documentaries

A new documentary about Elon Musk is reportedly being denied advertising on TikTok and X, according to a CBC report. The film's promoters say the platforms are refusing to run its promotional ads, while other major platforms such as YouTube and Meta were also named in the coverage. The reported refusals are drawing attention to how platforms handle ads for content critical of their own owners and executives, with Musk's ownership of X making the case especially charged.

German outlet Der Spiegel has released 'Inside Russia (2)', a SPIEGEL TV documentary presenting exclusive reporting on life under Vladimir Putin's increasingly isolated dictatorship. The film offers viewers rare insights into how ordinary Russians and the political leadership are coping amid the country's international isolation and the ongoing war in Ukraine. It is drawing heavy attention internationally, with hundreds of thousands of viewers engaging with the documentary within days of release.

Distributor Bleecker Street says major platforms including YouTube, TikTok and Meta have rejected paid ads for Alex Gibney's documentary 'Musk', set for release on October 9, citing their policies on political content. X has reportedly refused to respond to the distributor's inquiries entirely, and Bleecker Street is appealing the ad rejections ahead of the film's debut.

YouTube and Meta have backed away from running paid advertising for a documentary about Elon Musk. The platforms reversed plans to promote the film through paid ads, though details on the exact reasons for the decision remain limited. The move is drawing attention as it touches on how major tech companies handle promotional content linked to one of the most prominent figures in the industry.

A long-form documentary on the history of the anonymous imageboard 4chan is drawing large audiences worldwide. The piece traces the site's origins, its role in shaping internet meme culture, and its links to harassment campaigns, extremism and other controversies that have made it one of the web's most infamous communities.

A documentary about an American doctor's experience in Gaza is drawing audiences in cinemas, an uncommon commercial success for a film on this subject. Posts highlighting the run tag it with Palestine, ceasefire and FreePalestine hashtags, framing the box-office turnout as a sign of continuing public interest in the war and in first-hand accounts from medical workers there.

A documentary feature from GMA Public Affairs revisits the case of Jason Ivler, the Filipino-American who shot and killed Renato Victor Ebarle Jr. during a road rage confrontation in Quezon City in 2009. Ivler was arrested in 2010 after a shootout with authorities at his mother's home. The feature is drawing wide attention as part of a series revisiting major Philippine controversies.

Disney+ has secured broadcast rights to the 2027 Super Bowl along with two Monday Night Football games, a notable expansion of the streaming service into live sports. At the same time, the platform is promoting its October lineup, including the series VisionQuest and Coven Academy and a new Oasis documentary, keeping the service in the headlines on both sides of the Atlantic.

Social media platforms have refused to run paid advertising for a documentary about Elon Musk titled 'Musk'. The rejection means the film's promoters cannot buy promoted placements to reach audiences on the major platforms. The documentary examines Musk's life and influence, and the ad refusals have raised questions about whether platforms are uncomfortable promoting content centred on one of their most prominent figures.

The film-makers behind NAZA, a documentary about Gaza, spoke publicly about threats they have faced as the film premiered in New York City, in connection with the New York Film Festival 2026. The premiere drew attention against the backdrop of the Israel-Gaza war, with the documentary touching on figures including Benjamin Netanyahu and the situation in Israel and Gaza.

A new documentary follows an ageing search-and-rescue volunteer, one of the 'Desert Angels', who risks his life scouring the harsh terrain along the US-Mexico border for people who have gone missing during crossing attempts. The film highlights the human toll of migration routes and the unpaid groups who comb the desert looking for survivors and remains when authorities do not.

The documentary NAZA, which examines alleged Israeli war crimes, will be made available to stream for free in November, according to filmmaker Yuval Abraham. The free release is intended to widen access to the film, which documents the impact of the war in Gaza on Palestinians and the conduct of Israeli forces there.

A photographer posting under the handle Shouganai shared a new image tagged with a wide set of photography hashtags, including fine art, street, documentary and travel photography, alongside circus and live performance labels. The post gained modest engagement as photography communities circulated daily photo-of-the-day shares.

