SIFF 2026: Geeta Gandbhir on 360-degree view of documentary truth

"Documentary films are not objective truth – there's always a subjective point to it. Our job as filmmakers is to really try to show a 360-degree perspective of the subject we're covering." Award-winning documentary filmmaker Geeta Gandbhir, president of the documentary jury at the 28th Shanghai International Film Festival, sat down with CGTN's Zhang Meng in Shanghai. For her, the filmmaker's responsibility is to present a full spectrum of perspectives. "The audience must feel connected – no matter where they're from, what language they speak or their background. You have to care, and make your audience care." She also stressed the importance of ethics in the documentary genre: "People deserve to have their stories told in a way that allows them dignity and agency. Who gets to tell whose stories matters." At its best, she believes, documentary creates an experience that feels universal – one that leaves the audience changed.

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