Save with a Season Pass, good for all 4 virtual PRO events scheduled for April 17- May 8, 2024!
DOC NYC PRO returns for Spring Season 2024 with a new line-up geared towards filmmakers and anyone interested in learning about the documentary industry. Embark on a multifaceted exploration spanning the spectrum of documentary filmmaking.
New Offer: All Spring 2024 PRO attendees are invited to wrap up the season with an exclusive peer-to-peer consulting session. Engage in small group consultations where filmmakers walk away with concrete insight into a current dilemma. It’s a unique opportunity for collaborative learning and meaningful exchanges.
The Spring 2024 Season consists of four events presented on Wednesdays, April 17-May 8 in self-contained, 75-minute online sessions. Attendees may purchase individual tickets or a discounted Spring 2024 season pass good for all four sessions (plus the special peer-to-peer consulting session).
If you have questions about registration, please email ticketing@docnyc.net. For questions about accommodations and accessibility, including requests for live ASL interpretation, please email accessibility@docnyc.net.
Accessibility
Live ASL interpretation and CART services are available upon request. To inquire about accessibility for any DOC NYC events, please email accessibility@docnyc.net.
Budgeting for Documentary As a follow-up to Day 1, this session zeros in on how to create a first draft budget for documentary feature films. Using the same case study film schedule, we will discuss general principles for budgeting documentary feature productions using a simple Excel spreadsheet.
Crucial conversations about distribution are happening in the industry and while the answers are still elusive, maybe “we are who we’ve been waiting for.” Case studies using outside-the-box techniques and strategy will inspire and drive you forward. These discussions will challenge conventional thinking and encourage innovative approaches to distribution. By examining successful examples, you’ll gain practical insights and motivation to push the boundaries of your own process.
In the Festival Lounge, the day starts with Breakfast (9-10AM) hosted by community partner Video Consortium and ends with a Happy Hour (4:30-5:30PM).
10-11:15AM
What to Expect When You’re Not Expecting to Sell
With streaming dominating the revenue streams for documentaries these days, and with streamers nearly universally operated by large corporations, how do you plan for the release of your film when your film involves one such corporation? The film team behind Union was elated to premiere at the Sundance Film Festival, but they knew they would have a different road ahead than other films premiering there. Join producers Mars Verrone and Samantha Curley, director Stephen Maing, impact producer Eliza Licht and distribution consultant Michael Tuckman as they chat with Brian Newman of Sub-Genre Media about devising an alternative distribution plan before coming to market.
Mars Verrone is a filmmaker, musician, and educator from Los Angeles, CA. Their first feature as producer, Union (dir. Stephen Maing & Brett Story), premiered at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival and won a special jury prize. They are a Sundance Producers Fellow, NBC Original Voices Artist Mentor and Fellow, Producers Guild of America Fellow, and Brown Girls Doc Mafia Fellow.
Brian Newman, founder of Sub-Genre, consults on content strategy, distribution and marketing for some of the top brands in the world. Current and former clients include: The Climate Pledge (Amazon), GoDaddy, IBM, New York Times, Oatly, Patagonia, Purina, REI, Stripe, Sundance, Unilever, and Yeti Coolers. Brian has served as CEO of the Tribeca Film Institute, and writes a popular weekly newsletter on film.
Samantha Curley is an award-winning documentary producer and creative entrepreneur based in Los Angeles. She is the Co-Founder of Level Ground, a collaboratively-led artist collective and production company. The first two films she produced, Framing Agnes (2022) and Union (2024), both premiered at Sundance. She graduated from Northwestern and is a 2023 Impact Partners Fellow and Cali Catalyst grant recipient.
Eliza Licht is an industry leader in developing and implementing engagement strategies to maximize the impact and visibility of documentary films. Before starting Licht Creative Consulting, she spent 17 years at the PBS series, POV. In her current role, she creates and implements entire campaigns including overall strategy, partnership development, producing educational resources, and measuring impact.
A film industry vet for over 25 years, Michael Tuckman served as VP of Theatrical Sales for THINKFilm. He now runs mTuckman media, with which he works directly with filmmakers under their own banners or with other distributors. Releases include Academy Award nominees The Eternal Memory, Ascension and Last Days in Vietnam in addition to all of Frederick Wiseman’s films since 2009.
Stephen Maing is an Emmy-award winning director and cinematographer. His films are cinematic investigations of societal phenomena, complex power structures and the fascinating individuals who challenge them. His feature documentary Crime + Punishment, which he directed, filmed and edited, won a Special Jury Award at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival, an Emmy for Outstanding Social Issue Documentary and was shortlisted for the Academy Award for Best Documentary. His previous films, High Tech, Low Life and The Surrender, screened internationally and were released on P.O.V. and Field of Vision, respectively. Maing is a 2021 United States Artists Fellow, Sundance Institute Fellow, NBC Original Voices Fellow, John Jay/Harry Frank Guggenheim Reporting Fellow and a recipient of the IDA’s prestigious Courage Under Fire Award shared with the whistleblowers of the NYPD12. His most recent film Union, co-directed with Brett story, won a Special Jury Award at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival – and is an immersive cinéma vérité account of the historic efforts by workers to unionize the first Amazon fulfillment center. He is a frequent visiting artist, mentor, musician and educator based in Ridgewood, Queens.
11:30-12:45PM
Hybrid Distribution Strategies
This panel dives into the evolving world of hybrid distribution, offering filmmakers a hands-on opportunity to brainstorm strategies in real time. Using live case studies from Pulkit Datta (Israelism) and Chithra Jeyaram (Amma’s Pride) and Michael Premo (Homegrown), panelists will explore the mix of traditional and digital platforms, navigating the balance between festivals, theatrical releases and streaming. Attendees will learn how to craft flexible, tailored distribution plans that maximize a film’s reach and impact. Join us for an interactive session where filmmakers can think creatively about their distribution options and tap into new ways of getting their stories out into the world.
Chithra Jeyaram is a physical therapist turned filmmaker with an MFA in Film from the University of Texas in Austin. She specializes in one-person crew independent documentaries. She identifies as Tamil. Her work prioritizes subverting stereotypes by framing narratives that highlight perspectives, and intricacies that are left out. She is the recipient of Visions Du Reel RoughCut Lab [2023], Chicken and (Egg)Celerator Lab [2022], Brown Girls Doc Mafia Artist Fellowship [2021], Gotham Documentary Fellowship [2020], and Jerome Foundation [2019]. Her work has been featured on PBS, CBSN, Apple TV, Revry, Kanopy, SXSW, and DOC NYC. Now Chithra’s finishing, Our Daughters, a feature documentary that examines identity and adoption in America through an immigrant lens. In addition to directing and producing her work, she edits – Look Like You (2022, Short Narrative), an episode for CBSN Speaking Frankly Series: Symbolic Justice (2020), and 9 Degrees (2019, Short Doc). She is an adjunct faculty at NYU and Vassar. She is an active organizer and member of Brown Girls Doc Mafia and Bitchitra Collective.
Pulkit Datta is a producer, director, and film programmer, based in New York. Over fifteen years, he has worked on a wide range of scripted films, documentaries, commercials, short films, music videos and multimedia campaigns. His films have screened at festivals such as Toronto, Tribeca, Atlanta, Cinequest, Fantasia, LAAPFF, Cleveland, and OutFest. As a producer with Tikkun Olam Productions, he has co-produced the feature documentary ISRAELISM (Big Sky, CPH:Dox, Brooklyn Film Festival), and is currently producing climate activism doc series VS. GOLIATH. Pulkit is also a producer on INVISIBLE, a feature documentary about fibromyalgia (Amazon Prime, Tubi), and the gun-violence themed short documentary DO WE BELONG? (The Atlantic, 2018 IDA Doc Award shortlist). Pulkit has been a Producing Fellow at Center for Asian American Media as well as Impact Partners, and is an alum of IFP/Gotham Project Market.
1:45-3:00PM
Reimagining Distribution: Eno and the Case for Abundance
This panel delves into the current distribution challenges facing the documentary world. Using Gary Hustwit’s groundbreaking generative documentary Eno as a case study, moderator Amy Hobby (Distribution Advocates) and producers Jessica Edwards and Emily Rothschild explore how filmmakers can empower themselves and their films by shifting towards a distribution mindset that leverages the wealth of tools now at our disposal. From strategic partnerships and eventized screenings, to innovative digital platforms, this discussion will provide a roadmap for documentary filmmakers and producers to rethink the distribution landscape. Reimagine a future where creativity and collaboration can drive the success of independent documentaries.
Jessica Edwards has a broad background in the film industry as a director, producer, and publicist. She’s the founder of Film First, a production company that creates and distributes documentary features, shorts and new media projects including the award-winning Mavis! about soul and gospel pioneer Mavis Staples which won a Peabody in 2017. Edwards holds an MA in Media Studies from The New School in New York City and a BA in Cinema Studies from Concordia University in her native Canada. She lives and works in Brooklyn.
Emily Rothschild is an independent consultant providing services to films and film companies with her extensive background in acquisitions, distribution, marketing and community engagement. For several years, Emily served in various executive roles for distribution companies in the US. Most recently, she was Director of Theatrical Acquisitions and Marketing for PBS Distribution, where she helped launch a theatrical division, acquiring and releasing several award-winning films, including Academy Award-nominated Abacus, Dolores, and Academy Award-nominated For Sama.
Amy Hobby is a co-founder of Distribution Advocates, where she oversees the Film-Ade Fund. Film-ADE provides grants for innovation in audience building for US theatrical and non-theatrical releases.
Hobby previously served as the Executive Director of the nonprofit Tribeca Film Institute from 2016-2020. She is also an Academy Award-nominated and Emmy Award-winning producer whose films have premiered at Sundance, Berlin, Cannes, SXSW, Tribeca, Telluride (among other festivals).
