Nam June Paik in “Nam June Paik: Moon” is the Oldest TV, which premiered at 2023 Sundance Film Festival.
By Jessica Herndon
When it comes to capturing the visual arts on film, documentaries have the power to distill the moments when beauty, ambition, and creativity converge. From the fierce energy of a dance rehearsal to the meticulous construction of a fashion show, films like Ailey, about the life and impact of legendary dancer and choreographer Alvin Ailey, and Unzipped, which captures the making of fashion designer Isaac Mizrahi’s iconic fall 1994 collection, immerse us in creative processes.
Sundance Institute’s legacy with nonfiction work is deep-seated. Documentaries have always been a part of our Festival’s programming and since its establishment in October 2002, our Documentary Film Program has nurtured nonfiction storytelling from around the globe, supporting the evolution of documentaries that reflect our culture and artistic prowess. “I want Sundance to be a forum for cultural exchange and for political dialogue,” Institute founder Robert Redford said about why he’d always believed in the power of documentary filmmaking. “It’s often in documentaries — when the focus is on personal stories — that we learn the truth of current situations and events. They’re not just a cultural force for storytelling; they’re also political truth.”
In the spirit of that legacy, we’ve compiled a list of documentaries that premiered at the Sundance Film Festival that shine a spotlight on the visual arts, or, more specifically, art made to be seen and interpreted visually. You’ll find films that reveal the making of unforgettable album covers, trace the evolution of groundbreaking photography, pull back the curtain on the fashion industry, and immerse us in the world of a neo-expressionist painter.
From the grittiness of street art in Exit Through the Gift Shop to the calculated elegance of crafting Vogue’s biggest issue of the year in The September Issue, these movies are a masterclass in storytelling and perspective, offering a deeper understanding of the visual arts and the passion, obsession, and talent of the creators behind works of art.
Consider this your essential guide to the documentaries that have captured the beautiful chaos of artistic creation. Gear up for your front-row seat to the moments when vision becomes reality.
Ailey (2021 Sundance Film Festival)
In this evocative documentary, Jamila Wignot delves into the life of Alvin Ailey, the visionary choreographer who breathed new life into modern dance by channeling the Black experience. Using archival footage, personal interviews, and Ailey’s own voice, the film illustrates an artist who bridged cultural divides and whose legacy endures through the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater.
Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry (2012 Sundance Film Festival, winner of the Special Jury Prize)
Alison Klayman offers a detailed look at Chinese artist and activist Ai Weiwei, capturing his fearless fusion of art and politics in this film. From his provocative installations to his confrontations with government authorities, the movie chronicles Weiwei’s complex journey as he challenges censorship and advocates for freedom of expression.
Cutie and the Boxer (2013 Sundance Film Festival, winner of the Directing Award: US Documentary)
Zachary Heinzerling’s film is as much a look at the work of Japanese artists Ushio and Noriko Shinohara as it is a glimpse into their 40-year marriage. Ushio, known for his boxing paintings, and Noriko, the creator of the illustrated character Cutie, navigate the complexities of aging, artistic identity, and personal sacrifice. In the film, Heinzerling peels back the layers of the couple’s relationship, revealing Noriko sidelined her own artistic aspirations to support her husband’s career.
Exit Through the Gift Shop (2010 Sundance Film Festival)
In this bold and funny film, which challenges viewers to reevaluate the distinction between genuine art and market-driven spectacle, Banksy flips the script on the art world by chronicling the journey of Thierry Guetta, a French immigrant in Los Angeles with an obsessive passion for filming street art. Guetta’s quest to document the underground scene leads him to iconic artists like Shepard Fairey. However, the film takes a turn when Guetta, under the alias Mr. Brainwash, launches his own art career, raising questions about the authenticity of his work.
FRIDA (2024 Sundance Film Festival)
Carla Gutiérrez’s film explores Frida Kahlo’s life through the artist’s own words. Using excerpts from Kahlo’s diaries, letters, and interviews, the movie offers a deeply personal look into the life and work of the iconic Mexican painter. The viewing of the documentary is made especially beautiful due to animated interpretations of Kahlo’s artwork, which provide a visual experience that complements the artist’s words.
