Top Docs: Award-Winning Documentary Filmmakers

In honor of Matt Wolf's big wins at the Emmys this year--not only for "Pee-wee as Himself" as Best Documentary Feature, but for his own win as director of that documentary as well as picture editing for Damian Rodriguez--we are re-releasing our interview with him at Sundance earlier this year. As Director Matt Wolf shows in his insightful and fun 2-part HBO series “Pee-wee as Himself”, in Pee-wee, Paul Rubens found a persona that allowed him to both reveal and yet hide some core truths about who he was. Fascinated with television and show business since he was a boy, Rubens combined elements of his childhood’s pop culture with the art world of Southern California in the 70s and early 80s to craft a character that would both conquer the then punkish milieu of Melrose Avenue as well as create a nationally televised children’s TV show. To achieve this, Wolfe delineates how Rubens deliberately foreclosed both his potential love life as well as cast aside long-held friendships. Wolfe’s series demonstrates both the costs as well as the benefits of outsized talent and ambition. You can watch “Pee-wee as Himself” on HBO and HBO Max starting Friday, May 23rd. Follow: @mattpwolf on Instagram @topdocspod on Instagram and X The Presenting Sponsor of "Top Docs" is Netflix.

It’s Primetime. Yes, the Primetime Emmys are here, and we’ve got you covered. Culminating our “Top Docs” podcasts featuring the leading contenders for in the documentary categories, we talk to The Hollywood Reporter’s Executive Editor of Awards Scott Feinberg who breaks down the 2025 Emmy nominees in all the major documentary categories, including Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special; Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Series; Exceptional Merit in Documentary Filmmaking; and Outstanding Directing. The 77th Creative Arts Emmy Awards, including all the major doc categories, will be held on September 6 - 7. An award-winning columnist and podcast host (“Awards Chatter”), Executive Editor of Awards Scott Feinberg has led The Hollywood Reporter’s awards coverage since 2011. He is best known for his “Feinberg Forecast,” through which he assesses the standings of various showbiz awards races, and for Awards Chatter, the interview-centric podcast that he started in 2015. Follow: @scott_feinberg on Instagram @topdocspod on Instagram and X/twitter The Presenting Sponsor of "Top Docs" is Netflix.

Welcome to the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival (September 4 – 14), home of the big anniversary! This year’s edition of one of the world’s great film festivals marks TIFF’s landmark 50th anniversary. In addition, renowned curator and all-around documentary powerhouse Thom Powers (host of the Pure Nonfiction podcast) celebrates 20 years as the festival’s lead documentary programmer. Thom returns to “Top Docs” to spotlight TIFF’s extraordinary documentary lineup that will no doubt set the table for the rest of the year in international nonfiction cinema. Running the gamut from established directors to breakthrough newcomers; serious topics to lighthearted fare; cinematically challenging work to crowd pleasers, TIFF’s got ‘em all. In addition, in a special treat, Thom tantalizes us with his terrific new book, “Mondo Documentary” — hot off the press — which shares his perspectives on more than 350 films that he has presented to audiences over the course of his 20 years at TIFF. We also dive into the book’s revelatory introductory essay, “How Did I Get Here.” If life is a journey, sometimes it’s fitting to break out the champagne and celebrate those milestone anniversaries. Thom’s new book “Mondo Documentary” is available directly through Pure Nonfiction Books: https://purenonfiction.stck.me/book/1166355/Mondo-Documentary Follow: @thompowers1 on Instagram @topdocspod on Instagram and X/twitter The Presenting Sponsor of "Top Docs" is Netflix.

