Awesome Documentaries

Elevate is a documentary about four talented West African teenagers from the SEEDS academy who have qualified for slots at an American prep school, a step closer to their dream of playing in the NBA.

A documentary about male punk rockers (and other influencers of the culture) and their transition from being poster boys of anarchy to being the quintessential figures of authority – fathers.

Here’s something for baseball fans and trivia buffs. Did you know that every major and minor league ball used in the past 75 years has been rubbed with mud from the Delaware River? More here.

Lonesome George is a 102-year old Pinta Island tortoise. He’s not mistreated and he’s good friends with his caretaker. He got his name because he’s the only surviving member of his subspecies.

A documentary about the effect of today’s advanced technology on artists and our culture, a development that can empower creators, but also swamp consumers in mediocrity. More here.

Be treated to exotic locales, mad stunts and more in Defy: The Danny Harf Project, a documentary about the career of 4-time X-Games gold medalist and world champion wakeboarder Danny Harf.

Elmo is one of the most famous puppets in the world, but little is known about Kevin Clash, the man behind the beloved Sesame Street resident. This is his story. Directed by Constance Marks.

Suriviving Progress is a documentary about the double-edged sword of human advancement and the certain end that faces us all, unless we commit to use less and produce only what is needed.

Artists, athletes, technology and nature meet in this wonderfully shot story-within-a-story. Renan Ozturk followed Jimmy Chin as the latter made a piece about modern day mountain climbing.

Directed by Nikolaus Geyrhalter, Unser Täglich Brot is about the fast, efficient and mass-producing world of modern agriculture, presenting arresting footage devoid of commentary.

Asif Kapadia’s award-winning documentary on legendary F1 driver Ayrton Senna. Includes a comprehensive amount of racing footage and interviews. Also available on DVD.

A documentary about Balrog. Yes, the Street Fighter. And it’s awesome. Chubby Boy Films did a great job of adding depth to a two-dimensional character. Top-class acting and cinematography.

A short documentary about a couple of street dentists. Their equipment and procedures are crude and unsanitary, but for their poor customers, they’re the only choice. Directed by Falk Peplinski.

(NSFW: Language) The first of a series of videos about Urban Exploring – looking for and documenting rarely seen places in cities, such as rooftops, underground railways and even sewers.

(NSFW: Language) A documentary by Alex Gallegos about the Detroit bike community, and how they ride bikes not just to save on gas or stay fit, but also to get to know and help each other.

Shot in a single day in 2010 by thousands of individuals across the globe, editor Kyle Ruddick is now combining over 3000 hours of film into an epic documentary of our incredible, diverse planet.

Laure Flammarion & Arnaud Uyttenhove followed photographer Alec Soth as the latter worked on his photo book. A film about the fantasy of escape, a fantasy shared by both Soth and his subjects.

Directed by Rodman Flender, Can’t Stop sees Conan on his post-Tonight Show Tour, showing his vulnerable and frustrated side alongside the hilarious entertainer we’ve come to know and love.

StoryCorps is a nonprofit organization that archives stories told by American citizens, like this one from Kay Wang, who was reluctantly taken by her son and granddaughter to share her stories.

A short excerpt from the documentary Lessons for the Living, featuring 10 hospice volunteers sharing their experiences and what they have learned from their time with dying people. Trailer here.

Probably the weirdest video you’ll see all week, The S From Hell by Rodney Ascher is a short documentary-cum-horror film about the 1964 Screen Gems logo and the effect it had on children.

Cindy Meehl’s Buck follows the life of Buck Brannaman, a true American cowboy and sage on horseback who travels the country for 9 months a year helping horses with people problems.

(NSFW: Language) Dax Shepard abandons comedy to pursue his dream of becoming an international martial arts star – with no formal training, budget or script – in David Palmer’s Brother’s Justice.