A wildlife documentary titled 'Wild Javari' explores the lives of javari, the wild pigs of South American forests, and the dramatic reversals where predators hunting them in the trees can themselves become prey. Viewers are engaging heavily with its footage of forest canopy encounters between hunters and hunted.

Channel One remains a fixture of Russian news coverage, with regional outlets reporting on a range of its programming and personalities. Dmitry Dyuzhev has reportedly taken on a new role at the channel, a schoolboy from Ulyanovsk set a regional record on The Voice Kids earning a standing ovation from the jury, and Tyumen residents appeared in a documentary about the Romanov dynasty. Other coverage includes a science-and-art residency in Komarovo and a state award for a well-known TV presenter.

Swedish media are reporting on a security threat at Muskö, the island naval base south of Stockholm that hosts parts of the Swedish armed forces' underground facilities. TV listing site TV.nu flags a news story titled 'Säkerhetshotet på Muskö' (The security threat at Muskö), indicating coverage of the incident is drawing attention. Details of the specific threat and any official response have not been laid out in the available material, and it is unclear whether the story concerns a new event or a documentary feature.

Steve Sarkisian, head coach of the Texas Longhorns, is drawing online attention in the US. Discussion around the team includes an early-season assessment of Texas football through four games, weighing what has worked and what has not, alongside buzz around a new ESPN documentary on his former boss, Nick Saban. No specific event involving Sarkisian has been confirmed.

Today marks 26 years since the start of the Second Intifada, the Palestinian uprising that began in September 2000 and lasted roughly five years. It killed almost 5,000 Palestinians, including more than 1,000 children. People marking the anniversary are recalling the period through the documentary Jenin, Jenin, which chronicles the Israeli invasion of the West Bank city of Jenin during the conflict.

French broadcaster France 2 aired an episode of its investigative series 'Au bout de l'enquête' dedicated to the Toni Musulin affair, revisiting the 2009 armored-car robbery in Lyon dubbed the 'heist of the century'. Musulin, an armored-truck driver, vanished with 11.6 million euros and surrendered days later, becoming one of France's most notorious criminals.

Dutch presenter Tim Hofman attended the Televizier-Ring Gala in Amsterdam together with participants from his programme Over Mijn Lijk, pausing to remember those who are no longer there. Hofman urged people to 'enjoy the now', a message that resonated widely in the Netherlands. His podcast and documentary work also features among nominees for the Dutch Podcast Awards 2026, keeping him in the spotlight this week.

Dutch cinema chain Pathé has announced it will screen the Gaza documentary NAZA, following news reported by RTL. The decision puts the film in mainstream Dutch theatres, drawing attention to the documentary's portrayal of Gaza and adding to the wider public debate in the Netherlands about the conflict and the place of such films in cultural programming.

A new documentary follows Max, a 14-year-old struggling with climate anxiety, as he writes letters to imprisoned climate activists in search of hope. Through their correspondence he explores the human stories behind direct action and why so many protesters have served prison time. The film is being featured by The Guardian and highlights the personal toll of climate activism and the justice system's response to it.

British composer George Fenton has died at the age of 76. He was known for scores to films including The Fisher King, Groundhog Day and Dangerous Liaisons, and for landmark natural history series such as Planet Earth and Blue Planet. Fenton was one of Britain's most respected film and television composers, with a career spanning decades and numerous award nominations.

A wildlife documentary focusing on the Philippines' most dangerous predators is drawing heavy attention from nature audiences worldwide. Viewers are engaging with the film's look at the country's fierce animals and unique ecosystems, and the piece is currently topping wildlife viewing charts globally, reflecting strong interest in the Philippines' less-known predatory species.

A Russian court has ordered the arrest in absentia of documentary director Andrei Loshak on charges of justifying terrorism. The move makes him the latest cultural figure to face criminal proceedings in Russia, with reports circulating in Russian media including Novye Izvestia. Details of the specific statements cited in the case have not been made broadly clear, and Loshak is believed to be outside the country.