DOC NYC 2019: America's Largest Documentary Festival Returns

WEST VILLAGE, NY —The documentary festival DOC NYC in Chelsea and the West Village returns to Manhattan for its tenth annual festival.

Known as the largest documentary festival in the country, more than 300 films and events are slated for the event, which runs through Nov. 15. More than two dozen films will premiere for the first time in the world or the U.S. at theaters in Chelsea and the West Village.

"Our tenth anniversary lineup reflects a more international scope than in previous years, drawing compelling stories from all over the world, in addition to a rich selection of American nonfiction," said programming director Basil Tsiokos.

"Where better to experience this diversity of documentary storytelling than NYC?" he added in a news release about the 2019 festival, which is dedicated to D.A. Pennebaker, a DOC NYC veteran who died this summer.

DOC NYC first launched in 2010, and by 2014, became the country's largest documentary festivals, DOC NYC says on its website. The 10-day festival began Wednesday.

Here's what you need to know about DOC NYC:

When is it?

Nov. 6-Nov. 15

Where is it?

Films are screened out of three theaters:

• IFC Center on Sixth Avenue near West Third Street
• School of Visual Arts Theatre on West 23rd Street between Eighth and Ninth avenues
• Cinépolis Chelsea on West 23rd Street between Seventh and Eighth avenues

What's on the line-up?

There will be more than 300 films and events total. The line-up includes 28 world premieres and 27 U.S. premieres. More than 500 documentarians will present films or join panel discussions.

A selection of films includes "Once Were Brothers: Robbie Robertson and the Band" on opening night, "The Capote Tapes," on closing night, and "Bikram: Yogi, Guru, Predator" as the centerpiece film.

Some world premieres include "The Longest Wave" about world champion windsurfer Robby Naish, "Hungry to Learn" which reveals food insecurity about college students, and "Tightrope: Americans Reached for Hope," which films journalists Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn investigating the opioid crisis, poverty and incarceration.

Panels and roundtable meetings are also on the line-up in its "Only In New York" program over four days, Nov. 11-14.

Check out the full schedule here.

How much are tickets?

Tickets for opening night ("Once Were Brothers: Robbie Robertson and The Band") are $30 for the general public and $25 for IFC Center members.

For the closing night ("The Capote Tapes") and the center piece ("Bikram: Yogi, Guru, Predator"), tickets are $25 for the general public and $20 for IFC Center members.

Regular screenings are $19 for adults, $17 for seniors/children and $16 for IFC Center members — but for films on the short list, winner's circle and other select films showing Monday through Friday before 5 p.m. are $12.

An all access pass is available for $995. Other passes are available for multi-film packs, happy hours, and more.

You can buy tickets here.