DOC NYC announced its influential short lists Wednesday, often a reliable gauge of which documentaries are connecting with awards voters as Oscar season heats up.
Among the films making the festival’s short list of features: Ava DuVernay’s 14th; You Can See Everything, the Elizabeth Holmes-focused documentary directed by Nathan Fielder and Lance Oppenheim; Sundance winner To Hold a Mountain, directed by Biljana Tutorov and Petar Glomazić, and Once Upon a Time in Harlem, directed by David Greaves. Two films centered on Gaza also made the short list: American Doctor, directed by Poh Si Teng, and NAZA, directed by Oscar winners Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor.
Scroll for the complete list of films to make the DOC NYC short lists for features and shorts. DOC NYC also announced films its Winner’s Circle and Selects Encore sections, completing the 2026 program. The festival runs in person from November 11-19 at IFC Center, SVA Theatre, and Village East by Angelika in New York City; it continues online through November 29 (with films available to viewers across the U.S.).
DOC NYC’s Short List: Features selection committee is overseen by Artistic Director Jaie Laplante and Director of Special Projects Thom Powers.
“The Short Lists sections showcase a selection of nonfiction features and shorts that the festival’s programming team considers to be among the year’s strongest contenders for Oscars and other prizes,” notes a release, “while Winner’s Circle is a celebration of films already awarded at major international and U.S. film events that are worthy of additional consideration. Selects Encore showcases significant titles from DOC NYC’s year-round Selects screening series—films that continue to be part of our awards season conversations.”
Winner’s Circle screenings include the NYC premiere of Pegah Ahangarani’s Rehearsals for a Revolution — winner of the L’Œeil d’Or prize for Best Documentary at Cannes and the UK submission for Best International Feature Film at the Oscars – and Closure, Michał Marczak’s documentary that won the Golden Alexander at the Thessaloniki International Documentary Festival in Greece.
Among short documentaries making DOC NYC’s short list: The Baddest Speech Writer of All, directed by two-time Oscar winner Ben Proudfoot and NBA great Stephen Curry; The Boys and the Bees, directed by Arielle Knight; La Tierra del Valor (Home of the Brave), directed by Cristina Costantini; They’re Here, directed by Laura Poitras and Rachel Lauren Mueller; The Revolution Against Death, directed by Joshua Oppenheimer; The Tuners, directed by Pawel Piotr Chorzepa, and Water Cooler, directed by Emma V.F.
This year’s selections for Short List: Features are:
14TH
Director: Ava DuVernay; Producers: Ava DuVernay, Spencer Averick, Tammy Garnes, Paul Garnes
A powerful film essay exploring the legacy of the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
AMERICAN DOCTOR
Director: Poh Si Teng; Producers: Poh Si Teng, Kirstine Barfod, Reem Haddad
A visceral, unflinching film following three notable U.S. physicians as they provide in-person support at a Gaza hospital treating victims of mass-casualty events from the Israeli war campaign.
THE BEND IN THE RIVER
Director: Robb Moss; Producers: Lisa Remington, Kristin Feeley
A masterful meditation on the eternal, the temporal and the inevitable, from veteran filmmaker Robb Moss.
EVERYBODY TO KENMURE STREET
Director: Felipe Bustos Sierra; Producer: Ciara Barry
An uplifting portrayal of resistance focuses on an incident in 2021 when immigration officers conducted a raid on Glasgow’s Kenmure Street.
A FOX UNDER A PINK MOON (NYC Premiere)
Directors: Mehrdad Oskouei, Soraya Akhlaghi; Producer: Mehrdad Oskouei
A young, talented Afghan woman living under the thumb of the patriarchy in Iran channels her emotions into unforgettable expressions of art.
THE GREAT EXPERIMENT
Directors: Stephen Maing, Eric Daniel Metzgar; Producers: Stephen Maing, Eric Daniel Metzgar, Farihah Zaman
Traversing the U.S. from 2016 to 2020, patient observational filmmaking becomes a temperature check on American democracy—what George Washington described as the last great experiment in promoting human happiness in civil society. Co-director Stephen Maing will receive the Robert and Anne Drew Award for Documentary Excellence at this year’s DOC NYC Visionaries Tribute.
MUSK
Director: Alex Gibney; Producers: Alex Gibney, Jessie Deeter, Erin Edeiken, Zhang Xin, Joey Marra, Nick Shumaker, Jessica Grimshaw, Dana O’Keefe
An epic work profiling the world’s first trillionaire, Elon Musk. Director Alex Gibney will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award at this year’s DOC NYC Visionaries Tribute.
