Noujaim, Gandhi Premiere 4-Part Burning Man Documentary on HBO

Q: What critical dangers and prevalent crimes at Burning Man did the filmmakers intentionally leave out of their series?

The filmmakers largely left out two of the most serious recurring problems at Burning Man: widespread illegal drug use and underreported sexual assault. Reviews and background reporting on HBO’s “The Man Will Burn” say the series focuses on the festival’s culture, weather disasters, and commercialization debates, but gives little attention to the criminal activity authorities regularly associate with the event. Law enforcement agencies that patrol Burning Man have long reported arrests and citations for drug possession and related offenses, as well as cases involving DUI, battery and theft. The most notable omission, according to the reporting, is sexual assault. Critics say the documentary does not meaningfully examine allegations that assaults are common and often underreported at the festival, despite repeated concern from authorities and observers about consent and safety in an environment shaped by intoxication, isolation and minimal conventional infrastructure. Beyond crime, the series also appears to downplay broader safety dangers that have marked Burning Man over the years, including fatal accidents, fire-related deaths, severe weather emergencies, and other serious injuries. But the clearest answer to what it intentionally left out is the festival’s entrenched drug problem and the persistent issue of sexual assault.

3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Jul 9

HBO premieres “The Man Will Burn” on Thursday, a four-part documentary by Jehane Noujaim and Vikram Gandhi that follows Burning Man through recent years of disruption and reinvention.
Filming began in 2021 as organizers weighed a second straight Covid-era cancellation, then continued through the 2022 return and the 2023 festival, when rain turned the Nevada playa into mud that stranded vehicles.
The series mixes archival footage with new material to trace how a beach effigy ritual grew into an eight-day event drawing more than 70,000 people, with tickets starting at $550 and lower-cost $250 options for some attendees.
Noujaim described the shoot as both chaotic and punishing, with extreme heat, dust, broken cameras and propane-fueled art underscoring the festival’s mix of spectacle, scale and logistical strain.
The documentary arrives as Burning Man still faces scrutiny over commercialization, celebrity and tech wealth, while the report notes it does not meaningfully address issues including illegal drug use and underreported sexual assault.