Stories We Tell 2012

"It seems to me that the natural world is the greatest source of excitement; the greatest source of visual beauty; the greatest source of intellectual interest. It is the greatest source of so much in life that makes life worth living." - David Attenborough

Hit after hit. Still swingin'. You, I'm gonna pay you in lost time. Don't blame me if it's nothing substantial, but for this watchlist is so bad it doesn't fear god. That's the watchlist way!

The Japanese Contemporary Arthouse Guide asked 18 Japanese directors to name 5 documentaries to introduce new viewers to the charm of cinema.

Original answers (Japanese):
https://arthouse-guide.jp/#enquete

Translation by @​Asian_docs:
https://twitter.com/Asian_docs/status/1574343628729683968

Which directors have selected a given film is indicated in the film's note.

Links to directors on Trakt:
Irie Yu: https://trakt.tv/people/yu-irie
Ogawa Sara: https://trakt.tv/people/sara-ogawa
Oda Kaori: https://trakt.tv/people/kaori-oda
Kusano Natsuka: https://trakt.tv/people/natsuka-kusano
Komori Haruka: https://trakt.tv/people/haruka-komori
Shimada Ryuichi: https://trakt.tv/people/ryuichi-shimada
Shiraishi Koji: https://trakt.tv/people/koji-shiraishi
Seta Natsuki: https://trakt.tv/people/natsuki-seta
Soda Kazuhiro: https://trakt.tv/people/kazuhiro-soda
Tomita Katsuya: https://trakt.tv/people/katsuya-tomita
Hirose Nanako: https://trakt.tv/people/nanako-hirose
Fukada Koji: https://trakt.tv/people/koji-fukada
Fujimoto Akio: https://trakt.tv/people/akio-fujimoto
Hokimoto Sora: https://trakt.tv/people/hokimoto-sora
Matsubayashi Yoju: https://trakt.tv/people/yoju-matsubayashi
Miyake Sho: https://trakt.tv/people/sho-miyake
Yamanaka Yoko: https://trakt.tv/people/yoko-yamanaka
Yokohama Satoko: https://trakt.tv/people/satoko-yokohama

Source:
Years 1931-2018 come from:
The New York Times: Book of Movies
the essential 1,000 films to see
2019 ed

Years after 2018 come from NYT website.

work in progress
There are discrepancies between the website and the book, particular for years after 2003. Please leave a comment for any errors you find.

Movies on the list still not checked out

Rotten Tomatoes - Best of year

Pulled from Rotten Tomatoes Top Movies section:
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/top/bestofrt/?year=2013

the list is in reverse order...
the number 1 movie is at last

List created and maintained by https://listrr.pro

basing on a rating from BBC Culture: http://www.bbc.com/culture/story/20160819-the-21st-centurys-100-greatest-films

https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20191125-the-100-greatest-films-directed-by-women-poll

https://www.indiewire.com/feature/female-directors-best-movies-directed-by-women-1202045399/

https://editorial.rottentomatoes.com/guide/best-movies-directed-by-women-of-the-21st-century/

The greatest films ever made, as voted by MUBI’s global community of film lovers.

https://mubi.com/lists/the-top-1000

https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20191125-the-100-greatest-films-directed-by-women-poll

There are 101 entries because Olympia (1938) is in two parts.