Sunday, May 18th, 2025

Short Docs, Big Impact: Why We Want More Documentary Films

There’s something quietly radical about a great documentary short. It doesn’t rely on spectacle. It doesn’t need a massive budget. What it offers is perspective. And in an age of noise, that might be the most powerful thing a film can do.

At Norwich Film Festival, we’ve seen the documentary category grow not just in quantity, but in quality. From intimate character portraits to global stories told in under 25 minutes, short-form documentaries have a unique power to connect. And in this year’s call for submissions, we want to see even more of them.

Why Documentaries Matter Right Now

In a post-truth, algorithm-driven landscape, documentaries do something crucial: they slow things down. They invite us to listen. To sit with nuance. To engage with people and issues outside of our direct experience.

And the short format, in particular, has become a potent tool for that. You don’t need to explain every detail or resolve every thread. You need to spark something — a moment of understanding, a shift in perspective, an emotional response. That’s where the impact lies.

From climate anxiety to culture, identity, grief, joy, resistance and survival — we’ve seen short docs tackle it all, often with more honesty than a feature film can sustain. There’s less room for padding. More room for truth.

This year’s Oscar-winning feature documentary No Other Land is a perfect example. Co-directed by Basel Adra and Yuval Abraham, the film tells the story of Palestinian activists resisting expulsion from their homes in Masafer Yatta. Shot over five years, it’s urgent, raw, and deeply personal — a reminder of what documentary, especially short-form, does best: it captures stories that would otherwise be erased. The film’s emotional core lies in its proximity to its subjects, and its power lies in its simplicity.

No Other Land (2024) – Academy Award Winner for Best Documentary

A Space for Underrepresented Voices

Short documentaries also open doors for filmmakers who might not otherwise have access to the resources needed for fiction filmmaking. That’s part of what excites us about programming them. We’re constantly looking for new voices and new perspectives — and the doc form is often where those emerge.

One such filmmaker is Laura Wadha, a Norwich Film Festival alumni whose body of short documentary work has consistently impressed and moved audiences. Her deeply personal films explore themes of displacement, trauma, and family through a lens of intimacy and compassion. Her recent project, Born in Damascus, was featured in The Guardian, following the story of two cousins separated by the Syrian war and reunited years later. It’s a powerful example of the kind of work we’re proud to platform — stories that are personal yet political, local yet global.

Some of the most affecting films we’ve ever screened at NFF have come from people telling their own stories, or from filmmakers deeply embedded in the communities they’re documenting. The result? Work that feels urgent, personal and alive.

Born in Damascus (2021)

Celebrating Past NFF Documentary Winners

Over the years, Norwich Film Festival has proudly championed a wide range of powerful short documentaries — stories that linger long after the credits roll.

Highlights include:

• The Journey of a Stateless Man (2016) – A poignant exploration of identity, liminality, and the invisible barriers faced by those living without citizenship. Directed by Daniel Ali.

The Journey of a Stateless Man (2016)

• Gereza (2018) – A raw and timely look at the refugee experience, offering unflinching insight into the lives of people caught between hope and uncertainty. Directed by Shaun Nelson.

Gereza (2018)

• Kamali (2019) – Directed by Sasha Rainbow, this moving film follows a young Indian girl whose passion for skateboarding challenges gender roles — and reveals the strength of her mother’s quiet support. BAFTA nominated.

Kamali (2019)

• The Archive: Queer Nigerians (2023) – A vital and intimate piece documenting the lives, memories and survival of queer Nigerians living in the UK. A film about preservation, voice, and visibility.

The Archive: Queer Nigerians (2023)

• Pipedream (2024) – A recent selection that blends observational filmmaking with lyrical visuals to examine the tension between industrial ambition and community displacement.

Pipedream (2024)

These films differ in style and subject matter, but they all share a commitment to clarity, intimacy, and emotional truth. They’ve played to packed houses, sparked Q&As that stayed with us, and reminded us why the documentary form matters so deeply.

How to Make Your Short Doc Stand Out

We’re not looking for perfection. We’re looking for purpose. If you’re a filmmaker submitting a documentary to NFF, here’s what we love to see:

• Clarity of focus: What’s the emotional or thematic throughline? What’s the heartbeat of the story?
• Access: Are you close to your subject? Can we feel that connection?
• Craft: Thoughtful cinematography, sound and editing can elevate a piece without needing a big budget.
• Fresh perspective: Even if the topic has been explored before, what’s your angle?

The Bigger Picture

We believe short documentaries aren’t just filler between fiction films — they’re vital in their own right. They speak to the current moment while often transcending it. They ask questions. They hold space.

And for audiences, they offer something increasingly rare: the chance to watch, reflect, and walk away thinking differently.

If you’ve got a story to tell — whether it’s your own or someone else’s — we want to see it. Submit your short documentary to Norwich Film Festival. Because in the right hands, a short film can go a long way.

Submissions Are Open

If you found this helpful, share it with another filmmaker. The better informed we all are, the stronger the work gets.

See you on the circuit.

You can submit now via FilmFreeway. Full details on categories, eligibility, and deadlines are also available on our submissions page.

Posted in: Advice, NFF2025