Acclaimed Documentarian Dawn Porter Honored with Full Frame Tribute

In a significant recognition of her exceptional filmmaking, veteran documentary director Dawn Porter has been selected to receive the Full Frame Documentary Film Festival's 2026 Tribute award. The Tribute celebrates filmmakers whose body of work exemplifies outstanding storytelling and meaningful impact.

Porter, a former lawyer turned acclaimed documentarian, has directed more than a dozen feature-length films since her directorial debut in 2013. Her work has garnered numerous accolades, including Emmys and a Peabody Award. Some of Porter's most notable films, such as "Gideon's Army," "Trapped," and "John Lewis: Good Trouble," will be screened during the 28th edition of the Full Frame Festival, which is set to take place in April 2026 in Durham, North Carolina.

"Many of the people that I've been able to work with in telling their stories have done really extraordinary things," says Porter. "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." Porter's films have a strong focus on social justice and the experiences of everyday individuals making a difference.