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Draft:This Machine Filmworks

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This Machine Filmworks
IndustryMotion pictures, Entertainment
Founded2020; 6 years ago (2020)
Founders
Key people
  • R.J. Cutler (President)
  • Elise Pearlstein (Executive Vice President)
  • Trevor Smith (Executive Vice President)
  • Mark Blatty (Executive Vice President / Chief Operating Officer)
Products
ParentSony Pictures Television Nonfiction

This Machine Filmworks is an American film and television production company specializing in documentary features and nonfiction series. The company was founded in 2020 by filmmaker R. J. Cutler with backing from Industrial Media. The company's founding team included Emmy-winning producer Trevor Smith and Academy Award–nominated documentary producer Elise Pearlstein, who joined as Executive Vice President of Documentaries.[1][2][3]


History

[edit]

This Machine's early productions included Belushi for Showtime, which was nominated for three Critics Choice Documentary Awards.[4] and Billie Eilish: The World's a Little Blurry for Apple TV+, the latter receiving multiple Emmy nominations and being shortlisted for the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature.[5][6]

Sony Pictures Television Nonfiction

[edit]

In 2022, Industrial Media was acquired by Sony Pictures Television, bringing This Machine into Sony's nonfiction portfolio.[7] That year, the company produced the docuseries Supreme Models through YouTube Originals.[8]. In 2025, the series became available for streaming on Netflix.[9]

This Machine's 2023 releases included Anthem,[10] South to Black Power,[11] Murf the Surf,[12] and the Netflix series Big Vape: The Rise and Fall of Juul,[13] which won the News & Documentary Emmy Award for Outstanding Business and Economic Documentary.[14]

Also in 2023, the company released The Disappearance of Shere Hite,[15] which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and received critical recognition, including placement on the Cinema Eye Honors “Unforgettables” list.[16] The film also holds a 100% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 61 critic reviews.[17]

Recent productions

[edit]

In 2024, the company released Elton John: Never Too Late, featuring the Oscar-nominated song “Never Too Late”, as well as Martha on Netflix, which earned two Emmy nominations (Outstanding Documentary, Writing), a WGA Award nomination, and won the Middleburg Film Festival Audience Award.[18][19][20][21]

In 2025, This Machine produced Karol G: Tomorrow Was Beautiful about the Colombian pop artist Karol G on Netflix[22] and Lee Soo Man: The King of K-Pop, about Lee Soo-man, the SM Entertainment founder, released through Prime Video.[23]

In 2026, This Machine released Marc by Sofia, a feature documentary about Marc Jacobs directed by Sofia Coppola, which premiered at the Venice Film Festival.[24] The company also produced BTS: The Return, which follows K-pop group BTS during the making of their album Airang and premiered on Netflix on March 27, 2026.[25]

Filmography

[edit]
Year Title Distributor Awards
2020 Belushi Showtime Critics Choice Documentary Awards for Best Historical/Biographical Documentary (N), Best Documentary Feature (N), Best Archival Documentary (N)[26]
2021 Billie Eilish: The World's a Little Blurry Apple TV+ Academy Award Shortlist,[27] BAFTA Longlist,[28] Grierson Shortlist,[29] Cinema Eye Honors (N),[30] Critics’ Choice (N)[31]
2023 Anthem Hulu
2023 South to Black Power HBO
2023 The Disappearance of Shere Hite Showtime Cinema Eye Honoree (N)[32]
2024 Elton John: Never Too Late Disney+ Academy Award Best Song (N),[33] BAFTA Longlist,[34] Grammy (N),[35] Hollywood Music In Media Awards (W)[36]
2024 Martha Netflix Emmy Best Doc (N),[37] Emmy Writing (N),[38] WGA (N),[39] Grierson Shortlist[40]
2025 Karol G: Tomorrow Was Beautiful Netflix Hollywood Music In Media Award (N)[41]
2025 Lee Soo Man: The King of K-Pop Prime Video
2026 Marc by Sofia a24
2026 BTS: The Return Netflix
Years Title Network Awards
2019 Dear... Apple TV+ Imagen (W),[42] Critics Choice Real TV (N)[43]
2022 Supreme Models YouTube Originals Telly Award (Silver) (W)[44]
2023 Murf the Surf MGM+ MovieGuide Awards (N)[45]
Big Vape: The Rise and Fall of Juul Netflix Emmy Award for Outstanding Business & Economic Documentary (W)[46]; Critics’ Choice Documentary Awards (N) [47]; RealScreen Awards (N)[48]
2024 Fight for Glory: 2024 World Series Apple TV+
2025–present Esports World Cup: Level Up Amazon Prime Video

