Best Documentary

In 2013, Detroit, once the booming heartbeat of the American auto industry and the home of Motown, declared bankruptcy. As car factories moved abroad, over a million residents left, turning "Motown" into a ghost town. But inside one small Detroit barbershop, the soul of the city is still alive. Meet Roberto (73), a legendary local barber who once styled the iconic hair of Motown’s biggest stars. Today, soul music still blares from his jukebox, and his regular customers, mostly over 70, still come in for the classic Chuck Berry glam hairdo. Barber Shop Detroit is a moving short documentary about pride, survival, and nostalgia in the face of economic decay. It’s a story of how holding onto the past helps a community endure the present. As one customer puts it: “If you take care of your hair, your hair will take care of you.” Barber Shop Episode 3 - Detroit / USA Director: Luc Vrydaghs Producer: Emmy Oost Production: Cassette for timescapes

When Atikamekw elder Charles Coocoo sees the devastating impact of addiction on Indigenous youth in Canada, he travels to the Peruvian Andes to understand its source. There, he discovers a thousands-year-old tradition where the coca leaf is a sacred symbol of healing, community, and spiritual connection, far removed from the dark reality of illegal trade. Discover the powerful clash between ancient tradition, international prohibition, and a modern crisis affecting communities worldwide. Director: Felix Atencio-Gonzales

In the 'Ndrangheta—Italy’s most feared mafia—women are bound by ancestral blood ties and forbidden to speak out. This documentary tells the deadly story of three mob wives and daughters—Lea Garofalo, Maria Concetta Cacciola, and Giuseppina Pesce—who dared to turn state's witness. Facing brutal vengeance, acid attacks, and murder, their courageous rebellion shattered the mafia's code of silence and set a dangerous precedent for organized crime.

From releasing his first solo album at just 15 years old to becoming an undisputed hip-hop icon, Lil Wayne changed the music industry forever. This Lil Wayne documentary explores his legendary career, his musical evolution, and his massive impact on hip-hop culture. Director: Matt Salmon Cast: Lil Wayne, Tim Westwood, DJ Semtex, Jeff Weiss, Josh Eells, Daniel David, Tom Green Original title: LIL WAYNE: BLING

For decades, reports of unidentified aerial phenomena (UAPs) remained classified behind closed doors. Now, newly released government documents, declassified military footage, and official panel findings are reframing what we know about anomalous events in our skies. In this investigative documentary, aerospace experts, researchers, and scientific analysts examine official Pentagon UAP files to evaluate the evidence, technology, and potential implications for humanity's place in the cosmos. Director: Piers Garland Original title: THE PENTAGON UFO FILES

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

Tsunamis. Volcanic eruptions. Forest fires... Humanity has always feared natural disasters, but a change of paradigm is emerging: on a global scale, disasters never come alone! Scientists are discovering their interconnections, how one is triggered by another. Researchers are able to make out links between a cyclone and an earthquake, a volcanic eruption and a sea current. We’re uncovering the secrets of a suffering natural world which benefits from such upheavals and recreates itself as it gets destroyed. A new take on these extreme phenomena which act as the great climate regulators.

Step back into June 1967 to examine one of the most significant moments in modern geopolitical history. This documentary offers an in-depth breakdown of the strategy, leadership decisions, and rapid field operations that redrew regional maps in less than a week. Through archival perspectives and historical analysis, understand how this key conflict reshaped international diplomacy and left a legacy that continues to influence global politics today. Part One: The Sound of Guns 00:00 Part Two: From War to Occupation 52:00

Taylor Swift, a country/pop superstar, has taken the music scene by storm. She went multi-platinum with her first album, won four Grammy Awards for her second, and was listed in Forbes' top-earning celebs under 30 in 2013. This film explores her life and career through her own words and archive footage. Director: Maureen Goldthorpe

When does debt become unsustainable? This documentary explores the high-stakes world of global debt, from empty mega-resorts like Dubai’s "The World" islands to entire nations crashing on a cheap credit sugar high. Discover the human and economic cost of financial crises across the globe: Dubai: The remnants of an outlandish real estate boom built for the super-rich. Argentina: A country facing catastrophic currency devaluation, forcing citizens into barter markets and soup kitchens. United States: The harsh reality of modern debtors' prisons in Mississippi and the moral pitfalls of predatory lending. Featuring insights from top financial historians, bankers, and economists, including Richard Vague, Sandra Navidi, Christoph Trebesch, and Frederick Wherry, this film uses a mix of playful observation and sharp investigation to answer critical questions: How do different cultures handle debt? What happens when the system breaks? And what are the solutions? Director: Rudolph Herzog Original title: 300 Trillion, The Debt Trap

Will China become the world’s next superpower, or is it building a 21st-century empire? As China’s unprecedented economic growth places it on the verge of overtaking the US, the global balance of power is shifting. In this documentary, we explore the dual realities of China's rise. From massive infrastructure investments and humanitarian aid in Pakistan and Afghanistan to severe human rights controversies in Tibet and Xinjiang, China’s global impact is deeply polarizing. Will China dominate its neighbors, or will a new generation of Chinese youth push the country toward democracy? Watch to find out how China’s peaceful rise, or potential threat, will change your life. Original title: China: The Rebirth of an Empire

Shawney wanted to be a filmmaker, but for decades, he’s been running his family’s adult entertainment business instead. When he was just six years old, his father bought "The Manor", a decision that transformed their lives forever. Thirty years later, the heavy toll of their unique lifestyle has caught up with them. As his father prepares for a major health procedure and his mother battles severe food struggles, Shawney picks up a camera to document his family's reality. The Manor is an intimate, funny, and deeply honest documentary about dysfunction, survival, and what it really takes to stay together. Director: Shawney Cohen

Discover the explosive history of Led Zeppelin, from their gritty, humble beginnings to becoming ultimate rock gods. This documentary dives deep into the unique band chemistry, backstage secrets, and raw creative tensions that fueled their legendary success. How did Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, John Paul Jones, and John Bonham change music forever? Watch to find out. Director: Sonia Anderson Cast: Robert Plant, Ozzy Osbourne, Jimmy Page, Nick Tauber Original title: Led Zeppelin: Dazed and Confused

Meet David Orin, a pizza delivery guy who moonlights as a viral snake catcher. Known as 'the Christian Steve Irwin', he uses sensational videos of snake bites as a platform to preach the gospel, facing backlash from the scientific community and the temptations of internet fame along the way.

It seemed like the perfect concealment. The remains were subjected to extreme heat, fragmented, and lost to the river. Yet, forensic experts managed to make the compromised evidence speak. Finding clues in explosions. A Hollywood cold case file was solved by computerized fingerprint ID (AFIS)

Discover the incredible story of the Concorde, the world's only supersonic airliner. This documentary explores the decades of scientific research and international collaboration between Britain and France that made Mach 2 passenger flight a reality. From pioneering test flights and the race against American and Soviet rivals to its glamorous 30-year reign and tragic end, this is the definitive history of an aviation icon that pushed the boundaries of flight.

Journalists go towards danger when others move away. This is the story of the men and women on the front lines of truth, from the battlefields of Iraq to the cartel-run streets of Mexico and the repressive climate of Russia. They face car bombs, kidnappings, and targeted assassinations to bring the public stories that need to be told. Discover the immense bravery, the personal sacrifices, and the deadly cost of news in a world where killing the messenger often goes unpunished. Directors: Tricia Todd, Eric Matthies

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.

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.

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.