The 48th Big Muddy Film Festival, held from March 19-21, 2026, is an annual event originating from Southern Illinois University Carbondale and is recognized as one of the nation's oldest university-affiliated film festivals. The festival includes a "Best Documentary" category among its competitive awards, alongside experimental, narrative, and animation. As the festival is taking place, the winner of the "Best Documentary" award for the 48th edition has not yet been announced.