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (October 19, 2020). "Lauded Docu Helmer R.J. Cutler Launches This Machine Production Shingle With Industrial Media Backing". Deadline. Retrieved March 30, 2026.
  2. ^ "Industrial Media Starts This Machine". C21Media. October 20, 2020. Retrieved March 30, 2026.
  3. ^ "Documentary Director R.J. Cutler Expands His Development and Production Team". Variety. April 18, 2022. Retrieved March 30, 2026.
  4. ^ "5th Annual Critics Choice Documentary Awards Nominations Announced". Critics Choice Association. November 9, 2020. Retrieved March 30, 2026.
  5. ^ "Billie Eilish Doc, Dave Chappelle's 8:46, and More Nominated for 2021 Emmys". Pitchfork. Retrieved March 29, 2026.
  6. ^ "Oscars 2022 Documentary Feature Shortlist Revealed". Billboard. Retrieved March 29, 2026.
  7. ^ "Sony TV Nonfiction Chiefs Eli Holzman & Aaron Saidman To Exit". Deadline. Retrieved March 29, 2026.
  8. ^ Major, Michael (September 26, 2022). "YouTube & Vogue Launch "Supreme Models" Docuseries". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved March 30, 2026.
  9. ^ "Fashion and entertainment highlights streaming on Netflix". FOX 11 Los Angeles. July 2025. Retrieved March 30, 2026.
  10. ^ Girish, Devika (June 28, 2023). "'Anthem' Review: Reimagining a National Symbol". The New York Times. Retrieved March 30, 2026.
  11. ^ Kennedy, Lisa (November 30, 2023). "'South to Black Power' Review: A Case for Returning to the South". The New York Times. Retrieved March 30, 2026.
  12. ^ Anderson, John (February 2, 2023). "Murf the Surf: Jewels, Jesus and Mayhem in the USA Review: A Dashing Thief's Darker Side". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved March 30, 2026.
  13. ^ Ducharme, Jamie (October 12, 2023). "The Story Behind Netflix's Docuseries 'Big Vape: The Rise and Fall of Juul'". Time. Retrieved March 30, 2026.
  14. ^ "45th News & Documentary Emmy Awards: "The Silent Witness" Wins Outstanding Short Documentary". Life Stories. September 26, 2024. Retrieved March 30, 2026.
  15. ^ Felperin, Leslie (January 22, 2023). "'The Disappearance of Shere Hite' Review: A Complex Portrait of a Feminist Pioneer". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved March 30, 2026.
  16. ^ "Cinema Eye Announces Honorees for 2024". Cinema Eye Honors. Retrieved March 30, 2026.
  17. ^ "The Disappearance of Shere Hite". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved March 30, 2026.
  18. ^ Barnes, Brooks (October 31, 2024). "Celebrity Documentaries Are Booming. R.J. Cutler Is at the Center". The New York Times. Retrieved March 30, 2026.
  19. ^ "Martha". Television Academy. Retrieved March 30, 2026.
  20. ^ "2025 Writers Guild Awards Nominations Announced". Writers Guild of America. January 15, 2025. Retrieved March 30, 2026.
  21. ^ Lang, Brent (October 22, 2024). "'Conclave' and 'September 5' Win Top Honors at Middleburg Film Festival". Variety. Retrieved March 30, 2026.
  22. ^ "Karol G Netflix Documentary 'Tomorrow Was Beautiful'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved March 29, 2026.
  23. ^ "'Lee Soo Man: King Of K-Pop' Documentary Examines A Legendary Legacy". Forbes. April 30, 2025. Retrieved March 29, 2026.
  24. ^ "Marc by Sofia". Museum of Modern Art. Retrieved March 30, 2026.
  25. ^ Yu, Brandon (March 27, 2026). "BTS Return in a New Documentary That Captures a Pop Phenomenon". The New York Times. Retrieved March 30, 2026.
  26. ^ "5th Annual Critics Choice Documentary Awards Nominations Announced". Critics Choice Association. November 9, 2020. Retrieved March 30, 2026.
  27. ^ "Oscars Documentary Feature Shortlist".
  28. ^ "BAFTA Longlist".
  29. ^ "Grierson Award Shortlists".
  30. ^ "Cinema Eye Nominations".
  31. ^ "Critics Choice Documentary Awards".
  32. ^ "Cinema Eye Honors".
  33. ^ "Best Original Song Nominees".
  34. ^ "BAFTA Longlists".
  35. ^ "Grammy Awards Nominees".
  36. ^ "HMMA Winners".
  37. ^ "Emmy Awards Database".
  38. ^ "Emmy Writing Awards".
  39. ^ "Writers Guild Awards".
  40. ^ "Grierson Shortlists".
  41. ^ "HMMA Nominees".
  42. ^ "Imagen Awards".
  43. ^ "Critics Choice Real TV Awards".
  44. ^ "Telly Awards Winners".
  45. ^ "MovieGuide Nominees".
  46. ^ "2024 Emmy Winners".
  47. ^ "8th Annual Critics Choice Documentary Awards – List of Nominees and Winners". Critics Choice Association. November 12, 2023. Retrieved March 30, 2026.
  48. ^ "Realscreen Awards".