Top Docs: Award-Winning Documentary Filmmakers

One is a beloved bandleader and soon-to-be Grammy nominee; the other, a “New York Times” bestselling author. But, as Matthew Heineman’s (“Retrograde”, “The First Wave”, “Cartel Land”) intimate and heartfelt new documentary “American Symphony” makes clear, life is not always so glittering for high-profile couple Jon Batiste and Suleika Jaouad. Batiste must consider the possibility that his ambitious “American Symphony” may be beyond his creative capabilities just as Jaouad confronts a life-threatening health crisis.   Joining Mike and Ken on the pod, Matthew returns to “Top Docs” to discuss the multitude of creative and logistical challenges that he faced during the making of the film. How did Matthew win Batiste’s trust only to find that access was far from assured? In what way did silence become one of the most impactful moments in the entire film? And how did Batiste’s climactic performance at Carnegie Hall almost not make it on camera? Clearly, in the life of this unscripted drama, improvisation was just as critical for the director as for his subjects.   “American Symphony” is streaming on Netflix.   Follow: @mheineman on Instagram and @MattHeineman on twitter @topdocspod on Instagram and twitter   The Presenting Sponsor of "Top Docs" is Netflix.

Building on the smoke sauna tradition of Southern Estonia (included by UNESCO on its “Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity”), filmmaker Anna Hints brings together a group of Estonian women to share the smoke sauna experience and to share some of their most personal stories. The result is Anna’s masterfully constructed and emotionally layered Sundance award-winning documentary “Smoke Sauna Sisterhood”.   Joining Ken on the pod, Anna discusses how she conceived of the smoke sauna in her film as a safe space and a source of mutual support for the women in her film. What was the process of finding a smoke sauna, casting the film and shooting it over multiple seasons? How did she work with her cinematographer Ants Tammik to build trust with the women and create a distinctive visual portrait? And what does Anna reveal about one of the scenes that caught Ken completely by surprise? Over the course of the film, the rising power of these stories is undeniable. There’s nothing “intangible” about that.   “Smoke Sauna Sisterhood” is released by Greenwich Entertainment.   Follow: @annahints on Instagram @topdocspod on Instagram and twitter   The Presenting Sponsor of "Top Docs" is Netflix.

Both were born in 1945 in Germany during the last year of WWII. Both became giants of the modern German art movement: Anselm Kiefer as a painter and sculptor; Wim Wenders as a filmmaker whose landmark films include “Wings of Desire”, “Paris, Texas” and “The American Friend”. The two had met in 1991 and discussed the possibility of doing a film together, but it wasn’t until the two collaborated on Wenders’ new 3-D documentary “Anselm” that the stars were finally aligned.   Joining Ken on the pod, Wenders paints a picture of this monumental artist whose vast studio spaces are as much works of art as the paintings and sculptures that are housed there. For Wenders, what makes working in 3-D such a crucial element in immersing the audience in these dynamic environments? How has Wenders incorporated elements of fiction into his documentaries and vice versa? And why is it so important to him to create a portrait of the art rather than of the artist? It may have taken over 75 years for these two legendary artists to work together, but the payoff was well worth waiting for.   Hidden Gem: “Reality Winner”   “Anselm” is released by Sideshow and Janus Films and opens in LA in 3-D at the Laemmle Glendale on December 15.   Follow: @wimwendersfoundation on Instagram and @wimwenders on twitter @topdocspod on Instagram and twitter   The Presenting Sponsor of "Top Docs" is Netflix.

In 1990, at the age of 26, in the wake of a heart attack which, in the words of one expert, “liquified” the core of her brain, Terri Schiavo entered a “persistent vegetative state”.  As “Between Life and Death: Terri Schiavo’s Story” shows, over the next 15 years her husband Michael and her immediate family would fight over her fate: in the press, in the courts, in legislatures, and ultimately in the office of the President of the United States.   Mike spoke with Executive Producers Amanda Spain and Alex Waterfield about how Terri’s situation raises questions medical, moral, political, legal, and even philosophical. And they explain how her life became highly politicized, a focal point for the anti-abortion movement and even a broader Christian Nationalist agenda.  But throughout it all, they tell Mike, in their film they tried to maintain a focus on Terri and her family.     “Between Life and Death:  Terri Schiavo’s Story” premiers on MSNBC Sunday, December 3rd at 10pm ET and then streaming on Peacock.   The Presenting Sponsor of "Top Docs" is Netflix.

