Top Ten Film Documentaries

Clockwise from top: Senna (2010), Man on Wire (2008), Searching for Sugar Man (2012), Grizzly Man (2005), Marina Abromović: The Artist is Present (2012), Super Size Me (2004) and centre Blackfish (2013)

Sheffield Documentary Festival is in full swing - a fantastic film festival which I highly recommend going to. I worked at the festival in 2012 and attended it last year, seeing an array of brand new documentaries and fascinating talks with the likes of Michael Palin, critic Mark Kermode and the legendary editor Walter Murch. Here are a few photos I took last year:

From left: Michael Palin talks about his documentary film-making, watching docs on the free outdoor screen, Sue Perkins and I after a talk at the Crucible Theatre with Janice Hadlow, controller of BBC2

Going to Sheff Doc Fest sparked my love for documentaries. They engage, inform but also open up debates. As well as learning about new topics and people, it is intriguing to question the way in which this information is presented. Can we believe everything we see? What is constructed and what isn't?

To mark the return of the festival, I have picked my Top Ten Film Documentaries.

My lists have no particular ranking, but is there one that is your favourite? 

Or did I miss any crucial docs that should have made the list? 

Let me know in the comments below, or tweet @TicketStubBlog.

1. Super Size Me (2004)

This may have been one of the first documentaries I watched. I remember it being on TV and seeing the shocking effects of Morgan Spurlock eating Maccy D's every single day. We used to have McDonald's nearly every week - this quickly changed after watching this documentary.

2. Marina Abromović: The Artist is Present (2012)

I saw this film at Sheff Doc Fest in 2012, which won the Special Jury Winner prize. It stayed with me, hence it being on the list. The documentary follows artist Marina Abromović in the development and staging of her show, The Artist is Present, at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. Sitting for many hours at a time, with no food or drink, she invited members of the public to sit opposite her and share their gaze. Although this sounds like a glorified staring contest, the film is compelling and moving.
It is currently available on Netflix.

3. Senna (2010)

I enjoy Formula 1 but I didn't know much about Ayrton Senna at all. Through archive footage, the film plays out the life and death of the Brazilian driver in an captivating manner. Even if you don't like or know anything about F1, this critically acclaimed doc is one you should definitely see.

4. Grizzly Man (2005)

One of my favourites. Werner Herzog brings together footage of Timothy Treadwell who lived and risked his life with bears in Alaska. Treadwell and his girlfriend, Amie Huguenard, were both killed and eaten by one of the bears in 2003. Herzog uses the footage Treadwell filmed himself over the 13 summers he spent at the Katmai National Park and Preserve to tell his story. You see the immense joy yet remarkable risks Timothy had living with these dangerous animals. Highly recommended.

5. Blackfish (2013)

I saw Blackfish relatively recently and it has completely changed my opinion of SeaWorld and the treatment of the killer whales. The film looks at the killer whale, Tilikum, and his captivity at SeaWorld which has lead to deaths of three highly skilled trainers. The doc looks at the controversy surrounding these cases and the dangers of keeping orcas captive. It is incredibly sad and totally gripping. If a documentary can change the way you look at something for the rest of your life, then that is the ultimate accolade. 

6. Catfish (2010)

Can we trust the people we talk to online? Nev believes he has a genuine romantic online relationship but suspicions creep in and he seeks to find the truth. There is some controversy that the film is faked yet the gripping story keeps you guessing at what will happen next. The documentary spawned off a TV show on MTV, where Nev and the filmmakers help those who have similar suspicions about their 'close' contacts and are ready to confront the person behind the pixels. Catfish is available on Netflix.

7. The Bridge (2006)

I came across this documentary whilst looking for a film to watch on Netflix. The Bridge looks at San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge and the people who wish to end their lives there. The filmmaker, Eric Steel, filmed the bridge over the course of the year which captured footage of individual suicides. Steel interviewed family and friends of those who jumped, never revealing that he caught their last moments on camera. A very moving documentary which is tough yet intriguing to watch.

8. Searching for Sugar Man (2012)

Sixto Rodriguez was a dead man. Until two South Africans tracked the musician down to find that he was still alive. Unknown to him, Rodriguez's music has a huge following in South Africa. This Academy Award winning film is about the story of tracking him down and what happened after. The American musician's songs are the soundtrack to the film and it will no doubt be a Soundtrack Saturday on Ticket Stub in the near future.
The film is still available on iPlayer until the end of today so be quick!

9. Man on Wire (2008)

I saw this on Netflix a few months back and couldn't believe my eyes. The film follows the story of the French performer, Philippe Petit, who walked between the World Trade Center towers in 1974. Tense, unbelievable and beautiful, this is one of the all time best documentaries - with a certified 'fresh' rating on Rotten Tomatoes of 100%. Can't get better than that.

10. 20 Feet from Stardom (2013)

I'm being a little bit cheeky with this one, as it is a film I haven't personally seen but has been recommended not only by one of my friends but the Academy Awards. Yes, this won the Oscar for Best Documentary this year - beating the highly acclaimed The Act of Killing (another key doc on my list to see). 20 Feet from Stardom looks at the stories of the unsung background singers of some of the greatest musical legends, from Mick Jagger to Stevie Wonder. It is currently available on Netflix in the USA and will be released on DVD in the UK on 21st July 2014.

Do you agree with my list?

What makes a good documentary?

Let me know in the comments or tweet @TicketStubBlog on Twitter