikhanov, who is totally loyal to Vladimir Putin, renewed his mandate with 80% of the votes. Kaliningrad is under economic embargo by the European Union and its population is suffering. Foodstuffs are becoming scarce. The price of coal is exploding. But, fed by the Kremlin’s television propaganda, most of the population supports the war. Only the Europeanized youth dare to half-heartedly criticize the government. The strategic situation of Kaliningrad and Putin’s desire to conquer it are worrying its neighbors, the Baltic states. Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, former Soviet

In March 2015, the US Treasury issued a devastating press release accusing a small bank in the tiny nation of Andorra, BPA, of being a global money laundering hub for the Russian mob, the Sinaloa cartel, and Venezuelan state corruption. Frozen and liquidated overnight, the institution collapsed, erasing the life savings of thousands of innocent citizens. Yet, behind this official narrative lies one of the most formidable financial and political frame-ups of the 21st century. This gripping investigative documentary pulls back the curtain on a ruthless operation of "lawfare"—the weaponization of the legal system for political warfare—orchestrated in the shadows by the Spanish government. To crush the Catalan independence movement and hunt for the secret offshore accounts of its leaders, Madrid fabricated a web of false evidence, manipulating the US anti-money laundering network (FinCEN) into executing the bank that refused to comply. From independent PricewaterhouseCoopers audits revealing zero evidence of money laundering to massive conflicts of interest involving Andorran ministers who secretly saved their own family fortunes, this deep-dive investigation deconstructs a multi-billion dollar state-sponsored heist. A stunning plunge into

After half a century of dictatorship, Syria is undergoing an historic upheaval following the overthrow of President Bashar Al-Assad by insurgents from the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). We capture the first moments of this tumultuous transition and hear from the Syrian population, torn between hope for renewal and fear of the unknown. We followed the step-by-step installation of new leaders from the rebel movement. From the gilded halls of the presidential palace to the gloomy cells of the infamous Saydnaya prison, this film lifts the veil on the vestiges of an authoritarian system. But while some exiles are contemplating a return to their homeland, others are opting for exodus, fearful of the new regime’s direction. Who are HTS and what are the real intentions of the jihadist rebels led by Abu Mohammed Al-Joulani? What will be the fate of minorities, particularly Christians and Alawites, in this new political configuration? A unique look at a nation at a crossroads, oscillating between hope for a better future and fear of the unknown. Directors: Jahouar Ndi, Yael Goujon & Apolline Convain

Amateur actor kills his friend in the attic of a theater. The motive - he needed money to pay for his wedding. When a sister threatens to cut off her younger sister's allowance, she retaliates by killing her and assuming her identity. Then revels in the ensuing publicity directed at her for brave anti-crime efforts in her community. While on a beach holiday a bored young couple, Lacey and Jason, kill another couple, Mike and Carrie, for fun, and keep a scrapbook and other trophies of their crime. A woman is charged with killing her coworker Taylor over a tank top and staging the entire crime. Set in Depression-era Chicago, barfly Murphy survives multiple attempts on his life without even being aware his 'friends' are trying to kill him so they can cash in his insurance policy. A horse-loving lawyer doesn't know he's married to a con artist fugitive; she teams up with a female lover and kills him with horse tranquilizer before stealing all his money. Director: Leo Scherman

Legends of Speed is the ultimate deep dive into the high-stakes, high-risk world of Formula 1. Go-getters, ruthless tacticians, and vulnerable competitors, this three-part documentary series reveals the human cost of living life at the absolute limit, where every single race could be the last. Go beyond the pit lane to explore the raw fears, intense courage, and relentless drive of motorsport's greatest icons: F1 Legends Unfiltered: Raw, personal interviews with Niki Lauda, Ayrton Senna, Jackie Stewart, Alain Prost, and more. Discover how each driver coped with the constant presence of danger. The Human Element: Step away from the lap times to examine the drivers' personal lives, private obsessions, and the immense pressure placed on the families who watched them risk everything. Engineering Brilliance vs. Catastrophic Failure: Look closely at the fine line between victory and defeat, where a fraction of a second, a few centimeters, or pure luck makes all the difference. Director: Elias von Salomon

