(Laura Bari, Canada, 2009) – website – trailer

As usual I couldn’t stick to convention and pick 10 or 20, but this is the list that just appeared when I began writing down the documentaries I’ve loved most this year. I know there are some big films missing but there are a few that I haven’t had a chance to see (Collapse, Objectified and Best Worst Movie being three in particular that I’m itching to get hold of.)

As with the decade list this isn’t in any order, I still can’t bring myself to do that. All of these films I absolutely adore and have championed to anyone who’ll listen. I really think it’s been a great year for documentary, there have been more feature docs than ever coming out of the UK, which is great as we tend to be broadcast oriented, and there have been a lot of great international co-productions that have really pushed some films that might not otherwise have been made. Also check out The Documentary Blog’s year end list here.

As with the decade list I’d love to know what you think I’m missing, I watched some great documentaries I might not have found off the back of all your suggestions so please feel free.

2. The Cove

(Louie Psihoyos, USA, 2009) – website – trailer

3. Sweethearts of the Prison Rodeo

(Bradley Beesley, 2009) – website – trailer

4. Mugabe and the White African

(Lucy Bailey & Andrew Thompson, UK, 2009) – website – trailer

5. Last Train Home

(Lixin Fan, Canada, 2009) – website – trailer

6. Sergio

(Greg Barker, USA, 2009) – website – trailer

7. The Red Chapel

(Mads Brügger, Denmark, 2009) – imdb – trailer

8. Anvil! The Story of Anvil

(Sacha Gervasi, USA, 2009) – website – trailer

9. Dancing with the Devil

(Jon Blair, UK, 2009) – website

10. Winnebago Man

(Ben Steinbauer, USA, 2009) – website – trailer

11. Kings of Pastry

(DA Pennebaker & Chris Hedegus, 2009) – website

12. I’m Not Dead Yet

(Elizabeth Stopford, UK, 2009) – imdb

13. Afghan Star

(Havana Marking, UK, 2009) – website – trailer

14. Presumed Guilty

(Roberto Hernández & Geoffrey Smith, Mexico, 2009) – website – trailer

15. RiP: A Remix Manifesto

(Brett Gaylor, Canada, 2009) – website – trailer

Honourable Mentions:

21 Below
Shelter in Place
Burma VJ
The Time of Their Lives
Along Came Kinky
The Most Dangerous Man in America