The evolving landscape of political documentaries

The challenge of getting political documentaries seen

At their best, political documentaries unravel complex issues, offering viewers a deeper understanding of the world around them. However, the current media landscape presents significant challenges for these films. Hollywood’s preference for celebrity-driven or true-crime nonfiction has overshadowed documentaries that tackle thorny political issues.

Despite these hurdles, top documentary filmmakers continue to address critical topics. For instance, Errol Morris’ “Separated,” which examines Trump administration immigration policies, is set to debut at the Venice Film Festival. Other upcoming documentaries focus on figures like Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, gun control, and antisemitism. There’s even talk of a documentary about Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris.

Distribution dilemmas

The distribution of these films remains uncertain. Political documentaries like Michael Moore’s “Fahrenheit 9/11” and Amazon Prime Video’s “All In: The Fight for Democracy” have set a precedent, but recent trends show major platforms like Apple TV+, Netflix, Disney, and Amazon shying away from politically charged content. Instead, they favor more commercial topics such as sports, celebrities, and true crime.

One notable example is Rory Kennedy’s “Adrift,” a film about the global refugee crisis. Despite a warm reception at the Mill Valley Film Festival, it has yet to find a distributor. Kennedy, who has a storied political background, expressed frustration over the difficulty of getting the film seen. “We worked really hard, and we shot in many countries. It took a long time to edit, and now it’s very hard to get eyeballs on it,” she admits.

The audience’s appetite for political content

Contrary to the belief that viewers aren’t interested in political topics, filmmakers like Alex Gibney argue that there is a demand for such content. Gibney, known for tackling challenging subjects, recently sold domestic streaming rights for his upcoming Elon Musk documentary to HBO. He believes that streaming services have a civic responsibility to produce and distribute content that explores the human experience deeply.

In March, “Frontline’s” Ukraine war film “20 Days in Mariupol” won the Academy Award for best documentary feature. The film has garnered 3.8 million views across all platforms, indicating a significant interest in political documentaries. Similarly, “Democracy on Trial,” a “Frontline” film investigating the criminal cases against former President Trump, has received 11.5 million YouTube views.

The role of streaming platforms

Despite the success of some political documentaries, major streaming platforms remain hesitant to embrace controversial topics. This reluctance is partly due to concerns about censorship from other governments and the shift to advertising models, which discourage politically sensitive content.

Bruce Newman, founder of Sub-Genre, a media strategy consultancy, explains that streamers avoid political content to appeal to a broader audience. The removal of Matthew Heineman’s “Retrograde” from Disney’s platforms, following concerns about the safety of Afghan subjects in the film, exemplifies the challenges faced by political documentaries.

Pioneering new distribution models

Given these market challenges, some filmmakers are exploring alternative distribution methods. Dan Cogan, an Oscar and Emmy-winning producer, advocates for pioneering new ways to get these films seen. Cogan is involved with Impact Partners, an advisory service for philanthropists promoting social change through film, and Jolt, a distribution platform launched earlier this year.

Jolt.film, dedicated to promoting worthy documentaries that lack mass distribution, is funded by individual donations from viewers. The revenue is split between the filmmaker and Jolt, which reinvests profits into the platform. To date, five films have been distributed on Jolt.

The future of political documentaries

Despite the tough climate, filmmakers remain committed to creating documentaries about current affairs. In the past year, Dawn Porter released two politically oriented documentaries: “Deadlocked: How America Shaped the Supreme Court” on Showtime/Paramount+ and “Power of the Dream” on Amazon, which explores the WNBA’s role in getting Sen. Raphael Warnock elected.

Porter believes that these stories are here to stay. “The issue will be, ‘What’s the way in?’ That is what’s going to be interesting. And, of course, it will all be influenced by the election results. Are we talking about how we saved democracy or how to get it back?”

For more information on these documentaries, you can watch the trailers and find additional details on the following links:

The evolving landscape of political documentaries highlights the resilience and creativity of filmmakers dedicated to shedding light on critical issues. As they navigate distribution challenges, their commitment to storytelling remains unwavering, ensuring that these important narratives continue to reach audiences worldwide.