Today we are repeating one of our favorite conversations. Mike spoke with the filmmakers of "Sugarcane" at Sundance 2024. They would go on to win the Grand Jury award for Directing at that festival, and then would be nominated for the 97th Academy Awards last year. If you enjoy this conversation, you may want to check out our "Anatomy of a scene from Sugarcane." Kicking off our on-the-ground coverage of Sundance 2024, Julian Brave Noisecat and Emily Kassie join Mike to discuss their new film, “Sugarcane”. In this film, they explore the legacy of the St. Joseph Mission, one of many segregated residential schools promulgated by the Canadian government run by the Catholic Church. The stories they tell are deeply personal (both Julian’s grandmother and father attended St. Joseph’s) as well illustrative of a wider history of abuse within the schools. As they explain, they deploy and reshape various filmic conventions–the Western, archival, the travel doc–in innovative ways to do justice to the lives and stories of their subject. The result is a many-layered testament to survival despite deep, still ongoing pain. Thanks to Amos Cochran of Edit/Score for hosting our 2024 Sundance interviews. Edit/Score is a new music library with an innovative approach to finding music for your film. Listen to the library and learn more at editscoremusic.com The Presenting Sponsor of Top Docs is Netflix. Follow: @emilykassie on Instagram & twitter @jnosiecat on Instagram & twitter @topdocspod on Instagram and twitter

Acclaimed photographer and filmmaker Lauren Greenfield (“The Queen of Versailles”) is drawn time and again to overlapping and powerful themes like addiction, wealth, consumerism and celebrity culture. Now, with her first doc series “Social Studies” — a fascinating 5-part exploration of the tight grip that social media has over Generation Z — Lauren unpacks these interrelated themes in the context of the online social interactions that have taken over young people’s lives. Lauren joins Ken on the pod to discuss how the end of the covid pandemic inadvertently created an opportune moment to begin following a diverse group of young people in Los Angeles and their lives on social media just as they were preparing to return to in-person classes for the first time in a year-and-a-half. Combining observational footage, interviews with young people and their parents, roundtable discussions, and clips of her participants’ social media feeds, “Social Studies” delves into the pitfalls, as well as the positive aspects, of social media. When we reach the end of the series, the film’s participants confront an inescapable dilemma: should I or shouldn’t I delete my social media apps? “Social Studies” is available for streaming on Hulu. The series is nominated for the Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Series. Follow: @greenfield_lauren on Instagram and @lgreen66 on X @topdocspod on Instagram and X “Top Docs” is now on YouTube! Hidden Gems: “The Painter and the Thief” “Mr. Nobody Against Putin” “The Kingmaker” The Presenting Sponsor of "Top Docs" is Netflix.

Did Sly blow it? As part of continuing Emmys coverage, we are joined by Amir “Questlove” Thompson and Joseph Patel, the director and producer of “Sly Lives! (aka the Burden of Black Genius)” (as well as the same for the 2022 Oscar Winner “Summer of Soul”) to discuss the life and career of Sly Stone, whose interracial and multigendered band drew upon the stew of musical influences of the early 60’s Bay Area to create an innovative new sound. The story as it’s commonly told: Once Sly gained widespread fame after playing Woodstock, he moved to Bel Air and adopted a nonstop drug-taking party lifestyle that would diminish his genius. But as Thompson and Patel explain, the truth is much more complicated. Ultimately, they show that Sly–who passed away just this summer–served less as a cautionary tale, than as an emblem of genius and inspiration for a host of artists in rock, funk, hip hop and more. Watch “Sly Lives!” on Hulu. The Presenting Sponsor of "Top Docs" is Netflix.

Continuing our coverage of the 2025 Emmy Awards, Mike is joined by Peter Ettedgui and Ian Bonhôte, directors of Super/Man and nominees for Outstanding Directing For A Documentary/Nonfiction Program (the film received three other Emmy nominations as well ). In telling the story of Christopher Reeve, who embodied the superhero in a series of films beginning in 1978, Ettedgui and Bonhôte anchor their story with Reeve’s tragic fall in 1995, one which left him paralyzed. They then interweave the twinned stories of Reeve’s rise to fame (as well as the discontents that followed) with that of the decade of his life that followed the fall. The effect of this intricate narrative braiding reinforces the message delivered to Reeve by his wife Dana in the days after the fall: “You are still you.” The movie becomes a testament to the continuity of spirit in the face of physical challenge, as Reeve not only faces his personal demons, but becomes a full-throated advocate for those that share his condition. Super/Man can be seen on Hulu. Hidden Gems: “Apocalypse in the Tropics” “Grand Theft Hamlet” The Presenting Sponsor of "Top Docs" is Netflix.

