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Michael Moore's "Bowling for Columbine" heads the list of 20 all-time favorite non-fiction films selected by members of the International Documentary Association (IDA). The "Top 20 at 20" list was released today in conjunction with the 20th anniversary of the organization. The list contains an eclectic mix of films from different times in history and various parts of the world.

Topics ranged from the lives of Eskimos in Robert Flaherty's classic film "Nanook of the North" to Ken Burns' "The Civil War," which was the highest rated series in the history of public television. The Maysles brothers, Albert and David, had three films on the list -- "Salesman," "Grey Gardens," and "Gimme Shelter." Moore had a second mention for "Roger and Me." Errol Morris was the only other filmmaker with multiple documentaries in the top 20 with "The Thin Blue Line" and "Fast, Cheap, and Out of Control."

The release of the Top 20 list begins a weekend of events celebrating the documentary form. IDA will fete the 2002 IDA Distinguished Documentary Achievement Award winners tomorrow (December 13) at the Directors Guild of America Theatre. Other highlights include the presentations of the Career Achievement award to Ken Burns and the Pioneer Award to Agnes Varda.

The IDA traces its roots to an informal meeting of a dozen filmmakers in Los Angeles in 1982. They defined a need for a non-profit organization that could serve as a forum where documentary filmmakers could share ideas and advocate issues. IDA has some 2,700 members in 50 countries today.

TOP 20:
1. "Bowling for Columbine" (2002)
2. "The Thin Blue Line" (1988)
3. "Roger & Me" (1989)
4. "Hoop Dreams" (1994)
5. "Salesman" (1969)
6. "Nanook of the North" (1922)
7. "Night and Fog" (1955)
8. "Harlan County, USA" (1976)
9. "Grey Gardens" (1975)
10. "The Civil War" (1990)
11. "Crumb" (1994)
12. "Gimme Shelter" (1970)
13. "7 Up Series" (1963)
14. "Fast, Cheap and Out of Control" (1997)
15. "Titicut Follies" (1967)
16. "When We Were Kings" (1996)
17. "American Movie: The Making of Northwestern" (1999)
18. "Shoah" (1985)
19. "The Man With a Movie Camera" (1929)
20. "Sherman's March" (1986)

SOURCE: International Documentary Association