Best Documentary

Join former CIA operative Bob Baer as he investigates one of the most terrifying developments in modern warfare: the rise of the suicide bomber. From the battlefields of the Iran-Iraq war to the bus attacks in Jerusalem and the 7/7 bombings in London, this acclaimed documentary traces the evolution of a deadly ideology. Featuring rare footage, exclusive interviews with failed bombers and their families, and expert insights into the roots of extremism, this eye-opening film sheds light on how individuals are transformed into weapons — and why this threat remains so difficult to stop. Director: David Batty & Kevin Toolis

"Hard Coal: Last of the Bootleg Miners" is a feature documentary about the last twelve independent coal miners in the United States and reveals the crushing injustices they face as the desperately cling to a familiar way of life while fighting off threats from unfamiliar enemies. The film is personal, political, and powerful. Director: Marc Brodzik

A powerful investigation into Europe's booming cocaine trade, revealing how Dutch and Belgian ports enabled the rise of the ruthless Mocro Maffia — a criminal network responsible for assassinations, corruption, and a growing threat to democracy and justice.

Southern Spain has become a key entry point for cannabis entering Europe, with an estimated 70% of the supply arriving through this region. This documentary follows the work of customs officers and police units as they patrol the Straits of Gibraltar, uncovering the routes and networks behind the growing cannabis trade. Since the early 1990s, former smuggling routes have evolved, and a complex system of organized activity has developed. This film explores how this shift has impacted law enforcement and communities, as well as the broader economic implications. We also take a look at domestic cultivation in regions like Catalonia, where police dismantle multiple grow operations every week. Despite close collaboration between police, prosecutors, and judges, limited resources and legal challenges remain. Through exclusive access and firsthand accounts, this documentary offers a detailed look at how Spain is addressing one of Europe’s most pressing security and social issues. Directors: Fatima Llambruch & Guillem Prieto

We gained exclusive access to the world’s biggest and toughest prison in El Salvador. Fifteen thousand prisoners are locked up here, most of whom will never leave alive. The prison is the symbol of a relentless crackdown on gangs by the 42-year-old president of El Salvador, Nayib Bukele. With more than 3,000 homicides per year for a population of six million, El Salvador has long held the record of being the most dangerous country in the world. This insecurity was caused by gang warfare between MS13 and Barrio 18. To combat this violence, El Salvador’s young president, Nayib Bukele, declared a ruthless war on gangs. Over 75,000 people accused of being members of MS 13 and Barrio 18 have been arrested and thrown into prison. An extraordinary penitentiary was built especially for them: the CECOT (Terrorism Containment Center). It’s the biggest prison in the world. In El Salvador, the policy of repression is bearing fruit. Neighborhoods that were once run by killers are now calm. Buoyed by the support of the population, who are delighted to be living in peace at last, the President continues his merciless manhunt for gang members. The last ones still at large are fleeing abroad. We spoke to one former gang member, now on the run. But, as documented by Amnesty International, the crackdown has also resulted in systemic human rights abuses. The police are under pressure to meet arrest quotas, innocent people have been arrested and their families struggle to get them released. These “blunders” do not thwart President Bukele’s security policy. To show that his country is now totally secure, last November he organized the Miss Universe election and has embraced his title of ’the world’s coolest dictator’. Directors: Marin Fossati & Mario Pécot

Bahraini revolt violently repressed 💔 #shorts

Even today, Maria Callas (1923-1977) still firmly remains one of classical music's best-selling female vocalists of all time. Through stills, archival footage, and interviews (including those with friends and co-workers) - This 90-minute presentation offers the viewer a fairly intimate portrait of Callas that also delves into the struggles, as well as the scandals, that had sadly plagued her during the latter-half of her rather short life. Director : Tony Palmer Cast : Maria Callas

To be woke is to be aware of the discrimination suffered by minorities and of white privilege. In Denver, Colorado, wealthy white Americans pay $500 to attend dinner parties where they are told they are unknowingly racist. At New York City Hall, a special commission tracks the “micro-aggressions” suffered by citizens from minorities. Holding the door for a woman, supposedly physically weaker than a man, can thus be considered a micro-aggression. Those who oppose this ideology are considered racist and are “cancelled”, that is to say socially eliminated and shamed on social networks. When UCLA economics professor, Gordon Klein, refused to automatically raise the marks of his black students who were taking an exam after the death of George Floyd and who, as such, would have been traumatized, he received death threats. He now lives under FBI protection and has been suspended. But some feel the woke revolution has gone too far. Even Terrence Floyd, George’s own brother murdered by the police, calls for a return to universalism and tolerance.

