A journey through the history of documentary cinema, from the earliest pioneers of moving images to contemporary non-fiction filmmaking. Through clips, analysis, and personal reflections, Mark Cousins explores how documentary films have shaped our understanding of reality, politics, family, war, creativity, social change, and human experience across different cultures and eras. The film emphasizes overlooked voices, global perspectives, and the power of documentary storytelling to transform how we see the world.

Cast & Crew
Producers: John Archer, Jack Archer
Director: Mark Cousins
Script: Mark Cousins 
Director of Photography: Mark Cousins
Music: Donna McKevitt
Sound: Zoë Irvine
Editing: Timo Langer, Noora Lappalainen
Narrated and presented by Mark Cousins.
Production: Hopscotch Films, Louverture Films

Mark Cousins (born 1965, Northern Ireland)
Mark Cousins, born in Northern Ireland in 1965, is a filmmaker, writer, critic, and historian best known for his ambitious cinematic essays about film history and visual culture. His works include The Story of Film: An Odyssey, I Am Belfast, The Eyes of Orson Welles, Women Make Film, The Story of Film: A New Generation, and A Sudden Glimpse to Deeper Things. He is internationally recognized for making film history accessible through poetic, personal, and globally minded storytelling.

Filmography
The First Movie (2009), The Story of Film: An Odyssey (2011), A Story of Children and Film (2013), I Am Belfast (2015), The Eyes of Orson Welles (2018), Women Make Film (2019), The Story of Film: A New Generation (2021), A Sudden Glimpse to Deeper Things (2024), The Story of Documentary Film (2026)․