Six average Americans are confronted with the realities of illegal immigration while retracing the footsteps of dead border runners. Six Americans gather to embark on a haunting and perilous journey that begins inside the Pima County, Arizona morgue, in Tucson, Arizona. The six Americans are split into three groups, each tasked with retracing the journey of one of Pima County's dead migrants, discovering the grave circumstances that led to them risking everything for a new life. Things get very real in gang-controlled Arriaga, when the six Americans reunite in an abandoned train station. Like thousands before them, they must now risk everything to ride atop the freight train known as La Bestia (The Beast). In the final leg of their journey, the six must navigate the cartel-controlled Mexican city of Sinaloa and face the punishing hike across the border, through the sweltering Sonoran Desert. Series: Borderland, 4 episodes Series directors: Alex Simmons, Darren Foster, Jeffrey Plunkett

Johannesburg is a city of striking contrasts, where rapid development exists alongside deep social and economic challenges. In some of the city’s townships, criminal networks and local gangs have a powerful influence, while in wealthier suburbs, high walls, security systems, and private protection have become part of everyday life. This investigative documentary explores the realities of crime and personal security in Johannesburg, South Africa. We follow the experiences of gang members, victims, private security professionals, and ordinary residents as they navigate a city where trust in public institutions is often under pressure. From the challenges facing law enforcement to the rise of community patrols, private security, and neighborhood protection groups, this film examines why so many people feel they must take their safety into their own hands. What drives Johannesburg’s security crisis? How are different communities responding? And what does everyday life look like behind the headlines?

On October 1, 1949, Mao Zedong proclaimed the founding of the People’s Republic of China at Tiananmen Square. Behind the iconic victory parade, the nation remained deeply divided by ongoing civil war, and the original audio of this historic speech was lost to history for decades. In this documentary, filmmaker Peter Du Cane restores rare historical archive footage and audio to present the fully synchronized 1949 Tiananmen Square address for the first time. Experience the restored sights and sounds of a pivotal moment in modern history. Director: Peter Du Cane Original title: Mao Zedong, October 1949: Parade Of The Waking Giant

Gunter, searching the internet finds a willing participant in becoming his next meal. A young woman, Shayna, whose mother has made her ill her entire life, also known as Munchausen-by-proxy, turns the tables and kills her mother. Two Mexican mini-luchadors tragically lost their lives, targeted by two women. A woman murders a fortune-teller for incorrectly predicting her future and covers the bodies in white paint. Life imitates art when Bill a budding film-maker's obsession with television character Dexter turns deadly. A woman stages a game with her husband in an effort to murder him. Bizarre Murders - Compilation 2

In February 1942, a massive Japanese air raid devastated the city of Darwin. While the attack itself shocked the nation, what followed was even more unexpected: an extraordinary government effort to control the story. Why were the true casualties, military failures, and extent of the damage kept secret for decades? In this documentary, we unpack the history behind the Bombing of Darwin, examining newly uncovered records, strategic cover-ups, and how this pivotal WWII event reshaped Australian defense history forever. Director: Steve Peddie Original title: The Bombing of Darwin: An Awkward Truth Genres: Documentary, History, War

Veteran journalist Sir Trevor McDonald returns to Indiana to explore the realities of long-term confinement inside high-security correctional facilities. Episode 2 provides rare access to the Indiana Women’s Prison and Rockville Correctional Facility, uncovering the personal stories of inmates serving extensive sentences. From an inmate who spent 35 years as a fugitive after a 1972 escape to women facing life without parole, Sir Trevor examines prison culture, complex personal histories, and the psychological weight of decades behind bars. Series: Women Behind Bars with Trevor McDonald

Based on the latest historical research and recently discovered archives this film retraces the journey of men and women persecuted by the Third Reich because of their sexual orientation. Resetting the social and political context of the 1920s, when European society still "tolerated" homosexuality, this documentary details the mechanisms of repression led by the Nazi regime against this particular group and the horror of the concentration camps as told by those who experienced it first hand.

