Nick Cunningham

The 2026 TIFF Docs line-up features 21 titles and 18 world prems, and includes new works by celebrated docmakers such as Mila Aung-Thwin, Sophie Fiennes, Alex Gibney, Barbara Kopple and Sine Plambech. More than two-thirds of the films are directed by women. Seven of the selections are Canadian, while 12 hail from both Europe and the US (six each). The final selections originate from Colombia and Peru respectively. The programme will open with Rapinoe, a personal profile of the US soccer star Megan Rapinoe. The 51st edition of TIFF runs September 10–20.

The documentary binds together people from two distant territories – the Atacama Desert in Chile and the Jadar Valley in Serbia – through their shared struggle for the right to decide the future of the place they call home. “As well as being a film about resistance, All We Have Is Us is a reminder that filmmaking itself can be an act of resistance,” the festival writes of the Chilean documentary.

Directed by internationally acclaimed violinist Lara St. John and produced by Patrick Hamm, the feature documentary exposes decades of sexual abuse and institutional failures within the classical music world, via the testimony of survivors, journalists and advocates. The film world-premiered at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival, before going on to win the Courage Award at Cinema d’iDEA in Rome.

For the upcoming 25th edition of FIFDH, organisers are looking for 12-16 completed films with an impact campaign, as well as projects in advanced production that wish to develop a campaign. From October 2026 to February 2027, human rights filmmakers will be trained to craft and refine their impact campaigns before being connected during Impact Days (7-9 March 2027) with major impact players operating both internationally and within Geneva’s network of organisations, policymakers, and philanthropists. Deadline: July 28.

Out of Competition Non-fiction section includes new documentaries by Wim Wenders, Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi/Jimmy Chin, Amos Gitai, Barbara Kopple, Sergei Loznitsa and Victor Kossakovsky. Six ‘films on films’ are also selected, alongside the short films Wild Asparagus by Avi Mograbi and They’re Here by Laura Poitras and Rachel Mueller Films, the latter described as a horror/documentary focussing on the ICE interventions and protests in Minneapolis. Five docs are further selected for Venice sidebar, Giornate degli Autori.

This year’s Competition Programme – Documentary Film selection, made once more by Rada Šešić, comprises 22 films from 305 submissions, of which 13 are feature-length and eight are short documentaries, plus one feature-length film screening Out of Competition. Nine of the films are world premieres, four are international premieres, and eight are regional premieres.

Submissions for the 29th Thessaloniki International Documentary Festival (March 4-14 2027) are now open. TiDF is one of the most important documentary festivals in Europe and an Oscars® documentary feature qualifying event, celebrating the art of documentary via a rich program of films, events, initiatives and its Agora Doc Market, the hub for film professionals.

The 2026 edition, running 18-22 September, presents 52 doc projects, gathering both renowned and emerging directors and producers from the Nordic and Baltic regions. “This year’s Forum and Work In Progress selection once again proves the remarkable scope and quality of contemporary Nordic documentary cinema,” says Lena Nitsch, Forum Manager. “The projects show a range of experience from the deeply personal to the profoundly global while looking at their subjects through a critical lens and with commitment to democratic discourse.”

The Documentary Association of Europe co-founder and Exec Director will step aside from programming and curation duties, but will continue to play both admin and finance roles, as well as remain on the Executive Board. DAE will furthermore create a new role of Programme Director, for which applications are currently being sought. “It is a great moment for fresh ideas, energy and vision to join us in the association,” O’Shea posted to association members July 20. “I will be around to ease transition and provide guidance where I can, while respecting the autonomy and vision of the next generation.” 

The longlists span 15 programme categories, reflecting the best stand-alone documentaries and series launched across broadcaster channels, streamers and online, as well as theatrical. The awards furthermore “form the centrepiece of the Grierson Trust’s year-long celebration of the 100th anniversary of John Grierson first coining the term ‘documentary’ when discussing filmmaking,” the organisation underlines. The awards ceremony will take place November 10 at London’s Roundhouse, London.