What Makes Documentary Films Different From Feature Films?

The first difference between documentary films and feature films lies in the reason for their creation. A documentary usually aims to educate and inform the audience, whereas a feature film primarily wants to entertain the audience. Adding to that, documentaries deal with fact, while features usually deal with fiction.

When I was 12 years old, I watched my very first documentary: India's Mega Kitchens, by National Geographic. Up until then, I'd always seen fantasy worlds in films, be it Hogwarts or the Pride Lands. It was so unusual for me to see a factual representation of the Golden Temple in this documentary because I'd been there.

In a documentary film, you are merely recording the events happening in front of you. In a feature film, on the other hand, the actions and words being recorded are all scripted and rehearsed. The people being shot in these two kinds of films differ too. The documentary has real people who are related to the impact or the matter of the subject of the documentary. For example, in John Maloof and Charlie Siskel’s Finding Vivian Maeir, Maloof himself starred in the documentary, unraveling how he uncovered Maier’s work posthumously.

It is a possibility to complete the whole process of documentary filmmaking on a relatively low budget. On the other hand, pre-production, production, and post-production end up costing way more for feature films. This disparity also stems from the intent of the film being made. As feature films aspire to entertain, a large chunk of their budget goes into advertising & promoting the films. On the other hand, the documentaries do not want to gain monetary traction, they exist as educational resources.

It is also important to see the location of the shooting. Documentaries usually film at the site relevant to the subject. Films can be shot anywhere. Sets, studios, in front of green screens, you name it. This also changes the budget of the films. Documentary films can be heavily economised. Now, with the advent of technology, documentaries are even shot on iPhones!