Last month we challenged the MinnMax community here on Patreon to get outside of their comfort zone and create a documentary under three minutes long. No previous experience needed. 43 people stepped up and put incredible new, unique art into the world. Coming off the heels of Summer Game Fest's showcases, we're honored to present a short documentary film festival that's an avalanche of raw humanity.
Watch Kelsey, Leo, Haley, and Ben react to all of the Doc Lightning submissions for 2026 here - https://youtu.be/WBJO68bscyQ
If you prefer to watch without our commentary, here's a supercut of this year's entries - https://youtu.be/HgUCLuWS5zo
Help celebrate these new documentary filmmakers in the comments, we thank you again for creating an outlet like MinnMax where this is possible, and start thinking up potential documentaries that YOU can create next May! Thanks so much, everybody!
Here's a list of all of this year's entries, let me know in the comments if you'd like any titles/names tweaked.
A Minature Kingdom - The Story of Northlandz - Bob Buel
McNair - Cody Walters
Miami Dolphins Number One - MarriottPlayer
Puente Hills Mall - MellowFelloh
May In Indiana - Bill Byrnes
Library - Jaden E.
What It Was - Jon Paul Raciunas
Axel's Concert - Axel Cordova
Market St. "The Wickedest Street in the West" - Todd Kremer
The Castle at Coronado Heights - David Maher
A Community of Champions - DVader
Button Check - Tan
Camera Obscura: Expedition Clickbait - Patrick B
A Chat With Al and Rose - Cath
The Worms Clan Wars League - Josh and the Lads
Sweaty Bear Rocks - 1-800-West-Smith
Critters of the Chicagoland Suburbs - Vested
How To Make A Mug - Ali
Doc Lightning - Hunter Blessing
Boba Babble - Cehceh
50 States Of Swing - Neen C
The Gorbals Vampire - Eilidh MacDonald
Melville - FancyGraham
My Mother's Garden - L. Stockler
Pints and Poetry - Stevelution
The Path to Gorgeousness - Tokyo Game Life
Kyiv, Ukraine - Jason Wojnar
The Dystopian Future Cyberpunk Promised Us - Vilis
Body Pick-Up - Cooper
I Took A Trip - Michael Downing
Life in the Intertidal Zone - Cass
Bean - Niere Gestalt
Nipper the Dog - Kevin DiBiase
One Day - Travis in Fargo
Sides - Balthuk
Running Past Places - ShadowGreen
They Made Animal Crossing In Real Life - PlatinAdam
To A Woodlouse - Joshua & Nabila
Let's Talk About Veterinary Medicine - Gabitha
The Last of Lambeth's Past - Jess Dodd
Making An Editorial Cartoon - Patrick G
War Tax Resistance - BoatFish
(Doc Lightning art by EmptyMaracas on Instagram, follow them here)
Watch previous year Doc Lightning film festivals below...
Doc Lightning 2023 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jz41AEMw3sU
Doc Lightning 2024 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQYDpqg7o4o
Doc Lightning 2025 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZjfgWJsx9HI