Rentals
Documentaries
Documentaries can be as expressive, surreal and experimental as any work of fiction. This collection explores a world made up of people and places, with films from Asif Kapadia, Kim Longinotto, Raoul Peck, Werner Herzog and more.

Is There Anybody Out There?Is There Anybody Out There?
Documentary202387 minsDirector: Ella Glendining
Highlighting the importance of being seen, Ella Glendining invites us on a personal journey as she sets out to find others with the same rare disability as herself.

Kokomo CityKokomo City
Documentary202373 minsDirector: D. Smith
A bold first feature about Black trans sex workers that buzzes with passion, energy and intelligence.

Riotsville, U.S.A.Riotsville, U.S.A.
Documentary202291 minsDirector: Sierra Pettengill
The mid-1960s in America saw a dramatic surge in uprisings and unrest. The government’s response was paranoid and cynical. Welcome to Riotsville.

Lynch/OzLynch/Oz
Documentary2022109 minsDirector: Alexandre O. Philippe
Toto, I’ve got a feeling we’re not on Mulholland Drive anymore…

My Old SchoolMy Old School
Documentary2022105 minsDirector: Jono McLeod
An astonishing and engrossing documentary about 90s Scottish school legend and imposter Brandon Lee, played by Alan Cumming.

SubjectSubject
Documentary202297 minsDirector: Camilla Hall and Jennifer Tiexiera
A thought-provoking dive into the ethics and potential exploitations behind documentary filmmaking.

The Most Beautiful Boy in the WorldThe Most Beautiful Boy in the World
Documentary202194 minsDirector: Kristina Lindström and Kristian Petri
Björn Andrésen reflects on his role in Luchino Visconti's classic Death in Venice, in this fascinating exploration of how childhood fame shapes a life.

Human FlowHuman Flow
Documentary2017141 minsDirector: Ai Weiwei
Acclaimed artist Ai Weiwei artfully captures the bewildering breadth of the global migration crisis in this haunting and shocking documentary.

The DissidentThe Dissident
Documentary2020117 minsDirector: Bryan Fogel
When journalist Jamal Khashoggi disappears in Istanbul, his fiancée and dissidents around the world piece together the clues to a murder and expose a global cover up.

Totally Under ControlTotally Under Control
Documentary2020124 minsDirector: Alex Gibney, Ophelia Harutyunyan and 1 more
Academy Award®-winning filmmaker Alex Gibney details the Trump's administration's failed response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

I Am Not Your NegroI Am Not Your Negro
Documentary201694 minsDirector: Raoul Peck
Raoul Peck’s penetrating and acclaimed documentary reconstructs an unfinished manuscript by James Baldwin, chronicler of America’s Civil Rights Movement.

The Painter and the ThiefThe Painter and the Thief
Documentary2020107 minsDirector: Benjamin Ree
Winner of the Creative Storytelling Prize at Sundance, Benjamin Ree’s (Magnus, LFF 2016) expertly plotted, genre-blending documentary explores the personal repercussions of an extraordinary art heist.

GundaGunda
Documentary202093 minsDirector: Viktor Kossakovsky
A unique and poetic documentary that invites us into the world of Gunda, a stoic sow trying to tend to a new litter of scrambling piglets.

Blue Bag LifeBlue Bag Life
Documentary202292 minsDirector: Alex Fry, Lisa Selby and 1 more
Artist Lisa Selby’s audacious and powerful documentary portrait of a life touched by addiction is a deeply personal odyssey through love, artistry and selfhood.

20,000 Days on Earth20,000 Days on Earth
Documentary201493 minsDirector: Iain Forsyth and Jane Pollard
The myths and minutiae of musician Nick Cave are explored in the course of this fictional portrait, following 24 hours in the life of a cultural icon.

Memory: The Origins of AlienMemory: The Origins of Alien
Documentary201993 minsDirector: Alexandre O. Philippe
The untold origin story behind Ridley Scott’s Alien, one of Hollywood’s most beloved and iconic shockers.

20 Feet from Stardom20 Feet from Stardom
Documentary201387 minsDirector: Morgan Neville
This moving documentary shines a spotlight on the backing singers behind some of the great musical hits of the 21st century.

