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28th edition
Full Frame Documentary Film Festival
Durham, United States
April 1-4, 2027
4 days
About Full Frame Documentary Film Festival
The Full Frame Documentary Film Festival is an annual four-day event held in downtown Durham, North Carolina, devoted exclusively to documentary cinema. Founded in 1998 and presented as a program of Duke University's Center for Documentary Studies, the festival curates new and classic nonfiction work from around the world. It features juried and audience awards, thematic retrospectives and filmmaker conversations, and operates a year-round Road Show that brings documentaries to regional communities.
Festival details
Location
Durham, United States
Scope
International
Focus
Documentary · Feature · Short
Duration
4 days
Founded
1998
Awards
Grand Jury Award
Top jury prize for outstanding documentary filmmaking.
Nancy Buirski Award
Introduced in 2026, honoring the legacy of co-founder Nancy Buirski.
Special programs
Full Frame Fellows
Educational program for emerging documentary filmmakers.
Teach the Teachers
Professional development for educators using documentary film.
Speakeasy Conversations
Filmmaker talks and panel discussions during the festival.
Full Frame Road Show
Year-round touring program to regional communities.
Thematic Program
Annually curated retrospective around a specific theme or filmmaker.
Best Documentary Films
Award-Winning Documentaries
Curated For You
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