Upcoming Documentaries at the Margaret Mead Film Festival: Time and Water, Nuisance Bear, Whispers in May, and More
Sara Dosa’s Documentary ‘Time and Water’ to Open 2026 Margaret Mead Film Festival
Oscar-nominated filmmaker Sara Dosa’s highly regarded documentary Time and Water is set to kick off the 2026 Margaret Mead Film Festival, scheduled for May 1-3 at the Museum of Natural History in New York City.
Described as a “beautiful, painful and existential film,” Time and Water explores the loss of glaciers in Iceland, offering a poignant narrative through the lens of Icelandic author and filmmaker Andri Snær Magnason. The film is produced by National Geographic Documentary Films.
The Margaret Mead Film Festival, inaugurated in 1977, honors the legacy of cultural anthropologist Margaret Mead, who was the curator of ethnology at the Museum of Natural History from 1946 to 1969.
"Since 1977, the Margaret Mead Film Festival has invited audiences to come together to encounter the world through the eyes of others," said Jacqueline Handy, director of public programs at the American Museum of Natural History and festival director. "In 2026, our festival continues that tradition, bringing together filmmakers and storytellers who document life on our planet as it is truly lived: complex, intimate, and deeply human."
This year’s festival will present several prestigious awards, including the Margaret Mead Filmmaker Award, which honors documentary filmmakers who bring fresh perspectives on culture or community while showcasing artistic excellence. The third annual Audience Award will also be presented, with attendees voting on films making their New York premieres.
The 2026 festival lineup includes several notable documentaries:
Time and Water (NY Premiere) – A powerful meditation on the climate crisis from Sara Dosa.
We Are the Fruits of the Forest (North American Premiere) – Renowned filmmaker Rithy Panh’s exploration of Cambodia’s indigenous community.
Jaripeo (NY Premiere) – A documentary by Efraín Mojica and Rebecca Zweig examining masculinity and queerness in northern Mexico’s rodeo culture.
The Oldest Person in the World (NY Premiere) – Sam Green’s exploration of mortality and cultural attitudes toward aging.
Bucks Harbor (NY Premiere) – The debut feature from fine art photographer Pete Muller, offering a tender community portrait of northern Maine.
Daughters of the Forest (NY Premiere) – Directed by Otilia Portillo Padua, this film tells the story of indigenous women in Central America.
River Dreams (North American Premiere) – A Kazakh feminist film by Kristina Mikhailova exploring gender and identity post-Soviet Asia.
Nuisance Bear (NY Premiere) – A Sundance Grand Jury Award-winning film depicting a polar bear’s journey through a changing landscape.
Whispers in May (New York Premiere) – Dongnan Chen’s film that follows a 14-year-old girl’s coming-of-age ritual set against the backdrop of China’s Liangshan Mountains.
Black Zombie (New York Premiere) – Maya Annik Bedward’s incisive examination of the cultural history of the zombie figure, from Haitian Vodou to Hollywood.
The festival aims to celebrate diverse narratives and foster a deeper connection with the human experience through film.