Notes on BlindnessNotes on Blindness
Documentary201687 minsDirector: James Spinney and Peter Middleton
James Spinney and Peter Middleton's highly original documentary uses cinematic interpretations and textured sound design to express a ‘world beyond sight.’

Coal FaceCoal Face
Documentary193512 minsDirector: Alberto Cavalcanti
A striking and significant film from the early days of the British documentary movement, chronicling the work of British miners.

Sisters with TransistorsSisters with Transistors
Documentary202186 minsDirector: Lisa Rovner
The remarkable untold story of electronic music’s female pioneers, who embraced machines and their liberating technologies to transform how we produce and listen to music today.

Dior and IDior and I
Documentary201490 minsDirector: Frederic Tcheng
An astonishing behind-the-scenes documentary following the famed fashion house’s new artistic director as he prepares his first collection.

HoneylandHoneyland
Documentary201986 minsDirector: Ljubomir Stefanov and Tamara Kotevska
When a nomadic family move in and break Honeyland’s basic rule, the last female wild beekeeper in Europe must save the bees and restore natural balance.

RBGRBG
Documentary201899 minsDirector: Julie Cohen and Betsy West
Revelatory documentary on an unexpected hero - former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

Hail Satan?Hail Satan?
Documentary201995 minsDirector: Penny Lane
An unexpectedly funny, charming and thought-provoking documentary about a group who celebrate difference, and challenge the link between religion and state in the US.

Diego MaradonaDiego Maradona
Documentary2019124 minsDirector: Asif Kapadia
The supreme football superstar is the latest subject for acclaimed filmmaker Asif Kapadia (Amy, Senna), as he deftly explores the complicated dynamic between Diego the man and Maradona the icon.

ArcadiaArcadia
Documentary201879 minsDirector: Paul Wright
A folk horror wrapped up in an archive film, set to a soundtrack by Adrian Utley (Portishead) and Will Gregory (Goldfrapp).

Ex Libris: The New York Public LibraryEx Libris: The New York Public Library
Documentary2017206 minsDirector: Frederick Wiseman
An immersive journey into the New York Public Library with great documentarian Frederick Wiseman.


David Lynch: The Art LifeDavid Lynch: The Art Life
Documentary201688 minsDirector: Rick Barnes, Olivia Neergaard-Holm and 1 more
An exquisitely textured and reflective documentary about Lynch as a visual artist.

By Our SelvesBy Our Selves
Animation & Artists Moving Image201580 minsDirector: Andrew Kötting
The latest psycho-geographical excursion from Andrew Kötting and Iain Sinclair

Bros: After the Screaming StopsBros: After the Screaming Stops
Documentary201897 minsDirector: David Soutar
Matt and Luke Goss take on the big screen – and each other – in this candid documentary charting the reunion of 80s pop sensations Bros; an affectionate portrait that generates more than a touch of Spinal Tap-esque hilarity.

The RaftThe Raft
Documentary201898 minsDirector: Marcus Lindeen
Imagine Big Brother at sea, but with no evictions. Director Marcus Lindeen innovatively uncovers the human stories behind a 1970s social experiment, salaciously dubbed ‘The Sex Raft’.

The Reason I JumpThe Reason I Jump
Documentary202182 minsDirector: Jerry Rothwell
Award-winning director Jerry Rothwell's compelling documentary is a rare cinematic and sensorial insight into the world of non-speaking autistic people.

Amazing GraceAmazing Grace
Documentary201989 minsDirector: Alan Elliott and Sydney Pollack
Aretha Franklin, at the height of her powers, returns to the music which nurtured her prodigious talent.

The Spirit of '45The Spirit of '45
Documentary201395 minsDirector: Ken Loach
Ken Loach's stirring polemical history explores the immense forces that built Britain's Welfare State from the rubble of the Second World War.

CollectiveCollective
Documentary2019109 minsDirector: Alexander Nanau
When burn patients begin dying from non-life-threatening injuries a group of investigative journalists uncover a vast healthcare scandal, in this gripping Romanian documentary.