For 40 years, the Mossad has been secretly tracking "enemies of Israel" around the world. Original title: Israel - Palestine: Mossad's Secret War Directors: Laurent Richard and Jean-Baptiste Renaud

As our lives become increasingly connected, cyberspace has never been more vulnerable. Hackers are taking advantage of both technical flaws and human mistakes to gain access to sensitive information, often demanding ransom and causing widespread disruption. From businesses and government agencies to schools and individuals, no one is immune to the growing threat of cyberattacks. This eye-opening documentary shares the personal stories of those who have fallen victim to online crime, revealing how these incidents have deeply impacted their lives. While headlines often focus on the massive financial toll—estimated at six trillion dollars annually—the emotional and psychological effects on victims are just as severe. With cyberattacks on the rise worldwide, this film explores the real human consequences of a global digital crisis. Directors: Sabine Pirolt & Matteo Born Original title: Hackers: Identity Theft

Beyond the postcard image of Copacabana’s beaches, samba rhythms, and the towering statue of Christ the Redeemer, Rio de Janeiro faces a complex and deeply rooted reality. In some communities, armed criminal networks and heavily equipped police units operate in tense proximity. At times, this tension escalates into dangerous confrontations, placing both officers and residents at risk. In May 2021, a major police operation in Jacarezinho sparked national debate after it resulted in multiple casualties. Violence between rival groups and law enforcement continues to affect daily life in several neighbourhoods, with stray bullets and insecurity posing real dangers to civilians. We gained rare access to Rio's elite police unit, BOPE, to document their high-stakes operations. Their approach—swift and forceful—aims to dismantle organized crime, but not without controversy. Meanwhile, concerns about personal safety have led some residents to take protective measures. Gun ownership has increased since legal restrictions were eased under President Jair Bolsonaro, and debates about public security and personal freedom continue to divide opinion. This film offers an unfiltered look into the human impact of these tensions—on the communities navigating daily life in high-risk zones, on the police working in extreme conditions, and on a city caught between image and reality. Original title: Dangerous cities: Rio

A new globalized phenomenon : cell phones recording images of over-equipped police facing unarmed furious crowds. The war of images further polarizes police and protesters. How did it come to this? New revolts, less and less supervised, subjected to a low intensity war. We must avoid killing. “Less lethal” is the new norm: rubber bullets, grenades... But these dangerous weapons can cause harm. For democracies, the challenges are multiplying. How can the relationship between the population and the police be restored? What are the responses to street disturbances? 00:00 Chapter 1: Step back ! 54:28 Chapter 2: Almost Deadly Directed by Paul Moreira

America’s obesity crisis meets rising body positivity through stories of weight loss, fast food culture, plus-size modeling, and pageants embracing self-acceptance and confidence. Director: Edward Haywood

Saudi Arabia has long been known as one of the world’s most restrictive and secretive nations, but the country is now beginning to change. Recently, under the guidance of Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the desert kingdom has launched a series of major reforms. Billions of euros have been poured into developing solar energy facilities and cutting-edge real estate ventures in the desert. Despite these advancements, the Prince continues to crack down harshly on any dissent. This documentary takes an in-depth look at the Saudi Arabia shaped by MBS. Director: Kristell Bernaud

French LVF volunteers, including Ugo Ramacciotti, joined Nazi forces on the Eastern Front, committing atrocities against civilians in Belarus, revealed through Ramacciotti’s diary and films.

The air transport sector is struggling, with cut-throat competition, pressure from the environmental lobby, disgruntled passengers, rising energy prices, and the after-effects of the pandemic. It has suffered from one shock after another and is now in crisis. The skies are opening up again after the Covid 19 pandemic. Traffic in the skies is gradually picking up, but pressing issues remain. After years of low fares, passengers now expect cheap flights, but the aviation industry is almost totally dependent on fossil fuels, leaving it vulnerable to rising oil and gas prices. In an age of global warming, flying is increasingly becoming socially unacceptable. How can we reconcile the desire for travel, leisure and discovery with environmental responsibility? The industry once represented progress and technological innovation, offering easy access to far flung locations, extended holidays and quick breaks. But now the industry’s main players are facing major financial challenges. But are we ready to say goodbye to air travel? Director: Charles-Antoine de Rouvre Original title: Turbulent Times: The Future of Aviation

“The Lesson” follows four children as they experience Holocaust education in the public school system in Germany. Filmed over five years, from 2014 to 2019, the film is a window into deeply rooted social and political attitudes in Germany amidst the resurgence of the far-right, xenophobia and a fractured, disparate collective memory of the nation’s history. Director: Elena Horn

