semidocumentary

A semidocumentary is a film, video, or multimedia work that blends documentary and fictional elements. It presents subject matter in a documentary voice or format while incorporating staged scenes, re-enactments, or dramatized testimonies. The result is a hybrid that challenges simple categorization as either nonfiction or narrative fiction.

In semidocumentaries, questions of truth can be central rather than incidental. Filmmakers may interweave interviews with actors performing recreated scenes, incorporate archival material alongside fabricated sequences, or present hypothetical scenarios as if they were recovered evidence. Such approaches prompt viewers to consider how representation shapes knowledge and the authority of media.

The form is a hybrid, occupying space between documentary practice and fictional storytelling. It differs from mockumentary in intent; semidocumentaries often pursue analysis or critique rather than satire, and they may openly acknowledge the constructed nature of parts of the work while still presenting real-world context.

Contexts and ethics: semidocumentaries appear in contemporary cinema, video art, and some investigative projects. They can illuminate contested histories, marginalized voices, or media manipulation. Ethical questions arise around deception, informed consent, and responsibility for how re-enacted material or unverified claims are presented to audiences.

See also docufiction, hybrid documentary, and experimental film.