Al Jazeera’s documentary series, Close Up, strives to give online audiences a front row seat to major global news events, through the eyes of individuals caught in the middle of them. We set out to craft personal stories that are raw and intimate, that showcase ordinary people who have been thrust into extraordinary circumstances. Each episode is an original, short digital-native documentary made with a social media-consuming audience in mind, but with the added objective of being visually appealing, expertly filmed and edited, with intellectual rigor, robust journalism and ethical media practice that audiences expect from Al Jazeera.
Each film showcases a unique story of someone facing adversity and, against all odds, rising to the challenge of making positive social change. Whether it’s an ambulance driver in the occupied West Bank who navigates roadblocks and sniper fire to transport the injured, a young forensic anthropologist investigating Soviet crimes in the absence of a national effort, or an 11-year-old Palestinian boy in southern Gaza who invents makeshift lighting and cooling systems from scrap metal to improve the conditions of a tent city—all while battling hepatitis, trauma, and the constant fear of being killed by Israeli forces—each story is a testament to resilience and determination.
By the end of each episode, viewers will have walked in someone else’s shoes which we hope will dispel people’s preconceived notions and deepen empathy for others far off, enduring otherwise unrelatable difficulty. If we foster understanding and empathy across diverse audiences, we have succeeded.
Our strategy is to be highly agile and responsive, keeping our pulse across breaking news in order to leap into action when a story of global significance erupts. Our process of commissioning and deploying the right personnel for each short film is well-deliberated and efficient in order to move as quickly as we can when we see an opportunity to humanise an event as it's unfolding. At its core, our strategy is to remain close to Al Jazeera's editorial remit of giving a voice to the voiceless. To that end, we prioritise human stories from parts of the world that tend to get overlooked.
Producing each episode in the series presents significant logistical and technological challenges. These range from dealing with telecommunications blackouts in active war zones like Gaza to navigating the delicate task of filming people living through trauma—such as a Palestinian prisoner recently released after spending a year in an Israeli jail or a young Honduran man living in the US who is afraid President Trump’s deportation plan will rip his family apart. We also take on the risks of filming in environments of active crises and political unrest, whether on the streets of Nairobi during youth protests or inside college campuses during the unrest sparked by the US college protests against Israel’s war on Gaza.
From a production perspective, in addition to the more traditional horizontal, widescreen versions for YouTube, Facebook, and aljazeera.com, we also produce bespoke vertical versions of each film specifically for Instagram to bring a documentary film experience to the fingertips of a much younger, often 'social-only' Gen Z audience. We combine striking visuals with emotive narratives that touch upon ‘trending’ global news topics or conversations already at the forefront of social users’ minds. This works to maximise viewer interest and engagement, as audiences are more motivated to comment, interact, bookmark and share, igniting dialogue and bringing broader – and oftentimes newfound – awareness about critical world issues.
We intentionally focus every episode on a single protagonist, who narrates the entire film, without any external ‘omniscient’ voiceover or narration. It’s part of Close Up’s DNA to let our characters speak in their own words, the audio of which is obtained via interviews and actuality in-situ, during events as they unfold. It is entirely unscripted and not fictionalized. But the way we edit our scenes together intentionally crafts stories that touch upon universal themes of courage, resilience, and hope, which resonate with audiences from all walks of life. As such, we believe 'Close Up' stands as a testament to the power of digital storytelling and its ability to be a force for social good. We feel this makes our entry a worthy contender for the prestigious Shorty Impact Awards.
Close Up’ achieved its highest-ever engagement and audience reach this year, with each film telling a unique and impactful story.
The University Uprising for Gaza film captured the powerful wave of protests across U.S. college campuses against the war in Gaza, immersing viewers in real-time activism as protesters clashed with police. Its raw, emotional narrative amplified the voices of students and faculty demanding divestment from Israel and an end to the war. With over 1 million views on Instagram and 800k views across platforms, the film sparked urgent conversations and demonstrated the demand for longer, impactful content.
Released just 10 days before Israel’s ground invasion, No Refuge for Rafah’s Children highlighted the lives of children in Gaza grappling with trauma, war, and displacement. The tragic loss of 22 lives, including 8 children, the night before the invasion, intensified the film’s urgency. It raised global awareness of the humanitarian crisis in Rafah, sparking conversations and mobilizing support as the situation escalated.
Kenya’s Days of Rage followed activist Boniface Mwangi as he risked his life to hold the government accountable during violent protests in Nairobi. Amid a deadly crackdown, 39 demonstrators were killed by police, driven by outrage over a tax bill burdening the young and poor. The film garnered over 600,000 views and marked a milestone as one of Kenya’s first more in-depth pieces to reach a global audience, amplifying the fight for dignity and justice.
With thousands of social interactions, Close Up continues to deepen understanding, inspire action, and amplify the voices of courageous individuals.