Top Docs: Award-Winning Documentary Filmmakers

Acclaimed photographer and filmmaker Lauren Greenfield (“The Queen of Versailles”) is drawn time and again to overlapping and powerful themes like addiction, wealth, consumerism and celebrity culture. Now, with her first doc series “Social Studies” — a fascinating 5-part exploration of the tight grip that social media has over Generation Z — Lauren unpacks these interrelated themes in the context of the online social interactions that have taken over young people’s lives.   Lauren joins Ken on the pod to discuss how the end of the covid pandemic inadvertently created an opportune moment to begin following a diverse group of young people in Los Angeles and their lives on social media just as they were preparing to return to in-person classes for the first time in a year-and-a-half. Combining observational footage, interviews with young people and their parents, roundtable discussions, and clips of her participants’ social media feeds, “Social Studies” delves into the pitfalls, as well as the positive aspects, of social media. When we reach the end of the series, the film’s participants confront an inescapable dilemma: should I or shouldn’t I delete my social media apps?   “Social Studies” is available for streaming on Hulu. The series is nominated for the Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Series.   Follow: @greenfield_lauren on Instagram and @lgreen66 on X @topdocspod on Instagram and X    “Top Docs” is now on YouTube!   Hidden Gems: “The Painter and the Thief” “Mr. Nobody Against Putin” “The Kingmaker”   The Presenting Sponsor of "Top Docs" is Netflix.

Did Sly blow it?  As part of continuing Emmys coverage, we are joined by Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson and Joseph Patel, the director and producer of “Sly Lives! (aka the Burden of Black Genius)” (as well as the same for the 2022 Oscar Winner “Summer of Soul”) to discuss the life and career of Sly Stone, whose interracial and multigendered band drew upon the stew of musical influences of the early 60’s Bay Area to create an innovative new sound.   The story as it’s commonly told:  Once Sly gained widespread fame after playing Woodstock, he moved to Bel Air and adopted a nonstop drug-taking party lifestyle that would diminish his genius.  But as Thompson and Patel explain, the truth is much more complicated.  Ultimately, they show that Sly–who passed away just this summer–served less as a cautionary tale, than as an emblem of genius and inspiration for a host of artists in rock, funk, hip hop and more.   Watch “Sly Lives!” on Hulu.   The Presenting Sponsor of "Top Docs" is Netflix.

Continuing our coverage of the 2025 Emmy Awards, Mike is joined by Peter Ettedgui and Ian Bonhôte, directors of "Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story" and nominees for Outstanding Directing For A Documentary/Nonfiction Program (the film received three other Emmy nominations as well ).  In sketching their portrait of Christopher Reeve, who embodied the superhero in a series of films beginning in 1978, Ettedgui and Bonhôte anchor their story with Reeve’s tragic fall in 1995, one which left him paralyzed.  They then interweave the twinned stories of Reeve’s rise to fame (as well as the discontents that followed) with that of the decade of his life that followed the fall.  The effect of this intricate narrative braiding reinforces the message delivered to Reeve by his wife Dana in the days after the fall:  “You are still you.”  The movie becomes a testament to the continuity of spirit in the face of physical challenge, as Reeve not only faces his personal demons, but becomes a full-throated advocate for those that share his condition.   Super/Man can be seen on HBO Max in the US and Sky in the UK.    Hidden Gems: “Apocalypse in the Tropics” “Grand Theft Hamlet”   The Presenting Sponsor of "Top Docs" is Netflix.

In order to catch a really great wave, 100 foot or otherwise, you need to be extremely patient, waiting for that next great “set” (group of waves) that’s going to put you in position for the ride of the day — or ride of your life. It’s also true for those making films about surfing, including director Chris Smith (“American Movie”) and the massively talented — and patient — team behind the hugely successful series, “100 Foot Wave,” which, this year, dropped its third, and, in some ways, most ambitious season yet.   Executive Producer Joe Lewis (“Fleabag”, “Transparent”) returns to “Top Docs” to discuss the third season of this epic series, which follows big wave surfing icon Garrett McNamara, his wife Nicole, and a thoroughly engaging cast of characters as they span the globe, chasing those elusive giant waves. Joe describes the devastating experience for the community when surfing legend Marcio Freire loses his life at Nazare and the once-in-a-decade opportunity that arrives out of the blue for Garrett and his tightknit group to surf at mythical Cortes Bank in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Ultimately, through a seemingly endless pursuit of surfing dreams, it turns out that the greatest rewards for these restless souls may be waiting for them back home.   “100 Foot Wave, Season 3” is available for streaming on HBO Max. The film is nominated for the Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Series, Outstanding Cinematography for a Nonfiction Program, Outstanding Picture Editing for a Nonfiction Program, Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Nonfiction Program, and Outstanding Sound Editing for a Nonfiction or Reality Program.   Follow: @JoeLewis on Instagram and X @topdocspod on Instagram and X    “Top Docs” is now on YouTube!   Hidden Gem: “Burden of Dreams”   The Presenting Sponsor of "Top Docs" is Netflix.