Life Without Parole: The Story of George Martorano tells the gripping true story of a man sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. George Martorano became the longest-serving first-time, nonviolent offender in American history. This powerful documentary explores his early life, his time inside one of the country’s toughest federal prisons, and his journey of transformation. Despite unimaginable odds, Martorano becomes a symbol of resilience, self-rehabilitation, and the urgent need for justice reform. Through his writings, advocacy, and unbreakable spirit, George’s story sheds light on the harsh realities of the U.S. prison system and the fight for second chances. Director: Jill Frechie

Every year, American police officers kill around 1000 people. 20 times more per head of population than in France and 60 times more than the UK. Today more than ever, the American police force is feared by those it is supposed to protect. Films of police shootings, whether from people’s phones or bodycams, have caused outrage. Since the death of Michael Brown in Ferguson, anti-police sentiment across America has grown. The police position has hardened, as they employ more and more drastic techniques – riot gear, assault rifles, armored vehicles. This over-militarization is no accident. For years, US police stations have been accumulating military equipment from the « 1033 program », created by the Pentagon to transfer excess military equipment to civil law enforcement agencies. From California to Florida, passing through Missouri, we have studied this police force which is, more than ever, under fire. Director: Sébastien Gilles

When a young boy and his mother vanish under suspicious circumstances, federal investigators launch a high-stakes operation to uncover the truth. As the case unfolds, a hidden world of power, corruption, and betrayal emerges. With help from forensic experts and undercover agents, the team follows a trail of clues that could bring down a dangerous criminal network. This gripping investigation reveals how determination and cutting-edge science can bring justice—even in the darkest of cases. Director: Jeffrey Fine

Abkhazia, Transnistria, the People’s Republic of Donetsk and North Ossetia. All breakaway republics, not recognized by the international community, and under the total control of Moscow. The Kremlin finances these regions, supports them militarily and uses them to destabilize neighboring countries and prevent them from joining the European Union. We travelled there in secret to find out what life in these phantom states is like. Transnistria is a pro-Russian enclave located in Moldova. It is completely off-limits to Western journalists. The enclave is led by Viktor Gushan, a mysterious oligarch, a former KGB agent. The countryside there has hardly produced anything since the fall of the USSR. People survive on the free gas, social assistance and pensions distributed by Moscow. Also dependent on Moscow are the Georgian regions of Abkhazia and North Ossetia. In Abkhazia, the 45,000 Georgians who live here are considered second-class citizens. They don’t have the right to vote and they need to get a pass to be allowed to travel around. The study of the Georgian language is forbidden in schools, while the study of Russian is compulsory. Ukraine is determined to seize back control of the Donbas, also known as the People’s Republics of Donetsk and Luhansk.

In the Democratic Republic of Congo, extreme poverty and immense wealth coexist. From struggling street vendors to millionaire musicians and corrupt pastors, the documentary explores survival, ambition, and inequality in one of Africa’s most resource-rich yet unstable nations.

The Light of Dawn tells the story of Operation Overlord. It traces one of the largest military operations man has ever conceived since the summer of 1941 - when Churchill and Roosevelt first broached the issue - to June 6, 1944. He deciphers the strategy of 'Hitler to make it fail. The film recounts this crucial turning point in World War II where questions of geopolitics (the difficult alliance between London, Moscow and Washington), the various military strategies and technological prowess as well as the fate of the young soldiers who attacked the wall of the Atlantic will pay a heavy price. The landing will be told here in the style of a play with its intrigues, its dramas, the art of bluffing and the fate of the world being played out. Entirely written with archival footage remastered and colorized, this 90-minute film written and directed by Jean-Christophe Rosé was produced for France Télévisions as part of the 70th anniversary of the D-Day landings in June 2014. This film was produced by Kuiv Productions.

00:00 First Man Thirty million years ago a new group of creatures appeared on planet Earth: the great apes. From their ranks arose one family, gifted with exceptional skills: our protagonists. This family would change the face of our world forever. Here, for the very first time, is the saga of our origins, told through the story of one single family - an epic journey upon which the latest scientific discoveries shine an exciting new light. Directors: Jérôme Guiot, Frédéric Fougea 01:32:05 Homo Sapiens 300 000 years ago, a new species of man appears. He is to be our most direct ancestor. He sets out to explore the land and seas. He adapts to every climate, finds ways to survive, tames of surrounding forces, pushing himself to the limit. He invents art, hunting, agriculture, livestock farming, writing even medecine. His imaginantion transports him to the world of invisible. What is his true story, how exactly did he conquered the planet, how did he lay the foundation of our existence? Homo sapiens is coming, he will change the face of the earth. Director: Jacques Malaterre 03:06:05 The Rise of Man Twelve thousand years ago man reaches a decisive turning point in his history. He emerges from prehistory and lays the foundations of the first civilizations. THE RISE OF MAN relates the extraordinary evolution of society, from the first village to the first city, from nomadic behavior to sophisticated urban lifestyles. Director: Jacques Malaterre