NAZA
Directors: Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor; Producers: Harry Davies, Lindsay Poulton, James Wilson
Anonymous members of the Israel Defense Force candidly reflect on their attitudes toward civilian casualties, known as NAZA, and how they process the meaning of genocide.
ONCE UPON A TIME IN HARLEM
Director: David Greaves; Producers: Liani Greaves, Anne de Mare
A glorious night, capturing a vital period of American culture, when luminaries who had been active in the Harlem Renaissance of the 1920s recount their memories.
ONE IN A MILLION
Directors: Itab Azzam, Jack MacInnes; Producers: Will Anderson, James Bluemel, Andrew Palmer, Raney Aronson-Rath
A chronicle of one Syrian daughter’s journey in fleeing war and seeking refuge in Germany, and how over ten years, new pressures and opportunities present themselves.
SOUL PATROL
Director: J.M. Harper; Producers: Sam Bisbee, Danielle Massie, J.M. Harper, Nasir Jones, Peter Bittenbender
A hidden chapter of American military history—the Vietnam War’s first Black special ops team, an elite unit operating deep behind enemy lines.
TIME AND WATER
Director: Sara Dosa; Producers: Shane Boris, Elijah Stevens, Jameka Autry, Sara Dosa
A letter to the next generation by an Icelandic poet, reflecting on the melting glaciers that are a harbinger of climate change.
TO HOLD A MOUNTAIN (NYC Premiere)
Directors: Biljana Tutorov, Petar Glomazić; Producers: Biljana Tutorov, Petar Glomazić, Quentin Laurent, Rok Biček
In the remote highlands of Montenegro, the spirit of motherhood, the violence of men, and the sacredness of the mountain collide and reconcile.
WILD INSIDE
Director: Penny Lane; Producers: Gabriel Sedgwick, Nickolas Hasse
In 2023, Flaco the Eurasian Eagle Owl became an international folk hero and a mythological figure for a world in which so many find themselves living in circumstances far away from their roots.
YOU CAN SEE EVERYTHING
Directors: Nathan Fielder, Lance Oppenheim; Producers: Nathan Fielder, Lance Oppenheim, Tatiana Bears, Maggie Ambrose, Jack Davis
As she prepares to begin serving her federal prison sentence, disgraced Silicon Valley tycoon Elizabeth Holmes continues to claim she has never lied, as America’s premiere absurdist documentarians record her every word.
SHORT LIST: SHORTS
The Short List: Shorts showcase of 15 titles is now in its ninth year at DOC NYC. The selection process is overseen by Artistic Director Jaie Laplante, Director of Special Projects Thom Powers, and consultant Samah Ali. In 2025, the showcase included All The Empty Rooms, which went on to win the Oscar.
This year’s selections for Short List: Shorts are:
THE BADDEST SPEECHWRITER OF ALL
Directors: Ben Proudfoot, Stephen Curry; Producers: Stephen Curry, Erick Peyton, Ben Proudfoot
At 93, Martin Luther King Jr. ‘s lawyer and speechwriter offers a living testament to history, and reminds us that silence is still our most urgent problem.
THE BOYS AND THE BEES
Director: Arielle Knight; Producer: Sean Weiner
On an idyllic farm in rural Georgia, beekeeping parents tenderly share their knowledge of life, love, and nature with their young sons while restoring their homestead.
BUCKSKIN
Director/Producer: Mars Verrone
A ground-breaking African-American and indigenous forester reflects on his life’s work of conservation and ancestral knowledge, while he approaches the twilight of his days.
A DERAILMENT
Director: Nathan Truesdell; Producers: Kat Nguyen, Will Lennon
A 2023 freight train derailment in rural Ohio corporate gives rise to a shocking new low in corporate maleficence.
THE GRANDFATHER PUZZLE
Director: Ora DeKornfeld; Producers: Zsofia Paczolay, Noémi Veronika Szakonyi, Máté Artur Vincze
Ora wants to better understand her aging grandfather before it’s too late. When she travels to Hungary to see if she can unlock the mysteries of his defense mechanisms, she finds a world left behind that illuminates a deep appreciation for life as it is now.
LA TIERRA DEL VALOR (THE HOME OF THE BRAVE)
Director: Cristina Costantini; Producers: Cristina Costantini, Alfie Koetter
In the face of growing antipathy towards immigrants, Latina pop star NEZZA makes the bold choice to perform the National Anthem at Dodger Stadium in Spanish, sparking an outpouring of outrage, support, and discussion about freedom of speech and who decides what ‘American’ means.
