Film series: Doc Spots

A black-and-white scene shows a shirtless man holding a torch while several people stand behind him in dense vegetation. A pale, skull-like face or mask appears among the group.

Documentary films have great power to transform our worldview by sparking curiosity about and creating access to unique people, places, and stories from around the world.

Our “Doc Spots” series highlights a dynamic range of new non-fiction films, foregrounding both powerful narratives and compelling storytelling techniques. We also aim to present films that resonate with local concerns and with the cutting-edge teaching and research happening across campus, so many screenings are cosponsored by Cornell departments, programs, or other community organizations.

This fall, we are thrilled to bring to Ithaca the Academy Award-nominated documentary Cutting Through Rocks (2025), which follows the remarkable Sara Shahverdi in her fight against oppressive patriarchal traditions as the first female councilor in her Iranian village. Things get personal with Remake (2026), directed and produced by Ross McElwee in which he reevaluates his approach to filmmaking following the death of his son from an opioid overdose.

In October, we will also feature Black Zombie (2026), directed by Maya Annik Bedward, which reveals how zombies evolved from Haitian spiritual traditions into Hollywood horror, and we will partner with the Milstein Program in Technology and Humanity on a screening and discussion of Everyone is Lying to You for Money (2025), an informative critique of the world of cryptocurrency from actor-turned-director Ben McKenzie.

We are also pleased to partner with numerous campus partners this semester, including Cornell Law School, the Migrations Program, the Institute for African Development, the Department of Romance Studies, the South Asia Program, and more.

Other film series this semester

Altered States in Silent Cinema
Campus Collaborations
Cine Con Cultura
Doc Spots
Encounters with the Uncanny
Experimental Lens
Happy Birthday, Mel Brooks!
Noirvember
Restorations & Rediscoveries
Stories in Motion—A Migrations Film Series
The Middle East on Film
Too Cool for School
Wayfaring Strangers
Worth a Watch

Related films

A black-and-white photograph shows a group of young people marching in a public demonstration. A large handmade sign behind them reads “The Board Buster.”

Arts Unplugged: Deaf President Now!

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A black-and-white photograph shows the exterior of a cinema covered with large illustrated movie posters and signs. Several people stand beneath the crowded display.
A young woman wearing a headscarf faces a reflective glass surface, creating a close-up double image of her face. Blue and purple light patterns ripple across the reflection.

One in a Million

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A large upright book stands against a blue background, casting a long shadow. Text on the cover reads, “America’s war on books is more than a war on words.”

The Librarians

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A man wearing a cap and glasses stands near water, seen from behind as he holds a cane or long object. The distant shoreline and buildings are softly blurred in bright daylight.

Unseen

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Two side-by-side portrait photographs show the same short-haired woman against a warm wooden background. In one she looks toward the camera, and in the other she turns her gaze to the side.

Barbara Forever

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A black-and-white scene shows a shirtless man holding a torch while several people stand behind him in dense vegetation. A pale, skull-like face or mask appears among the group.

Black Zombie

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A small silhouetted figure sits or crouches on a ridge beneath a dramatic, cloud-filled sky. The dark landscape and low light create a stark, contemplative scene.

Cutting Through Rocks

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A man sits in darkness with his hand against his face while projected social-media comments surround him. Insults and other online messages appear across the background.

Everyone Is Lying to You for Money

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A close-up shows a young person with short dark hair illuminated by warm, low light in an otherwise dark room. The person looks slightly upward with a calm, attentive expression while soft shadows fall across their face.

Remake

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