2026 Biennial
Unorthodocs
Celebrating its 10th anniversary, Unorthodocs at the Wexner Center for the Arts is an acclaimed annual film festival dedicated to innovative contemporary nonfiction filmmaking. The festival showcases emerging and established filmmakers, many of whom attend in person for post-screening conversations with audiences. The five-day festival features film screenings, filmmaker talks, and a mid-week reception that brings artists and audiences together.
Each year, Unorthodocs presents a diverse slate of local, regional, national, and international nonfiction films that foreground inventive storytelling, archival discoveries, and underrepresented voices. Over the past nine years, the festival has welcomed filmmakers from around the world—including Brazil, Morocco, Serbia, and South Africa—while also providing an important platform for filmmakers working closer to home.
Together, these perspectives offer Ohio audiences opportunities to engage directly with artists working across a wide range of cultural and geographic contexts. In an era dominated by streaming platforms, Unorthodocs remains a vital space for discovering independent documentary films on the big screen and for experiencing the evolving possibilities of nonfiction cinema.
Related Events
Unorthodocs Shorts
October 22, 2026
4:30pm – 6:30pm
Curated short films to kick off Unorthodocs film festival. To learn more and purchase tickets, click here.
Additional Information: Wheelchair accessible. A limited number of listening devices are available upon request. If you have any questions about accessibility or require an accommodation to participate in this event, please email accessibility@wexarts.org or call (614) 688-3890. Visit the Wex’s accessibility page to learn more.
Unorthodocs Film Screening: First They Came For My College
October 22, 2026
7:00pm – 9:00pm
Unorthodocs film screening: First They Came For My College (Dir. Patrick Bresnan, 2026), with Bresnan in person for Q&A. To learn more and purchase tickets, click here.
Additional Information: Wheelchair accessible. A limited number of listening devices are available upon request. If you have any questions about accessibility or require an accommodation to participate in this event, please email accessibility@wexarts.org or call (614) 688-3890. Visit the Wex’s accessibility page to learn more.
Columbus Spotlight Weekend
October 23, 2026
–
Spotlight Weekends highlight FotoFocus Biennial Venues within specific geographic locations where artists and curators will be on site for talks, tours, special events, and featured programming. This is an opportunity to immerse yourself in the vibrant energy of the FotoFocus Biennial, exploring art within the communities that create and present it.
Friday, 10/23
- 10 Minutes on the Dot, 11am. Columbus Museum of Art
- Highlights Tour, 1pm. Columbus Museum of Art
- Unorthodocs film screening: Non-aligned Newsreels: Fragments from the Debris (live documentary performance by Mila Turajlić), with Turajlić in person for Q&A, 4:30pm. Wexner Center for the Arts
- Unorthodocs film screening: When a Witness Recants (Dir. Dawn Porter, 2026), with Porter in person for Q&A, 7pm. Wexner Center for the Arts
Saturday, 10/24
- Columbus Bus Tour, 9am–7pm. Biennial Pass Holders only. Limited capacity
- Unorthodocs film screening: Aanikoobijigan (Dir. Adam and Zach Khalil, 2026), 11:30am. Wexner Center for the Arts
- Unorthodocs film screening: Barbara Forever (Dir. Brydie O’Connor, 2026), with O’Connor in person for Q&A, 1:30pm. Wexner Center for the Arts
- 10 Minutes on the Dot, 2pm. Columbus Museum of Art
- Unorthodocs film screening: Once Upon a Time in Harlem (Dir. David Greaves, 2026), 4pm. Wexner Center for the Arts
- Unorthodocs Reception, 6pm. Wexner Center for the Arts
- Unorthodocs film screening: American Doctor (Dir. Poh Si Teng, 2026), with Poh Si Teng and Dr. Feroze Sidhwa in person for Q&A, 7pm. Wexner Center for the Arts
Sunday, 10/25
- Unorthodocs film screening: Do You Love Me? (Dir. Lana Daher, 2025), 12pm. Wexner Center for the Arts
- Unorthodocs film screening: Everybody to Kenmure Street (Dir. Felipe Bustos Sierra, 2026), 1:45pm. Wexner Center for the Arts
- 10 Minutes on the Dot, 2pm. Columbus Museum of Art
- Unorthodocs film screening: The Oldest Person in the World (Dir. Sam Green, 2026), 3:45pm. Wexner Center for the Arts
Unorthodocs Film Screening: Non-aligned Newsreels: Fragments from the Debris
October 23, 2026
4:30pm – 6:30pm
Unorthodocs film screening: Non-aligned Newsreels: Fragments from the Debris (live documentary performance by Mila Turajlić), with Turajlić in person for Q&A. To learn more and purchase tickets, click here.
Additional Information: Wheelchair accessible. A limited number of listening devices are available upon request. If you have any questions about accessibility or require an accommodation to participate in this event, please email accessibility@wexarts.org or call (614) 688-3890. Visit the Wex’s accessibility page to learn more.