78/5278/52
Documentary201792 minsDirector: Alexandre O. Philippe
This superb, in-depth documentary devotes 90 minutes to analysing one of cinema’s most famous sequences – the shower scene in Psycho.

Miss Thompson Goes ShoppingMiss Thompson Goes Shopping
Documentary195823 minsDirector: David Gladwell
From the visionary British director David Gladwell, this 1958 short contrasting rural and urban life is based on the poem by Martin Armstrong.

Searching for Sugar ManSearching for Sugar Man
Documentary201286 minsDirector: Malik Bendjelloul
The BAFTA and Oscar-winning documentary sensation uncovers the mystery behind Sixto Rodriguez, a forgotten musical hero of apartheid-era South Africa.

An Accidental StudioAn Accidental Studio
Documentary201993 minsDirector: Bill Jones, Ben Timlett and Kim Leggatt
Charting the rise of one of Britain's most distinctive film companies, HandMade Films, producer of classics such as Life of Brian, The Long Good Friday and Withnail and I.

African ApocalypseAfrican Apocalypse
Documentary202092 minsDirector: Rob Lemkin
Rob Lemkin’s harrowing yet urgent documentary shines a lens on the trauma and legacy of colonialism in one of Africa’s poorest nations, Niger.

A Story of Children and FilmA Story of Children and Film
Documentary2013101 minsDirector: Mark Cousins
Mark Cousins' personal and poetic exploration of the cinema of childhood, as told through 53 great films from 25 countries.

Grizzly ManGrizzly Man
Documentary2005104 minsDirector: Werner Herzog
Werner Herzog’s bold documentary follows Timothy Treadwell, a fervent grizzly bear advocate who lives a perilous life amongst these magnificent creatures.

A Century of Australian CinemaA Century of Australian Cinema
Documentary199668 minsDirector: George Miller
Mad Max director George Miller explores the tradition of film production in Australia.

Grace Jones: Bloodlight and BamiGrace Jones: Bloodlight and Bami
Documentary2017115 minsDirector: Sophie Fiennes
Grace Jones is laid bare in this intimate and electrifying insight into the fascinating world of a pop-cultural phenomenon.

The Man from Mo'WaxThe Man from Mo'Wax
Documentary2018116 minsDirector: Matthew Jones
The exhilarating, no holds-barred story of Mo'Wax records founder James Lavelle, one of the most enigmatic yet influential figures in British music culture.

A Bit of ScarletA Bit of Scarlet
Documentary199671 minsDirector: Andrea Weiss
Mapping how British film and TV depicts the gay and lesbian lifestyle, Andrea Weiss raids the archives for her funny and persuasive documentary.

Hitchcock/TruffautHitchcock/Truffaut
Documentary201580 minsDirector: Kent Jones
Kent Jones’ excellent documentary about a historic encounter between two cinema greats.

National GalleryNational Gallery
Documentary2014181 minsDirector: Frederick Wiseman
The inner workings of London’s National Gallery are laid bare in this absorbing, forensic examination by revered filmmaker Frederick Wiseman.

Night of the FilmmakersNight of the Filmmakers
Documentary199551 minsDirector: Edgar Reitz
From the director of Heimat, a mini-epic about the history of German cinema.

The Rape of Recy TaylorThe Rape of Recy Taylor
Documentary201791 minsDirector: Nancy Buirski
Nancy Buirski's vital documentary revisits an unjustly forgotten chapter of American history; the story of an immensely brave woman who refused to be silenced.

Bombshell: The Hedy Lamarr StoryBombshell: The Hedy Lamarr Story
Documentary201789 minsDirector: Alexandra Dean
Fascinating documentary about the glamorous Hollywood star who was also a genius inventor of military technology.

AltmanAltman
Documentary201496 minsDirector: Ron Mann
An illuminating documentary about American cinema’s maverick genius Robert Altman, featuring unseen home movies and extensive interviews.

WhitneyWhitney
Documentary2018120 minsDirector: Kevin Macdonald
Stunning revelations and captivating reminiscences paint a picture of the extraordinary life of singer Whitney Houston, in this in-depth portrait by acclaimed filmmaker Kevin MacDonald (Touching the Void, Marley).

