Documentary

A documentary created for National History Day (NHD) is a concise, research-based film that presents a historical topic through a combination of narration, visuals, and sound. It integrates primary and secondary sources—such as photographs, archival footage, documents, and interviews—to develop a clear argument or interpretation rather than simply listing facts. The documentary must align with the annual NHD theme and demonstrate the topic’s historical significance through well-organized storytelling and analysis. Typically limited to ten minutes, it concludes with a strong, evidence-based explanation of why the topic matters in history.