As democratic structures face mounting pressures from disinformation, war and unchecked capitalism, a panel of prominent non-fiction storytellers gathered on 21 May at Cannes’ Marché du Film (13-21 May) to explore the evolving role of documentaries in defending the truth and democratic values. Titled “Democratic Pressures: Creating Without Dividing” and showcased as part of the broader “What Is the Power of Artistic Freedom in the Age of Crisis?” event, the conversation was hosted by CUT! at the Plage des Palmes and was moderated by Deadline Documentary editor Matthew Carey.

Kicking off the discussion, Carey acknowledged the ever-growing challenges in documentary filmmaking – from limited access and political pressures to difficulties in distribution – underlining the vital need for committed, courageous storytelling. He reminded the audience of recent threats to public service broadcasting in the USA, referencing Donald Trump’s defunding moves against PBS and NPR, and framed the conversation around how filmmakers can uphold democratic principles without losing the connection with their audiences.

Ukrainian Oscar-winning director and war journalist Mstyslav Chernov (20 Days in Mariupol [+leggi anche:
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US filmmaker Eugene Jarecki expanded the conversation to a global scale, warning of an alarming return to authoritarian tendencies across various democracies. He described the rising threat of fascism as deeply connected to the suppression of truthful information. Referencing WikiLeaks and whistleblower protections, Jarecki argued that in a world flooded with disinformation, the right to anonymity and secure information-sharing remains essential. He encouraged fellow creators to share the burden of truth-telling and organise themselves collectively against systemic oppression, citing the power of ideas to disrupt the status quo. At the French festival, Jarecki presented his latest work, titled The Six Billion Dollar Man and tracing the saga of Julian Assange, whose recent release from prison has sparked global debate around press freedom.

Producer and impact strategist Danielle Turkov, whose recent credits include Navalny, highlighted how younger audiences are already gravitating towards online documentaries that feel authentic and direct. She described her work on two recent impact campaigns – Facing War [+leggi anche:
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Returning to the theme of information access, Jarecki issued a blistering critique of “turbo-capitalism”, arguing that today’s billionaires often weaponise wealth to undermine collective safety and freedom. He likened the current imbalance to the days of the Roman and British empire, asserting that vast inequality and media control are symptoms of a broken system. But he remained hopeful, quoting Victor Hugo: “There is nothing more powerful than an idea whose time has come.” For Jarecki, the collective imagination of artists and citizens remains the most potent force for change.

Chernov closed with a reflection on his recent work 2000 Meters to Andriivka [+leggi anche:
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Ultimately, all speakers converged on a single point: documentaries today are not only cultural artefacts, but frontline tools in the struggle for the truth. As pressures from both autocracies and unregulated markets increase, non-fiction filmmakers are compelled to respond – not just as artists, but as stewards of democratic dialogue.