Director Mark Cousins Brings Epic 16-Chapter Story Of Nonfiction Cinema To Cannes, Says “Documentary Kills Fascism”
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- Mark Cousins premiered chapter 1 of his 16‑chapter series "The Story of Documentary Film" at Sundance, unveiled chapters 2‑4 at the Berlinale, and presented two new 1970s chapters at Cannes.
- Noriaki Tsuchimoto’s documentary on the Minamata mercury poisoning in Japan is highlighted in Cousins’ Cannes screenings.
- Sukhdev Singh Sandhu’s Indian documentary "Nine Months to Freedom," about the 1971 Bangladesh war, is featured in the series.
- Sarah Maldoror’s African‑focused documentaries, including "Fogo Fire Island," are examined as part of the 1970s chapter.
- John Grierson coined the term "documentary" a century ago; Cousins notes the shift from civic‑focused to personal narratives in 1960s‑70s documentaries.
Why it matters: Filmmakers and audiences gain a platform for historically marginalized voices, while Cannes’ diverse program counters India’s stalled gender‑quota and Japan’s militaristic focus, reinforcing cinema’s role in social discourse.
