The documentary filmmaking genre has experienced remarkable growth in recent years, with demand increasing by an impressive 142% between 2018 and 2022. The pandemic only accelerated this momentum, as docuseries such as Tiger King captured global audiences. Since then, the genre has shown no signs of slowing down, with a Vice article declaring that we are likely living in the 'golden age' of documentary filmmaking.
As audiences consume more factual content than ever before, and technology making documentary filmmaking increasingly accessible, the responsibility of documentary filmmakers has never been greater.
In a world where we're constantly filming, posting and sharing our lives online, it might seem like we've all become documentary filmmakers. However, LFA Documentary Filmmaking Certificate tutor Manuela Maiguashca believes there is an important distinction between documenting reality and simply performing for the camera.
We sat down with Manuela to discuss why documentary filmmaking continues to be one of the most powerful forms of storytelling, the ethical questions shaping the industry and why aspiring filmmakers should think beyond simply ‘telling a good story’.
We're documenting more than ever – but are we really?
With smartphones in every pocket and social media encouraging constant self-documentation, it's easy to see why documentary filmmaking feels more relevant than ever.
Manuela believes this shift has also changed our relationship with reality itself.
She explains that she has witnessed this pressure to constantly record and perform, raising important questions about authenticity, memory and the role documentary filmmakers play in capturing the world around them.
Rather than documenting life as it unfolds, much of what we see online is carefully curated performance.
For documentary filmmakers, understanding that difference is crucial. Documentary filmmaking isn't simply about pointing a camera at reality; it's about questioning how and why we choose to represent it.
Ethics matter just as much as technique
As documentary filmmaking evolves, so do the conversations surrounding it.
For Manuela, today's filmmakers must think beyond cameras. The real challenge lies in understanding the ethical responsibility that comes with telling someone else's story.
One lesson she repeatedly returns to is knowing when not to film.
In an age where capturing content often feels automatic, learning restraint can be just as valuable as learning how to shoot.
Documentary is about curiosity, not having all the answers
Many aspiring filmmakers believe they need an extraordinary subject or a perfectly formed idea before making a documentary.
Manuela sees it differently.
Rather than arriving with a rigid narrative, she encourages students to arrive with curiosity.
Instead of asking, What's my story?, students are encouraged to ask:
• What do I care about?
• What questions do I want to explore?
• How can I achieve this responsibly?
That shift often opens the door to richer, impactful original work.
Why documentary filmmaking matters
Documentary filmmaking helps us understand lives beyond our own. It encourages empathy, challenges assumptions, and asks difficult questions.
However, with that opportunity comes responsibility.
As audiences continue consuming more real-life stories than ever before, the filmmakers behind those stories have an increasingly important role to play.
For Manuela, documentary filmmaking isn't simply about capturing reality; it's about engaging with it thoughtfully and ethically.
It's a reminder that great documentaries aren't defined by the stories they tell alone, but by how those stories are told. In an age of constant content creation, that's exactly why documentary filmmaking matters more than ever.
Find out more and apply to LFA’s Documentary Certificate course here.