Unorthodocs Film Screening: When a Witness Recants
October 23, 2026
7:00pm – 9:00pm
Unorthodocs film screening: When a Witness Recants (Dir. Dawn Porter, 2026), with Porter in person for Q&A. To learn more and purchase tickets, click here.
Additional Information: Wheelchair accessible. A limited number of listening devices are available upon request. If you have any questions about accessibility or require an accommodation to participate in this event, please email accessibility@wexarts.org or call (614) 688-3890. Visit the Wex’s accessibility page to learn more.
Columbus Spotlight Weekend
October 24, 2026
–
Spotlight Weekends highlight FotoFocus Biennial Venues within specific geographic locations where artists and curators will be on site for talks, tours, special events, and featured programming. This is an opportunity to immerse yourself in the vibrant energy of the FotoFocus Biennial, exploring art within the communities that create and present it.
Friday, 10/23
- 10 Minutes on the Dot, 11am. Columbus Museum of Art
- Highlights Tour, 1pm. Columbus Museum of Art
- Unorthodocs film screening: Non-aligned Newsreels: Fragments from the Debris (live documentary performance by Mila Turajlić), with Turajlić in person for Q&A, 4:30pm. Wexner Center for the Arts
- Unorthodocs film screening: When a Witness Recants (Dir. Dawn Porter, 2026), with Porter in person for Q&A, 7pm. Wexner Center for the Arts
Saturday, 10/24
- Columbus Bus Tour, 9am–7pm. Biennial Pass Holders only. Limited capacity
- Unorthodocs film screening: Aanikoobijigan (Dir. Adam and Zach Khalil, 2026), 11:30am. Wexner Center for the Arts
- Unorthodocs film screening: Barbara Forever (Dir. Brydie O’Connor, 2026), with O’Connor in person for Q&A, 1:30pm. Wexner Center for the Arts
- 10 Minutes on the Dot, 2pm. Columbus Museum of Art
- Unorthodocs film screening: Once Upon a Time in Harlem (Dir. David Greaves, 2026), 4pm. Wexner Center for the Arts
- Unorthodocs Reception, 6pm. Wexner Center for the Arts
- Unorthodocs film screening: American Doctor (Dir. Poh Si Teng, 2026), with Poh Si Teng and Dr. Feroze Sidhwa in person for Q&A, 7pm. Wexner Center for the Arts
Sunday, 10/25
- Unorthodocs film screening: Do You Love Me? (Dir. Lana Daher, 2025), 12pm. Wexner Center for the Arts
- Unorthodocs film screening: Everybody to Kenmure Street (Dir. Felipe Bustos Sierra, 2026), 1:45pm. Wexner Center for the Arts
- 10 Minutes on the Dot, 2pm. Columbus Museum of Art
- Unorthodocs film screening: The Oldest Person in the World (Dir. Sam Green, 2026), 3:45pm. Wexner Center for the Arts
Unorthodocs Film Screening: Aanikoobijigan
October 24, 2026
11:30am – 1:30pm
Unorthodocs film screening: Aanikoobijigan (Dir. Adam and Zach Khalil, 2026). To learn more and purchase tickets, click here.
Additional Information: Wheelchair accessible. A limited number of listening devices are available upon request. If you have any questions about accessibility or require an accommodation to participate in this event, please email accessibility@wexarts.org or call (614) 688-3890. Visit the Wex’s accessibility page to learn more.
Unorthodocs Film Screening: Barbara Forever
October 24, 2026
1:30pm – 3:30pm
Unorthodocs film screening: Barbara Forever (Dir. Brydie O’Connor, 2026), with O’Connor in person for Q&A. To learn more and purchase tickets, click here.
Additional Information: Wheelchair accessible. A limited number of listening devices are available upon request. If you have any questions about accessibility or require an accommodation to participate in this event, please email accessibility@wexarts.org or call (614) 688-3890. Visit the Wex’s accessibility page to learn more.
Unorthodocs Film Screening: Once Upon a Time in Harlem
October 24, 2026
4:00pm – 5:30pm
Unorthodocs film screening: Once Upon a Time in Harlem (Dir. David Greaves, 2026). To learn more and purchase tickets, click here.
Additional Information: Wheelchair accessible. A limited number of listening devices are available upon request. If you have any questions about accessibility or require an accommodation to participate in this event, please email accessibility@wexarts.org or call (614) 688-3890. Visit the Wex’s accessibility page to learn more.
Unorthodocs Reception
October 24, 2026
6:00pm – 7:00pm
Unorthodocs reception.
Additional Information: Wheelchair accessible. If you have any questions about accessibility or require an accommodation to participate in this event, please email accessibility@wexarts.org or call (614) 688-3890. Visit the Wex’s accessibility page to learn more.
Unorthodocs Film Screening: American Doctor
October 24, 2026
7:00pm – 9:00pm
Unorthodocs film screening: American Doctor (Dir. Poh Si Teng, 2026), with Poh Si Teng and Dr. Feroze Sidhwa in person for Q&A. To learn more and purchase tickets, click here.
