Doc Distro Lit Review: Ethics

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Sundance 2025 showcased several standout documentaries exploring the ethics of image-making, confronting uncomfortable questions about who has the right to tell stories of trauma and violence across global contexts.
Three portraits of individuals standing in front of step-and-repeats
European filmmakers are rallying behind a petition demanding stronger regulation of tech giants, warning that platforms like X, Meta, and TikTok are enabling disinformation and threatening democratic values across Europe.
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An account from the 2023 Camden International Film Festival (CIFF), featuring discussions of documentaries "Beyond Utopia," "A Golden Life," and "The Last Year of Darkness," alongside a discussion of the film industry's contradictions.
Illustration of a pile of money on a chair with a camera and microphone around it
Journalists Mia Galuppo and Katie Kilkenny explore the transformation of the nonfiction space into a lucrative industry with streaming platforms, featuring insights from filmmakers like Alex Gibney and Ken Burns on rising costs, ethical challenges, and the evolving nature of their profession.
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Documentary filmmaking lacks internal standards for accuracy and ethics. As a key resource for public knowledge, documentary film deserves increased journalistic scrutiny, enriched by diverse perspectives, to strengthen both criticism and reporting.
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Calling for a reimagining of the documentary film industry, cultural strategist Sonya Childress details inequities and issues found throughout the system, focusing on the areas of authorship, accountability, and ownership.