Conclusion

Abstract

Abstract The conclusion points toward events in the documentary film industry that are too new to historicize. For example, the coronavirus pandemic prompted many documentary filmmakers to start new projects on the subject, and the Black Lives Matter movement prompted documentary filmmakers to share relevant documentaries more freely. But it is uncertain whether these world events will fundamentally alter the documentary film world or only accelerate current trends. The conclusion gestures to the fact that changes in the status of documentary have led to more sustainable careers and more attention to labor practices in the industry. The conclusion also draws attention to areas where more scholarly work is needed, such as on documentary funding models, documentarians’ work in advertising and industrial film, and connections between documentary and the contemporary art world.