Academy Award-winning documentary filmmakers Simon Chinn and James Marsh take their cameras into the fascinating story of Nim Chimpsky, a chimpanzee raised as a human.

The life of an artist and their collaborators and co-conspirators can be as fascinating and full of spectacle as any fiction. It often takes an exceptional set of circumstances to drive a person to art and to draw deeply creative, unique personalities together in order to express a world view which is almost invariably aroused and influenced by some truly remarkable lives. Some of the films here offer a chance to tell an otherwise untold story, to reveal the uncelebrated heroics that go into making soundtracks of our everyday lives. Some allow us to just sit and marvel at the charisma, ability and daring of some of the most idiosyncratic members of the human race. Whatever the case, the best ones can prove more than a match for mere fiction. Donald Wolf continues his look at the world of music as seen through cinema.

Donald Wolf has a look at the best concert films. A difficult genre to present well on film, few directors have managed the feat with any quality. The following ten films highlight those few occasions when a music concert takes on a life of its own on the cinema screen.

This cracking documentary charts the trial of murder suspect Brenton Butler after a tourist is shot and killed in Florida. It highlights the terrific work of Butler’s defence team as well as serious flaws in police procedure.

My Kidnapper directed by Mark Henderson and Kate Horne is an emotional journey into a kidnapping, told from all sides. A powerful and fascinating documentary which has been acclaimed by festivals worldwide, the film will be released in UK cinemas on 11 February 2011.

I was lucky enough to be invited to a special preview screening of Clio Barnard’s debut film chronicling the life of late Bradford playwright Andrea Dunbar and her daughter Lorraine. This unique drama-documentary mixes audio interviews lip-synched by actors, filmed open-air theatre, and archive footage to bring the tragic life but indomitable spirit of Andrea Dunbar back to public attention.

An early scene involving an elderly couple, where Granny has to tell her hard of hearing husband the answer to a simple question three times, makes me think of Christopher Guest and his mock-doc satire. A following scene sees Grandpa declare that Mexican’s ‘are not all bums and tramps’ and some are indeed ‘reliable’, makes you wonder whether you’re watching real life, the outward racism forcing you to question whether to laugh or be appalled. However, the film does tell a true story and it is this element that makes it most interesting. What we see is a world that most people don’t know exist, or simply don’t care to know. Should we laugh at a 14 year old kid who spends most of his life reading the dictionary under his parents watchful guidance, or be appalled at the parental pressure and the obscure, wayward social skills that appear as a consequence.