LISTEN
Director: Taliesin Black-Brown; Producers: Taliesin Black-Brown, Sam Davis, Greg Moga
An Alaskan sound specialist works for preservation within two levels of loss – the fading songs of wildlife disappearing from the wilderness, as climate change threatens natural populations; and his mother’s disappearing memory, as she slowly succumbs to dementia.
THE OATH
Directors: Liane Aviram, Louis Hollis; Producer: Liane Aviram
Dr Lina Qasem-Hassan, a Palestinian living and working in Israel, teaches medical ethics as well as practising as a physician – walking a tightrope of activism and professionalism while working through the trauma of her people.
ONE LAST ORDER
Directors: Lauren Defilippo, Sam Soko; Producers: Lauren Defilippo, Sam Soko, Amanda Pollak
After 37 years at Mac’s Drive-Thru in Gainesville, Florida, sunny and beloved Sighle is retiring. As customers travel from near and far to say goodbye, this heartwarming portrait celebrates an everyday worker who always went above and beyond, and the joy and community one person can inspire.
AN OPEN FIELD
Director: Teboho Edkins; Producers: Don Edkins, Carine Chichkowsky
One hundred and fifty seven people died when a new Boeing 737 MAX crashed in Ethiopia in 2019. While Boeing callously deflects blame for their negligence, a family of one victim finds strength in gathering collective mourning.
OUTPOSTS – NOTHING HERE IS YOURS
Director: Hilla Medalia; Producers: Hilla Medalia, Sheila Nevins, Yael Melamed
In the West Bank, Palestinian shepherd communities face escalating settler violence and displacement, while a group of Israeli activists stand in solidarity with shepherd communities as they struggle to remain on their land.
THE REVOLUTION AGAINST DEATH
Director: Joshua Oppenheimer; Producer: Signe Byrge Sørensen
A sharp, provocative look at the anti-aging industry and our increasingly elaborate efforts to resist mortality.
THEY’RE HERE
Directors: Laura Poitras, Rachel Lauren Mueller; Producers: Rachel Lauren Mueller, Laura Poitras, Yoni Golijov
A view of the evils of ICE through an organized resistance group of citizens in Minneapolis during the 2025-26 winter, using a unique cinematic language.
THE TUNERS
Director: Pawel Piotr Chorzepa; Producer: Joanna Chorzepa
Behind the scenes of Warsaw’s Chopin Festival, a group of expert tuners vie to achieve the perfect pitch so that the champion pianist will win on their instrument.
WATER COOLER
Director/Producer: Emma V.F.
In the halls of NYC’s immigration court, the casual chitchat of ICE agents waiting to arrest their unsuspecting targets stands in stark contrast to the horrors these detainees are likely to face.
WINNER’S CIRCLE
The DOC NYC Winner’s Circle for documentary features, introduced in 2019, highlights films that arrive at DOC NYC with significant awards pedigrees already in place. Past films shown in Winner’s Circle that all went on to further acclaim include Writing with Fire, The Mole Agent, A House Made of Splinters, Hollywoodgate, In the Rearview, Bad Axe, Midnight Family, and Advocate. To qualify for inclusion in this category, films must have won a major award at a significant international or US film festival.
This year’s selections for Winner’s Circle are:
AMERICAN PACHUCO: THE LEGEND OF LUIS VALDEZ
Director: David Alvarado; Producers: David Alvarado, Lauren DeFilippo, Everett Katigbak, Amanda Pollak
Against political resistance and industry skepticism, Luis Valdez pushes Chicano storytelling forward, creating iconic works that challenge, celebrate, and expand America’s story. Winner, Audience Award: U.S. Documentary and Festival Favorite Award, 2026 Sundance Film Festival
BUCKS HARBOR
Director: Pete Muller; Producers: Pete Muller, Nathan Golon, Noel Paul
Striking cinematography marks this observant, verite film about men in East Maine, the traditions of their elders, and their complex inner lives. Winner, Golden Eye Award for Best Documentary Film, 2026 Zurich Film Festival
CLOSURE
Director: Michał Marczak; Producers: Monika Braid, Rémi Grellety, Michał Marczak, Katarzyna Szczerba, Karolina Marczak
A haunting portrait of what it means to seek closure that’s a testament to parental love. Winner, Golden Alexander International Competition Award, 2026 Thessaloniki International Documentary Festival
AN EYE FOR AN EYE
Directors: Tanaz Eshaghian, Farzad Jafari; Producers: Christoph Jorg, Katayoon Arsanjani, Gelareh Kiazand, Joey Marra
A tense examination of Iran’s justice system and one family torn asunder by a legacy of abuse and mariticide, unfolding like a Shakespearean tragedy. Winner, Grand Prize Impact Documentary, 2026 Fipadoc
GIVE ME THE BALL!