3:15-4:30PM
Own Your Audience, Own Your Success
This panel explores how distribution challenges have sparked the emergence of direct-to-audience platforms like Jolt, GATHR, and Kinema, turning obstacles into opportunities for filmmakers. Born out of necessity, digital platforms and grassroots marketing have become creative solutions to bypass traditional industry barriers. Moderated by Jon Reiss of 8Above, panelists Neil Williams (GATHR), Christie Marchese (Kinema), and Tara Hein-Phillips (Jolt) will share their 30,000-foot view on the evolution of audience-to-distribution techniques, highlighting how these methods expand opportunities to exhibit films. Discover how these innovative approaches allow filmmakers to build loyal audiences, sustain their creative independence, and earn revenue, driving the creation of new pathways to success in today’s film landscape.
Filmmaker and Film Strategist, Hybrid Cinema/8Above
Jon Reiss
Filmmaker and Film Strategist, Hybrid Cinema/8Above
Jon Reiss is a filmmaker, author and media strategist who wrote the book Think Outside the Box Office. His company, 8 Above, creates custom strategies and distribution campaigns for proactive filmmakers. Reiss has consulted with hundreds of filmmakers and film organizations throughout the world including The Gotham, IDA, Screen Australia, Film Independent, Creative Scotland. He has conducted his Master Classes over five continents and was the Senior Lab Leader at the IFP/Gotham Filmmaker Lab for ten years. 8 Above has developed bespoke audience-building strategies and theatrical campaigns for independent films, specialty films, and documentaries, including Sam Now, The First Step, Two Gods, The Disrupted, Maya Angelou: And Still I Rise, Sweetheart Dancers, Surviving Sex Trafficking, Nasrin, Hooligan Sparrow, and No Small Matter. 8above.com
Christie Marchese is the founder and CEO of Kinema. Kinema is a global film distribution and exhibition platform that leverages the power of community and social interaction to screen and stream films. She was previously the founder and CEO of the award-winning impact agency Picture Motion. Prior to PicMo, she ran impact for Righteous Pictures, led digital strategy for the social action group at Participant Media, and handled program coordination and social media at Norman Lear’s GOTV nonprofit Declare Yourself.
Christie is also the co-author of The Distribution Playbook and won several industry recognitions, including being named one of Fortune’s Rising Female Founders in 2023 and Fast Company’s Most Creative People in 2021. She’s currently on the board of Subject Matter and The Reinvent Stockton Foundation, and on the Capacity Council for Brown Girls Doc Mafia.
Neil is Head of Filmmaker Relations and Concierge Services at GATHR, the world’s first end-to-end event management system that combines film, talent and venue booking; ticketing; merchandise sales; memberships and in-person, virtual, and hybrid exhibitions into a single platform. He produced the Independent Spirit Award and Sundance Grand Jury Prize nominated film Miss Juneteenth and is an alumnus of the Sundance Creative Producing Lab, The Gotham Cannes Producer Fellowship and has been supported by the Austin Film Society and Cucalorus. As a writer/director his shorts have played international film festivals and he was an inaugural 2023 Blumhouse/K Period Screamwriting fellow for his horror script The Plat-Eye. He has an MFA in Film Production from USC School of Cinematic Arts and a BA in Public Policy from Duke University.
Tara Hein-Phillips’s professional experience as a product and technology leader spans 20 years, with a focus on the arts and education. She was the Chief Product Officer at Sundance, launching the first virtual festival in 2021 and was co-founder of Sundance Collab.
Insight into the collaborative relationships involved in filmmaking is essential to a successful storytelling process. Gain insight and tips to bring to your filmmaking relationships as you cross collaborate. Understanding these dynamics can lead to more cohesive and creative productions, ultimately enhancing the overall quality of your films.
In the Festival Lounge, the day starts with Breakfast (9-10AM) hosted by community partner Asian American Documentary Network (A-Doc) and ends with a Happy Hour (4:30-5:30PM).
10-11:15AM
What to Expect When You’re Not Expecting to Sell
With streaming dominating the revenue streams for documentaries these days, and with streamers nearly universally operated by large corporations, how do you plan for the release of your film when your film involves one such corporation? The film team behind Union was elated to premiere at the Sundance Film Festival, but they knew they would have a different road ahead than other films premiering there. Join producers Mars Verrone and Samantha Curley, director Stephen Maing, impact producer Eliza Licht and distribution consultant Michael Tuckman as they chat with Brian Newman of Sub-Genre Media about devising an alternative distribution plan before coming to market.
Mars Verrone is a filmmaker, musician, and educator from Los Angeles, CA. Their first feature as producer, Union (dir. Stephen Maing & Brett Story), premiered at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival and won a special jury prize. They are a Sundance Producers Fellow, NBC Original Voices Artist Mentor and Fellow, Producers Guild of America Fellow, and Brown Girls Doc Mafia Fellow.
Brian Newman, founder of Sub-Genre, consults on content strategy, distribution and marketing for some of the top brands in the world. Current and former clients include: The Climate Pledge (Amazon), GoDaddy, IBM, New York Times, Oatly, Patagonia, Purina, REI, Stripe, Sundance, Unilever, and Yeti Coolers. Brian has served as CEO of the Tribeca Film Institute, and writes a popular weekly newsletter on film.
Samantha Curley is an award-winning documentary producer and creative entrepreneur based in Los Angeles. She is the Co-Founder of Level Ground, a collaboratively-led artist collective and production company. The first two films she produced, Framing Agnes (2022) and Union (2024), both premiered at Sundance. She graduated from Northwestern and is a 2023 Impact Partners Fellow and Cali Catalyst grant recipient.
Eliza Licht is an industry leader in developing and implementing engagement strategies to maximize the impact and visibility of documentary films. Before starting Licht Creative Consulting, she spent 17 years at the PBS series, POV. In her current role, she creates and implements entire campaigns including overall strategy, partnership development, producing educational resources, and measuring impact.
A film industry vet for over 25 years, Michael Tuckman served as VP of Theatrical Sales for THINKFilm. He now runs mTuckman media, with which he works directly with filmmakers under their own banners or with other distributors. Releases include Academy Award nominees The Eternal Memory, Ascension and Last Days in Vietnam in addition to all of Frederick Wiseman’s films since 2009.
Stephen Maing is an Emmy-award winning director and cinematographer. His films are cinematic investigations of societal phenomena, complex power structures and the fascinating individuals who challenge them. His feature documentary Crime + Punishment, which he directed, filmed and edited, won a Special Jury Award at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival, an Emmy for Outstanding Social Issue Documentary and was shortlisted for the Academy Award for Best Documentary. His previous films, High Tech, Low Life and The Surrender, screened internationally and were released on P.O.V. and Field of Vision, respectively. Maing is a 2021 United States Artists Fellow, Sundance Institute Fellow, NBC Original Voices Fellow, John Jay/Harry Frank Guggenheim Reporting Fellow and a recipient of the IDA’s prestigious Courage Under Fire Award shared with the whistleblowers of the NYPD12. His most recent film Union, co-directed with Brett story, won a Special Jury Award at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival – and is an immersive cinéma vérité account of the historic efforts by workers to unionize the first Amazon fulfillment center. He is a frequent visiting artist, mentor, musician and educator based in Ridgewood, Queens.
Co-presented by Gigantic Studios.
1:45-3:00PM
Reimagining Distribution: Eno and the Case for Abundance
This panel delves into the current distribution challenges facing the documentary world. Using Gary Hustwit’s groundbreaking generative documentary Eno as a case study, moderator Amy Hobby (Distribution Advocates) and producers Jessica Edwards and Emily Rothschild explore how filmmakers can empower themselves and their films by shifting towards a distribution mindset that leverages the wealth of tools now at our disposal. From strategic partnerships and eventized screenings, to innovative digital platforms, this discussion will provide a roadmap for documentary filmmakers and producers to rethink the distribution landscape. Reimagine a future where creativity and collaboration can drive the success of independent documentaries.
Jessica Edwards has a broad background in the film industry as a director, producer, and publicist. She’s the founder of Film First, a production company that creates and distributes documentary features, shorts and new media projects including the award-winning Mavis! about soul and gospel pioneer Mavis Staples which won a Peabody in 2017. Edwards holds an MA in Media Studies from The New School in New York City and a BA in Cinema Studies from Concordia University in her native Canada. She lives and works in Brooklyn.
Emily Rothschild is an independent consultant providing services to films and film companies with her extensive background in acquisitions, distribution, marketing and community engagement. For several years, Emily served in various executive roles for distribution companies in the US. Most recently, she was Director of Theatrical Acquisitions and Marketing for PBS Distribution, where she helped launch a theatrical division, acquiring and releasing several award-winning films, including Academy Award-nominated Abacus, Dolores, and Academy Award-nominated For Sama.
Amy Hobby is a co-founder of Distribution Advocates, where she oversees the Film-Ade Fund. Film-ADE provides grants for innovation in audience building for US theatrical and non-theatrical releases.
Hobby previously served as the Executive Director of the nonprofit Tribeca Film Institute from 2016-2020. She is also an Academy Award-nominated and Emmy Award-winning producer whose films have premiered at Sundance, Berlin, Cannes, SXSW, Tribeca, Telluride (among other festivals).
Co-presented by Getty Images.
3:15-4:30PM
Own Your Audience, Own Your Success
This panel explores how distribution challenges have sparked the emergence of direct-to-audience platforms like Jolt, GATHR, and Kinema, turning obstacles into opportunities for filmmakers. Born out of necessity, digital platforms and grassroots marketing have become creative solutions to bypass traditional industry barriers. Moderated by Jon Reiss of 8Above, panelists Neil Williams (GATHR), Christie Marchese (Kinema), and Tara Hein-Phillips (Jolt) will share their 30,000-foot view on the evolution of audience-to-distribution techniques, highlighting how these methods expand opportunities to exhibit films. Discover how these innovative approaches allow filmmakers to build loyal audiences, sustain their creative independence, and earn revenue, driving the creation of new pathways to success in today’s film landscape.