There’s no place quite like “P-Town,” the remarkable world of wonder created by Patrice Jetter, the star of Peabody award-winning director Ted Passon’s (“Philly D.A.”) enchanting and heavy hitting documentary “Patrice: The Movie.” Over the last 20 years, Patrice’s scale model town has become a source of endless fantasy and fun, but also an escape from the “real” world, which, all too often, has put up obstacles for people with disabilities like Patrice and her romantic partner Garry.   Ted joins Ken on “Top Docs” to discuss how he came to collaborate with his friend Patrice on this remarkable cinematic journey. The film weaves present tense moments with Patrice, Garry and their friends with scripted scenes from Patrice’s life featuring adult Patrice as the main actor and a cast of children playing the other roles. It is a thoroughly original approach that recreates the traumas from Patrice’s past while also showing how she has managed to endure and overcome. When the couple and their friends take on the long-standing law that has enshrined a deeply unfair marriage penalty for people who receive disability benefits, this becomes a challenge on a much bigger scale.   “Patrice: The Movie” is available for streaming on Hulu. The film is nominated for the Primetime Emmy for Exceptional Merit in Documentary Filmmaking.   Follow: @tedpasson on Instagram @topdocspod on Instagram and X    “Top Docs” is now on YouTube!   Hidden Gem: “Hummingbirds”   The Presenting Sponsor of "Top Docs" is Netflix.

I Am: Celine Dion   In a world dominated by constant pitching and fundraising, once in a long while, filmmakers get “The Call.” “The Call” is when a producer calls and asks if you are interested in a project, fully funded and with the main participant ready to go. Such was the case for Academy Award®-nominated director Irene Taylor (“Moonlight Sonata: Deafness in Three Movements”, “The Final Inch”) who received a call from a producer about the possibility of making what ultimately became Irene’s exceptional portrait documentary “I Am: Celine Dion.”   Irene joins Ken on “Top Docs” to discuss how she was approached for the project and the surprisingly close collaborative relationship that she formed with Celine as the iconic singer faced up to the health crisis that forced her to stop performing. Suffering for over 15 years with a rare neurological disorder called  “Stiff Person Syndrome,” Celine kept her condition secret before revealing the diagnosis to fans in a video testimonial (captured in a meta moment by Irene’s team). In our deep dive conversation, Irene talks about some of the emotionally wrenching scenes in the film, how Irene and her small crew practically embedded at Celine’s house and the ultimate question for any filmmaker in her situation: “How the hell are we gonna deal with the “Titanic” song?”   “I Am: Celine Dion” is available for streaming on Prime Video.   Follow: @directorirenetaylor on Instagram @topdocspod on Instagram and X    “Top Docs” is now on YouTube!   Hidden Gem: “The Shepherd and the Bear”   The Presenting Sponsor of "Top Docs" is Netflix.

  Acclaimed director Amy Berg (“West of Memphis,” “Janis: Little Girl Blue”) set her sights on making a documentary about the beloved singer/songwriter Jeff Buckley some 15 years ago. Now, with her finely crafted new documentary, “It’s Never Over, Jeff Buckley,” Amy delivers a fresh take on Buckley’s remarkable music and a thoughtful look at his life and loves.   Amy joins Ken on “Top Docs” to discuss Jeff Buckley’s meteoric rise as a dynamic musical force in the ‘90s, whose sensitive and introspective lyrics ran counter to the grunge and metal scenes ascendant at the time. Jeff’s influences, from Nina Simone to Led Zeppelin and Soundgarden, were surprisingly diverse. His voice —  a powerful and haunting instrument in its own right — was unmatched. One listen of his soul-piercing version of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” is all the proof you need of that. At the heart of the film is Jeff’s complicated relationship with his dear mother, Mary, who granted Amy access to an incredible array of personal archival material, and with two of his girlfriends, who, collectively, provide insight into this complex young man. He took the music world by storm but had to battle his own demons… and left us all too soon.   “It’s Never Over, Jeff Buckley” is in release by Magnolia Films and opens in theaters nationwide on August 8th.   Follow: @amy_berg on Instagram @topdocspod on Instagram and X    “Top Docs” is now on YouTube!   Hidden Gem: “The Cruise”   The Presenting Sponsor of "Top Docs" is Netflix.