Directors: Liz Garbus, Elizabeth Wolff; Producers: Liz Garbus, Elizabeth Wolff, Chris James, Dan Cogan, Dominic Crossley-Holland, Gentry Kirby
Billie Jean King, the iconic athlete who changed both the worlds of tennis and of women’s athletics, offers new perspectives on her legacy and the state of the sports world. Winner, Audience Award / Best Documentary Feature, 2026 Provincetown International Film Festival
NUISANCE BEAR
Directors: Gabriela Osio Vanden, Jack Weisman; Producers: Will N. Miller, Michael Code, Teddy Leifer, Jack Weisman, Gabriela Osio Vanden
The modern clash between human beings and polar bears takes on an ironic meaning when an Inuit elder shares his perspectives on the ancient belief and customs of his people. Winner, U.S. Documentary: Grand Jury Prize, 2026 Sundance Film Festival
REHEARSALS FOR A REVOLUTION (NYC Premiere)
Director: Pegah Ahangarani; Producers: Parnian Farnam, Pegah Ahangarani, Arash Ashtiani
Celebrated Iranian actor Pegah Ahangarani creates an essayistic documentary, weaving together home movies and news broadcasts to construct a vivid portrait of Iran’s modern history in the four decades since the revolution. Winner, L’Œil d’or Documentary Award, 2026 Cannes Film Festival
STEAL THIS STORY, PLEASE!
Directors: Carl Deal, Tia Lessin; Producers: Carl Deal, Tia Lessin, Karen Ranucci, Diana Cohn, Caren Spruch
Amy Goodman of Democracy Now! pursues the news with integrity and dauntlessness, seeing independent journalism as a major force for good. Winner, Greg Gund Memorial Standing Up Competition, Cleveland International Film Festival
SELECTS ENCORE
Selects Encore showcases a selection of films that screened at DOC NYC Selects, the festival’s ongoing screening series extension that runs annually from late winter through summer. The films chosen for Selects Encore represent works that continue to be present in the season’s awards conversations.
This year’s selections for Selects Encore are:
DAYLIGHT
Director: Jon Kasbe; Producers: Jon Kasbe, Zoe Rogovin
Serving a life sentence for murder, Joe Garcia finds unexpected refuge in Taylor Swift’s lyrics. When an essay he writes about love and music goes viral, it cracks open the past and rekindles a connection, opening the door to a life and love he thought were lost forever.
A LIFE ILLUMINATED
Director: Tasha Van Zandt; Producers: Tasha Van Zandt, Sebastian Zeck, Jessica Harrop, Kathryn Everett
A daring quest to document a bioluminescent phenomenon that could forever change how we understand life on Earth.
MANHOOD
Director: Daniel Lombroso; Producers: Kerry Mack, Rebecca Shaid
Manhood explores shame, sex, and the fragile myths of American masculinity, with dark humor and unexpected empathy.
MARY OLIVER: SAVED BY THE BEAUTY OF THE WORLD
Director/Producer: Sasha Waters
If poetry had a pop icon, Mary Oliver would be it, and Sasha Waters’ beguiling portrait is as poetic as its protagonist.
SCENES FROM THE DIVIDE
Director: Alison Klayman; Producers: Alison Klayman, Courtney Powell
A fierce battle among American Jews over identity, history, and responsibility is revealed in the homes of New Yorkers on both sides of Zohran Mamdani’s 2025 mayoral campaign.
THEYDREAM
Director: William D. Caballero; Producers: William D. Caballero, Brad Jones, Erin Ploss-Campoamor, Elaine Del Valle
A deeply personal documentary that examines the transformative nature of grief for a close-knit Puerto Rican family.
WHO MOVES AMERICA
Director: Yael Bridge; Producers: Yael Bridge, Jeremy Flood, Yoni Golijov, Mars Verrone
Examines the tense 2023 contract negotiations between UPS and its 340,000 unionized workers, as a microcosm for the larger struggles of labor justice in the U.S.A.