A Companion to Contemporary Documentary Filmpresents a collection of original essays that explore major issues surrounding the state of current documentary films and their capacity to inspire and effect change.Presents a comprehensive collection of essays relating to all aspects of contemporary documentary filmsIncludes nearly 30 original essays by top documentary film scholars and makers, with each thematic grouping of essays sub-edited by major figures in the fieldExplores a variety of themes central to contemporary documentary filmmakers and the study of documentary film – the planet, migration, work, sex, virus, religion, war, torture, and surveillanceConsiders a wide diversity of documentary films that fall outside typical canons, including international and avant-garde documentaries presented in a variety of media