100 Years of Polish Cinema100 Years of Polish Cinema
Documentary199661 minsDirector: Pawel Lozinski
A history of Polish movies perceived by cinemagoers of all ages.

The Alcohol YearsThe Alcohol Years
Documentary200050 minsDirector: Carol Morley
Carol Morley's exploration of Manchester in the early 1980s, and the five years of her life she lost to alcoholism.

Conquest of the DarkConquest of the Dark
Documentary195527 minsDirector: Douglas Clarke
After losing his sight in an accident at work, George Newman is reduced to despair. Little does he know that solace lies in the town of Torquay...

Truman and Tennessee: An Intimate ConversationTruman and Tennessee: An Intimate Conversation
Documentary202186 minsDirector: Lisa Immordino Vreeland
Creative dual-portrait documentary of Truman Capote and Tennessee Williams, two of the greatest figures in 20th Century American Literature.

Cyclists AbroadCyclists Abroad
Documentary195715 minsDirector: Tony Thompson
A British Cyclists' Touring Club party explores 1950s Salzburg and the Austrian Tyrol in this lesser known British Transport Film.

Searching for Ingmar BergmanSearching for Ingmar Bergman
Documentary201899 minsDirector: Margarethe von Trotta
Internationally renowned director Margarethe von Trotta examines the filmmaker's life and work with his closest collaborators as well as a new generation of filmmakers.

My GenerationMy Generation
Documentary201886 minsDirector: David Batty
Michael Caine takes us back to swinging London in this engaging documentary on the 1960s cultural revolution, featuring over 50 interviews with the key players.

Ingrid Bergman: In Her Own WordsIngrid Bergman: In Her Own Words
Documentary2015114 minsDirector: Stig Björkman
An illuminating portrait of the pioneering actress, crafted from her unique personal archive of home-movie footage, letters and diary extracts.

CunninghamCunningham
Documentary201993 minsDirector: Alla Kovgan
This eye-popping portrait of great American choreographer Merce Cunningham celebrates the centenary of his birth.

YpresYpres
War192579 minsSilentDirector: Walter Summers
Battle film made as a memorial to the dead of WWI, documenting events at Ypres using reconstructed and genuine footage.

Lotte Reiniger's ArtLotte Reiniger's Art
Documentary197017 minsDirector: John Isaacs
The short documentary gives us a wonderful insight into the enchanting animated film world of Lotte Reiniger.

Laboured PartyLaboured Party
Documentary197520 minsDirector: Stephen Dwoskin
An unsuspecting Labour Party canvasser stumbles onto an experimental film set and is drawn into a strange atmosphere of uninhibited abandon.

DreamcatcherDreamcatcher
Documentary201498 minsDirector: Kim Longinotto
Kim Longinotto’s inspirational documentary about Brenda, a Chicagoan charity worker who helps vulnerable prostitutes leave the industry.

BillieBillie
Documentary201998 minsDirector: James Erskine
Part film-noir, part tragedy, this mesmerising documentary uncovers the true life of the legendary Billie Holiday.

John McEnroe: In The Realm Of Perfection John McEnroe: In The Realm Of Perfection
Documentary201895 minsDirector: Julien Faraut
Mastery, showmanship and the art of filming tennis are laid bare in an entertaining, innovative archive documentary that’s like no sports film you’ve seen.

The Velvet Queen: Snow LeopardThe Velvet Queen: Snow Leopard
Documentary202192 minsDirector: Marie Amiguet and Vincent Munier
An adventurer and one of the world's most renowned wildlife photographers attempt to track the most elusive of big cats, in this stunning documentary scored by Warren Ellis and Nick Cave.

The KingmakerThe Kingmaker
Documentary2019101 minsDirector: Lauren Greenfield
The matriarch of the Marcos dynasty hopes to see her maternal delusions validated and political power restored, while Philippine activists fight for transparency and democracy, in this captivating study by Lauren Greenfield.

Ryuichi Sakamoto: CodaRyuichi Sakamoto: Coda
Documentary2017101 minsDirector: Stephen Schible
A graceful, intimate study of the legendary Japanese musician, composer, actor, writer and activist.