Jean-Michel Basquiat: The Radiant Child (2010 Sundance Film Festival)
The life and art of legendary painter Jean-Michel Basquiat is chronicled in Tamra Davis’s gripping documentary. Drawing from rare 1986 footage of Basquiat and insights from those who knew him, the film chronicles his rise in the art scene, his collaborations with icons like Andy Warhol, and the challenges he faced as a Black artist in a predominantly white art world.
Mapplethorpe: Look at the Pictures (2016 Sundance Film Festival)
Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato delve into the provocative life and work of photographer Robert Mapplethorpe in this documentary. Archival footage and interviews with those close to him — including Patti Smith, Debbie Harry, and his brother Edward — paint a portrait of an ambitious perfectionist whose bold work blurred the lines between fine art and pornography.
Marina Abramović: The Artist Is Present (2012 Sundance Film Festival)
Director Matthew Akers offers a rare view into Serbian performance artist Marina Abramović’s preparation for her 2010 retrospective at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. His film delves into the artist’s deep process, capturing the physical and emotional demands of her performance art, which included visitors sitting silently at a wooden table across from Abramović in MoMA’s second-floor atrium while holding eye contact with her for a duration of their choice. For nearly three months, Abramović sat at that table every hour her show was open at MoMA with no food, water, or breaks.
Nam June Paik: The Moon Is the Oldest TV (2023 Sundance Film Festival)
Korean artist Nam June Paik revolutionized the art world with his innovative use of television and video technology, which he began showing in the 1960s. Through a blend of archival footage, interviews with other creatives, and a narration of Paik’s writings by actor Steven Yeun, the film explores his journey from a classical musician in Korea to a key figure in the avant-garde scene, which was punctuated by his vision that our future would be media-saturated.
Squaring the Circle (The Story of Hipgnosis) (2023 Sundance Film Festival)
Paul McCartney, Noel Gallagher, and Roger Waters are just a few of the musicians who appear in Anton Corbijn’s documentary on the making of some of the most epic rock album art created by the design studio Hipgnosis. From the cover of Pink Floyd’s The Dark Side of the Moon to Led Zeppelin’s House of the Holy, Corbijn not only lets us into the world of sleeve art, but he also captures the magic behind the tunes, as told by music legends.
Style Wars (1984 Sundance Film Festival, winner of the Grand Jury Prize: Documentary)
In Tony Silver’s film, we’re invited into the world of New York City street culture in the early 1980s. Focusing on graffiti artists and hip-hop innovators, Style Wars captures the raw energy of New York, from subway trains plastered with bold tags to the moves of breakdancers. The film documents one of the first generations to turn the city itself into a canvas and digs into the tension between street culture and authority.
The September Issue (2009 Sundance Film Festival, winner of the Excellence in Cinematography Award: U.S. Documentary)
R.J. Cutler offers an exclusive look into the creation of the September 2007 issue of Vogue, the most influential edition of the year. Access to the editorial process at Vogue — specifically that of Anna Wintour, the magazine’s editor-in-chief — is incredible. Especially considering Wintour is known in the fashion world as being prickly. Indulge in this one for the unprecedented access, including appearances from fashion designers and models, and for a glance at the dynamic between the business-focused Wintour and the romantic, artistically-driven creative director Grace Coddington.
Unzipped (1995 Sundance Film Festival, winner of the Audience Award: Documentary)
As Isaac Mizrahi prepared for his Fall 1994 collection, Douglas Keeve, who was dating him at the time, captured the beautifully chaotic and creative world of the fashion designer. Shot in black-and-white, Keeve captures Mizrahi’s deliciously unfiltered personality — plus intimate footage of supermodels like Naomi Campbell, Cindy Crawford, and Kate Moss — bringing a behind-the-scenes look at the pressures and successes of the fashion industry.