Additional Information: Wheelchair accessible. A limited number of listening devices are available upon request. If you have any questions about accessibility or require an accommodation to participate in this event, please email accessibility@wexarts.org or call (614) 688-3890. Visit the Wex’s accessibility page to learn more.
Columbus Spotlight Weekend
October 25, 2026
–
Spotlight Weekends highlight FotoFocus Biennial Venues within specific geographic locations where artists and curators will be on site for talks, tours, special events, and featured programming. This is an opportunity to immerse yourself in the vibrant energy of the FotoFocus Biennial, exploring art within the communities that create and present it.
Friday, 10/23
- 10 Minutes on the Dot, 11am. Columbus Museum of Art
- Highlights Tour, 1pm. Columbus Museum of Art
- Unorthodocs film screening: Non-aligned Newsreels: Fragments from the Debris (live documentary performance by Mila Turajlić), with Turajlić in person for Q&A, 4:30pm. Wexner Center for the Arts
- Unorthodocs film screening: When a Witness Recants (Dir. Dawn Porter, 2026), with Porter in person for Q&A, 7pm. Wexner Center for the Arts
Saturday, 10/24
- Columbus Bus Tour, 9am–7pm. Biennial Pass Holders only. Limited capacity
- Unorthodocs film screening: Aanikoobijigan (Dir. Adam and Zach Khalil, 2026), 11:30am. Wexner Center for the Arts
- Unorthodocs film screening: Barbara Forever (Dir. Brydie O’Connor, 2026), with O’Connor in person for Q&A, 1:30pm. Wexner Center for the Arts
- 10 Minutes on the Dot, 2pm. Columbus Museum of Art
- Unorthodocs film screening: Once Upon a Time in Harlem (Dir. David Greaves, 2026), 4pm. Wexner Center for the Arts
- Unorthodocs Reception, 6pm. Wexner Center for the Arts
- Unorthodocs film screening: American Doctor (Dir. Poh Si Teng, 2026), with Poh Si Teng and Dr. Feroze Sidhwa in person for Q&A, 7pm. Wexner Center for the Arts
Sunday, 10/25
- Unorthodocs film screening: Do You Love Me? (Dir. Lana Daher, 2025), 12pm. Wexner Center for the Arts
- Unorthodocs film screening: Everybody to Kenmure Street (Dir. Felipe Bustos Sierra, 2026), 1:45pm. Wexner Center for the Arts
- 10 Minutes on the Dot, 2pm. Columbus Museum of Art
- Unorthodocs film screening: The Oldest Person in the World (Dir. Sam Green, 2026), 3:45pm. Wexner Center for the Arts
Unorthodocs Film Screening: Do You Love Me?
October 25, 2026
12:00pm – 1:30pm
Unorthodocs film screening: Do You Love Me? (Dir. Lana Daher, 2025). To learn more and purchase tickets, click here.
Additional Information: Wheelchair accessible. A limited number of listening devices are available upon request. If you have any questions about accessibility or require an accommodation to participate in this event, please email accessibility@wexarts.org or call (614) 688-3890. Visit the Wex’s accessibility page to learn more.
Unorthodocs Film Screening: Everybody to Kenmure Street
October 25, 2026
1:30pm – 3:00pm
Unorthodocs film screening: Everybody to Kenmure Street (Dir. Felipe Bustos Sierra, 2026). To learn more and purchase tickets, click here.
Additional Information: Wheelchair accessible. A limited number of listening devices are available upon request. If you have any questions about accessibility or require an accommodation to participate in this event, please email accessibility@wexarts.org or call (614) 688-3890. Visit the Wex’s accessibility page to learn more.
Unorthodocs Film Screening: The Oldest Person in the World
October 25, 2026
3:30pm – 5:00pm
Unorthodocs film screening: The Oldest Person in the World (Dir. Sam Green, 2026). To learn more and purchase tickets, click here.
Additional Information: Wheelchair accessible. A limited number of listening devices are available upon request. If you have any questions about accessibility or require an accommodation to participate in this event, please email accessibility@wexarts.org or call (614) 688-3890. Visit the Wex’s accessibility page to learn more.
Unorthodocs Film Screening: The Other Side of Everything
October 26, 2026
4:00pm – 6:00pm
Unorthodocs film screening: The Other Side of Everything ((Dir. Mila Turajlić, 2017). To learn more and purchase tickets, click here.
Additional Information: Wheelchair accessible. A limited number of listening devices are available upon request. If you have any questions about accessibility or require an accommodation to participate in this event, please email accessibility@wexarts.org or call (614) 688-3890. Visit the Wex’s accessibility page to learn more.
Unorthodocs Cinematic Promotional Header, 2025
2026 Biennial
Venue Details
Wexner Center for the Arts
1871 N High St
Columbus, OH 43210
(614) 292-3535
Tue & Wed 9am–6pm, Thur 9am–9pm, Fri & Sat 10am–6pm
Exhibition: Free to the Public. Film: One screening free for Pass Holders. General admission: $12 adults; $8 venue members; $9 seniors; $6 students
Nearby Venues
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