Sundance Programmers Say Political Documentaries Are Still Crucial, Despite Challenging Market and Right-Wing Hits

Film writer Addie Morfoot explores the challenging market for political documentaries, as major streaming platforms like Netflix and Amazon favor celebrity-focused and true crime content over current event documentaries that tackle politics. While 17 of the 23 documentaries from Sundance last year found distribution, most were through self-distribution or paid service deals, indicating a challenging marketplace for indie documentary filmmakers. Conservative documentaries are finding unexpected box office success, with Matt Walsh’s Am I Racist? becoming 2024’s highest-grossing documentary at $12 million. Industry experts like Submarine Entertainment’s Josh Braun suggest the current market downturn is cyclical, predicting eventual improvement toward greater distribution opportunities. Sundance programmers maintain their commitment to showcasing important political stories regardless of their commercial prospects, ensuring that critical stories continue to reach audiences.