Epic concert films, the return of one of cinema's longest-running franchises, explorations of the toll of modern war, a canine friendship for the ages, a vivid journey into space, the final film from a master director–these were just a few of the subjects and stories that this year's documentary offerings brought us....

This year was an especially notable time for new directors making their stamp, and we're highlighting the handful of 2019 debuts that most impressed us....