Documentary Film

Contact

Debora Cheney
Larry and Ellen Foster Communications Librarian, and, Head, Library Services to the World Campus/Penn State Online
814-863-1345

or Your Campus Librarian

RESOURCES

11/4/08

Captures film footage from around the world on November 4, 2008, the day Barack Obama was elected President

Film/Video Viewing Room (University Park)

Related Guides

Film Archives and Stock Footage

Film Credits and Plot Summaries

Film: Production and Direction

Film Reviews

Film Studies: History and Criticism

Film/Video Studies

Screenplays

Articles and Databases

Documentary: Nonfiction report that devotes its full time slot to one thesis or subject, usually under the guidance of a single producer, Museum of Broadcast Communications

Find History, Criticisms, and Reviews about documentary film, specific documentaries, or documentary film makers
- Film & Television Literature Index
  - Bibliographic database (1987-to date)
  - 380 publications with cover-to-cover indexing
  - 300 publications with selected coverage
  - 1990-to date with selective coverage back 50 years
- Film Literature Index (Indiana University)
  - Indexes film, television, video articles
  - Coverage 1976-2001
  - Over 150 periodicals, 30 countries
- MLA International Bibliography (Modern Language Association)
  - Subject index of scholarly journals in literature, dramatic arts (including film, radio, television, theatre)
  - International scope
  - Coverage 1926 - current
  - More than 2 million citations in 60 languages
- Academic Search Complete
  - Multi-disciplinary database with full-text periodicals, trade publications and peer-reviewed journals
  - Includes monographs (books), reports, and conference proceedings
  - Many articles in PDF format

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About/Find Documentary Films

Information about Documentary Films

About Documentary Films
- LC Subject: Documentary film
- Books about making a documentary film
  - LC Subject: Documentary films production and direction

Find Documentary Films in the Penn State Collection

Filmakers Library Online
- Over 940 award-winning documentaries across all disciplines
- Create clips
- Save play lists
- Transcripts
Documentary films at Penn State are searchable in the CAT
- LC Subject: Documentary films
- LC Subject: Documentary-style films
Penn State also owns many films in the PBS documentary series Frontline
- Search by the program name for these television programs
Full Frame documentary

Reference/Encyclopedias

Gale Virtual Reference Library
- Includes articles related to documentary film, history, and development
- International Dictionary of Films and Filmmakers
  - Filmographies, bibliographical references
  - Films, directors, actors, writers, and production artists
- History of the American Cinema (10 vols) Ed. Charles Harpool
  - Search using "documentary" to find article examples
    - American Documentary in the 1950s Jack Ellis
    - Looking Back and Turning Inward: American Documentary Films of the Seventies William Rothman
    - American Documentary in the 80s Carl Plantinga
International Encyclopedia of Social & Behavioral Sciences
- Interdisciplinary areas of research
- Searchable full text with electronic reference links
- Search of "film and cinema" produces over 30 articles
Encyclopedia of International Media and Communications
- Explores and analyzes media effects of the "Information Age" globally
- Search of "documentary" results in over 50 articles
International Encyclopedia of Communication
- Covers theories, media and communication phenomena, problems, concepts and research methods
- Advanced search of "documentary" produces over 80 articles

Documentary Programs/Distributors

Documentary Educational Resources
- Founded in 1968 by independent filmmakers
- Produce, distribute, promote quality ethnographic, documentary, non-fiction films
- Foster cross-cultural understanding through video and film
Frontline
- PBS's flagship public affairs series since 1983
- Primetime venue for reporting allowing full exploration of critical issues
Independent Lens
- Introduces new documentaries and dramas by independent filmmakers
- Emmy winning series
- Airs weekly on PBS
Media Education Foundation
- Produces and distributes documentary films and other educational resources
- Inspires critical reflection of social, political, and cultural impact of American mass media
POV (Point of View)
- PBS's summer series that showcases independent non-fiction films
- Documentaries with a point of view
California Newsreel
- Film and video for social change since 1968
- Resources include transcripts, facilitator guides, closed captioned
Center for New American Media
- Produces award winning, entertaining and educational video documentaries
- Study guides and bibliography of related books

Websites

Capturing Reality: The Art of Documentary
- Explores the craft of documentary filmmaking
- Includes 163 videoclips, 38 filmmakers
- User Guide
Documentary.org (International Documentary Association)
- Non-profit organization since 1982
- Promotes nonfiction filmmakers
- Dedicated to increasing public awareness for the documentary genre
Documentary Films.Net
- Founded in 1998, 100% volunteer driven
- Provides documentary film information and resources to both viewers and filmmakers
- Television Documentary
ITVS (Independent Television Service)
- Funds, presents, and promotes award-winning documentaries and dramas on public television and cable
- Corporation for Public Broadcasting
- Independent Lens
  - PBS emmy award winning series
Reel Life Stories (University of California, Berkeley)
SnagFilms
- Platform of free films, widget sharing and filmanthropy
- Breaking news coverage via indieWIRE
Reframe
- Program of the Tribeca Film Institute
- Documentaries for purchase (partnership with Amazon.com)
- Helps individual filmmakers, distributors, archives, libraries and other media owners to digitize and sell their work using the internet, and to become a one-stop location for anyone seeking these films (from the website)
National Film Board of Canada
- Free online screening room with nearly 1500 films, clips and trailers
- Available in English and French
- Classic & contemporary Canadian documentary films