With intense scrutiny of the trans community comes threats to the personal safety, healthcare and civil rights of trans people. Just ask Sam Feder (“Disclosure”), director of the timely new documentary “Heightened Scrutiny” that follows ACLU attorney Chase Strangio on his journey all the way to the Supreme Court to fight for the rights of transgender adolescents and their access to gender affirming healthcare.   Sam and producer Amy Scholder join Ken on “Top Docs” to discuss their collaboration on “Disclosure” and their subsequent creative partnership on “Heightened Scrutiny.” Through this multi-layered story, we observe Chase, the first out trans person to argue a case before the Court, up-close as he prepares his legal brief. But, as we talk about in our convo, the film succeeds in going deeper than just being a portrait of a civil rights pioneer. How have mainstream media outlets not only presented a distorted lens on the trans community but provided fodder for the very forces seeking to overturn trans rights? It’s a chilling and urgent story that certainly deserves your heightened interest.   Starting July 18th, “Heightened Scrutiny” is in select theaters in NYC and LA.   Follow: @samfeder_1 on Instagram and @SamFederFilm on X and @amyjscholder on Instagram @topdocspod on Instagram and X    “Top Docs” is now on YouTube!   The Presenting Sponsor of "Top Docs" is Netflix.

It all starts with the fish. In director Matt Tyrnauer’s (“Carville, Winning is Everything, Stupid”) delectable and insightful new documentary “Nobu,” we are reminded of this fact when Nobu himself, the man behind the restaurant empire that shares his name, reels in a fish, skins, slices and serves it right on the boat to friends and family. It is one of many revelatory scenes that, taken as a whole, peel back the layers of Nobuyuki “Nobu” Matsuhisa’s life and his long journey to re-define sushi for the modern world.   Matt joins Ken on the pod to shed light on his observational approach to documentary portraiture and to explore the unique and ever-expanding Nobu style. Rather than a straight line to success, Nobu’s story is one of early struggles, crushing failures and constant attention to detail. From a tense scene featuring an executive chef struggling to reproduce one of Nobu’s signature dishes to a humdrum meeting of Nobu’s business partners (including the actor and Nobu partner Robert De Niro in a surprising and riveting star turn) that suddenly turns contentious, “Nobu” not only spotlights the talents of a game-changing chef, but once again reminds us why the hard-earned observational approach is as satisfying as a perfectly prepared plate of sushi.   “Nobu” is being released by Vertical in theaters in NY on June 27th and in cities nationwide beginning July 4th.   Follow: @tyrnauer on Instagram and @mtyrnauer on X @topdocspod on Instagram and X   And now, also look for “Top Docs” on YouTube!   The Presenting Sponsor of "Top Docs" is Netflix.

During Jacinda Ardern’s historic run as Prime Minister of New Zealand from 2017 - 2023, she became a worldwide phenomenon and icon of the Left. From the pandemic to a horrific mass shooting in NZ, Jacinda faced a series of major crises, as well as a media crush that followed her everywhere. But during those tumultuous times, one thing remained unknown: what was it like for the person at the center of these events to experience all that — and, simultaneously, being a new mother as well? In Michelle Walshe and Lindsay Utz’s enthralling documentary “Prime Minister,” we now get to hear from the former PM herself.   Michelle and Lindsay join Ken on the pod to describe what it was like to embark on this journey of self-reflection with Jacinda Ardern. Relying on a combination of intimate home movie footage shot by Jacinda’s husband, news clips and original material, the two directors put us right back in the middle of these events, as well as offer Jacinda’s insightful perceptive on what it means to her now and where to go from here.   “Prime Minister” is in theatrical release by Magnolia Pictures.   Hidden Gem: Lindsay: “Time” Michelle: “Navalny”, “The Jinx”   Follow: @utzies26 on Instagram and @Lindsay_utz on X @shellfishes on Instagram @topdocspod on Instagram and X    The Presenting Sponsor of "Top Docs" is Netflix.