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Creative Non-Fiction

Creative Non-Fiction is often a more appropriate word for describing innovative forms in documentary filmmaking, which go beyond mere information dump. Here you'll find reviews of films that are pushing the form and interviews with non-fiction filmmakers about making non-fiction works of art.

Stills of Tabitha Jackson, Pacho Velez, Penny Lane, Kirsten Johnson, and Carol Nguyen in front of a background of midnight clouds.

Orla Smith / June 18, 2021

What is creative nonfiction?

What is creative nonfiction? Why don’t we just stick with the word documentary? Through quotes from Penny Lane, Tabitha Jackson, and more, we explain what the term means to us.

Seventh Row Editors / June 9, 2021

Ep. 95: No Ordinary Man and John Ware Reclaimed: Reclaiming history in documentary

We discuss two of the best films of 2021, No Ordinary Man and John Ware Reclaimed, documentaries that use creative techniques to reclaim lost history.

A headshot of director Eliane Raheb, in front of a still from her film, Miguel's War. The text on the image reads, 'Interview'.

Orla Smith / March 16, 2021

‘As a filmmaker, I try to create space for catharsis’: Eliane Raheb on Miguel’s War

Eliane Raheb discusses Miguel’s War and using creative documentary techniques to explore her subject’s life and trauma.

A man hangs up a French flag on an outdoor pole in Nous. The text on the image reads, 'Review'.

Orla Smith / March 2, 2021

Berlinale Review: Alice Diop documents the Paris suburbs in Nous

Alice Diop’s documentary Nous is a portrait of Paris, told through intimate vignettes of citizens living in the suburbs.

Director Pacho Velez looks into the lens at a block of text. The image feature the text, 'Interview'.

Orla Smith / February 2, 2021

Sundance Interview: Pacho Velez on Searchers and dating in the pandemic

Pacho Velez discusses Searchers, his documentary about online dating, which draws us into a series of intimate interviews with New Yorkers searching for love (or a hookup).

Alex Heeney / October 16, 2020

Cheryl Foggo reclaims Black Canadian history in John Ware Reclaimed

Director Cheryl Foggo on how telling the real story of John Ware in John Ware Reclaimed can help us understand the Black Canadian experience today and Canada’s history of racism. The film is currently screening virtually at the AGH Film Festival in Ontario until October 25. It’s one of Canada’s best kept secrets that there’s […]

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