Free Screenings at Full Frame 2025

At Full Frame, we’re committed to making documentary film accessible to as many people as possible, and one of the ways we do that is through our free screenings, open to all. These special events invite the community to come together and experience the power of documentary storytelling, whether you’re joining us in Durham Central Park for an evening under the stars or closing out the festival with an inspiring film in the theater. We hope you’ll join us to celebrate these remarkable stories together.

We want to recognize the A. J. Fletcher Foundation for supporting free programming at the festival. 

All the free public screenings at the 27th annual Full Frame Documentary Film Festival:

THE APOLLO, dir. Roger Ross Williams.

• • FREE, ticket required. 
  • Thu, April 3, 10:30 a.m., Carolina Theatre: Fletcher Hall
  • Invited Program
    THE APOLLO chronicles the legacy of New York City’s landmark Apollo Theater, covering the rich history of the storied performance space over its 85 years. What began as a refuge for marginalized artists emerged as a hallowed hall of Black excellence and empowerment. In the film, Williams reflects on the struggle of Black lives in America, the role that art plays in that struggle, and the part the Apollo Theater continues to play in the cultural conversation.

APOLLO 11, dir. Todd Douglas Miller. 

• • FREE, no ticket required.
  • Friday, April 4, 8:30 p.m., Durham Central Park.

    From director Todd Douglas Miller comes a cinematic event fifty years in the making. Crafted from a newly discovered trove of 70mm footage, and more than 11,000 hours of uncatalogued audio recordings, APOLLO 11 takes us straight to the heart of NASA’s most celebrated mission—the one that first put men on the moon and forever made Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin into household names.
    The free outdoor screenings are presented by the A. J. Fletcher Foundation.

WON’T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR?, dir. Morgan Neville

• • FREE, no ticket required.
  • Saturday, April 5, 8:30 p.m., Durham Central Park
    Fred Rogers transformed children’s television with Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. Rogers was an ordained Presbyterian minister who believed that love was the pathway to personal growth and development. With his groundbreaking show, he provided a space for intimate and straightforward exchange. In his gentle discussions with young guests, listening became a revolutionary act; he acknowledged the fears, worries, and hardships of growing up.
    The free outdoor screenings are presented by the A. J. Fletcher Foundation.

SALLY, dir.Cristina Constantini

• • FREE, ticket required
  • Sunday, April 6, 5:30 p.m., Carolina Theatre: Fletcher Hall
    Sally Ride became the first American woman to blast off into space, but beneath her unflappable composure was a secret. Sally’s life partner, Tam O’Shaughnessy, reveals their hidden romance and the sacrifices that accompanied their 27 years together.
    The Free Closing Night Film is presented by the A. J. Fletcher Foundation.