Filmmaker and Film Strategist, Hybrid Cinema/8Above
Jon Reiss
Filmmaker and Film Strategist, Hybrid Cinema/8Above
Jon Reiss is a filmmaker, author and media strategist who wrote the book Think Outside the Box Office. His company, 8 Above, creates custom strategies and distribution campaigns for proactive filmmakers. Reiss has consulted with hundreds of filmmakers and film organizations throughout the world including The Gotham, IDA, Screen Australia, Film Independent, Creative Scotland. He has conducted his Master Classes over five continents and was the Senior Lab Leader at the IFP/Gotham Filmmaker Lab for ten years. 8 Above has developed bespoke audience-building strategies and theatrical campaigns for independent films, specialty films, and documentaries, including Sam Now, The First Step, Two Gods, The Disrupted, Maya Angelou: And Still I Rise, Sweetheart Dancers, Surviving Sex Trafficking, Nasrin, Hooligan Sparrow, and No Small Matter. 8above.com
Christie Marchese is the founder and CEO of Kinema. Kinema is a global film distribution and exhibition platform that leverages the power of community and social interaction to screen and stream films. She was previously the founder and CEO of the award-winning impact agency Picture Motion. Prior to PicMo, she ran impact for Righteous Pictures, led digital strategy for the social action group at Participant Media, and handled program coordination and social media at Norman Lear’s GOTV nonprofit Declare Yourself.
Christie is also the co-author of The Distribution Playbook and won several industry recognitions, including being named one of Fortune’s Rising Female Founders in 2023 and Fast Company’s Most Creative People in 2021. She’s currently on the board of Subject Matter and The Reinvent Stockton Foundation, and on the Capacity Council for Brown Girls Doc Mafia.
Neil is Head of Filmmaker Relations and Concierge Services at GATHR, the world’s first end-to-end event management system that combines film, talent and venue booking; ticketing; merchandise sales; memberships and in-person, virtual, and hybrid exhibitions into a single platform. He produced the Independent Spirit Award and Sundance Grand Jury Prize nominated film Miss Juneteenth and is an alumnus of the Sundance Creative Producing Lab, The Gotham Cannes Producer Fellowship and has been supported by the Austin Film Society and Cucalorus. As a writer/director his shorts have played international film festivals and he was an inaugural 2023 Blumhouse/K Period Screamwriting fellow for his horror script The Plat-Eye. He has an MFA in Film Production from USC School of Cinematic Arts and a BA in Public Policy from Duke University.
Tara Hein-Phillips’s professional experience as a product and technology leader spans 20 years, with a focus on the arts and education. She was the Chief Product Officer at Sundance, launching the first virtual festival in 2021 and was co-founder of Sundance Collab.
Co-presented by Fox Rothschild.
11:30-12:45PM
Hybrid Distribution Strategies
This panel dives into the evolving world of hybrid distribution, offering filmmakers a hands-on opportunity to brainstorm strategies in real time. Using live case studies from Pulkit Datta (Israelism) and Chithra Jeyaram (Amma’s Pride) and Michael Premo (Homegrown), panelists will explore the mix of traditional and digital platforms, navigating the balance between festivals, theatrical releases and streaming. Attendees will learn how to craft flexible, tailored distribution plans that maximize a film’s reach and impact. Join us for an interactive session where filmmakers can think creatively about their distribution options and tap into new ways of getting their stories out into the world.
Chithra Jeyaram is a physical therapist turned filmmaker with an MFA in Film from the University of Texas in Austin. She specializes in one-person crew independent documentaries. She identifies as Tamil. Her work prioritizes subverting stereotypes by framing narratives that highlight perspectives, and intricacies that are left out. She is the recipient of Visions Du Reel RoughCut Lab [2023], Chicken and (Egg)Celerator Lab [2022], Brown Girls Doc Mafia Artist Fellowship [2021], Gotham Documentary Fellowship [2020], and Jerome Foundation [2019]. Her work has been featured on PBS, CBSN, Apple TV, Revry, Kanopy, SXSW, and DOC NYC. Now Chithra’s finishing, Our Daughters, a feature documentary that examines identity and adoption in America through an immigrant lens. In addition to directing and producing her work, she edits – Look Like You (2022, Short Narrative), an episode for CBSN Speaking Frankly Series: Symbolic Justice (2020), and 9 Degrees (2019, Short Doc). She is an adjunct faculty at NYU and Vassar. She is an active organizer and member of Brown Girls Doc Mafia and Bitchitra Collective.
Pulkit Datta is a producer, director, and film programmer, based in New York. Over fifteen years, he has worked on a wide range of scripted films, documentaries, commercials, short films, music videos and multimedia campaigns. His films have screened at festivals such as Toronto, Tribeca, Atlanta, Cinequest, Fantasia, LAAPFF, Cleveland, and OutFest. As a producer with Tikkun Olam Productions, he has co-produced the feature documentary ISRAELISM (Big Sky, CPH:Dox, Brooklyn Film Festival), and is currently producing climate activism doc series VS. GOLIATH. Pulkit is also a producer on INVISIBLE, a feature documentary about fibromyalgia (Amazon Prime, Tubi), and the gun-violence themed short documentary DO WE BELONG? (The Atlantic, 2018 IDA Doc Award shortlist). Pulkit has been a Producing Fellow at Center for Asian American Media as well as Impact Partners, and is an alum of IFP/Gotham Project Market.
Vital discussions are happening in our industry about duty of care: addressing ethical dilemmas, maintaining accountability to participants, and centering mental health and well-being in the storytelling process. Gain concrete takeaways and examples of best practices.
In the Festival Lounge, the day starts with Breakfast (9-10AM) hosted by community partners The D-Word and The Ethics Squad and ends with a Happy Hour (4:30-5:30PM).
10-11:15AM
What to Expect When You’re Not Expecting to Sell
With streaming dominating the revenue streams for documentaries these days, and with streamers nearly universally operated by large corporations, how do you plan for the release of your film when your film involves one such corporation? The film team behind Union was elated to premiere at the Sundance Film Festival, but they knew they would have a different road ahead than other films premiering there. Join producers Mars Verrone and Samantha Curley, director Stephen Maing, impact producer Eliza Licht and distribution consultant Michael Tuckman as they chat with Brian Newman of Sub-Genre Media about devising an alternative distribution plan before coming to market.
Mars Verrone is a filmmaker, musician, and educator from Los Angeles, CA. Their first feature as producer, Union (dir. Stephen Maing & Brett Story), premiered at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival and won a special jury prize. They are a Sundance Producers Fellow, NBC Original Voices Artist Mentor and Fellow, Producers Guild of America Fellow, and Brown Girls Doc Mafia Fellow.
Brian Newman, founder of Sub-Genre, consults on content strategy, distribution and marketing for some of the top brands in the world. Current and former clients include: The Climate Pledge (Amazon), GoDaddy, IBM, New York Times, Oatly, Patagonia, Purina, REI, Stripe, Sundance, Unilever, and Yeti Coolers. Brian has served as CEO of the Tribeca Film Institute, and writes a popular weekly newsletter on film.
Samantha Curley is an award-winning documentary producer and creative entrepreneur based in Los Angeles. She is the Co-Founder of Level Ground, a collaboratively-led artist collective and production company. The first two films she produced, Framing Agnes (2022) and Union (2024), both premiered at Sundance. She graduated from Northwestern and is a 2023 Impact Partners Fellow and Cali Catalyst grant recipient.
Eliza Licht is an industry leader in developing and implementing engagement strategies to maximize the impact and visibility of documentary films. Before starting Licht Creative Consulting, she spent 17 years at the PBS series, POV. In her current role, she creates and implements entire campaigns including overall strategy, partnership development, producing educational resources, and measuring impact.
A film industry vet for over 25 years, Michael Tuckman served as VP of Theatrical Sales for THINKFilm. He now runs mTuckman media, with which he works directly with filmmakers under their own banners or with other distributors. Releases include Academy Award nominees The Eternal Memory, Ascension and Last Days in Vietnam in addition to all of Frederick Wiseman’s films since 2009.
Stephen Maing is an Emmy-award winning director and cinematographer. His films are cinematic investigations of societal phenomena, complex power structures and the fascinating individuals who challenge them. His feature documentary Crime + Punishment, which he directed, filmed and edited, won a Special Jury Award at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival, an Emmy for Outstanding Social Issue Documentary and was shortlisted for the Academy Award for Best Documentary. His previous films, High Tech, Low Life and The Surrender, screened internationally and were released on P.O.V. and Field of Vision, respectively. Maing is a 2021 United States Artists Fellow, Sundance Institute Fellow, NBC Original Voices Fellow, John Jay/Harry Frank Guggenheim Reporting Fellow and a recipient of the IDA’s prestigious Courage Under Fire Award shared with the whistleblowers of the NYPD12. His most recent film Union, co-directed with Brett story, won a Special Jury Award at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival – and is an immersive cinéma vérité account of the historic efforts by workers to unionize the first Amazon fulfillment center. He is a frequent visiting artist, mentor, musician and educator based in Ridgewood, Queens.
11:30-12:45PM
Hybrid Distribution Strategies
This panel dives into the evolving world of hybrid distribution, offering filmmakers a hands-on opportunity to brainstorm strategies in real time. Using live case studies from Pulkit Datta (Israelism) and Chithra Jeyaram (Amma’s Pride) and Michael Premo (Homegrown), panelists will explore the mix of traditional and digital platforms, navigating the balance between festivals, theatrical releases and streaming. Attendees will learn how to craft flexible, tailored distribution plans that maximize a film’s reach and impact. Join us for an interactive session where filmmakers can think creatively about their distribution options and tap into new ways of getting their stories out into the world.
Chithra Jeyaram is a physical therapist turned filmmaker with an MFA in Film from the University of Texas in Austin. She specializes in one-person crew independent documentaries. She identifies as Tamil. Her work prioritizes subverting stereotypes by framing narratives that highlight perspectives, and intricacies that are left out. She is the recipient of Visions Du Reel RoughCut Lab [2023], Chicken and (Egg)Celerator Lab [2022], Brown Girls Doc Mafia Artist Fellowship [2021], Gotham Documentary Fellowship [2020], and Jerome Foundation [2019]. Her work has been featured on PBS, CBSN, Apple TV, Revry, Kanopy, SXSW, and DOC NYC. Now Chithra’s finishing, Our Daughters, a feature documentary that examines identity and adoption in America through an immigrant lens. In addition to directing and producing her work, she edits – Look Like You (2022, Short Narrative), an episode for CBSN Speaking Frankly Series: Symbolic Justice (2020), and 9 Degrees (2019, Short Doc). She is an adjunct faculty at NYU and Vassar. She is an active organizer and member of Brown Girls Doc Mafia and Bitchitra Collective.
