[imagesource: All Light, Everywhere/Theo Anthony]

We’ve already looked at some of the incredible films that came out of this year’s Sundance Film Festival, but we wanted to give a nod to the documentaries.

While we’re trapped indoors, for the most part, the chance to learn about the world out there is not only a way to stay entertained but a necessity.

Vox compiled a list of the 15 they’re most excited about, and we picked our top five.

The trailers for a number of the films that premiered at Sundance haven’t been released yet, but, in the videos below, the directors give you a brief synopsis of their work.

All Light, Everywhere

A theme at Sundance this year was technology and the impact that it has on our lives – something which has become more apparent now that we rely so heavily on it to stay connected.

Theo Anthony tackles the idea of a surveillance society, by looking at what the cameras miss. It’s described as “a sprawling essay film about blind spots in the technologies we trust to keep us safe”.

CUSP

CUSP centres on three teenage girls in a Texas military town, documenting one summer of their lives.

Directors Isabel Bethencourt and Parker Hill slowly reveal the darker side of things, as an undercurrent of sexual assault emerges in the town, and in the experiences of the girls.

Summer of Soul

One of the most popular films at Sundance, Summer of Soul (Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised), takes a look at 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival, which featured everyone from Sly and the Family Stone to Nina Simone to Stevie Wonder to Mahalia Jackson.

Users

Another film that takes a deep dive into the effects of technology on our lives, Users, directed by Natalia Almada, is an exploration of how technology is transforming the ways we relate to the natural world.

Taming the Garden

Described by Vox as “quietly absurd”, Salomé Jashi’s Taming the Garden watches as a village in the country of Georgia uproots and transports a tree across town to a barge waiting at the shore.

It builds in tension as the story unfolds, taking you on a strange journey that leaves you feeling like one of the townspeople.

There are more to look out for on Vox’s full list.

With a year of physical distancing ahead, it’s great to know that some excellent viewing lies on the horizon.

[source:vox]