An analytical investigation into the October 7, 2023 Middle East crisis and the complex security dynamics of the region. Through verified archive material, timeline reconstructions, and insights from geopolitical experts, this film breaks down the intelligence oversight, regional power structures, and international relations that defined the event. Gain a deeper understanding of the historical roots, modern strategies, and ongoing global implications of this crucial conflict. Directors: Marc de la Villardière & Vincent Prado

Jeremy 'Bad Boy' Bailey is a UK MMA pioneer, an associate of 'Lightning' Lee Murray, and a man accused of involvement in Britain's biggest heist: the £53 million Securitas robbery. Despite being acquitted, the police still see him as public enemy number one. This is the story of his life of fighting, his brush with the underworld, and the mystery of the £31 million that was never found. Directors: Terry Stone, Richard Turner

A new generation of youth gangs has taken over the streets of Naples. This investigative documentary reveals how teenage leaders are reshaping one of Europe’s most volatile criminal empires, from the high-rise blocks of Scampia to illicit global supply chains. Featuring raw insights from former insiders, journalists, and local youth, we break down how structural poverty, black markets, and power vacuums created Europe's most unpredictable crime wave. Director: David Beriain Clandestino, Episode 2

Investigative journalist David Beriain travels to southeastern Italy to examine the inner workings of the Sacra Corona Unita. Established in the 1980s across the Apulia region, this mafia operates distinct networks across maritime routes and coastal borders. This documentary investigates how the organization expanded its regional influence, established international links along the Adriatic coast, and built a covert network operating right on the edge of Europe. Director: David Beriain Clandestino, Episode 9

Discover the incredible story of Theodore Roosevelt, the sickly child who reinvented himself in the West after a devastating tragedy. Explore his journey from a New York aristocrat to a rugged cowboy, a war hero with the Rough Riders, and the revolutionary president who busted trusts, championed conservation, and forever changed the United States. Director: Robin Bextor Original title: Roosevelt, American Hero

Beneath the surface of the Netherlands' vital waterways, hundreds of sunken ships pose a silent threat to modern maritime trade. This is the story of the extraordinary 2013 campaign to clear these underwater obstacles, following elite salvage companies as they use massive machinery, advanced technology, and sheer expertise to raise rusting giants from the seabed and secure Europe's economic lifeline.

Thirty years after its dominant era in Sicily, Cosa Nostra is fundamentally transforming. Rather than relying on the open conflict of the 1980s and 1990s, modern organized crime has adapted to survive. Today, the Sicilian Mafia operates within the "gray zone", infiltrating legal businesses, finance, and covert networks to quietly rebuild its influence. Director: David Beriain Clandestino, Episode 8

Travel deep into the Brooks Range of Alaska to spend a week with Heimo and Edna Korth, the last permanent residents permitted to live in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. From hunting caribou and catching Arctic grayling to defending their camp against grizzly bears, discover what everyday survival looks like on America's last frontier.

Uncover the hidden side of the web in this deep dive into internet culture, online behavior, and the psychology behind toxic commentary. From the early days of online forums to today's digital age, this documentary explores how anonymity changed the way we communicate, for better and for worse. Director: Jonathan Baltrusaitis

When a massive 2010 tsunami beached the brand-new research vessel Cabo de Hornos in Chile, it seemed lost forever. This is the story of the incredible engineering feat by Mammoet Salvage, using state-of-the-art Self-Propelled Modular Transporters (SPMTs) to lift the 2,000-ton ship and meticulously carry it back to the sea.

A deep dive into the reality of São Paulo, exploring the war between the police and the PCC gang, the harsh life in the favelas, the plight of users in "Cracolândia," and the stories of those seeking a way out through sports and music.

Explore the strange life of Theodore Kaczynski, the college math professor who dropped out of his career, holed up in a one-room shack in Montana, and sent deadly mail bombs to victims around the country, ultimately becoming known as the Unabomber. Director: Rob Cousineau

Uncover the internal structure, global reach, and modern evolution of Mexico’s most notorious criminal syndicate. Following the 2016 incarceration of its former leader, Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, this organized network adapted its strategy, expanded its operational footprint, and solidified its place in international trade.

For over 80 years, Roald Amundsen's legendary polar exploration ship, the Maud, was trapped in the ice of Canada's Northwest Passage. This is the incredible story of three determined Norwegians who embarked on an epic, do-it-yourself mission to salvage the historic vessel.

Meet the families who risk their lives for the ultimate motor show. From building 8-ton, 1200-horsepower monster trucks to performing heart-stopping stunts like jumping through walls of fire, discover the behind-the-scenes world of France's most daring stunt drivers. Director: Adeline Grunberg

Each episode of the series examines the psychology and criminal history of notorious murderers and serial killers from modern history. Director: Angelica Butcher