In order to catch a really great wave, 100 foot or otherwise, you need to be extremely patient, waiting for that next great “set” (group of waves) that’s going to put you in position for the ride of the day — or ride of your life. It’s also true for those making films about surfing, including director Chris Smith (“American Movie”) and the massively talented — and patient — team behind the hugely successful series, “100 Foot Wave,” which, this year, dropped its third, and, in some ways, most ambitious season yet. Executive Producer Joe Lewis (“Fleabag”, “Transparent”) returns to “Top Docs” to discuss the third season of this epic series, which follows big wave surfing icon Garrett McNamara, his wife Nicole, and a thoroughly engaging cast of characters as they span the globe, chasing those elusive giant waves. Joe describes the devastating experience for the community when surfing legend Marcio Freire loses his life at Nazare and the once-in-a-decade opportunity that arrives out of the blue for Garrett and his tightknit group to surf at mythical Cortes Bank in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Ultimately, through a seemingly endless pursuit of surfing dreams, it turns out that the greatest rewards for these restless souls may be waiting for them back home. “100 Foot Wave, Season 3” is available for streaming on HBO Max. The film is nominated for the Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Series, Outstanding Cinematography for a Nonfiction Program, Outstanding Picture Editing for a Nonfiction Program, Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Nonfiction Program, and Outstanding Sound Editing for a Nonfiction or Reality Program. Follow: @JoeLewis on Instagram and X @topdocspod on Instagram and X “Top Docs” is now on YouTube! Hidden Gem: “Burden of Dreams” The Presenting Sponsor of "Top Docs" is Netflix.

There’s no place quite like “P-Town,” the remarkable world of wonder created by Patrice Jetter, the star of Peabody award-winning director Ted Passon’s (“Philly D.A.”) enchanting and heavy hitting documentary “Patrice: The Movie.” Over the last 20 years, Patrice’s scale model town has become a source of endless fantasy and fun, but also an escape from the “real” world, which, all too often, has put up obstacles for people with disabilities like Patrice and her romantic partner Garry. Ted joins Ken on “Top Docs” to discuss how he came to collaborate with his friend Patrice on this remarkable cinematic journey. The film weaves present tense moments with Patrice, Garry and their friends with scripted scenes from Patrice’s life featuring adult Patrice as the main actor and a cast of children playing the other roles. It is a thoroughly original approach that recreates the traumas from Patrice’s past while also showing how she has managed to endure and overcome. When the couple and their friends take on the long-standing law that has enshrined a deeply unfair marriage penalty for people who receive disability benefits, this becomes a challenge on a much bigger scale. “Patrice: The Movie” is available for streaming on Hulu. The film is nominated for the Primetime Emmy for Exceptional Merit in Documentary Filmmaking. Follow: @tedpasson on Instagram @topdocspod on Instagram and X “Top Docs” is now on YouTube! Hidden Gem: “Hummingbirds” The Presenting Sponsor of "Top Docs" is Netflix.

I Am: Celine Dion In a world dominated by constant pitching and fundraising, once in a long while, filmmakers get “The Call.” “The Call” is when a producer calls and asks if you are interested in a project, fully funded and with the main participant ready to go. Such was the case for Academy Award®-nominated director Irene Taylor (“Moonlight Sonata: Deafness in Three Movements”, “The Final Inch”) who received a call from a producer about the possibility of making what ultimately became Irene’s exceptional portrait documentary “I Am: Celine Dion.” Irene joins Ken on “Top Docs” to discuss how she was approached for the project and the surprisingly close collaborative relationship that she formed with Celine as the iconic singer faced up to the health crisis that forced her to stop performing. Suffering for over 15 years with a rare neurological disorder called “Stiff Person Syndrome,” Celine kept her condition secret before revealing the diagnosis to fans in a video testimonial (captured in a meta moment by Irene’s team). In our deep dive conversation, Irene talks about some of the emotionally wrenching scenes in the film, how Irene and her small crew practically embedded at Celine’s house and the ultimate question for any filmmaker in her situation: “How the hell are we gonna deal with the “Titanic” song?” “I Am: Celine Dion” is available for streaming on Prime Video. Follow: @directorirenetaylor on Instagram @topdocspod on Instagram and X “Top Docs” is now on YouTube! Hidden Gem: “The Shepherd and the Bear” The Presenting Sponsor of "Top Docs" is Netflix.

