Next Big Thing: 10 Rising Doc Filmmakers Who “Speak Truth to Power”

Beauty reimagined at the Miss Black America pageant. The legacy of a radical LGBTQ artist. A Riz Ahmed-exec produced animated documentary. A pivotal moment in Black music history resurrected.

Those are some of the stories told by these documentary filmmakers breaking out in the U.S., many with their feature debuts, selected for tackling tough subjects with storytelling prowess, festival recognition, critical reception and innovative techniques. Their names might not (yet) be known, but their work speaks volumes.