Pulkit Datta is a producer, director, and film programmer, based in New York. Over fifteen years, he has worked on a wide range of scripted films, documentaries, commercials, short films, music videos and multimedia campaigns. His films have screened at festivals such as Toronto, Tribeca, Atlanta, Cinequest, Fantasia, LAAPFF, Cleveland, and OutFest. As a producer with Tikkun Olam Productions, he has co-produced the feature documentary ISRAELISM (Big Sky, CPH:Dox, Brooklyn Film Festival), and is currently producing climate activism doc series VS. GOLIATH. Pulkit is also a producer on INVISIBLE, a feature documentary about fibromyalgia (Amazon Prime, Tubi), and the gun-violence themed short documentary DO WE BELONG? (The Atlantic, 2018 IDA Doc Award shortlist). Pulkit has been a Producing Fellow at Center for Asian American Media as well as Impact Partners, and is an alum of IFP/Gotham Project Market.
Co-presented by ITVS.
1:45-3:00PM
Reimagining Distribution: Eno and the Case for Abundance
This panel delves into the current distribution challenges facing the documentary world. Using Gary Hustwit’s groundbreaking generative documentary Eno as a case study, moderator Amy Hobby (Distribution Advocates) and producers Jessica Edwards and Emily Rothschild explore how filmmakers can empower themselves and their films by shifting towards a distribution mindset that leverages the wealth of tools now at our disposal. From strategic partnerships and eventized screenings, to innovative digital platforms, this discussion will provide a roadmap for documentary filmmakers and producers to rethink the distribution landscape. Reimagine a future where creativity and collaboration can drive the success of independent documentaries.
Jessica Edwards has a broad background in the film industry as a director, producer, and publicist. She’s the founder of Film First, a production company that creates and distributes documentary features, shorts and new media projects including the award-winning Mavis! about soul and gospel pioneer Mavis Staples which won a Peabody in 2017. Edwards holds an MA in Media Studies from The New School in New York City and a BA in Cinema Studies from Concordia University in her native Canada. She lives and works in Brooklyn.
Emily Rothschild is an independent consultant providing services to films and film companies with her extensive background in acquisitions, distribution, marketing and community engagement. For several years, Emily served in various executive roles for distribution companies in the US. Most recently, she was Director of Theatrical Acquisitions and Marketing for PBS Distribution, where she helped launch a theatrical division, acquiring and releasing several award-winning films, including Academy Award-nominated Abacus, Dolores, and Academy Award-nominated For Sama.
Amy Hobby is a co-founder of Distribution Advocates, where she oversees the Film-Ade Fund. Film-ADE provides grants for innovation in audience building for US theatrical and non-theatrical releases.
Hobby previously served as the Executive Director of the nonprofit Tribeca Film Institute from 2016-2020. She is also an Academy Award-nominated and Emmy Award-winning producer whose films have premiered at Sundance, Berlin, Cannes, SXSW, Tribeca, Telluride (among other festivals).
3:15-4:30PM
Own Your Audience, Own Your Success
This panel explores how distribution challenges have sparked the emergence of direct-to-audience platforms like Jolt, GATHR, and Kinema, turning obstacles into opportunities for filmmakers. Born out of necessity, digital platforms and grassroots marketing have become creative solutions to bypass traditional industry barriers. Moderated by Jon Reiss of 8Above, panelists Neil Williams (GATHR), Christie Marchese (Kinema), and Tara Hein-Phillips (Jolt) will share their 30,000-foot view on the evolution of audience-to-distribution techniques, highlighting how these methods expand opportunities to exhibit films. Discover how these innovative approaches allow filmmakers to build loyal audiences, sustain their creative independence, and earn revenue, driving the creation of new pathways to success in today’s film landscape.
Filmmaker and Film Strategist, Hybrid Cinema/8Above
Jon Reiss
Filmmaker and Film Strategist, Hybrid Cinema/8Above
Jon Reiss is a filmmaker, author and media strategist who wrote the book Think Outside the Box Office. His company, 8 Above, creates custom strategies and distribution campaigns for proactive filmmakers. Reiss has consulted with hundreds of filmmakers and film organizations throughout the world including The Gotham, IDA, Screen Australia, Film Independent, Creative Scotland. He has conducted his Master Classes over five continents and was the Senior Lab Leader at the IFP/Gotham Filmmaker Lab for ten years. 8 Above has developed bespoke audience-building strategies and theatrical campaigns for independent films, specialty films, and documentaries, including Sam Now, The First Step, Two Gods, The Disrupted, Maya Angelou: And Still I Rise, Sweetheart Dancers, Surviving Sex Trafficking, Nasrin, Hooligan Sparrow, and No Small Matter. 8above.com
Christie Marchese is the founder and CEO of Kinema. Kinema is a global film distribution and exhibition platform that leverages the power of community and social interaction to screen and stream films. She was previously the founder and CEO of the award-winning impact agency Picture Motion. Prior to PicMo, she ran impact for Righteous Pictures, led digital strategy for the social action group at Participant Media, and handled program coordination and social media at Norman Lear’s GOTV nonprofit Declare Yourself.
Christie is also the co-author of The Distribution Playbook and won several industry recognitions, including being named one of Fortune’s Rising Female Founders in 2023 and Fast Company’s Most Creative People in 2021. She’s currently on the board of Subject Matter and The Reinvent Stockton Foundation, and on the Capacity Council for Brown Girls Doc Mafia.
Neil is Head of Filmmaker Relations and Concierge Services at GATHR, the world’s first end-to-end event management system that combines film, talent and venue booking; ticketing; merchandise sales; memberships and in-person, virtual, and hybrid exhibitions into a single platform. He produced the Independent Spirit Award and Sundance Grand Jury Prize nominated film Miss Juneteenth and is an alumnus of the Sundance Creative Producing Lab, The Gotham Cannes Producer Fellowship and has been supported by the Austin Film Society and Cucalorus. As a writer/director his shorts have played international film festivals and he was an inaugural 2023 Blumhouse/K Period Screamwriting fellow for his horror script The Plat-Eye. He has an MFA in Film Production from USC School of Cinematic Arts and a BA in Public Policy from Duke University.
Tara Hein-Phillips’s professional experience as a product and technology leader spans 20 years, with a focus on the arts and education. She was the Chief Product Officer at Sundance, launching the first virtual festival in 2021 and was co-founder of Sundance Collab.
Join us for an enlightening day of panels featuring renowned producers and directors as they share their experiences, insights, and best practices in crafting compelling documentary films. Discover the creative processes behind compelling documentaries, learn how to navigate common filmmaking challenges, and explore innovative techniques.
Co-presented by:
In the Festival Lounge, the day starts with Breakfast (9-10AM) hosted by community partner the Documentary Producers Alliance (DPA) and ends with a Happy Hour (4:30-5:30PM).
10-11:15AM
What to Expect When You’re Not Expecting to Sell
With streaming dominating the revenue streams for documentaries these days, and with streamers nearly universally operated by large corporations, how do you plan for the release of your film when your film involves one such corporation? The film team behind Union was elated to premiere at the Sundance Film Festival, but they knew they would have a different road ahead than other films premiering there. Join producers Mars Verrone and Samantha Curley, director Stephen Maing, impact producer Eliza Licht and distribution consultant Michael Tuckman as they chat with Brian Newman of Sub-Genre Media about devising an alternative distribution plan before coming to market.
Mars Verrone is a filmmaker, musician, and educator from Los Angeles, CA. Their first feature as producer, Union (dir. Stephen Maing & Brett Story), premiered at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival and won a special jury prize. They are a Sundance Producers Fellow, NBC Original Voices Artist Mentor and Fellow, Producers Guild of America Fellow, and Brown Girls Doc Mafia Fellow.
Brian Newman, founder of Sub-Genre, consults on content strategy, distribution and marketing for some of the top brands in the world. Current and former clients include: The Climate Pledge (Amazon), GoDaddy, IBM, New York Times, Oatly, Patagonia, Purina, REI, Stripe, Sundance, Unilever, and Yeti Coolers. Brian has served as CEO of the Tribeca Film Institute, and writes a popular weekly newsletter on film.
Samantha Curley is an award-winning documentary producer and creative entrepreneur based in Los Angeles. She is the Co-Founder of Level Ground, a collaboratively-led artist collective and production company. The first two films she produced, Framing Agnes (2022) and Union (2024), both premiered at Sundance. She graduated from Northwestern and is a 2023 Impact Partners Fellow and Cali Catalyst grant recipient.
Eliza Licht is an industry leader in developing and implementing engagement strategies to maximize the impact and visibility of documentary films. Before starting Licht Creative Consulting, she spent 17 years at the PBS series, POV. In her current role, she creates and implements entire campaigns including overall strategy, partnership development, producing educational resources, and measuring impact.
A film industry vet for over 25 years, Michael Tuckman served as VP of Theatrical Sales for THINKFilm. He now runs mTuckman media, with which he works directly with filmmakers under their own banners or with other distributors. Releases include Academy Award nominees The Eternal Memory, Ascension and Last Days in Vietnam in addition to all of Frederick Wiseman’s films since 2009.
Stephen Maing is an Emmy-award winning director and cinematographer. His films are cinematic investigations of societal phenomena, complex power structures and the fascinating individuals who challenge them. His feature documentary Crime + Punishment, which he directed, filmed and edited, won a Special Jury Award at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival, an Emmy for Outstanding Social Issue Documentary and was shortlisted for the Academy Award for Best Documentary. His previous films, High Tech, Low Life and The Surrender, screened internationally and were released on P.O.V. and Field of Vision, respectively. Maing is a 2021 United States Artists Fellow, Sundance Institute Fellow, NBC Original Voices Fellow, John Jay/Harry Frank Guggenheim Reporting Fellow and a recipient of the IDA’s prestigious Courage Under Fire Award shared with the whistleblowers of the NYPD12. His most recent film Union, co-directed with Brett story, won a Special Jury Award at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival – and is an immersive cinéma vérité account of the historic efforts by workers to unionize the first Amazon fulfillment center. He is a frequent visiting artist, mentor, musician and educator based in Ridgewood, Queens.