Acclaimed director Amy Berg (“West of Memphis,” “Janis: Little Girl Blue”) set her sights on making a documentary about the beloved singer/songwriter Jeff Buckley some 15 years ago. Now, with her finely crafted new documentary, “It’s Never Over, Jeff Buckley,” Amy delivers a fresh take on Buckley’s remarkable music and a thoughtful look at his life and loves. Amy joins Ken on “Top Docs” to discuss Jeff Buckley’s meteoric rise as a dynamic musical force in the ‘90s, whose sensitive and introspective lyrics ran counter to the grunge and metal scenes ascendant at the time. Jeff’s influences, from Nina Simone to Led Zeppelin and Soundgarden, were surprisingly diverse. His voice — a powerful and haunting instrument in its own right — was unmatched. One listen of his soul-piercing version of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” is all the proof you need of that. At the heart of the film is Jeff’s complicated relationship with his dear mother, Mary, who granted Amy access to an incredible array of personal archival material, and with two of his girlfriends, who, collectively, provide insight into this complex young man. He took the music world by storm but had to battle his own demons… and left us all too soon. “It’s Never Over, Jeff Buckley” is in release by Magnolia Films and opens in theaters nationwide on August 8th. Follow: @amy_berg on Instagram @topdocspod on Instagram and X “Top Docs” is now on YouTube! Hidden Gem: “The Cruise” The Presenting Sponsor of "Top Docs" is Netflix.

With intense scrutiny of the trans community comes threats to the personal safety, healthcare and civil rights of trans people. Just ask Sam Feder (“Disclosure”), director of the timely new documentary “Heightened Scrutiny” that follows ACLU attorney Chase Strangio on his journey all the way to the Supreme Court to fight for the rights of transgender adolescents and their access to gender affirming healthcare. Sam and producer Amy Scholder join Ken on “Top Docs” to discuss their collaboration on “Disclosure” and their subsequent creative partnership on “Heightened Scrutiny.” Through this multi-layered story, we observe Chase, the first out trans person to argue a case before the Court, up-close as he prepares his legal brief. But, as we talk about in our convo, the film succeeds in going deeper than just being a portrait of a civil rights pioneer. How have mainstream media outlets not only presented a distorted lens on the trans community but provided fodder for the very forces seeking to overturn trans rights? It’s a chilling and urgent story that certainly deserves your heightened interest. Starting July 18th, “Heightened Scrutiny” is in select theaters in NYC and LA. Follow: @samfeder_1 on Instagram and @SamFederFilm on X and @amyjscholder on Instagram @topdocspod on Instagram and X “Top Docs” is now on YouTube! The Presenting Sponsor of "Top Docs" is Netflix.

It all starts with the fish. In director Matt Tyrnauer’s (“Carville, Winning is Everything, Stupid”) delectable and insightful new documentary “Nobu,” we are reminded of this fact when Nobu himself, the man behind the restaurant empire that shares his name, reels in a fish, skins, slices and serves it right on the boat to friends and family. It is one of many revelatory scenes that, taken as a whole, peel back the layers of Nobuyuki “Nobu” Matsuhisa’s life and his long journey to re-define sushi for the modern world. Matt joins Ken on the pod to shed light on his observational approach to documentary portraiture and to explore the unique and ever-expanding Nobu style. Rather than a straight line to success, Nobu’s story is one of early struggles, crushing failures and constant attention to detail. From a tense scene featuring an executive chef struggling to reproduce one of Nobu’s signature dishes to a humdrum meeting of Nobu’s business partners (including the actor and Nobu partner Robert De Niro in a surprising and riveting star turn) that suddenly turns contentious, “Nobu” not only spotlights the talents of a game-changing chef, but once again reminds us why the hard-earned observational approach is as satisfying as a perfectly prepared plate of sushi. “Nobu” is being released by Vertical in theaters in NY on June 27th and in cities nationwide beginning July 4th. Follow: @tyrnauer on Instagram and @mtyrnauer on X @topdocspod on Instagram and X And now, also look for “Top Docs” on YouTube! The Presenting Sponsor of "Top Docs" is Netflix.

