Documentary film: History and Key Facts
A documentary film (often called simply a documentary) is a nonfiction motion picture intended to "document reality, primarily for instruction, education or maintaining a historical record".
Documentary History archive
Oldest entries first, in a fixed order. Newly added articles appear at the end. Explore a shuffled selection →
Cinéma vérité: History and Key Facts
Cinéma vérité (UK: , US: , French: [sinema veʁite] lit.
Direct cinema: History and Key Facts
Direct cinema is a documentary genre that originated between 1958 and 1962—principally in Quebec and the United States—and was developed in France by Jean Rouch.
Dziga Vertov: History and Key Facts
Denis Arkadyevich Vertov (born David Abelevich Kaufman; 2 January 1896 [O.S.
Agnès Varda: History and Key Facts
Agnès Varda (born Arlette Varda; 30 May 1928 – 29 March 2019) was a Belgian-born French filmmaker, artist, and photographer.
Frederick Wiseman: History and Key Facts
Frederick Wiseman (January 1, 1930 – February 16, 2026) was an American filmmaker, documentarian, theater director, editor, and actor.
D. A. Pennebaker: History and Key Facts
Donn Alan Pennebaker (; July 15, 1925 – August 1, 2019) was an American documentary filmmaker and one of the pioneers of direct cinema.