Co-presented by DC Studios, HBO Documentary Films, and CNN Films.
1:45-3:00PM
Reimagining Distribution: Eno and the Case for Abundance
This panel delves into the current distribution challenges facing the documentary world. Using Gary Hustwit’s groundbreaking generative documentary Eno as a case study, moderator Amy Hobby (Distribution Advocates) and producers Jessica Edwards and Emily Rothschild explore how filmmakers can empower themselves and their films by shifting towards a distribution mindset that leverages the wealth of tools now at our disposal. From strategic partnerships and eventized screenings, to innovative digital platforms, this discussion will provide a roadmap for documentary filmmakers and producers to rethink the distribution landscape. Reimagine a future where creativity and collaboration can drive the success of independent documentaries.
Jessica Edwards has a broad background in the film industry as a director, producer, and publicist. She’s the founder of Film First, a production company that creates and distributes documentary features, shorts and new media projects including the award-winning Mavis! about soul and gospel pioneer Mavis Staples which won a Peabody in 2017. Edwards holds an MA in Media Studies from The New School in New York City and a BA in Cinema Studies from Concordia University in her native Canada. She lives and works in Brooklyn.
Emily Rothschild is an independent consultant providing services to films and film companies with her extensive background in acquisitions, distribution, marketing and community engagement. For several years, Emily served in various executive roles for distribution companies in the US. Most recently, she was Director of Theatrical Acquisitions and Marketing for PBS Distribution, where she helped launch a theatrical division, acquiring and releasing several award-winning films, including Academy Award-nominated Abacus, Dolores, and Academy Award-nominated For Sama.
Amy Hobby is a co-founder of Distribution Advocates, where she oversees the Film-Ade Fund. Film-ADE provides grants for innovation in audience building for US theatrical and non-theatrical releases.
Hobby previously served as the Executive Director of the nonprofit Tribeca Film Institute from 2016-2020. She is also an Academy Award-nominated and Emmy Award-winning producer whose films have premiered at Sundance, Berlin, Cannes, SXSW, Tribeca, Telluride (among other festivals).
Co-presented by 30 for 30 / ESPN Films.
11:30-12:45PM
Hybrid Distribution Strategies
This panel dives into the evolving world of hybrid distribution, offering filmmakers a hands-on opportunity to brainstorm strategies in real time. Using live case studies from Pulkit Datta (Israelism) and Chithra Jeyaram (Amma’s Pride) and Michael Premo (Homegrown), panelists will explore the mix of traditional and digital platforms, navigating the balance between festivals, theatrical releases and streaming. Attendees will learn how to craft flexible, tailored distribution plans that maximize a film’s reach and impact. Join us for an interactive session where filmmakers can think creatively about their distribution options and tap into new ways of getting their stories out into the world.
Chithra Jeyaram is a physical therapist turned filmmaker with an MFA in Film from the University of Texas in Austin. She specializes in one-person crew independent documentaries. She identifies as Tamil. Her work prioritizes subverting stereotypes by framing narratives that highlight perspectives, and intricacies that are left out. She is the recipient of Visions Du Reel RoughCut Lab [2023], Chicken and (Egg)Celerator Lab [2022], Brown Girls Doc Mafia Artist Fellowship [2021], Gotham Documentary Fellowship [2020], and Jerome Foundation [2019]. Her work has been featured on PBS, CBSN, Apple TV, Revry, Kanopy, SXSW, and DOC NYC. Now Chithra’s finishing, Our Daughters, a feature documentary that examines identity and adoption in America through an immigrant lens. In addition to directing and producing her work, she edits – Look Like You (2022, Short Narrative), an episode for CBSN Speaking Frankly Series: Symbolic Justice (2020), and 9 Degrees (2019, Short Doc). She is an adjunct faculty at NYU and Vassar. She is an active organizer and member of Brown Girls Doc Mafia and Bitchitra Collective.
Pulkit Datta is a producer, director, and film programmer, based in New York. Over fifteen years, he has worked on a wide range of scripted films, documentaries, commercials, short films, music videos and multimedia campaigns. His films have screened at festivals such as Toronto, Tribeca, Atlanta, Cinequest, Fantasia, LAAPFF, Cleveland, and OutFest. As a producer with Tikkun Olam Productions, he has co-produced the feature documentary ISRAELISM (Big Sky, CPH:Dox, Brooklyn Film Festival), and is currently producing climate activism doc series VS. GOLIATH. Pulkit is also a producer on INVISIBLE, a feature documentary about fibromyalgia (Amazon Prime, Tubi), and the gun-violence themed short documentary DO WE BELONG? (The Atlantic, 2018 IDA Doc Award shortlist). Pulkit has been a Producing Fellow at Center for Asian American Media as well as Impact Partners, and is an alum of IFP/Gotham Project Market.
Co-presented by Reavis Page Jump LLP.
3:15-4:30PM
Own Your Audience, Own Your Success
This panel explores how distribution challenges have sparked the emergence of direct-to-audience platforms like Jolt, GATHR, and Kinema, turning obstacles into opportunities for filmmakers. Born out of necessity, digital platforms and grassroots marketing have become creative solutions to bypass traditional industry barriers. Moderated by Jon Reiss of 8Above, panelists Neil Williams (GATHR), Christie Marchese (Kinema), and Tara Hein-Phillips (Jolt) will share their 30,000-foot view on the evolution of audience-to-distribution techniques, highlighting how these methods expand opportunities to exhibit films. Discover how these innovative approaches allow filmmakers to build loyal audiences, sustain their creative independence, and earn revenue, driving the creation of new pathways to success in today’s film landscape.
Filmmaker and Film Strategist, Hybrid Cinema/8Above
Jon Reiss
Filmmaker and Film Strategist, Hybrid Cinema/8Above
Jon Reiss is a filmmaker, author and media strategist who wrote the book Think Outside the Box Office. His company, 8 Above, creates custom strategies and distribution campaigns for proactive filmmakers. Reiss has consulted with hundreds of filmmakers and film organizations throughout the world including The Gotham, IDA, Screen Australia, Film Independent, Creative Scotland. He has conducted his Master Classes over five continents and was the Senior Lab Leader at the IFP/Gotham Filmmaker Lab for ten years. 8 Above has developed bespoke audience-building strategies and theatrical campaigns for independent films, specialty films, and documentaries, including Sam Now, The First Step, Two Gods, The Disrupted, Maya Angelou: And Still I Rise, Sweetheart Dancers, Surviving Sex Trafficking, Nasrin, Hooligan Sparrow, and No Small Matter. 8above.com
Christie Marchese is the founder and CEO of Kinema. Kinema is a global film distribution and exhibition platform that leverages the power of community and social interaction to screen and stream films. She was previously the founder and CEO of the award-winning impact agency Picture Motion. Prior to PicMo, she ran impact for Righteous Pictures, led digital strategy for the social action group at Participant Media, and handled program coordination and social media at Norman Lear’s GOTV nonprofit Declare Yourself.
Christie is also the co-author of The Distribution Playbook and won several industry recognitions, including being named one of Fortune’s Rising Female Founders in 2023 and Fast Company’s Most Creative People in 2021. She’s currently on the board of Subject Matter and The Reinvent Stockton Foundation, and on the Capacity Council for Brown Girls Doc Mafia.
Neil is Head of Filmmaker Relations and Concierge Services at GATHR, the world’s first end-to-end event management system that combines film, talent and venue booking; ticketing; merchandise sales; memberships and in-person, virtual, and hybrid exhibitions into a single platform. He produced the Independent Spirit Award and Sundance Grand Jury Prize nominated film Miss Juneteenth and is an alumnus of the Sundance Creative Producing Lab, The Gotham Cannes Producer Fellowship and has been supported by the Austin Film Society and Cucalorus. As a writer/director his shorts have played international film festivals and he was an inaugural 2023 Blumhouse/K Period Screamwriting fellow for his horror script The Plat-Eye. He has an MFA in Film Production from USC School of Cinematic Arts and a BA in Public Policy from Duke University.
Tara Hein-Phillips’s professional experience as a product and technology leader spans 20 years, with a focus on the arts and education. She was the Chief Product Officer at Sundance, launching the first virtual festival in 2021 and was co-founder of Sundance Collab.
Case studies from renowned editors will demystify the art of editing and significantly enhance your editorial toolkit. Insider tips on crafting scenes for optimal storytelling impact will be emphasized, along with practical demonstrations of advanced editing techniques. These insights will help you refine your skills and elevate the quality of your documentary projects.
In the Festival Lounge, the day starts with Breakfast (9-10AM) hosted by community partners American Cinema Editors (ACE), BIPOC Doc Editors, and the Alliance of Documentary Editors (ADE) and ends with a Happy Hour (4:30-5:30PM).
10-11:15AM
What to Expect When You’re Not Expecting to Sell
With streaming dominating the revenue streams for documentaries these days, and with streamers nearly universally operated by large corporations, how do you plan for the release of your film when your film involves one such corporation? The film team behind Union was elated to premiere at the Sundance Film Festival, but they knew they would have a different road ahead than other films premiering there. Join producers Mars Verrone and Samantha Curley, director Stephen Maing, impact producer Eliza Licht and distribution consultant Michael Tuckman as they chat with Brian Newman of Sub-Genre Media about devising an alternative distribution plan before coming to market.
Mars Verrone is a filmmaker, musician, and educator from Los Angeles, CA. Their first feature as producer, Union (dir. Stephen Maing & Brett Story), premiered at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival and won a special jury prize. They are a Sundance Producers Fellow, NBC Original Voices Artist Mentor and Fellow, Producers Guild of America Fellow, and Brown Girls Doc Mafia Fellow.
Brian Newman, founder of Sub-Genre, consults on content strategy, distribution and marketing for some of the top brands in the world. Current and former clients include: The Climate Pledge (Amazon), GoDaddy, IBM, New York Times, Oatly, Patagonia, Purina, REI, Stripe, Sundance, Unilever, and Yeti Coolers. Brian has served as CEO of the Tribeca Film Institute, and writes a popular weekly newsletter on film.
