The BGDM Guide to 2025 Documentary Oscar Contenders

1. AND SO IT BEGINS

Director: Ramona Diaz | Executive Producer: Carrie Lozano

Amidst the traditional pomp and circumstance of Filipino elections, a quirky people’s movement rises to defend the nation against deepening threats to truth and democracy. In a collective act of joy as a form of resistance, hope flickers against the backdrop of increasing autocracy. The film premiered at Sundance 2024, and is the Philippines' official entry to the Oscars for Best International Feature. Learn more and mark your calendar for the premiere on Independent Lens on May 12, 2025.

2. NOCTURNES

Co-Director: Anupama Srinivasan

In the dense forests of the Eastern Himalayas, moths are whispering something to us. In the dark of night, two curious observers shine a light on this secret universe. A South Asian woman scientist and a young man from the indigenous Bugun community are our guides as the film transports us to a rarely-seen patch of our planet, inviting us to immerse ourselves in its splendour and beauty, and gently urging us to look more closely at our hidden interconnections with the natural world. The film won a special jury award at Sundance and is nominated for a Cinema Eye Honor for Orignal Score, composed by member Nainita Desai. Learn more on Grasshopper Film's website.

3. POWER

Director: Yance Ford | Producers: Sweta Vohra & Netsanet Negussie

Driven to contain threats to social order, American policing has exploded in scope and scale over hundreds of years. Now, it can be described by one word: power. Delve into the untold history of American policing in this thought-provoking documentary that asks, "Who is more powerful: the people — or the police?" Check out all the details and watch on Netflix.

4.THE TASTE OF MANGO

Director: Chloe Abrahams

A hypnotically cinematic love letter flowing through time and generations. Director Chloe Abrahams probes raw questions her mother and grandmother have long brushed aside, tenderly untangling painful knots in her family's unspoken past. Don’t miss our Call Sheet profile on Chloe about the highs and lows of personal filmmaking. The film premiered at True/False 2024, and recently finished a limited theatrical release in New York and London. Learn more on the film's website.

5. MY SWEET LAND

Director, Editor, Cinematographer: Sareen Hairabedian

For 11-year-old Vrej, life in his homeland, Artsakh is like a paradise, but when war starts again, can he carry a nation's hopes on his young shoulders? This coming-of-age story set against a multigenerational war in the post-Soviet Caucasus Mountains is a testament to the people there, where hope and trauma had shaped their resilience across generations. Learn more on the film's website.

6. NURSE UNSEEN

Director: Michele Josue

The Philippines is the leading exporter of professional nurses in the world. In the U.S., almost a third of all immigrant nurses are Filipino. Since 1965, over 150,000 Filipino nurses have immigrated to the U.S. and eased nursing shortages, particularly in times of crisis. Yet their contributions and history behind their vital presence in the U.S. healthcare system remains overlooked. Learn more on the film's website.

7. UNION

Producer: Mars Verrone

Up against one of the most powerful companies on the planet, a group of Amazon workers embark on an unprecedented campaign to unionize their warehouse in Staten Island, New York. The film premiered at Sundance 2024, where it won the Art of Change jury award, and was nominated for a Gotham Award. Producer Mars Verrone, a 2022-2023 BGDM fellow, is also nominated for a Cinema Eye Honor for Production. Check the film's website for ways to watch and for more information.

8. NEW WAVE

Director: Elizabeth Ai

Mile-high hair. Synthesized music. Teenage rebellion. Elizabeth Ai was on a mission to excavate an untold story of rebellious punks in the chaotic world of 80s Vietnamese new wave until she rediscovered a hidden past. For the film, Ai received a special jury mention for New Documentary Director. Learn more on the film’s website.

9. UNTIL HE'S BACK

Director: Jacqueline Baylon

After learning that his son, Yahya, has died at sea trying to get to Spain, Ahmed Tchiche must find a way to bring his remains back to Morocco so he and his family can have a proper goodbye. A Spanish mortician, an NGO worker and an established Moroccan immigrant living in Spain all struggle to help Ahmed get his son's body home. The film has been shortlisted by IDA and was nominated for Best Short Documentary at the IDA Awards. The film is currently streaming on POV, so head to their website to watch and learn more.

10. PLANETWALKER

Co-Director: Nadia Gill

In 1971, John Francis embarked on a journey that would redefine environmental activism after witnessing the San Francisco Oil Spill. He took a 17-year vow of silence, renounced all motorized transportation and began walking across the US seeking a deeper understanding of humanity's relationship with the earth. Planetwalker re-introduces the world to the inner-magic of Dr. John Francis, a central figure in the intersectional environmental movement whose story takes on new meaning today. You can watch the film via The Los Angeles Times' ShortDocs on their website.

11. ONE PERSON, ONE VOTE?

Director: Maximina Juson | Produced: Daresh Kyi

One Person One Vote? is a feature length doc about the untold story of the Electoral College. Through the eyes of four electors –– a Republican, a Democrat, a Green Party and a Kanye West elector whose motivations range from the noble to the absurd – we learn about the inner-workings of the Electoral College. The film is an eye-opening exposè that recalls the overlooked role of slavery in its creation, and how it has dramatically impacted American politics and society. Watch it now via a screener from POV (PBS)!

12. AMMA KI KATHA

Director: Nehal Vyas

India — my nation — is being rebuilt. Her foundation is being laid on the imagined land that claims to be the birthplace of my grandmother’s God. In the myth that she passed down to me during many summer nights, her God was magical, kind, and democratic—just like India was supposed to be. But today, through its many retellings and reimaginings, it is being used as a political tool to manifest the violent desire of a Hindutva state. This film attempts to remember — as well as dream — a forgotten nation. The film was nominated for Best Short Documentary at the 2024 IDA Awards. IDA members can watch the film for free on IDA's website.