Reel Facts

Reel Facts - Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

We're glad you're here! Reel Facts is a growing community, and we know you might have questions about how we work, what we're building, and where we're headed. Below are answers to some of the most common questions we receive.

Reel Facts is a documentary discovery platform built for lifelong learners. Whether you're looking for a reliable source to find quality documentaries worth your time, wanting to share your viewing experiences with a like-minded community, or searching for substantive content to watch with your family or use in the classroom, Reel Facts is designed with you in mind. We curate documentaries that prioritize substance over spectacle, starting with content appropriate for viewers age 12 and up.
Not yet, but it's something we're seriously considering. Right now, Reel Facts operates as a sole proprietorship, but as we grow and reach a certain scale, we're planning to transition to non-profit status. That structure best aligns with our mission and our goal of building something that outlives its founder—a resource the documentary community can rely on for the long haul.
Reel Facts is currently founder-funded, and that's how it'll stay until we reach critical mass. We're committed to two things: we'll never introduce display ads, and we'll never charge membership fees. As we grow, we'll explore sustainable funding options that keep the community first, while recognizing that founder funding isn't a long-term solution.

We're building a carefully curated collection with a clear growth plan: 200 documentaries by the end of 2025, expanding to 500 by the end of 2027. At that point, we'll evaluate whether growing beyond 500 films can be done without compromising the quality of our collection.

This isn't a static library. We continually evaluate whether each documentary should remain in the collection and will replace films over time as needed. Documentaries that are removed will stay accessible on the site along with an explanation of why they were removed from the active collection.

For details on our curation criteria and scoring methodology, visit our Curation Standards page.

One of the reasons we built Reel Facts is because documentaries don't always fare well in traditional rating systems. Even on documentary-focused sites, early reviews can unfairly influence whether people give a film a chance. We wanted to create a space where every film starts on equal footing. We take a different approach here. Every documentary in our collection has already cleared our curation bar, so they're all worth your viewing consideration. We do collect member ratings and feedback, but we keep that behind the scenes and use it to help us decide if a film should stay in the collection.
We curate documentaries based on quality, not streaming platform availability—but in general, we only include films available on one or more credible streaming services. We don't favor any particular platform; we're focused on helping you find great documentaries wherever you watch. On our Where to Watch page, you'll find detailed summaries of streaming platforms that offer substantial documentary content, and we're continually adding to that resource. Since films frequently move between platforms, we provide links to sites like JustWatch, IMDb, and TMDB where you can see current streaming availability for any documentary in our collection.
Yes! We're looking to add a few curators who can help us review member recommendations and continue sourcing quality documentaries for our collection. These are currently volunteer opportunities designed for people who genuinely love watching documentary films. As Reel Facts grows, we plan to make these compensated roles. If you're interested in learning more, reach out through our Contact Us page.

We don't currently share any information with third parties, including film makers. Your privacy is important to us, which is why we don't ask for your name or address and keep your data secure.

That said, once we reach critical mass, we believe the aggregated information we collect—including ratings, film feedback, zip codes, and age demographics—could be valuable to documentary film makers. Helping film makers better understand their audiences aligns with our mission, since they're the ones creating the great documentaries we all love to watch. For more details on how we handle your data, see our Privacy Policy.

Yes! We're planning to launch native iOS and Android apps by the end of 2026. In the meantime, the site is built on the React framework and has been optimized for viewing on phones and tablets, so you should have a smooth experience on any device.
Content on Reel Facts is co-authored with AI assistance, specifically using Anthropic's Claude. All curation decisions, film selections, and editorial standards are human-driven. We use AI as a writing tool to help refine and develop content, but the judgment, values, and voice behind Reel Facts come from our founder and community.

Still have questions? We'd love to hear from you! Whether you're curious about our curation process, interested in getting involved, or just want to share feedback, don't hesitate to reach out through our Contact Us page. We're building Reel Facts together with our community, and your input matters.