The following past Sundance Film Festival documentaries are scheduled for release this month:
>September 4
In Theatres
BARBARA FOREVER
Sundance 2026
Director:
Brydie O’Connor
Producers:
Elijah Stevens, Brydie O’Connor, Claire Edelman
About:
An archive-driven exploration of the life, work, and legacy of iconic, pioneering lesbian filmmaker Barbara Hammer.
>September 4
Streaming: Netflix
TEENAGE WASTELAND [fka MIDDLETOWN]
Sundance 2025
Directors:
Jesse Moss, Amanda McBaine
Producers:
Teddy Leifer, Florrie Priest, Jesse Moss, Amanda McBaine, Danny Breen
About:
Inspired by an unconventional teacher, a group of teenagers in upstate New York in the early 1990s made a student film that uncovered a vast conspiracy involving toxic waste that was poisoning their community. Thirty years later, they revisit their film and confront the legacy of this transformative experience.
>September 10
In Theatres
THE OLDEST PERSON IN THE WORLD
Sundance 2026
Director:
Sam Green
Producers:
Alison Byrne Fields, Josh Penn
About:
A decade-long global journey chronicles the ever-changing record holders of the title of oldest person alive. What begins as a portrait of longevity becomes a meditation on the passage of time, the randomness of fate, and the joy and profound human experience of being alive.
>September 14
On TV: Independent Lens
GHOST IN THE MACHINE
Sundance 2026
Director/Producer:
Valerie Veatch
About:
The untold origins of artificial intelligence lie not in machines but in power, revealing the fantasies behind the hype that got us here and where we go next.
>September 17
In Theatres
KNIFE: THE ATTEMPTED MURDER OF SALMAN RUSHDIE
Sundance 2026
Director:
Alex Gibney
Producers:
Alex Gibney, Erin Edeiken, Sruthi Pinnamaneni
About:
Previously unseen footage captured by Salman Rushdie’s wife, Rachel Eliza Griffiths, documents his journey. Following not just his physical rehabilitation, but also the restoration of his spirit and optimism. Inspired by Rushdie’s memoir KNIFE: MEDITATIONS AFTER AN ATTEMPTED MURDER.
>September 18
In Theatres
THE HISTORY OF CONCRETE
Sundance 2026
Director:
John Wilson
Producers:
Clark Filio, Shirel Kozak, Allie Viti
About:
After attending a workshop on how to write and sell a Hallmark movie, filmmaker John Wilson tries to use the same formula to sell a documentary about concrete.
>September 20
On TV: PBS
BUCKS COUNTY, USA
Sundance 2025
Directors:
Robert May, Barry Levinson
Executive Producers:
Barry Levinson, Robert May, Jason Sosnoff, Mark Axelwitz, Nick Dunn, Sarah Cross, David Smick, Jonathan E Lim, Robin Jonas, Steven P Wegner
About:
Evi and Vanessa, two 14-year-olds living in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, are best friends despite their opposing political beliefs. As nationwide disputes over public education explode into vitriol and division in their hometown, the girls and others in the community fight to discover the humanity in “the other side.”
>September 25
In Theatres
UNZIPPED
Sundance 1995/2025
Director:
Douglas Keeve
Producer:
Michael Alden
About:
Director Douglas Keeve goes behind the scenes of designer Isaac Mizrahi’s relentless drive and bold vision to bring his 1994 collection to life. From sketches to runway, this insider’s journey is packed with backstage drama, creative triumphs, and iconic supermodels, including Cindy Crawford, Naomi Campbell, and Linda Evangelista.
what (not) to doc 