A dose of reality might not be the thing most people are interested in at the moment, but there is an amazing documentary film festival happening in New York City that deserves your attention, DOC NYC. Now in its seventh year, the fest kicked off last night with the U.S. premiere of Citizen Jane: Battle for the City*. Directed by Matt Tyrnauer, the doc focuses on the courageous battle activist Jane Jacobs fought against ruthless power broker Robert Moses in the 1960s to save New York. The film is one of many at the festival that celebrate women and their accomplishments. Given the events of this week, it seems an appropriate time to draw attention to female-centric stories like Jacobs’.

Below, you’ll find six other films we recommend looking in on at DOC NYC that profile heroic and strong women.

City of Joy
Screening: Friday, Nov 11, 2016, 7:00 PM
SVA Theatre

Enjoying its world premiere at DOC NYC, City of Joy is about the first class of young women who live at City of Joy, a center in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo dedicated to helping women overcome the after-effect of horrific abuse. The film focuses on the relationship between the safe haven’s founders, Congolese doctor, Dr. Denis Mukwege, playwright and activist, Eve Ensler, (The Vagina Monologues), and Congolese human rights activist, Christine Schuler-Deschryver, and also follows the center’s first class as they heal and prepare to return to their communities.

Girl Unbound: The War to Be Her
Screening: Saturday, November 12 at 8pm
Cinepolis Chelsea

Girl Unbound: The War to Be Her tells the story of Maria Toorpakai Wazir, an internationally competitive squash player from Pakistan. But life is not simple for Maria, as her family lives in a Taliban-controlled region, and the Taliban forbid women from playing sports. Erin Heidenreich’s film documents Maria over the course of several months as she represents Pakistan on the national team.

The Incomparable Rose Hartman
Screening: Sunday, Nov 13, 2016, 6:30 PM
IFC Center

For the past three decades, Rose Hartman has photographed celebrities, fashion designers, artists and socialites in some of the most legendary settings of New York City nightlife. Rose was also one of the first photographers to capture what goes on backstage in the world of fashion by shooting models and designers at work. Tenacious, and by some considered brash, Rose has carved her place in history with her fearless ambition and talent for photographing intimate moments of high fashion and celebrity. Øtis Mass presents a portrait of Rose, a true New York City character.

After Fire
Screening: Friday, Nov 11, 2016, 7:00 PM at IFC Center &
Monday, Nov 14, 2016, 10:15 AM at IFC Center

Brittany Huckabee’s After Fire enjoys its world premiere at DOC NYC. The film highlights the challenges faced by the fastest-growing group of American veterans, women.

Letters From Baghdad
Screening: Saturday, Nov 12, 2016, 11:15 AM
SVA Theatre

British writer, archaeologist and political officer, Gertrude Bell helped shape the modern Middle East after World War I. Using archival footage and Bell’s letters (voiced by Tilda Swinton), filmmakers Zeva Oelbaum and Sabine Krayenbühl seek to restore her rightful place in history with their documentary Letters From Baghdad.

Miss Sharon Jones!
Screening: Wednesday, Nov 16, 2016, 5:00 PM at Cinepolis Chelsea &
Monday, Nov 17, 2016, 9:45 PM at Cinepolis Chelsea

Filmmaker Barbara Kopple takes the viewer on Sharon Jones’ very emotional journey as she fights cancer and struggles to mount a comeback show at the Beacon Theater. Miss Sharon Jones! screens in DOC NYC’s Short List section and had its U.S. premiere at DOC NYC last year.

*Citizen Jane: Battle for the City was acquired by Sundance Selects, so you can expect the documentary to arrive in theaters sometime in the near future.