Indiewire has posted the top ten lists of various film industry respondents, including mine. You can see the full list here.
While I’m not a particular fan of awards or top ten lists, I acknowledge that they are of interest to others, and that this kind of public recognition does matter to filmmakers, and I’m always happy to respond to Indiewire requests. Over the last few years, I’ve usually prepared at least two lists, top ten documentaries and top ten narratives, for a couple of reasons: 1) to make a point that docs usually receive the short end of the stick from most list makers, perhaps receiving one or two spots if that, and 2) I genuinely believe that docs and narratives should really be considered separately. However, bowing to convention and to the acknowledgement that I just haven’t gotten around to seeing a lot of the bigger narrative films this year, I’ve combined the list into one.
There are six docs in my top ten. Here are pointers to what I’ve written about those selections on what (not) to doc in the past:
THE INTERRUPTERS
RESURRECT DEAD
THE BLACK POWER MIXTAPE 1967-1975
THE ARBOR
THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF NICOLAE CEAUSESCU
SUMMER PASTURE
what (not) to doc 