Eligible films must be documentaries: feature-length (over 41 minutes) addressing social issues currently impacting the United States, or shorts (under 40 minutes).
Minimum premiere status required is New York City (5 Boroughs) regional premiere for main slate features and shorts, except Short List or Winner’s Circle sections which have no premiere requirement; strong programming priority given to world or U.S. premieres.
Films must not be promotional, instructional, industrial, or raw performance documentation.
Non-English language films require English subtitles (preferred) or dubbing.
Competition sections include U.S. Competition (U.S.-produced documentaries), International Competition (non-U.S. produced), and Kaleidoscope Competition (poetic/essayistic documentaries) films in these sections must meet Oscar-qualification requirements by applicable Academy deadline.
Short Film Grand Jury Prize qualifies for Academy Awards® Documentary Short Subject category without standard theatrical run if otherwise compliant with Academy rules
U.K. shorts qualify for BAFTA British Short Film category.
Strongly encouraged: closed captioning via VTT for online exhibition; closed captioning, descriptive audio, or open captions for theatrical.