During Jacinda Ardern’s historic run as Prime Minister of New Zealand from 2017 - 2023, she became a worldwide phenomenon and icon of the Left. From the pandemic to a horrific mass shooting in NZ, Jacinda faced a series of major crises, as well as a media crush that followed her everywhere. But during those tumultuous times, one thing remained unknown: what was it like for the person at the center of these events to experience all that — and, simultaneously, being a new mother as well? In Michelle Walshe and Lindsay Utz’s enthralling documentary “Prime Minister,” we now get to hear from the former PM herself. Michelle and Lindsay join Ken on the pod to describe what it was like to embark on this journey of self-reflection with Jacinda Ardern. Relying on a combination of intimate home movie footage shot by Jacinda’s husband, news clips and original material, the two directors put us right back in the middle of these events, as well as offer Jacinda’s insightful perceptive on what it means to her now and where to go from here. “Prime Minister” is in theatrical release by Magnolia Pictures. Hidden Gem: Lindsay: “Time” Michelle: “Navalny”, “The Jinx” Follow: @utzies26 on Instagram and @Lindsay_utz on X @shellfishes on Instagram @topdocspod on Instagram and X The Presenting Sponsor of "Top Docs" is Netflix.

In elementary school, Emmy Award-winning director Cristina Costantini (“Science Fair”) was a science nerd who idolized astronaut Sally Ride, the first American woman in space. Cristina even painted a mural of Sally on one of her elementary school’s walls. Fast forward to today and National Geographic Documentary Films has just released Cristina’s terrific new feature-length documentary about the astronaut called simply, “Sally.” Cristina joins Ken on the pod to share her lifelong admiration of Sally Ride and to discuss this nuanced, three-dimensional portrait that examines Sally’s private and public lives in equal measure. Tam O’Shaughnessy, Sally’s life partner of 27 years, serves as the documentary’s central storyteller, and from Tam and others, we get a fuller picture of Sally than ever before. We also learn of the high cost paid by both women for keeping their relationship a secret until Sally’s early death from cancer at age 61. By the end, we find ourselves as dazzled by this timeless love story as we are by Sally’s historic blast into space. “Sally” is streaming on Disney+ and Hulu. Follow: @xtinatini on Instagram and X @topdocspod on Instagram and X The Presenting Sponsor of "Top Docs" is Netflix.

It makes sense that Simone Biles, winner of 11 Olympic medals, and considered by many to be the greatest gymnast of all time, would stick to a consistent pre-competition ritual to prepare for battle. But, as filmmaker Katie Walsh shows in one of the more intimate scenes in her exceptional four-part Netflix docuseries, “Simone Biles Rising,” the big surprise comes when we see that the hair braiding skills of Simone’s mom Nellie might be the most important part of this ritual. This simple act of touch prior to each day’s competition says it all about the close bond between mother and daughter and the person Simone turns to in the most difficult moments. Katie joins Ken on “Top Docs” to talk about this special relationship between Simone and Nellie and what it was like to document the highs and lows of Simone’s remarkable career. The series begins with Simone’s shocking case of the “twisties” at the 2021 Tokyo Games that caused her to withdraw from the sport she’d come to dominate. Over the course of the series, Katie captures all the key moments as Simone, with the support of her family and close network of friends, finds her way back to gold medal glory. But, just as important, as a powerful advocate for mental health, Simone challenges society’s expectations of its most celebrated athletes — and once again rises above. “Simone Biles Rising” is streaming on Netflix. Hidden Gem: “Daughters” Follow: @projectlifemedia on Instagram @topdocspod on Instagram and X The Presenting Sponsor of "Top Docs" is Netflix.

