The Lighthouse International Film Festival just announced its 2026 documentary lineup, and it’s stacked with world premieres, Sundance picks, and stories you won’t find anywhere else.

The fest runs June 10-14 on Long Beach Island, New Jersey. This year’s doc competition includes 10 films spanning wildlife conservation, deep sea diving, indie horror families, and vigilante justice.

Two world premieres anchor the slate. Celluloid W-W-Wars follows stuttering director Allan Holzman’s wild ride through Hollywood, from working with Roger Corman to winning two Emmys. Our Colors Never Fade tracks LGBTQIA+ Ukrainians who left their lives behind to fight Russia’s invasion.

The headliner section features Phoenix Jones: The Rise and Fall of a Real Life Superhero, about Seattle’s actual caped crusader who pepper-sprayed criminals until his identity got blown.

Other highlights include Seized, a Sundance doc about a police raid on a Kansas newspaper that turned into a constitutional nightmare, and My NDA, which follows three people who broke their silence agreements to expose rape and discrimination.

The fest previously announced special guests Jason Alexander and Tony Shalhoub, plus a revival screening of Big Night. Known for its beach-centric vibe, Lighthouse has been named one of MovieMaker’s “25 Coolest Film Festivals” twice.

For doc makers looking to break through, this lineup proves regional fests are programming just as bold as the majors.