2026 Full Frame Tribute

Dawn Porter, whose documentary films frequently center trailblazers, leaders, and activists, will be honored with the Full Frame Tribute in 2026. The Full Frame Tribute celebrates filmmakers whose body of work exemplifies exceptional storytelling and impact.

“Many of the people that I’ve been able to work with in telling their stories have done really extraordinary things,” said Porter. “Most are ordinary people who decide to make a sacrifice or do something really hard for the benefit of others. I’m curious about those people—about the better part of humanity. I’m really interested in people who see a problem or an injustice and try to fix it.”

A former lawyer turned filmmaker, Porter made her directorial debut with Gideon’s Army, which followed three young Southern public defenders and opened the 2013 Full Frame Documentary Film Festival. Porter has since directed more than a dozen acclaimed documentaries, including Trapped, which screened at Full Frame in 2016 and examined abortion clinic regulation in the South; John Lewis: Good Trouble, chronicling the life and legacy of the civil rights leader and U.S. Representative; and The Sing Sing Chronicles, which won an Emmy Award for Best Documentary. Her feature Luther: Never Too Much was Full Frame’s Closing Night Film in 2024.

Porter has won numerous other awards for her work, including a second Emmy, a Peabody Award, the Independent Spirit Award, the Ridenhour Prize, and the American Bar Association’s Silver Gavel Award.

“I am drawn to documentary for the ways the form highlights the experiences of everyday people. Whether unveiling acts of greatness or seemingly small decisions, Dawn Porter’s films capture the essence of the people at the center of the story. They are vivid accounts of who we are witnessing on screen, not only what they have achieved,” said Full Frame Festival Co-Director Sadie Tillery. “We are honored to celebrate Dawn and her exceptional work with the 2026 Full Frame Tribute, and we look forward to welcoming her back to Durham this spring.”

In honor of Porter’s contributions to the documentary art form, a curated selection of her films will be showcased at the 28^th annual Full Frame Documentary Film Festival. The festival will be held April 16-19, 2026, in downtown Durham, NC. Porter will attend and take part in discussions around the screenings. Specific titles and guests will be announced closer to the festival.

Headlines

“Dawn Porter to Receive Full Frame Documentary Film Festival’s 2026 Tribute Award” – Addie Morfoot for Variety

2026 Full Frame Tribute Lineup

The 2026 Full Frame Tribute lineup will be announced in Spring 2026.

Past Recipients

2025: Jean Tsien

2024: Nancy Buirski and D. A. Pennebaker

2019: Steven Bognar and Julia Reichert

2018: Jehane Noujaim