Samantha Curley is an award-winning documentary producer and creative entrepreneur based in Los Angeles. She is the Co-Founder of Level Ground, a collaboratively-led artist collective and production company. The first two films she produced, Framing Agnes (2022) and Union (2024), both premiered at Sundance. She graduated from Northwestern and is a 2023 Impact Partners Fellow and Cali Catalyst grant recipient.
Eliza Licht is an industry leader in developing and implementing engagement strategies to maximize the impact and visibility of documentary films. Before starting Licht Creative Consulting, she spent 17 years at the PBS series, POV. In her current role, she creates and implements entire campaigns including overall strategy, partnership development, producing educational resources, and measuring impact.
A film industry vet for over 25 years, Michael Tuckman served as VP of Theatrical Sales for THINKFilm. He now runs mTuckman media, with which he works directly with filmmakers under their own banners or with other distributors. Releases include Academy Award nominees The Eternal Memory, Ascension and Last Days in Vietnam in addition to all of Frederick Wiseman’s films since 2009.
Stephen Maing is an Emmy-award winning director and cinematographer. His films are cinematic investigations of societal phenomena, complex power structures and the fascinating individuals who challenge them. His feature documentary Crime + Punishment, which he directed, filmed and edited, won a Special Jury Award at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival, an Emmy for Outstanding Social Issue Documentary and was shortlisted for the Academy Award for Best Documentary. His previous films, High Tech, Low Life and The Surrender, screened internationally and were released on P.O.V. and Field of Vision, respectively. Maing is a 2021 United States Artists Fellow, Sundance Institute Fellow, NBC Original Voices Fellow, John Jay/Harry Frank Guggenheim Reporting Fellow and a recipient of the IDA’s prestigious Courage Under Fire Award shared with the whistleblowers of the NYPD12. His most recent film Union, co-directed with Brett story, won a Special Jury Award at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival – and is an immersive cinéma vérité account of the historic efforts by workers to unionize the first Amazon fulfillment center. He is a frequent visiting artist, mentor, musician and educator based in Ridgewood, Queens.
11:30-12:45PM
Crafting the Cut with David Teague, Part I
This two-part session explores the art of editing in documentary film, using rough cuts and final scenes from veteran editor David Teague’s films including Frida, Pretty Baby: Brooke Shields, Life, Animated, and Cutie and the Boxer. We’ll examine the techniques that create powerful openings, maintain narrative flow, and shape memorable endings, revealing the editing choices that turn raw footage into compelling stories.
David Teague is an Emmy-winning documentary film editor, writer and producer. His work as an editor includes the Oscar-nominated and Emmy-winning Life Animated, the Oscar-nominated and Emmy-winning Cutie and the Boxer, the Independent Spirit-nominated The Departure, and the Oscar-winning Freeheld. He wrote and produced Stamped from the Beginning, based on the book by Dr. Ibram X. Kendi. Stamped was shortlisted for an Academy Award and David was nominated for an Emmy and a Writers Guild Award for his work on the film. He was the supervising editor for the Sundance-winning Frida and the Emmy-nominated Pretty Baby: Brooke Shields. He wrote the fiction film Cassandro with director Roger Ross Williams, starring Gael García Bernal, which premiered at Sundance 2023 and was nominated for a GLAAD award. David has served as an editing mentor with IFP/Gotham, Firelight, Tribeca, Brown Girls Doc Mafia, Catapult True/False Rough Cut Retreat, and the Sundance Institute.
1:45-3PM
Crafting the Cut with David Teague, Part II
This two-part session explores the art of editing in documentary film, using rough cuts and final scenes from veteran editor David Teague’s films including Frida, Pretty Baby: Brooke Shields, Life, Animated, and Cutie and the Boxer. We’ll examine the techniques that create powerful openings, maintain narrative flow, and shape memorable endings, revealing the editing choices that turn raw footage into compelling stories.
David Teague is an Emmy-winning documentary film editor, writer and producer. His work as an editor includes the Oscar-nominated and Emmy-winning Life Animated, the Oscar-nominated and Emmy-winning Cutie and the Boxer, the Independent Spirit-nominated The Departure, and the Oscar-winning Freeheld. He wrote and produced Stamped from the Beginning, based on the book by Dr. Ibram X. Kendi. Stamped was shortlisted for an Academy Award and David was nominated for an Emmy and a Writers Guild Award for his work on the film. He was the supervising editor for the Sundance-winning Frida and the Emmy-nominated Pretty Baby: Brooke Shields. He wrote the fiction film Cassandro with director Roger Ross Williams, starring Gael García Bernal, which premiered at Sundance 2023 and was nominated for a GLAAD award. David has served as an editing mentor with IFP/Gotham, Firelight, Tribeca, Brown Girls Doc Mafia, Catapult True/False Rough Cut Retreat, and the Sundance Institute.
3:15-4:30PM
Case Study: Clotilda: The Return Home
The National Geographic team behind Clotilda: The Return Home will present an unfiltered look at the creative chaos that happens in the editing room. Editors Anthony Harper, Adam Lingo, producer Alex Brady and Senior Manager of Production Chaneé Pattersonwill share stories of how it all came together, from curveballs and unexpected moments, to the creative choices that defined the film. Guests will get a rare look behind the veil, exploring the art and craft of editing, with anecdotes that will make you laugh, cry, and see the editing process in a whole new light.
Adam Lingo is currently a Lead Senior Editor at National Geographic. He is excited to work on projects that challenge and explore our shared humanity. His significant credits include the one hour special Black Travel Across America premiering February 6th for National Geographic, Frontline: The Healthcare Divide (nominated for 2022 Peabody & National Emmy), the PBS verité documentary series 180 Days: A Year Inside an American High School (2014 Peabody award), numerous large and small format videos for the opening of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture (2016), the PBS Frontline: Blackout in Puerto Rico (2019 Loeb Award), Robert Rauschenberg: Inventive Genius for the PBS American Masters Series (1999), and Great Books: The Autobiography of Malcolm X for the Learning Channel (1999 national Emmy nomination).
Accomplished cinematographers (and editors) will illuminate their techniques for capturing breathtaking visuals, crafting scenes, enhancing storytelling through imagery, and navigating the unique challenges of filming real-life narratives. They will also share their experiences on how to adapt to different environments and conditions to ensure the highest quality footage.
In the Festival Lounge, the day starts with Breakfast (9-10AM) and ends with a Happy Hour (4:30-5:30PM).
10-11:15AM
What Editors Wish Cinematographers Knew
In this eye-opening panel moderated by Emir Lewis (NYU/Tisch), documentary editors Lynn True (Stolen Youth: Inside the Cult at Sarah Lawrence),Rachel Shuman (Storm Lake), Carlos Rojas (The Territory), and Geoff O’Brien (Left Right) discuss the dos and don’ts for cinematographers to capture the best possible footage. Hear firsthand what editors love to see and what makes their job more challenging – from the perfect B-roll, framing, shot variety, and capturing essential moments, to the setups they wish DPs would exclude and more.
Lynn True is an award-winning filmmaker and co-founder of True Walker Productions. As a director/producer/editor, her films include the feature documentaries LUMO (PBS/P.O.V., Student Academy Award), Summer Pasture (PBS/Independent Lens, Peabody Award), and In Transit (Tribeca Film Festival, Special Jury Prize). Lynn’s editing work has also appeared in a variety of projects for other esteemed filmmakers and production companies; recent credits include No Time to Fail (PBS/America Reframed), Season 11 of Art in the 21st Century (PBS), and Stolen Youth: Inside the Cult at Sarah Lawrence (Hulu). Lynn graduated from Brown University with a joint degree in Urban Studies and Architecture, and has long-lived in New York City where she still resides, now with her husband and two young sons.
Rachel Shuman is a documentary editor and director based in the greater New York City area. Her recent editing credits include: Emmy- and Peabody-nominated STORM LAKE (Full Frame 2021); OMARA (DOC NYC 2021); LA PASTORA (Middlebury New Filmmakers Festival 2020); TRUE BELIEVER (Ashland Independent Film Festival 2019); FIVE SEASONS (DOC NYC 2017); BROTHERS (Dok Leipzig 2017); and ONE OCTOBER (Full Frame 2017), which Rachel also directed. Rachel is a longtime board member of the Karen Schmeer Film Editing Fellowship. Originally from Boston, Rachel received a BFA from the California College of the Arts in San Francisco and an MFA from the School of Visual Arts in New York.
Carlos is a documentary editor based in NYC/NJ. He has a passion for storytelling that connects global issues with personal narratives. Carlos has edited notable films such as They Took Them Alive (Full Frame 2017), Tre, Maison, Dasan (San Francisco Intl FF 2018), for which he received the Karen Schmeer Award for Excellence in Documentary Editing, The Great Hack (Sundance 2019), White Noise (AFI 2020), and The Territory (Sundance 2022), which won both the Audience Award and a Special Jury Award for Documentary Craft.
Carlos has been a creative advisor at the Sundance Art of Editing Lab in 2020 and the Sundance Documentary Edit and Story Lab in 2022.
Geoff O’Brien is a documentary editor and producer. Most recently, he has been leader editor for the Emmy award winning FX documentary series, The New York Times Presents, including episodes Framing Britney Spears, The Killing of Breonna Taylor and The Legacy of J Dilla. His work can also be seen on National Geographic, PBS Frontline, Showtime and Max. Other works include; Fiasco, Killer Lies, James Cameron’s Story of Science Fiction, and Ride With Norman Reedus.
11:30-12:45PM
Scrappy Cinematography
Dive into the art of “scrappy” cinematography, where resourcefulness meets innovation. With limited budgets but unlimited creativity, documentary cinematographers often find themselves using unconventional techniques to capture stunning visuals. Join moderator Liz Nord, director of the the Feature Film Development Studio at NYU’s Production Lab, DPs Olivier Sarbil (Viktor), and Ibrahim Nash’at(Hollywoodgate) as they share their stories of improvising with minimal gear, making the most of available light, and finding beauty in unexpected places. Whether you’re working with a tight budget or simply curious about pushing the boundaries of your craft, this panel offers practical insights and inspiring anecdotes for filmmakers who embrace the challenge of doing more with less.
