2014

Nonfiction stories can be told in surprising and dramatic ways, and may look a little different than what you are used to. Filmmakers Bassam Tariq (These Birds Walk), Nick Bentgen (Northern Light) and Sierra Pettengill (Town Hall) show us clips and discuss their creative, and perhaps unexpected, storytelling processes. Moderator: Eric Hynes

Wonder how a film ends up on iTunes, Netflix, YouTube, Vimeo and Amazon? Enter the world of digital distribution with representatives from The Orchard (Danielle DiGiacomo), Vimeo (Jeremy Boxer) and SundanceNow (Linda Pan), who lead a candid discussion on the growth of the marketplace and and how best to access this audience. Moderator: Nancy Schafer […]

Building a broad, dynamic, engaged community around your film is the goal of any marketing plan, and social media should represent a healthy percentage of your efforts. Digital-media expert Kristin McCracken, along with Director/Producer Suzanne Mitchell, will lead us through examples of well-organized social media campaigns and answers all your questions in this workshop.

Pitching to industry executives is often an essential part of getting your film funded, and presenting a sensational pitch is vital. Hear from producers and experts on how to make the best pitch, learn from examples and get a chance to practice with industry pros. Experts Daniel Chalfen (Founder/Producer, Naked Edge Films), Julie Anderson (WNET) […]

Documentaries can engage, transform and perhaps improve the world. Which films and filmmakers are pushing the envelope in social-action filmmaking and what real change is taking place? We’ll talk to expert Christie Marchese (Picture Motion), Julie Anderson (WNET) and filmmakers Tom Roberts (Every Last Child) and Diana Whitten (Vessel), and look at examples of films […]

Want to fund your film and build a community around your work at the same time? Creative funding has opened up new opportunities for documentary filmmakers, including funding, audience engagement, and promotion.Join Kickstarter’s film team along with filmmakers David Thorpe (Do I Sound Gay), Chad Walker & Dave LaMatina (I Am Big Bird) and Mina T. […]

Animation, graphics and other visual effects are often standard features of documentaries, helping to illustrate arguments and capture the viewer’s attention. They can also be vital elements of the narrative. Designing and implementing these elements can be intimidating. Learn about what’s possible through examples from editor Nick Clark (The Life and Mind of Mark DeFriest), […]

Music and sound have become essential elements in the nonfiction narrative. What is the intricate relationship between music and documentary films? How can you successfully utilize sound design in a documentary? Composer and producer Todd Griffin (The Overnighters, E-Team) , along with Tom Paul (Gigantic Post) and David Teague (editor E-Team, Cutie and The Boxer) present […]