Documentary films are where entertainment meets education. This non-fiction genre provides the opportunity to capture diverse stories from your own community or beyond. You can profile a friend or family member, raise awareness about an issue, or showcase a little-known art form. No matter what story you choose to tell, your audience will walk away with meaningful, real-life insight into the subject.
Making a documentary of your own? Learn how to write (and ask) thoughtful interview questions for film with our handy guide. Then check out filmmaking tools, tips, and classroom-ready resources on the Beyond the Peaks festival homepage and in our Storytelling and Filmmaking collection on PBS LearningMedia.
Documentary category requirements:
- Films must have a run time of 5 minutes or less.
- Pre-production materials include interview questions and storyboard. A script is optional.
- Additional materials include a poster, trailer, synopsis, and cast & crew lists.
Students can submit original films in a variety of additional categories including Narrative, Thriller, 60-Second Challenge, and Open.
Discover Diverse Stories With Documentaries
Get inspired to create your own documentary with this selection of award-winning Beyond the Peaks films. Explore diverse stories—from preserving family food traditions passed down for generations to one coach’s fight for equal distance races in men’s and women’s cross-country skiing—there’s lot’s to discover with documentaries.
The Tradition of Crostoli | Beyond the Peaks Film Fest 2024
Italy is famous worldwide for its food. Yet, have you ever heard of crostoli? Crostoli are an Italian fried dough pastry, and the types vary between regions. For one family, the tradition of making crostoli was expected to be lost forever until one of the Renelli sisters’ children decided to continue making them to preserve this Christmas tradition for younger generations. Learn how Vanier College student Laura Filippini makes this delicious holiday treat with her family in “The Tradition of Crostoli,” the 1st Place winning documentary film for the 2024 Beyond the Peaks Film Festival.
Next Stop: Tupper Lake! | Beyond the Peaks Film Fest 2023
“Next Stop: Tupper Lake!” celebrates the reopening of the railroad to Tupper Lake in upstate New York. Harrison Smith, producer, says the railroad had been closed since the 1980 Olympics, and recently a passenger train arrived at Tupper Lake from Utica. Smith, a homeschooled student, is very interested in railroads and photography. He says he hopes to make more films like this for future Tupper Lake railroad projects. The film was both the Documentary category and 1st Place Overall winner of the 2023 Beyond the Peaks Film Festival.
Equal Distance | Beyond the Peaks Film Fest 2023
“Equal Distance” by Seven Bowen highlights coach Molly Peters’ goals of making racing distances for women equal to those of men. Molly Peters is a cross-country running and skiing coach at St. Michael’s College in Vermont, and has been working on her campaign for the past three years. This documentary won 2nd Place Overall in the 2023 Beyond the Peaks Film Festival.
Enter the “Beyond the Peaks Student Film Festival”!
To get started, create a student or teacher account on Launchpad. Explore tutorials, resources, and step-by-step instructions on how to successfully submit your completed film entries!
Documentary | Narrative | Thriller | 60-Second Challenge | Open entry
Submissions are due May 13th with winners announced at an end-of-school year Red Carpet Showcase. The top three winners will receive a cash prize and video supplies!
Sign up for Beyond the Peaks!
Register your account today to get started and receive email updates about the festival.