Olivier Sarbil, born in Corsica, is a multi-award winning documentary Director and two-times Emmy® winning Cinematographer based in New York. Over the past two decades, Sarbil has worked extensively in the Middle East, Africa, Europe, North America and Asia, on many of the most pressing global conflicts and social issues that the world has faced.
Ibrahim Nash’at (Director/Co-Producer/Cinematographer) (born June 17, 1990 in Jeddah) is a multi-award-winning Egyptian documentary filmmaker based in Berlin, Germany. In his career in journalism, he has woked with several international channels and online platforms such as Deutsche Welle, Al Jazeera, Business Insider, AJ+, Voice of America, and others. Ibrahim holds a master’s degree in documentary filmmaking from Met Film School and a BS in Pharmaceutical Science from Misr International University. He co-edited Talal Derki’s latest film Under the Sky of Damascus, which premiered at Panorama – Berlinale 2023 and won the Golden Alexander at the 25th Thessaloniki Documentary Festival. Ibrahim has directed multiple short films that have been selected for various film festivals around the world. Hollywoodgate is Ibrahim’s first feature film, which premiered at the Venice Film Festival and Telluride Film Festival 2023. The film has participated in over 50 film festivals and received 13 awards.
Liz Nord is an Emmy-winning producer and documentary filmmaker who has created and shown work across the globe. She is Head of Programs and Creative Development at the NYU Production Lab, where she runs the Feature Film Development Studio. She recently served as Director of Content at Sundance, where she helped develop Sundance Collab into the premiere global learning destination for emerging filmmakers. Previously, she served as the Editor-in-Chief and Lead Producer at No Film School. Liz is also an advisor for several artist development programs including Latino Public Broadcasting’s Emerging Filmmaker Fellowship and the Jewish Writers’ Initiative. She has presented extensively on creative practice and the film and TV industry, notably at TEDx and SXSW.
1:45-3:00PM
Business Strategies for Cinematographers
Join moderator Liz Nord, director of the the Feature Film Development Studio at NYU’s Production Lab, cinematographer Vanessa Carr (Free Money), Christine Ng (Between The World and Me), and others to focus on the business side of cinematography, including practical advice for cinematographers on navigating the boom-and-bust cycles in the industry. Panelists will discuss fair payment, industry rates, and how to protect yourself financially at different stages of your career. The session will also dive into actionable strategies for networking and creating career opportunities, plus tips on personal branding through website design, emphasizing the importance of defining a niche and marketing yourself effectively in a competitive field. Additionally, the conversation will highlight the need for a high tolerance level for risk in this dynamic landscape and the importance of prioritizing mental health to sustain a long and fulfilling career.
Vanessa Carr is a documentary cinematographer specializing in character-driven cinema vérité. Her long list of credits includes On Pointe (Disney+), Free Money (Netflix), and multiple HBO films. Her work has been on every major platform and screened in festivals including IDFA, Sundance, SXSW, Tribeca, and TIFF. She is currently directing and shooting her first feature documentary, Nomads (wt). Vanessa helped found the Documentary Cinematographers Alliance and recently launched a new teaching venture that offers in-depth training for rising cinematographers. She holds a master’s degree in journalism from UC Berkeley.
Liz Nord is an Emmy-winning producer and documentary filmmaker who has created and shown work across the globe. She is Head of Programs and Creative Development at the NYU Production Lab, where she runs the Feature Film Development Studio. She recently served as Director of Content at Sundance, where she helped develop Sundance Collab into the premiere global learning destination for emerging filmmakers. Previously, she served as the Editor-in-Chief and Lead Producer at No Film School. Liz is also an advisor for several artist development programs including Latino Public Broadcasting’s Emerging Filmmaker Fellowship and the Jewish Writers’ Initiative. She has presented extensively on creative practice and the film and TV industry, notably at TEDx and SXSW.
Christine Ng is a Hong Kong born, New York raised cinematographer and a graduate from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. Her cinematography work spans commercials, music videos, documentaries and narrative.
The first commercial she shot was filmed on a Canon 5D MKII and Canon lenses aired during Super Bowl XLVI.
The first feature-length documentary Christine shot was the Emmy nominated and Critic’s Choice winner “Everything is Copy” for HBO.
Her work has screened at festivals worldwide including SXSW, Palm Springs, Outfest, LA Film Festival, Tribeca Film Festival, NY Film Festival, IFF Boston and many more.
Her latest work can be seen on Netflix, Hulu, HBO Max, Peacock and Showtime.
She shot the film adaptation for Ta-Nehisi Coates’s critically acclaimed “Between The World and Me”. She shot three episodes of Issa Rae’s latest show, “Rap Sh!t” and two seasons of “Ziwe”, a variety show produced by A24 for Showtime. She shot four episodes of Season One of Rian Johnson’s TV series, “Poker Face” starring Natasha Lyonne for Peacock. She is currently in production for Season 2.
She was named a “Rising Star of Cinematography” by American Cinematographer in 2022.
10-11:15AM
What to Expect When You’re Not Expecting to Sell
With streaming dominating the revenue streams for documentaries these days, and with streamers nearly universally operated by large corporations, how do you plan for the release of your film when your film involves one such corporation? The film team behind Union was elated to premiere at the Sundance Film Festival, but they knew they would have a different road ahead than other films premiering there. Join producers Mars Verrone and Samantha Curley, director Stephen Maing, impact producer Eliza Licht and distribution consultant Michael Tuckman as they chat with Brian Newman of Sub-Genre Media about devising an alternative distribution plan before coming to market.
Mars Verrone is a filmmaker, musician, and educator from Los Angeles, CA. Their first feature as producer, Union (dir. Stephen Maing & Brett Story), premiered at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival and won a special jury prize. They are a Sundance Producers Fellow, NBC Original Voices Artist Mentor and Fellow, Producers Guild of America Fellow, and Brown Girls Doc Mafia Fellow.
Brian Newman, founder of Sub-Genre, consults on content strategy, distribution and marketing for some of the top brands in the world. Current and former clients include: The Climate Pledge (Amazon), GoDaddy, IBM, New York Times, Oatly, Patagonia, Purina, REI, Stripe, Sundance, Unilever, and Yeti Coolers. Brian has served as CEO of the Tribeca Film Institute, and writes a popular weekly newsletter on film.
Samantha Curley is an award-winning documentary producer and creative entrepreneur based in Los Angeles. She is the Co-Founder of Level Ground, a collaboratively-led artist collective and production company. The first two films she produced, Framing Agnes (2022) and Union (2024), both premiered at Sundance. She graduated from Northwestern and is a 2023 Impact Partners Fellow and Cali Catalyst grant recipient.
Eliza Licht is an industry leader in developing and implementing engagement strategies to maximize the impact and visibility of documentary films. Before starting Licht Creative Consulting, she spent 17 years at the PBS series, POV. In her current role, she creates and implements entire campaigns including overall strategy, partnership development, producing educational resources, and measuring impact.
A film industry vet for over 25 years, Michael Tuckman served as VP of Theatrical Sales for THINKFilm. He now runs mTuckman media, with which he works directly with filmmakers under their own banners or with other distributors. Releases include Academy Award nominees The Eternal Memory, Ascension and Last Days in Vietnam in addition to all of Frederick Wiseman’s films since 2009.
Stephen Maing is an Emmy-award winning director and cinematographer. His films are cinematic investigations of societal phenomena, complex power structures and the fascinating individuals who challenge them. His feature documentary Crime + Punishment, which he directed, filmed and edited, won a Special Jury Award at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival, an Emmy for Outstanding Social Issue Documentary and was shortlisted for the Academy Award for Best Documentary. His previous films, High Tech, Low Life and The Surrender, screened internationally and were released on P.O.V. and Field of Vision, respectively. Maing is a 2021 United States Artists Fellow, Sundance Institute Fellow, NBC Original Voices Fellow, John Jay/Harry Frank Guggenheim Reporting Fellow and a recipient of the IDA’s prestigious Courage Under Fire Award shared with the whistleblowers of the NYPD12. His most recent film Union, co-directed with Brett story, won a Special Jury Award at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival – and is an immersive cinéma vérité account of the historic efforts by workers to unionize the first Amazon fulfillment center. He is a frequent visiting artist, mentor, musician and educator based in Ridgewood, Queens.
Dive deeper into the world of documentary film funding by joining a dynamic panel of prominent funding organizations and fellow filmmakers. This event is especially designed for filmmakers eager to navigate the funding landscape, uncover new opportunities, and gain real time exclusive insights.
In the Festival Lounge, the day starts with Breakfast hosted by community partner FWD-Doc (9-10AM) and ends with a Happy Hour (4:30-5:30PM) hosted by Frankfurt Kurnit for pass holders and other festival guests.
11:30-12:45PM
Hybrid Distribution Strategies
This panel dives into the evolving world of hybrid distribution, offering filmmakers a hands-on opportunity to brainstorm strategies in real time. Using live case studies from Pulkit Datta (Israelism) and Chithra Jeyaram (Amma’s Pride) and Michael Premo (Homegrown), panelists will explore the mix of traditional and digital platforms, navigating the balance between festivals, theatrical releases and streaming. Attendees will learn how to craft flexible, tailored distribution plans that maximize a film’s reach and impact. Join us for an interactive session where filmmakers can think creatively about their distribution options and tap into new ways of getting their stories out into the world.
Chithra Jeyaram is a physical therapist turned filmmaker with an MFA in Film from the University of Texas in Austin. She specializes in one-person crew independent documentaries. She identifies as Tamil. Her work prioritizes subverting stereotypes by framing narratives that highlight perspectives, and intricacies that are left out. She is the recipient of Visions Du Reel RoughCut Lab [2023], Chicken and (Egg)Celerator Lab [2022], Brown Girls Doc Mafia Artist Fellowship [2021], Gotham Documentary Fellowship [2020], and Jerome Foundation [2019]. Her work has been featured on PBS, CBSN, Apple TV, Revry, Kanopy, SXSW, and DOC NYC. Now Chithra’s finishing, Our Daughters, a feature documentary that examines identity and adoption in America through an immigrant lens. In addition to directing and producing her work, she edits – Look Like You (2022, Short Narrative), an episode for CBSN Speaking Frankly Series: Symbolic Justice (2020), and 9 Degrees (2019, Short Doc). She is an adjunct faculty at NYU and Vassar. She is an active organizer and member of Brown Girls Doc Mafia and Bitchitra Collective.
