Documentary Competition
Films competing in this competition broaden our horizons and invigorate our understanding of the planet and its inhabitants through careful research, deft argumentation, and stunning cinematography. Documentary art is fundamentally about audience persuasion: What is the Truth? Why should we care? How should we act? The best documentarians convince audiences that their argument is unequivocally the Truth, that it is worthy of widespread concern, and that their recommendations are the best suited to address the issue at hand.
The Documentary Competition jury, comprised of filmmakers, journalists, and industry professionals, selects the winning filmmaker, who will be announced at the Golden Space Needle Awards May 17 and awarded a cash prize of $5,000.
American Doctor
USA | 2026 | 93 min. | Poh Si Teng
Three courageous doctors—a Jewish orthopedic surgeon from North Carolina, a Zoroastrian trauma surgeon from California, and a Palestinian American ER specialist from Illinois—volunteer their services in Gaza, risking their lives to save others.
Birds of War
United Kingdom | 2026 | 85 min. | Janay Boulos, Abd Alkader Habak
Lebanese journalist Janay Boulos and Syrian activist and cameraman Abd Alkader Habak share their extraordinary love story, told through 13 years of personal archives spanning revolutions, war, and exile.
Bucks Harbor
USA | 2026 | 98 min. | Peter Muller
In the small port of Bucks Harbor, its fishermen are shaped by brutal winters, the ocean’s bounty, and the emotional complexity of growing up in a community where a man’s worth is often defined by the strength of his back.
Kikuyu Land
Kenya | 2026 | 93 min. | Andrew H. Brown (Huron-Wyandot), Bea Wangondu (Kikuyu)
What begins as a seemingly straightforward investigation into land restitution in Kenya leads to a web of exploitation, family secrets, and death threats in this riveting political documentary.
Nuisance Bear
USA | 2026 | 87 min. | Gabriela Osio Vanden, Jack Weisman
A polar bear is forced to navigate a human world of tourists, wildlife officers, and hunters as its ancient migration collides with modern life. When a sacred predator is branded a nuisance, it becomes unclear who truly belongs in this shared landscape.
The Seoul Guardians
South Korea | 2026 | 71 min. | Jong-woo Kim, Shin-Wan Kim, Chul-Young Cho
On the night of December 3, 2024, South Korea pushed back against its own president. The Seoul Guardians puts you on the streets and inside the National Assembly chamber as it happened.
To Hold a Mountain
Serbia | 2026 | 105 min. | Biljana Tutorov, Petar Glomazić
Semi-nomadic shepherd and cheesemaker Gara raises her 13-year-old niece Nada as her own. As she fights to protect her grazing land from a NATO military expansion, Nada begins to imagine her own future.
Yo (Love is a Rebellious Bird)
USA | 2026 | 78 min. | Anna Fitch, Banker White
A vibrant intergenerational friendship forms between Yo, 72, and director Anna, 24. After Yo’s passing at 89, Anna recreates her world through building a miniature house and puppet, weaving memories into an intimate verite portrait.