Director Josh Greenbaum returns to “Top Docs” to discuss the poignant and culminating closing sequence in his deeply moving documentary “Will & Harper.” In the film, close friends Will Farrell and Harper Steele embark on a road trip across America to get everything out in the open about Harper’s recent transition and to support her new life as a trans woman. With the sun setting over the Pacific Ocean, the road trip and the film come down to these final crucial moments. Josh elaborates on his cinematographers’ instinctive and skillful camerawork, as well as themes, music, edting and lighting. Nothing does more to leave a lasting and deeply felt impression on an audience than a formally successful and emotionally satisfying ending. “Will & Harper” lands its ending about as perfectly as a golden Southern California sunset. “Will & Harper” is streaming on Netflix. Please enjoy our original “Top Docs” podcast with Josh from earlier this year discussing “Will & Harper.” Follow: @josh.greenbaum on Instagram @topdocspod on Instagram and X The Presenting Sponsor of "Top Docs" is Netflix.

R.J. Cutler returns to the pod to dig in deeper to his Netflix documentary on Martha Stewart, “Martha”. R.J. and Mike turn their eyes to a few minutes early on (starting about minute 15 if you want to watch along), when a young Martha Stewart pursues motherhood, Wall Street, and ultimately Turkey Hill to become “Martha”. R.J. explains how every element–cinematography, archive, editing, graphic design, music–both propels Martha forward towards her seemingly inevitable iconic status while simultaneously pulling her back towards her humble roots. Follow: @rjcutler928 on Instagram and @rjcutler on X @topdocspod on Instagram and twitter/X The Presenting Sponsor of "Top Docs" is Netflix.

Thom Zimny (“Springsteen on Broadway”, “Springsteen: Letter to You”) can tell you a lot about Bruce Springsteen. Through the course of Thom’s many documentaries featuring Bruce and the E Street Band, including his latest film, “Road Diary: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band,” Thom has delved deeply into the music, personalities, and rollicking performances that have made the band one of the most beloved rock-and-roll acts of all time. Thom joins Ken for a return visit to the pod (“Sly”) to discuss his 25-year collaboration with Bruce and the rich cinematic body of work that Thom has created over the course of Bruce’s many albums and tours. With “Road Diary,” Thom documents the band’s first tour in six years. At first, the question hangs in the air: “Does the band still have it?” But, once the tour begins, the rust falls away quickly. Soon, the band, which features new musicians as well as returning veterans, is rocking stadiums from Tampa to Barcelona. Thom is there to capture not only what is happening on stage but to show the profound impact that Bruce and the band continue to have on multiple generations of fans. It’s the kind of special relationship that endures. “Road Diary: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band” is streaming on Hulu and Disney+. Hidden Gem: “Zappa” Follow: @tzimnyc on Instagram and @ThomZimny on X @topdocspod on Instagram and X

As explained by director Liz Garbus ( Bobby Fisher Against the World), ”Gone Girls: The Long Island Serial Killer is, “A documentary series that follows the case of young women who went missing from New York City and Long Island. Ultimately, it's a story about what victims are valued and how when justice fails, people have to step up and demand it for their loved ones.” This documentary follows on the success of her docudrama “Lost Girls”, which features a fiery Amy Ryan as Mari Gilbert, the mother of a young woman, Shannan Gilbert, last heard on a 911 call pleading for help from the danger she believed threatened her life. Mari insistently sought justice for her lost child, a crusade which subsequently led to the discovery of the bodies of several other young women on the Southern shore of Long Island. In the wake of the recent identification of a likely killer of these women (and eventually others), Garbus felt compelled to return to tell the story afresh. What she reveals is one of a police department that went wrong, and an investigation that long lay fallow, only to be brought to a seeming revelation when key evidence and an indicted killer are recognized for what they truly are. Hidden Gem: No Other Land Follow: @lizfgarbus on Instagram @lizgarbus on X @topdocspod on Instagram and X The Presenting Sponsor of "Top Docs" is Netflix.