What happens when hundreds of documentary filmmakers and industry representatives spend a week learning, questioning, and imagining together?
DOC NYC PRO’s 2026 annual conference returns Nov. 12-13 and Nov. 15-19 from 10am-4:45pm at Village East by Angelika (181 2nd Ave., Manhattan), bringing together the global documentary community for a week of conversation, connection, and practical insight. Across seven thematic days, we’ll explore the challenges, opportunities, and big questions shaping the field.
New this year is the standalone Solutions Lab on Nov. 14 from 10am-4:45pm at The New School (63 Fifth Ave), a day dedicated to collective problem-solving. The morning looks at the future of funding, distribution, and audience-building through panels and facilitated discussions. In the afternoon, participants bring a real challenge to the table and work through it alongside peers and industry experts, leaving with new ideas, fresh perspectives, and stronger connections.
TICKETING INFORMATION
Each PRO Day Pass grants access to a single conference day comprised of several panel discussions and all day access to the Festival Lounge where you can enjoy complimentary breakfast and happy hour.
The Solutions Lab Pass grants access to that day’s events and the complimentary happy hour in the Festival Lounge.
To benefit from discounted pricing, purchase a Multi-Day Pass Pack to an assortment of conference days. The Solutions Lab is a standalone ticket and excluded from the multi-day pass pack option. If you have any additional questions, please email us at ticketing@docnyc.net.
EXPLORE THE CONFERENCE THEMATIC DAYS & THE SOLUTIONS LAB
Pitch Day (Thursday, November 12)
Co-presented by Outlier Film Fund
Our day devoted to the art of the pitch brings together eight documentary projects with a curated group of industry professionals for sharp and honest feedback. Each team presents its work-in-progress and receives responses tailored to its goals. For audience members, the draw of pitch day is watching the industry panel think out loud. With projects spanning pre-production to post-production, there are valuable takeaways for films at all stages.
Finding Your Story: How Ideas Become Great Films (Friday, November 13)
A great documentary starts with more than enthusiasm. Before committing years of your life to a project, how do you know if the idea can sustain a film, connect with audiences, and find support? Through practical conversations about story, audience, format, and feasibility, we’ll explore how filmmakers refine, reshape, and sometimes rethink their ideas. Examine not just what makes an idea exciting, but what gives it the depth, shape, and staying power to become a strong documentary.
The Solutions Lab (Saturday, November 14, at the New School)
If we were rebuilding the documentary ecosystem today, what would we do differently regarding funding, distribution, and audience-building? The Solutions Lab combines a field-wide conversation with project-specific feedback. The first half of the day features a panel discussion and small group conversations to encourage participants to imagine new possibilities for the field. The second half of the day shifts from big-picture solutions to individual projects. Through small-group consultation sessions, filmmakers can workshop a specific challenge and get direct feedback from an industry professional and peers.
Final Cut: Making Your Story in the Edit (Sunday, November 15)
Co-presented by Andscape
How does a film become the film it was meant to be? This day explores what happens after the shoot, when filmmakers begin figuring out what they actually have to work with. Through case studies, a director-editor masterclass, and a short film feedback session, directors and editors will discuss the revisions, surprises, and choices that shaped their films.
Carrying the Film: Producers & Directors (Monday, November 16)
Every documentary requires someone to carry the vision and make the challenging, complex decisions. This day examines the responsibilities producers and directors face as they navigate storytelling choices, ethical questions, competing priorities, and the realities of bringing a film to completion. From creative challenges to practical considerations, we’ll explore what producers and directors are balancing as they guide a film from idea to screen.
Getting Seen: Distribution, Marketing, & Audience (Tuesday, November 17)
Distribution isn’t a destination; it’s part of the filmmaking process from the very beginning. This day is designed to demystify how distribution, audience building, and marketing fit into the life of a film, helping filmmakers see these elements not as extra work at the end, but as decisions woven throughout the journey.
Sound, Image, & the Art of Production (Wednesday, November 18)
Some of the most important storytelling decisions happen long before the edit begins. This day focuses on the craft and practice of documentary production. From interviewing and cinematography to sound and more, we’ll explore how filmmakers capture moments and turn real-life unpredictability into compelling footage.
Career Sustainability: How Do We Thrive? (Thursday, November 19)
What does it take to keep doing this work year after year? As the industry continues to evolve, we’ll look at how filmmakers adapt, seize opportunities, and build artistic careers that endure. That may mean branching into other forms of storytelling, building multiple income streams, or finding new avenues for support. We’ll look at how filmmakers adapt to change and keep moving their work forward.
ACCESSIBILITY QUESTIONS
For questions about accommodations and accessibility, including requests for live ASL interpretation, please email accessibility@docnyc.net.
DOC NYC PRO is co-presented by:
