Nick Cunningham

In La Pieta, produced by SUICAfilms (Spain), AXfilms (Iceland) and Studio Nominum (Lithuania) and selected for Thessaloniki’s International Competition, a veil of snow covers the Icelandic glacier of Vatnajökull, the largest on the island, and old voices echo like prayers – a requiem for what once was, and what will be lost forever. “There is something fascinating, almost mystical, about standing in front of a glacier. It’s the closest feeling to when, as children, we believed in God,” say co-directors Rafa Molés and Pepe Andreu.

A total of 252 full-length and short documentary films will be screened at the 28th TIDF, with a record number of 80 world premieres, as well as 32 international and 11 European premieres. The opening film of the festival (March 5) is Ask E. Jean by Ivy Meeropol, while the Oscar-nominated Mr. Nobody Against Putin will close the festival March 15. Debutant doc director Juliette Binoche will present her In-I In Motion in Thessaloniki.

In her analysis of a murder in a small close-knit Florida community, Geeta Gandbhir, who won the Directing Award for US documentary at Sundance 2025, presents a devastating critique of race, inequality and the vigilante-style ‘stand your ground’ legislation in operation in the US today. “The right to defend yourself…has been weaponised against black and brown people as a licence to kill,” she tells BDE. The film is in the running for a Feature Doc Academy Award.

Visions du Réel announced February 25 Sergei Loznitsa as the Special Guest of the 57th edition of the festival (17–26 April). Loznitsa will participate with a masterclass and a selected retrospective of his documentary work. “With a filmography marked by astonishing diversity – from short to feature films, oscillating between fiction and documentary – Loznitsa is a major figure of contemporary non-fiction cinema, and beyond,” the festival writes.

The Krakow Film Festival and Polish Documentary Film Directors Guild have established the Marcel Łoziński Documentary Award, valued at €7,000, to acknowledge documentary films that expand the artistic boundaries of the medium. The winner will be announced during the upcoming Krakow FF (May 31 to June 7). “In a world dominated by algorithms and ready-made formats, the prize recognises films that defy convention, steadfast in their honesty and creative vision,” the festival writes.

Institute of Documentary Film (IDF) is inviting documentary professionals to attend East Doc Platform 2026 (EDP), taking place from 19 to 25 March 2026 at the French Institute in Prague, and held in association with the One World International Human Rights Film Festival. This year’s edition carries special significance as the Institute of Documentary Film celebrates 25 years of activity in 2026. “Alongside its rich programme, the platform will reflect on a quarter-century dedicated to supporting documentary cinema," write organisers. Applications deadline: March 5.

US filmmaker Craig Renaud talks to BDE about his late brother; docmaker, journalist and eponymous subject of the Oscar-nominated Armed Only With a Camera. Brent was the first US journalist to die while reporting on the war in Ukraine and, at times, the film makes for a very difficult and disturbing watch. “When Brent was killed, it was instinctual, I knew that I had to keep filming…it was a hundred per cent what Brent would have wanted me to do,” Craig underlines. Brent Renaud is also credited as co-director of the film.

Ukrainian Iryna Tsylik presented her animated docudrama project Red Zone, about life during just one day of war, last week at EFM. “I chose an animated format for this film because, I believe, it can address even the most intimate and painful experiences safely but accurately,” she comments. “Animation pairs beautifully with my personal art form, poetry. Unlike a more traditional documentary, these two art forms can express the absurdities of my mundane life (which is really anything but mundane), with just the right amount of humour and a hint of magic.”

Mr Nobody Against Putin by Pasha Talankin and David Borenstein was handed the gong for Best Documentary during the Bafta award ceremony February 22 at London’s Festival Hall. The film, which is also nominated for Academy Award, follows a Russian teacher (Talankin) who documents the Putin administration’s movements in controlling public perception of the ongoing war in Ukraine.

Yo (Love is a Rebellious Bird), the only documentary in Berlin Competition, picks up the Silver Bear for Outstanding Artistic Contribution. The Berlinale Documentary Award was given to If Pigeons Turned to Gold by Pepa Lubojacki. In the Teddy Awards, the Best Documentary/Essay Film award went to Brydie O’Connor for Barbara Forever. All doc awards…