As we move deeper into the second half of the year, cohosts John Ridley and Matt Carey examine the documentaries that have emerged as early contenders for Oscar recognition. American Doctor, Closure, Nuisance Bear, Everybody to Kenmure Street, To Hold a Mountain — they're in the running. So are two dozen more, many of them having premiered at Sundance. We dig into what's gaining traction as Oscar season inches closer.

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Nudity, comedy, cutting edge music, precocious kids, wannabe stars: public access in New York in the 1970s and '80s had everything -- a freewheeling outgrowth of cable TV that allowed freedom of expression to flourish. Director David Shadrack Smith dials back to that time in his documentary Public Access, which premiered in competition in Sundance. He joins the show to discuss one of the most fascinating nonfiction films of the year.

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Leaders of two thriving documentary film festivals join us: Sky Sitney and Jamie Shor of DC/DOX in the nation's capital, and Karol Piekarczyk, artistic director of Millennium Docs Against Gravity in Poland. They explore their successes and challenges and why festivals are enjoying a resurgence in the age of streaming.

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A documentary observing  the work of the Martha Graham Dance Company is contending for Emmy recognition, even as the company founded by the legelndary choreographer celebrates the 100th anniversary of its founding. We're joined by filmmakers Cyndee Readdean and Peter Schnall to discuss all things Graham, and the dancers and choreographers of today who are carrying on her legacy.

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Tennis champ Rafael Nadal joins the show to discuss 'Rafa,' his 4-part Netflix documentary series that reveals the physical pain and psychological pressure he endured to become one of the sport's greatest of all time. Oscar-nominated director Zach Heinzerling shares insights on the intimate portrayal of Rafa and his family in his Emmy-contending series.

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With the 25th Tribeca Festival about to kick off in New York City, we're joined by festival director Cara Cusumano for a preview of Tribeca's nonfiction lineup. Among the films slated to premiere are the latest from Oscar winner Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson, docs about musician Sara Bareilles, late NY Gov. Mario Cuomo, and artist Jean-Michel Basquiat, a film by California's First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom, and Playing POTUS, the Josh Greenbaum film about comedians who have done wickedly funny impersonations of U.S. presidents. 

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Director Felipe Bustos Sierra joins the show to discuss his award-winning documentary Everybody to Kenmure Street, a riveting account of a spontaneous protest that sprang up in Glasgow, Scotland after UK authorities attempted to stage an immigration raid. Emma Thompson serves as executive producer of the film and appears in the documentary in the guise of "Van Man," a mysterious figure who latched onto the axle of an immigration van preventing it from carting off two men seized by Home Office agents. The Kenmure Street incident became an epic standoff with repercussions  from the UK to the U.S.

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Oscar-nominated actor Bruce Dern and director Mike Mendez join us to discuss Dernsie: The Amazing Life of Bruce Dern, their documentary premiering Wednesday at the Cannes Film Festival. Dern is not only one of Hollywood's greatest actors, but one of its greatest raconteurs.

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Filmmaker Alexandria Stapleton discusses her Emmy-contending Netflix series, Sean Combs: The Reckoning, a forensic examination of the sexual misconduct allegations against the rapper, actor, and mogul that landed Combs in federal prison. It's produced by Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson.

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Producer-director Colin Hanks and producer Ryan Reynolds join the show to share stories of making John Candy: I Like Me, their cinematic exploration of the beloved Canadian actor and SCTV sketch performer. Candy's two children plus many of his friends and famous collaborators — Tom Hanks, Steve Martin, Martin Short, Catherine O'Hara, Eugene Levy, Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd and many others — appear in this Prime Video film, a strong Emmy contender.

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