Formerly the outlet for informational non-partisan films, documentaries have emerged as a platform for the politically vocal. And they seem to be rising in popularity.

Moving from small, private screenings to the mainstream cinema, this summer has seen the likes of Michael Moore, both behind and in front of the camera, with other high-profile figures, ranging from President George W. Bush to Fox News’ Bill O’Reilly.

Since the release of “Super-size Me” by Morgan Spurlock and “Fahrenheit 9/11,” by Moore, otherwise out-of-the-spotlight films have been drawing attention from college students, the politically-driven and the general public.

Local theaters, such as those in Coolidge Corner and Brattle Square, have taken advantage of the draw to such films.

The Brattle Theatre in Harvard Square, held three screenings of the documentary “Outfoxed: Rupert Murdoch’s War on Journalism” Tuesday, July 27 during the Democratic National Convention.

“Outfoxed,” directed by Robert Greenwald, exposes how media ownership can taint a supposed “non-partisan” news organization, in this case, Rupert Murdoch’s Fox News. The film was widely received by the public, selling out two of the screenings at the Brattle, and almost selling out for the added 10 p.m. screening, said Ned Hinkle, the artistic director for the Brattle, a smaller cinema that shows a variety of films aside from mainstream blockbusters.

“[There was] an unprecedented success for a film that is being distributed alternatively,” Hinkle said, after approximately 600 people attended the film. “[‘Outfoxed’] is in the top 10 sellers on Amazon.com, available through its Web site (www.outfoxed.org) and for rental at alternative movie stores, then [has] these kind of screenings and house party screenings and it will get a theatrical release in Coolidge Corner. It’s kind of backwards … rare that a film comes out on DVD and then becomes a success.”

“Outfoxed” is only one of Greenwald’s projects, soon to be followed by the “Un …” movie trilogy, with each film targeting a different part of the current administration, from the Iraq war to the 2000 Presidential election, according to the film’s official Web site (www.outfoxed.org).

Some say the increasing presence of these films, particularly those focused on political icons or media coverage, will in fact affect the upcoming presidential election, whether they intended to or not.

“Many people don’t study or research the candidates,” said Justine Medina, a middler political science and economics major. “[Many] only use entertainment sources such as the TV news or movies. They pick the name they like of the one that did the funniest thing on Fox News.”

Others have not been so easily drawn into the documentary scene.

“I haven’t seen any of them,” said Mary Burke, a middler pharmacy major. “They seem interesting, but they haven’t been anything that has really caught my eye or [have] gone on my ‘must see’ list.”

While it may seem there are a slew of documentarians voicing their anti-Bush sentiment through cinematography, there are also projects aimed in the opposite direction.

Scheduled for September 9 – 11 in Dallas, the “American Film Renaissance Festival” will debut. The festival is funded by some “big time conservative donors,” according to a release on www.pandagon.net.

The film festival will screen various independent films and documentaries, and co-founder Jim Hubbard is currently negotiating whether to show two films critical of filmmaker Michael Moore.

One of the films, titled “Michael Moore Hates Ame-rica,” directed by Michael Wil-son, starts in Moore’s hometown of Flint, Mich. and travels across the United States “looking for the American dream,” according to the film’s official Web site (www.michaelmoorehatesamerica.com). The documentary exposes Moore’s so-called interview tactics and filmmaking methods.

“Michael and Me,” directed by talk-radio personality Larry Elder, takes a stance on disproving the anti-gun allegations in Moore’s 2002 “Bowling for Columbine.” The two anti-Moore films, aside from possibly being screened at the festival, are hoping for theatrical and DVD releases.

Joining the ranks of Michael Moore and Larry Elder, “South Park” creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone are attempting to complete “Team America: World Police” in time for a pre-election theatrical release, according to a July 11 article by Hugh Hart in the San Francisco Chronicle. The satire will offer their own political point of view and feature wooden puppets as characters.

Extending beyond just independent cinematography, the noticeable focus on political issues is coming at an appropriate time, some say.

“Basically, the world is overrun by political documentaries, that kind of environment,” Hinkle said. “Everyone seems to be talking about the election. A lot of filmmakers and artists made a concerted effort in [their] coverage.”

Whether anti-administration, satire or both, the floodgates are open for documentarians, and as some have said, the timing is just right.