DocLands一直庆祝docum的艺术entary with its film festival each year, shining a light on those trying to make sense of history — or to record history in the making.

And with the festival an anticipated annual event for the quality of the filmmaking and the projection at the Smith Rafael Film Center, an ideal venue, this year’s festivalgoers are in for a treat.

Returning for its seventh year, just days after the World Health Organization declared an end to the COVID-19 global health emergency, DocLands has dropped the hybrid theater/online model and has gone back entirely to its home for every film screening.

Here are a half dozen to strongly consider:

‘It’s Only Life After All’

The folk rock duo of Amy Ray and Emily Saliers, known as theIndigo Girls, form the subject of DocLands opening night film, directed by Alexandria Bomback, who tells the story of their artistry and gay rights activism with rare access to their home movies and private recordings.

6:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 10. $25-$30.

‘Victim/Suspect’

It is estimated that only a third of sexual assaults are reported and only 1% are prosecuted. Director Nancy Schwartzman explores the possible reasons for this, as she follows journalist Rae de Leon (PBS News Hour), who undercovers examples in which real evidence was suppressed and women with credible claims were prosecuted for making a false report.

4:30 p.m. Thursday, May 11. $8-$16.50.

‘Lady Bird Diaries’

Pulling from more than 100 hours of voice recordings Lady Bird Johnson made when she lived in the White House,San Francisco filmmaker Dawn Porterhas made an intimate portrait of Lyndon Johnson’s first lady, who turns out to have been an extraordinary person — an intelligent, tactful, sympathetic advisor and a positive force in American life.

6:30 p.m. Thursday, May 11. $14-$16.50.

‘Lovely Jackson’

Rickey Jackson was arrested for murder at age 18 and was falsely imprisoned for 39 years. The documentary, written by Jackson and director Matt Waldeck, tells his story through a number of narrative devices, including flashback reenactments designed to recreate some of the isolation and hopelessness of incarceration.

3:45 p.m. Friday, May 12. $8-$16.50.

‘Invisible Beauty’

Bethann Hardison was one of the first Black fashion models, beginning her career in 1967. Along with Frederic Tcheng, Hardison directs this portrait of her life, which, from the beginning, has been focused on opening the door for other women of color in the fashion industry.

7 p.m. Friday, May 12. $8-$16.50.

‘Immediate Family’

Denny Tedesco (“The Wrecking Crew!”) returns to the subject of studio musicians, with the story of five musicians — Danny “Kootch” Kortchmar, Waddy Wachtel, Leland Sklar, Russ Kunkel, and Steve Postell — who formed a successful collaboration and played on the albums of some of the most prominent music stars of the 1970s, includingStevie Nicks, Jackson Browne, Carole King and琳达Ronstadt.

6:30 p.m. Saturday, May 13. $20-$25.

Reach Mick LaSalle: mlasalle@sfchronicle.com