Like a black hole, North Korea is a place where light cannot escape. Fed nothing but government propaganda, North Koreans can only access the outside world by slipping across the border to China, the first stop on a harrowing journey that, if successful, eventually leads to South Korea. Against this bleak backdrop, filmmaker Madeleine Gavin’s gripping Sundance-winning documentary “Beyond Utopia” spotlights the stories of two North Korean families and their courageous struggles for freedom. Joining Ken on the pod, Madeleine describes how human rights activist Pastor Seungeun Kim and a shrewd underground network attempt to shepherd North Koreans to safety. Featuring rarely seen footage shot inside North Korea, a moment-by-moment escape across multiple countries, and a mother’s desperate attempt to free her son, “Beyond Utopia” showcases the fear and determination of those on the verge of escape and the tragedy of those left behind. Hidden Gem: “Collective”   “Beyond Utopia” is released by Roadside Attractions.   Follow: @BeyondUtopiaDoc on Instagram and twitter @topdocspod on Instagram and twitter   The Presenting Sponsor of "Top Docs" is Netflix.

The second season of Netflix’s “High on the Hog” is almost here, and Executive Producers Karis Jagger and Fabienne Toback joined Mike to discuss their celebrated series.  The subtitle of the series is “How African-American Cuisine Transformed America” and much like the strong first season, the show explores the impact of Black Cuisine on American culture, economics, politics, and more.     Mike asks Karis and Fabienne how it’s possible that this season is even more chock-full of ideas, and even more profoundly forefronts activism.  And does so while allowing host Stephen Satterfield to share more of his personal and family history, as well as showing a panoply of culinary styles in all their glory, revealing the depth of richness of Black culture and culinary expression.   The Second Season of High on the Hog will stream on Netflix starting November 22nd.   Follow: @hey_sistah on Instagram and @hey_sistahLA on X @fabiennetoback on X @karisjagger on Instagram @topdocspod on Instagram and X   The Presenting Sponsor of "Top Docs" is Netflix.

As the first of our series of conversations from the Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival, Mike spoke with Li Lu about her new 3-part series, “A Town Called Victoria”.  The film explores the aftermath of a mosque burning in this small Texas town.  Lu provides a nuanced portrait of the town itself, one torn between support for and fear of the victims, a divide that builds upon and reveals the racial, religious, and economic fissures that had long laid beneath the town’s placid surface.  And while Lu focuses on one town, the resonances for the rest of America are not hard to discern.   “A Town Called Victoria” will premiere November 13th on PBS’s Independent Lens.   Follow: @atowncalledvictoria on Instagram @topdocspod on Instagram and X   The Presenting Sponsor of "Top Docs" is Netflix.

There’s nothing “sly” about Sylvester Stallone. His iconic screen characters, most notably, Rocky Balboa (“Rocky” and four others) and John Rambo (“Rambo: First Blood” + four others), are about as direct as they come — and, seemingly, so, too, is their creator. But, Emmy award-winning director Thom Zimny (“Bruce Springsteen: Wings for Wheels: The Making of ‘Born to Run’”) reveals that, even as Stallone was becoming famous for making some of the most successful films of all time, as a filmmaker, he has somehow never managed to receive the in-depth treatment that he deserves.   Thom joined Ken on the pod to discuss his insightful new documentary “Sly”, a revealing look into Stallone’s legacy and creative process. Delving into Stallone’s remarkable career, Thom discusses the recurring themes of Stallone’s work, his painful relationship with his father, and the deeply personal impact that his films have had on audiences.   “Sly” releases on Netflix on November 3.   Hidden Gem: The YouTube Effect   Follow: @tzimnyc on Instagram and @ThomZimny on X @topdocspod on Instagram and X   The Presenting Sponsor of "Top Docs" is Netflix.

Errol Morris discusses his documentary 'The Pigeon Tunnel' which delves into the life and career of John Le Carré. They explore the influence of Le Carré's childhood on his spy novels and the elusive meaning behind his work. The podcast also explores the unique shooting techniques used in the documentary and the contrast in moral compasses between Le Carré and a British spy.

R.J. Cutler, director of 'The War Room' and 'Billie Eilish: The World's a Little Blurry', discusses his new documentary series 'Big Vape' which explores the tragic story of Juul. Cutler explores how Juul's addictive nature parallels that of social media. The podcast also delves into the influence of Stanford's design school on Silicon Valley, the history of vaporizers in the tobacco industry, lifestyle marketing tactics used by Juul, the complexities of decision-making in the face of money versus doing good, and reflections on documentary filmmaking.