We Went to WonderlandWe Went to Wonderland
Documentary200872 minsDirector: Xiaolu Guo
British-Chinese filmmaker Xiaolu Guo follows her ageing parents' journey to the West as they visit Europe. A rare chance to see one of Guo’s most personal films.

76 Days76 Days
Documentary202093 minsDirector: Weixi Chen, Hao Wu and anonymous
A raw and intimate documentary that captures the struggles and human resilience in the battle to survive the pandemic in Wuhan, China.

My Scientology MovieMy Scientology Movie
Documentary201699 minsDirector: John Dower
Louis Theroux investigates the secretive world of the Church of Scientology, armed with his characteristic deadpan wit.

The Lovers & the DespotThe Lovers & the Despot
Documentary201698 minsDirector: Ross Adam and Rob Cannan
Discover one of cinema’s strangest stories: a film director and his star are kidnapped by Kim Jong-il to make movies in the world’s weirdest state.

EnnioEnnio
Documentary2021156 minsDirector: Giuseppe Tornatore
A definitive portrait of Ennio Morricone, the legendary composer responsible for some of the most memorable film scores of all time.

The Nine MusesThe Nine Muses
Documentary201292 minsDirector: John Akomfrah
John Akomfrah mixes archive material, literary and musical quotations and newly shot silent footage in a wry, rapt meditation on memory and migration.

Around India with a Movie CameraAround India with a Movie Camera
Documentary201873 minsDirector: Sandhya Suri
Archive footage tells the emotionally-resonant story of life across India pre-1947.

Self MadeSelf Made
Documentary201184 minsDirector: Gillian Wearing
Artist Gillian Wearing’s ‘documentary’ observes seven people creating (fantasy?) identities in collaboration with a drama teacher. Raw and revealing.

Around China with a Movie CameraAround China with a Movie Camera
Travelogue201569 mins
Explore China in the early 1900s with this programme of rare and beautiful travelogues, newsreels and home movies.

Fahrenheit 11/9Fahrenheit 11/9
Documentary2018128 minsDirector: Michael Moore
Michael Moore paints a fiery portrait of life in Trump’s America. Populist, provocative and piercingly captivating, this is Moore’s clarion call to action.

Laurent Garnier: Off the RecordLaurent Garnier: Off the Record
Documentary202193 minsDirector: Gabin Rivoire
Exhilarating documentary exploring the birth and rise of techno music through the eyes of one of its pioneers.

The 8thThe 8th
Documentary202195 minsDirector: Aideen Kane, Lucy Kennedy and 1 more
Impassioned and urgent documentary tracing the dramatic story of Irish women and their fight to overturn one of the most restrictive abortion bans in the world.

My Journey through French CinemaMy Journey through French Cinema
Documentary2016193 minsDirector: Bertrand Tavernier
Director Bertrand Tavernier guides us on a fascinating voyage through French film history, from the 1930s through to the '70s.

Of Time and the CityOf Time and the City
Documentary200874 minsDirector: Terence Davies
Brilliantly mixing archive film and music, Liverpool-born director Terence Davies reflects with wit and wisdom on a times of change, for good or ill

Dreams of a LifeDreams of a Life
Documentary201191 minsDirector: Carol Morley
The power of kinship is explored in Carol Morley’s drama-documentary, drawn from real life and resonant with the way we live now.

SwandownSwandown
Documentary2012107 minsDirector: Andrew Kötting
Filmmaker Andrew Kötting and writer Iain Sinclair embark on a quest from Hastings to East London by pedalo.

Real BoyReal Boy
Documentary201672 minsDirector: Shaleece Haas
A 19-year-old trans man navigates family, friendships, and the challenges of young adulthood.

Night Will FallNight Will Fall
Documentary201475 minsDirector: André Singer
An unforgettable, compelling account of the production and subsequent restoration of a withheld film recording the liberation of Nazi concentration camps in 1945.

Almost HeavenAlmost Heaven
Documentary201772 minsDirector: Carol Salter
Carol Salter's award-winning portrait of a young Chinese woman training to become a mortician is a tender and reflective elegy on death and the fragility of life.

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