Here’s the 2025 documentaries we’re anxiously waiting for!
As 2025 unfolds, a number of compelling documentaries are premiering, offering diverse narratives across various platforms. Here are some noteworthy titles to look for:
Soundtrack to a Coup d’ Etat
Directed by Johan Grimonprez, this doc was theatrically released in late 2024 and is available to purchase on AppleTV. I saw it at the Roxie Theater in San Francisco just before Christmas. It’s a remarkable piece of work about the Cold War coup to depose and murder democratically elected Premier Patrice Lumumba of the Congo by the collective forces of the US government (not just the CIA), the Belgian government, and the UN. But those breathtaking revelations are only half the story. The other half involves all the biggest names in American jazz music who were either complicit in the atrocity or opposed it, or both. On top of it all, it’s a real work of art, a collage film that uses both archival and “found” footage, hearkening me back to my very first film Dream Documentary which uses similar sources for footage and similar avant garde editing techniques.
Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore
Directed by Shoshannah Stern, this documentary delves into the life and career of acclaimed actress Marlee Matlin. Deaf since she was 18 months old, Matlin was the only deaf performer to have won an Academy Award until 2022 when her CODA co-star Troy Kotsur received the award for best supporting actor. Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore is scheduled to premiere at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival in January.
Pee-wee as Himself
Directed by Matt Wolf, this series explores the life of Paul Reubens, famously known for his character Pee-wee Herman. This HBO 2-part documentary is set to premiere at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival on January 23. I’m looking forward to it as I’ve always respected this brilliant artist who had his career short-circuited through sex-related crimes.
Don’t Die: The Man Who Wants to Live Forever
Directed by Chris Smith, this documentary explores the controversial practices of tech entrepreneur Bryan Johnson, who is attempting to defeat aging. Ever since I saw Smith’s hilarious first film American Movie in 1999 I’ve respected his work, including The Yes Men, Jim & Andy, and Collapse. This one was released on Netflix on January 1, 2025.
No Other Land
For half a decade, Basel Adra, a Palestinian activist, filmed his community of Masafer Yatta being destroyed by Israel’s occupation. In the course of time, he builds an unlikely alliance with a journalist from the other side who joins the fight. Eventually, the film became the product of four activists in a Palestinian-Israeli collective. It serves as a stark reminder that the path to peace needs to flow through justice. No Other Land will be released January 31, 2025
Liza: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story
This star-studded tribute brings into focus the dazzling, complex period of Liza Minnelli’s life starting in the 1970s, just after the tragic death of her mother Judy Garland–as she confronts a range of personal and professional challenges on the way to becoming a legend in her own right. Liza: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story releases January 24, 2025 As a footnote, if you haven’t seen footage of any of her mother’s late life concerts, see some – she was a chanteuse for the ages. Breathtaking.
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