Pulkit Datta is a producer, director, and film programmer, based in New York. Over fifteen years, he has worked on a wide range of scripted films, documentaries, commercials, short films, music videos and multimedia campaigns. His films have screened at festivals such as Toronto, Tribeca, Atlanta, Cinequest, Fantasia, LAAPFF, Cleveland, and OutFest. As a producer with Tikkun Olam Productions, he has co-produced the feature documentary ISRAELISM (Big Sky, CPH:Dox, Brooklyn Film Festival), and is currently producing climate activism doc series VS. GOLIATH. Pulkit is also a producer on INVISIBLE, a feature documentary about fibromyalgia (Amazon Prime, Tubi), and the gun-violence themed short documentary DO WE BELONG? (The Atlantic, 2018 IDA Doc Award shortlist). Pulkit has been a Producing Fellow at Center for Asian American Media as well as Impact Partners, and is an alum of IFP/Gotham Project Market.
10-11:15AM
What to Expect When You’re Not Expecting to Sell
With streaming dominating the revenue streams for documentaries these days, and with streamers nearly universally operated by large corporations, how do you plan for the release of your film when your film involves one such corporation? The film team behind Union was elated to premiere at the Sundance Film Festival, but they knew they would have a different road ahead than other films premiering there. Join producers Mars Verrone and Samantha Curley, director Stephen Maing, impact producer Eliza Licht and distribution consultant Michael Tuckman as they chat with Brian Newman of Sub-Genre Media about devising an alternative distribution plan before coming to market.
Mars Verrone is a filmmaker, musician, and educator from Los Angeles, CA. Their first feature as producer, Union (dir. Stephen Maing & Brett Story), premiered at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival and won a special jury prize. They are a Sundance Producers Fellow, NBC Original Voices Artist Mentor and Fellow, Producers Guild of America Fellow, and Brown Girls Doc Mafia Fellow.
Brian Newman, founder of Sub-Genre, consults on content strategy, distribution and marketing for some of the top brands in the world. Current and former clients include: The Climate Pledge (Amazon), GoDaddy, IBM, New York Times, Oatly, Patagonia, Purina, REI, Stripe, Sundance, Unilever, and Yeti Coolers. Brian has served as CEO of the Tribeca Film Institute, and writes a popular weekly newsletter on film.
Samantha Curley is an award-winning documentary producer and creative entrepreneur based in Los Angeles. She is the Co-Founder of Level Ground, a collaboratively-led artist collective and production company. The first two films she produced, Framing Agnes (2022) and Union (2024), both premiered at Sundance. She graduated from Northwestern and is a 2023 Impact Partners Fellow and Cali Catalyst grant recipient.
Eliza Licht is an industry leader in developing and implementing engagement strategies to maximize the impact and visibility of documentary films. Before starting Licht Creative Consulting, she spent 17 years at the PBS series, POV. In her current role, she creates and implements entire campaigns including overall strategy, partnership development, producing educational resources, and measuring impact.
A film industry vet for over 25 years, Michael Tuckman served as VP of Theatrical Sales for THINKFilm. He now runs mTuckman media, with which he works directly with filmmakers under their own banners or with other distributors. Releases include Academy Award nominees The Eternal Memory, Ascension and Last Days in Vietnam in addition to all of Frederick Wiseman’s films since 2009.
Stephen Maing is an Emmy-award winning director and cinematographer. His films are cinematic investigations of societal phenomena, complex power structures and the fascinating individuals who challenge them. His feature documentary Crime + Punishment, which he directed, filmed and edited, won a Special Jury Award at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival, an Emmy for Outstanding Social Issue Documentary and was shortlisted for the Academy Award for Best Documentary. His previous films, High Tech, Low Life and The Surrender, screened internationally and were released on P.O.V. and Field of Vision, respectively. Maing is a 2021 United States Artists Fellow, Sundance Institute Fellow, NBC Original Voices Fellow, John Jay/Harry Frank Guggenheim Reporting Fellow and a recipient of the IDA’s prestigious Courage Under Fire Award shared with the whistleblowers of the NYPD12. His most recent film Union, co-directed with Brett story, won a Special Jury Award at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival – and is an immersive cinéma vérité account of the historic efforts by workers to unionize the first Amazon fulfillment center. He is a frequent visiting artist, mentor, musician and educator based in Ridgewood, Queens.
Co-presented by Impact Partners
1:45-3:00PM
Reimagining Distribution: Eno and the Case for Abundance
This panel delves into the current distribution challenges facing the documentary world. Using Gary Hustwit’s groundbreaking generative documentary Eno as a case study, moderator Amy Hobby (Distribution Advocates) and producers Jessica Edwards and Emily Rothschild explore how filmmakers can empower themselves and their films by shifting towards a distribution mindset that leverages the wealth of tools now at our disposal. From strategic partnerships and eventized screenings, to innovative digital platforms, this discussion will provide a roadmap for documentary filmmakers and producers to rethink the distribution landscape. Reimagine a future where creativity and collaboration can drive the success of independent documentaries.
Jessica Edwards has a broad background in the film industry as a director, producer, and publicist. She’s the founder of Film First, a production company that creates and distributes documentary features, shorts and new media projects including the award-winning Mavis! about soul and gospel pioneer Mavis Staples which won a Peabody in 2017. Edwards holds an MA in Media Studies from The New School in New York City and a BA in Cinema Studies from Concordia University in her native Canada. She lives and works in Brooklyn.
Emily Rothschild is an independent consultant providing services to films and film companies with her extensive background in acquisitions, distribution, marketing and community engagement. For several years, Emily served in various executive roles for distribution companies in the US. Most recently, she was Director of Theatrical Acquisitions and Marketing for PBS Distribution, where she helped launch a theatrical division, acquiring and releasing several award-winning films, including Academy Award-nominated Abacus, Dolores, and Academy Award-nominated For Sama.
Amy Hobby is a co-founder of Distribution Advocates, where she oversees the Film-Ade Fund. Film-ADE provides grants for innovation in audience building for US theatrical and non-theatrical releases.
Hobby previously served as the Executive Director of the nonprofit Tribeca Film Institute from 2016-2020. She is also an Academy Award-nominated and Emmy Award-winning producer whose films have premiered at Sundance, Berlin, Cannes, SXSW, Tribeca, Telluride (among other festivals).
Co-presented by Frankfurt Kurnit.
3:15-4:30PM
Own Your Audience, Own Your Success
This panel explores how distribution challenges have sparked the emergence of direct-to-audience platforms like Jolt, GATHR, and Kinema, turning obstacles into opportunities for filmmakers. Born out of necessity, digital platforms and grassroots marketing have become creative solutions to bypass traditional industry barriers. Moderated by Jon Reiss of 8Above, panelists Neil Williams (GATHR), Christie Marchese (Kinema), and Tara Hein-Phillips (Jolt) will share their 30,000-foot view on the evolution of audience-to-distribution techniques, highlighting how these methods expand opportunities to exhibit films. Discover how these innovative approaches allow filmmakers to build loyal audiences, sustain their creative independence, and earn revenue, driving the creation of new pathways to success in today’s film landscape.
Filmmaker and Film Strategist, Hybrid Cinema/8Above
Jon Reiss
Filmmaker and Film Strategist, Hybrid Cinema/8Above
Jon Reiss is a filmmaker, author and media strategist who wrote the book Think Outside the Box Office. His company, 8 Above, creates custom strategies and distribution campaigns for proactive filmmakers. Reiss has consulted with hundreds of filmmakers and film organizations throughout the world including The Gotham, IDA, Screen Australia, Film Independent, Creative Scotland. He has conducted his Master Classes over five continents and was the Senior Lab Leader at the IFP/Gotham Filmmaker Lab for ten years. 8 Above has developed bespoke audience-building strategies and theatrical campaigns for independent films, specialty films, and documentaries, including Sam Now, The First Step, Two Gods, The Disrupted, Maya Angelou: And Still I Rise, Sweetheart Dancers, Surviving Sex Trafficking, Nasrin, Hooligan Sparrow, and No Small Matter. 8above.com
Christie Marchese is the founder and CEO of Kinema. Kinema is a global film distribution and exhibition platform that leverages the power of community and social interaction to screen and stream films. She was previously the founder and CEO of the award-winning impact agency Picture Motion. Prior to PicMo, she ran impact for Righteous Pictures, led digital strategy for the social action group at Participant Media, and handled program coordination and social media at Norman Lear’s GOTV nonprofit Declare Yourself.
Christie is also the co-author of The Distribution Playbook and won several industry recognitions, including being named one of Fortune’s Rising Female Founders in 2023 and Fast Company’s Most Creative People in 2021. She’s currently on the board of Subject Matter and The Reinvent Stockton Foundation, and on the Capacity Council for Brown Girls Doc Mafia.
Neil is Head of Filmmaker Relations and Concierge Services at GATHR, the world’s first end-to-end event management system that combines film, talent and venue booking; ticketing; merchandise sales; memberships and in-person, virtual, and hybrid exhibitions into a single platform. He produced the Independent Spirit Award and Sundance Grand Jury Prize nominated film Miss Juneteenth and is an alumnus of the Sundance Creative Producing Lab, The Gotham Cannes Producer Fellowship and has been supported by the Austin Film Society and Cucalorus. As a writer/director his shorts have played international film festivals and he was an inaugural 2023 Blumhouse/K Period Screamwriting fellow for his horror script The Plat-Eye. He has an MFA in Film Production from USC School of Cinematic Arts and a BA in Public Policy from Duke University.
Tara Hein-Phillips’s professional experience as a product and technology leader spans 20 years, with a focus on the arts and education. She was the Chief Product Officer at Sundance, launching the first virtual festival in 2021 and was co-founder of Sundance Collab.
Co-presented by Screen Nova Scotia.
To experience the DOC NYC PRO lineup, purchase an individual PRO Day Pass (via the Buy Ticket button) to hone in on a specific subject, or benefit from discounted pricing when you purchase Multi-Day Pass Packs to an assortment of topics.
