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Top Docs: Award-Winning Documentary Filmmakers

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Mike and Ken talk to award-winning documentary filmmakers about their art, their subjects, and their process.

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes299Founded5 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
TV & Film

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Artwork for Top Docs:  Award-Winning Documentary Filmmakers

Latest Episodes

In the early morning hours of a typical spring day, a van marked “Immigration Enforcement” stops on a quiet street in a residential neighborhood; two men of color are snatched up for alleged immigration violations and hustled into the van. No, the lo... more

You may only know her from those few minutes in a dressing room where she was assaulted by Donald Trump, who has himself relentlessly lied about what happened there and slandered the woman who, after years of telling only those closest to her of his ... more

What started out as a transactional exchange between Janay Boulos, a BBC journalist, and Abd Alkader Habak, a local activist and cameraperson in Aleppo during the Syrian war, later evolved into a mutual curiosity. Over time, texting, voice memos and ... more

Joining us for the 5th year in a row, Variety’s Chief Awards Editor Clayton Davis is back on “Top Docs” to break down this year’s Oscar races for Best Documentary Feature and Best Documentary Short and to offer his predictions for who will walk away ... more

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Recent Guests

Hilla Medalia
Peabody-winning, four-time Emmy-nominated director
Episode: “Children No More: Were and are Gone” with Hilla Medalia
Alison McAlpine
Award-winning documentary filmmaker
Episode: "Perfectly a Strangeness" with Alison McAlpine
Christalyn Hampton
Director/Producer of The Devil Is Busy
Geeta Gandbhir (director)
Episode: "The Devil is Busy" with Christalyn Hampton & Rose Arce
Rose Arce
Producer of The Devil Is Busy
Geeta Gandbhir (director)
Episode: "The Devil is Busy" with Christalyn Hampton & Rose Arce
Judd Ehrlich
Director of 'Jane Elliott Against the World'
Episode: "Jane Elliott Against the World" with Judd Ehrlich
Basil Tsiokos
Senior programmer for the Sundance Film Festival.
Sundance Film Festival
Episode: 2026 Sundance Preview with Basil Tsiokos
Brittany Shyne
Documentary filmmaker known for her work focusing on black farmers and their communities
Episode: "Seeds" with Brittany Shyne
Noam Shuster Eliassi
Israeli comedian and creator of the show Coexistence, My Ass
Episode: “Coexistence, My Ass!” with Amber Fares
Elizabeth Lo
Director of the documentary Mistress Dispeller
Episode: "Mistress Dispeller" with Elizabeth Lo

Hosts

Ken Jacobson
Host/Producer at Top Docs; long-running interviewer with a focus on documentary storytelling and industry trends.
Mike Merrill
Host/Co-host at Top Docs; engages guests with industry insights, festival context, and a journalist's eye for documentary narratives.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 27 ratings
  • Two Brilliant Guys

    It is clear from their insightful questions and their knowledge of the subject matter that these guys know intimately the process of docmaking and can take the listener to a deeper understanding of the challenges filmmakers face and why they make the creative choices to meet them.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Deadfun.
    United States4 years ago
  • Great podcast

    Very well structured and informing

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Sebmundo
    United States5 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

The host pairings deliver a balanced, thoughtful perspective on documentaries and their subjects.
Well-structured and informative with strong guest selections.
Insightful questions and deep subject matter understanding come through in every interview.

Top TV & Film Podcasts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

“Armed Only With a Camera" with Craig Renaud
Q: How did you keep Brent's voice front and center in the film after his death?
Craig explains that Brent was made co-director through decades of Brent's own footage, and they actively sought moments where Brent's voice could be heard, using archival material and careful editing to foreground his perspective.
“Armed Only With a Camera" with Craig Renaud
Q: What was it like for you to work with your brother, to be out in Afghanistan or wherever you found yourselves, to be shooting, to be collaborating, to be making these films together?
Craig describes it as incredible and nostalgic, emphasizing that Brent was a passionate, diligent, and empathetic partner whose presence made their work meaningful, especially in conflict zones.
"The Devil is Busy" with Christalyn Hampton & Rose Arce
Q: Can you talk about how the project took shape and why you landed on this particular center in Atlanta?
The project began before Roe v. Wade was fully decided; we anticipated rights would be rolled back and aimed to document what would happen on the front lines, choosing a center run largely by women of color to show resilience and nuance.
"Perfectly a Strangeness" with Alison McAlpine
Q: So when people ask me about a film, like a film like this, I often stumble. If someone says, what's this film about, how would you describe it?
I'd describe it as a wordless, visually immersive journey with donkeys in the Chilean desert, observing an astronomical observatory, using sound and image to elicit a sense of wonder rather than explicit explanation.
“Children No More: Were and are Gone” with Hilla Medalia
Q: What did you most want audiences to take away regarding protest strategies and dialogue across divides?
Medalia highlights the value of calm, listening-based conversations, the importance of recognizing pain on all sides, and the role of nonviolent, information-rich protests in fostering humane dialogue despite conflicting perspectives.

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Frequently Asked Questions About This Podcast

What is This Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A thoughtful series centered on award-winning documentary filmmaking, with conversations that span social issues, investigative journalism, and festival culture. Episodes often dissect a film's subject matter, the director's process, and the broader impact of documentary storytelling—from race and education to policing, immigration, and political oppression. A few recurring strengths stand out: in-depth, candid filmmaker interviews; a pulse on major industry events like Sundance and Oscar conversations; and a clear commitment to elevating documentary perspectives that illuminate underrepresented communities and pressing societal questions.

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this podcast launched 5 years ago and published 299 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on this podcast?

Recent guests on this podcast include:

1. Hilla Medalia
2. Alison McAlpine
3. Christalyn Hampton
4. Rose Arce
5. Judd Ehrlich
6. Basil Tsiokos
7. Brittany Shyne
8. Noam Shuster Eliassi

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