In 1996 “When We Where Kings” was released. This film covers the 1974 boxing bout between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman in Zaire. Since the mid-1990′s a new onslaught of African American documentaries has been produced including, “Hoop Dreams”, “4 Little Girls” and “Unchained Memories”.

While many African American documentaries are focused on an individual event or person, documentaries for television have provided a base for larger work such as Public Broadcasting’s 1987 “Eyes on the Prize”. A fourteen part series covering the African American civil rights movement from 1954 to 1985. The series documents first hand accounts of people, places and events.

Early in the century, without television and limited radio news broadcast, the newsreel was the only source of visual news available to the public. With film crews set up all over the world, newsreel crews made documentaries about the wars, public officials, world leaders and celebrities.

Reporting facts and news quickly was the beginning of the documentary as we know it. As television and movies evolved, the documentary took on other roles. Documentaries began exploring famous people’s lives and history. They also began, at times, to take on roles of political propaganda. Hitler has had a couple of filmmakers paid to make him look powerful. Leni Reiftenstahl is most famous for that.

Documentaries reached out to the human heartstrings bringing stories of other cultures and peoples into our lives. They made us aware of nature’s powers and beauty. Documentaries can bring joy and sorrow, hope and humanity, life and death.

Non fictional films open up a world of teaching and knowledge, of courage and surprise. Documentaries show us the human side, or lack thereof, of world leaders. They can also educate us and our people to help us live safer, healthier lives.

Restrepo – Grand Jury Prize. The film’s makers follow a group of soldiers as they are deployed into war-torn Afghanistan. Upon arrival they lose a friend and essentual team mate when their medic ‘Doc’ Restrepo is killed in action. The group faces hostility from locals as they try to help the region rebuild. Directed by Sebastian Junger and Tim Hetherington.Is this new to you? Catch up here

The Red Chapel – World Cinema Jury Prize. A tag-a-long as two Korean natives, adopted into Danish families at birth, return to their birth country to face off with oppression and confront a country who would rather kill its own people than offer up any freedoms. Directed by Mads Brgger.

Waiting For Superman – Documentary Audience Award. An in depth look at an educational system that seems to thrive on the failure of youth and flourish on the alarming number of drop outs. Follows five bright young minds as they work their way through a learning environment that feels more like quicksand than school. Directed by Davis Guggenheim.

Another good film festival for the beginning film maker is the Big Sky Documentary Film Festival that take place in Missoula Montana. This festival takes place in early June and features short movies. The sponsors and producers of the festival are looking for innovative new ways to present some challenging answers to life’s issues. New works and film makers are welcomed to submit entries. The best films are screened for the public.

There are a large variety of film festivals throughout the United States all through the summer months. These festivals allow the makers of the films to present their views of the world around them and how to make it better. From east to west coast novice and experienced filmmakers alike vie for top awards.