See Photos from IndieWire’s Art of the Doc Series — and How to Watch the Films

Christian Zilko
·3 min read
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.

IndieWire’s longtime commitment to highlighting boundary-pushing documentary filmmaking reached new heights this fall during the inaugural Art of the Doc screening series. Presented in partnership with National Geographic, Art of the Doc showcased six of the best nonfiction films of 2023 at the Landmark Westwood in Los Angeles. Each screening featured in-person conversations with filmmakers and documentary subjects moderated by IndieWire editors.

“Our editors gave careful consideration in selecting these films for our inaugural screening series, Art of the Doc,” IndieWire senior VP and editor in chief Dana Harris-Bridson said in a statement announcing the series. “We’re excited to have the in-person opportunity to share IndieWire’s perspective with the work of great filmmakers.” 

More from IndieWire

“We’re thrilled to be launching our first documentary screening series with our partner National Geographic,” said IndieWire senior VP and publisher James Israel. “Nat Geo’s support of the art of current documentary filmmaking aligns perfectly with IndieWire’s long-standing mission to celebrate the best in non-fiction storytelling.”

Art of the Doc kicked off with a screening of “The Mission,” the acclaimed National Geographic documentary from directors Amanda McBaine and Jesse Moss. The film used animation and meticulous interviews to recreate the story of John Chau, an evangelical Christian whose unsanctioned mission to preach to the voluntarily uncontacted people of North Sentinel Island led to his tragic death.

The next screening was HBO’s “Going to Mars: The Nikki Giovanni Project,” which told the story of the activist poet and comedian Nikki Giovanni and her decades-spanning commitment to using spoken word to advocate for Civil Rights. The screening featured a conversation with co-director Joe Brewster and producer Tommy Oliver moderated by Anne Thompson. 

Next on the docket was Apple’s “Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie,” which profiled Fox from his film and television superstardom in the 1980s through his battle with Parkinson’s Disease. After the screening, director David Guggenheim joined IndieWire’s Marcus Jones to discuss his emotional journey following Fox and how he learned to infuse a serious subject with humor.

“Bobi Wine: The People’s President,” the acclaimed National Geographic documentary that followed Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, the beloved Ugandan musician who parlayed his entertainment fame into a political career as an outspoken critic of the nation’s authoritarian president Yoweri Museveni. Co-director Moses Bwayo joined IndieWire for a discussion of the film’s timely message about fighting for democracy, as Ssentamu has been imprisoned in Uganda following the film’s release.

MTV Documentaries’ “The Eternal Memory” follows former Chilean Minister of Culture and the Arts Paulina Urrutia and her husband Augusto Góngora as they navigate Góngora’s battle with Alzheimer’s Disease and prepare for the day when he can no longer recognize his longtime wife. Urrutia made a very special appearance at the screening to discuss her journey from acting and politics to documenting the most intimate moments of her life in the film.

Art of the Doc concluded with a screening of Netflix’s “Stamped from the Beginning,” which examines the origins of anti-Black racism through conversations with Black experts in history and cultural criticism. The film was accompanied by a conversation with director Roger Ross Williams, who explained how racist tropes continue to exist in subtle ways throughout American pop culture. 

Here’s where each of the films is streaming:

  • “The Mission” — Hulu and Disney+ on December 8 (in theaters now)

  • “Going to Mars: The Nikki Giovanni Project” — Max (streaming date TBD)

  • “Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie” — streaming Apple TV+ now

  • “Bobi Wine: The People’s President” — now streaming on Hulu and Disney+.

  • “The Eternal Memory” — The film is streaming now on Paramount+.

  • “Stamped from the Beginning” — The film is streaming now on Netflix.

While the Art of the Doc screening series has concluded, all six films are positioned to be major topics of conversation throughout the upcoming Oscar race. Keep reading for photos from the six events.

Best of IndieWire

Sign up for Indiewire's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.