1. Mangbetu (Mangbetu)
An ethnographic documentary about the Mangbetu tribe of the Belgian Congo . The film features a discussion of various rites including the Mangbetu practice of head binding, as well as various examples of traditional music and dance.
2. The First Class
An intimate verité film that follows students and educators at a groundbreaking new high school in Memphis. Their inspiring journey shows what learning can look like—and accomplish—when a city comes together to rethink what high school can be.
3. Manchild: The Schea Cotton Story
Schea Cotton is the subject of one of the biggest mysteries in basketball’s history. Described as “the Lebron before Lebron,” Inglewood-native Cotton dominated the likes of Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce and was one of the most highly touted high school athletes of a pre-social media era. Yet he never made it to the NBA. What happened?
It has an average vote of 6 on TMDB.
4. how to sneak candy into school (gone wrong)
What starts as a high school vlog turns into a sour beef between bros.
5. American Teen
A documentary on seniors at a high school in a small Indiana town and their various cliques.
It has an average vote of 6.404 on TMDB.
6. Journey Through Setomaa (Retk läbi Setumaa)
Estonia's first ethnographic film. Made by Johannes Pääsuke in 1913 on his expedition to Setomaa, the South-Eastern region in Estonia.
It has an average vote of 7 on TMDB.
7. From Paseo To Pembroke: Kansas City's Golden Age
From Paseo to Pembroke is a Kansas City documentary retrospective on the golden age of high school basketball. From '88 to '98—from the Dotte all the way to Raytown. Told by the era's premier coaches, players and media personalities.
It has an average vote of 9 on TMDB.
8. Dogon Drums, Elements of a Study in Rhythm (Batteries Dogon, éléments pour une étude des rythmes)
The young goat herders from the cliff of Bandiagara practice on the stone drums of their ancestors. An ethnomusicological film experiment describing the subtle plays of the right and left hand of Dogon drummers.
9. The Bapst Brothers, Carriers (Les Frères Bapst, charretiers)
The Bapst Brothers: Romain, Maurice and Jacques – whom we will also meet in The Gruyere Chronicle – are peasants and carriers and work with their father. In autumn and winter, they bid for the community’s wood, cut down the pine trees and bring down the logs through the snowy woods by horse-drawn sleigh.
10. Going Varsity in Mariachi
In the competitive world of high school mariachi, the musicians from the South Texas borderlands reign supreme. Under the guidance of coach Abel Acuña, the teenage captains of Edinburg North High School’s acclaimed team must turn a shoestring budget and diverse crew of inexperienced musicians into state champions.
11. Guys 'N Divas: Battle of the High School Musicals
This fascinating documentary chronicles the intense rivalry between high schools in Southern Indiana to win a prestigious festival performance with lavish student musical productions that often cost in the tens of thousands of dollars to produce.
It has an average vote of 5 on TMDB.
12. In the Game
Through the stories of a Hispanic girls soccer team at Kelly High School in Chicago, IN THE GAME illustrates the enormous challenges facing inner-city girls in their quest for higher education and, most importantly, success in life.
13. Resolved
The fascinating complexity of high school debate gives way to a portrait of the equally complex racial and class bias of American education in Greg Whiteley's riveting documentary.
It has an average vote of 7.2 on TMDB.
14. Leader of the Pack
Billy Hicks has been coaching basketball for over 40 years. He is the winningest high school basketball coach in the state of Kentucky. This documentary will dive into his "basketball philosophy" and his successful time at Scott County.
15. Trials & Tribulations at the Bishfo: The Most Important Thing I Learned During My Time at Bishop Foley Catholic High School
High School. Commonly referred to as the best years of one's life. In their latest "mockumentary", Green Fez takes you up close and personal with the high school students of today, guaranteeing a display of friendship, hardship, and a story worth exploring.
16. 22-17
A narrator embarks on a retrospective journey into the final months of school with their best friends. Over five chapters and an epilogue, they reflect on friendship, yearning, and the fears of losing contact with these individuals who are so significant to them. They were 17, more or less.
17. Saying Goodbye to the People I've Grown Up With
Students graduating from Haynes Academy reflect on their memories together and the uncertainty of their futures.
18. Namaste Nepal
American high school students from the privileged Silicon Valley travel to Manang, Nepal in this documentary about how travel and life experiences can change personal perceptions. Together with a group of Manangi high schoolers, the students expand their cultural knowledge and experience a slice of life as a citizen of the globe.
19. RLP: the documentary (RLP: o documentário)
"Rola Low Profile" is a compelling documentary that delves into the final journey of a group of friends from the Federal Institute of Rio Grande do Norte Campus Ceará-Mirim during their last year of high school. Through authentic and intimate moments, the film captures the farewells, expectations, and challenges these young individuals face as they prepare to embark on diverse paths after graduation. With laughter, tears, and a soundtrack that encapsulates the essence of this unique phase of life, "Rola Low Profile" celebrates friendship, resilience, and personal growth, offering an unforgettable portrait of the last chapter of this shared educational journey.
It has an average vote of 10 on TMDB.
20. Divine Horsemen: The Living Gods of Haiti
This intimate ethnographic study of Voudoun dances and rituals was shot by Maya Deren during her years in Haiti ; she never edited the footage, so this “finished” version was made by Teiji Ito and Cherel Ito after Deren’s death.
It has an average vote of 6.1 on TMDB.
