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Calendar – Past Event
IDA DocuWeeks™ CALL FOR ENTRIES
IS NOW CLOSED.
Full program information coming soon
—Matthew D. Kallis, Director/Producer, MOST VALUABLE PLAYERS
"...DocuWeeks™ helped put LOUDER THAN A BOMB on the map...bringing it to the attention of distributors, critics, and festival programmers...we are enormously grateful to the IDA..."
—Greg Jacobs & Jon Siskel, Co-Directors/Co-Producers, LOUDER THAN A BOMB
16th Annual DocuWeeks™ Theatrical Documentary Showcase
August 3 - 23 at IFC Center in New York
August 10 - 30 at Laemmle Noho 7 in Los Angeles
| Earlybird Deadline: | April 6, 2012 | $100.00 |
| Regular Deadline: | April 20, 2012 | $150.00 |
| Late (FINAL) Deadline: | May 11, 2012 | $250.00 |
DocuWeeks™ is IDA’s annual theatrical showcase that presents some of the year's best docs from around the world to film-going audiences in Los Angeles and New York City. By providing participants a one-week commercial theatrical run in these two cities, DocuWeeks™ helps to qualify outstanding new feature and short documentaries for Academy Award® consideration.
Among other requirements, to be eligible for consideration for the 85th Academy Awards®, a feature documentary film must complete a seven-day commercial theatrical run (screening twice daily) in the County of Los Angeles and in the Borough of Manhattan between January 1, 2012 and December 31, 2012. Short documentaries must complete a seven-day commercial theatrical run (screening once per day) in the County of Los Angeles OR in the Borough of Manhattan between these same dates.
Feature documentary films participating in DocuWeeks will be reviewed by the Los Angeles Times in accordance with that publication's film review policy. It is the policy of The New York Times not to review films participating in DocuWeeks. To qualify for the 85th Academy Awards® a feature documentary film must have a movie critic review in either the Los Angeles Times or The New York Times. There is no review requirement for short documentaries.
In addition to one-week theatrical runs in Los Angeles and New York City, DocuWeeks also provides the Academy-required advertising. If selected to participate in DocuWeeks a fee of $4,500 for short films and $17,000 to $20,000 + for feature films will be required. See Co-op fees for more information. After reaching a minimum in gross ticket sales, films will participate in a ticket sales share program.
Please see the 85th Annual Academy Awards Rules for complete eligibility and Academy Award® application requirements. Each filmmaker is responsible for submitting their Academy Awards® application. IDA will provide the filmmaker with proof of advertisement and theatrical runs for submission to the Academy prior to the Academy deadline.
Requirements for application to DocuWeeks™These requirements conform to the 85th Annual Academy Awards® Rules. The Academy rules take precedence if there is any discrepancy. We will make best efforts to update DocuWeeks™ requirements in the case of any changes to the Academy rules. Filmmakers are responsible for confirming their projects are in alignment with the Academy’s rules.
- The film must meet all requirements for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) 85th Annual Academy Awards® Special Rules for the Documentary Awards.
- Only individual documentary works are eligible.
- The significant dialogue or narration must be in English, or the entry must have English language subtitles.
- Films that, in any version, receive their first public exhibition or distribution in any manner other than as a theatrical motion picture release will not be eligible for Academy Awards. (This includes broadcast and cable television as well as home video marketing and Internet transmission, with the exception of password-protected Internet screenings for press review or film festival submission.) Screenings at film festivals are permitted. Ten minutes or ten percent of the running time of a film, whichever is shorter, is allowed to be shown in a non-theatrical medium prior to the film’s theatrical release.
- Documentary motion pictures are divided into two categories:
- Documentary Feature - motion pictures with a running time of more than 40 minutes, and
- Documentary Short Subject - motion pictures with a running time of 40 minutes or less, including all credits.
- Films participating in DocuWeeks™ are responsible for paying a Co-op fee to cover the showcase costs. Fees are $4,500 for shorts and range from $17,000 to $20,000 + for features. See Co-op Fees below for details.
Submission process:
All submissions are accepted through the online platform Withoutabox.com. By submitting to DocuWeeks™, you are confirming you have read the AMPAS 85th Annual Academy Awards® Rules.
To apply for IDA's DocuWeeks™ please use the online submission process at Withoutabox.com.
Final (late) deadline for completing your entry in Withoutabox is 11:59pm PT MAY 11, 2012 . You may make your submission in Withoutabox.com and send your required submission materials anytime beginning March 28, 2012.
Applicants will be notified by mid-June if selected to participate. Entry fee is NON-REFUNDABLE. If paying by check or money order, please send entry payment in US dollars.
Material requirements for SUBMISSION:
- Short synopsis (up to 100 words) uploaded to press kit section of Withoutabox
- Names of Director(s), Producer(s), and submitter name and contact information
- Total running time
- Five (5) screeners on separate DVDs of the full motion picture including final credits
- DVDs must play in NTSC Region 1 players
- DVDs must be clearly labeled with title, producer, director, contact information, and running time inclusive of credits
Please include your WAB confirmation number with any correspondence or materials sent to the IDA office.
Material requirements upon ACCEPTANCE (i.e. IDA accepts your film to DocuWeeks, and you agree to participate):
- Digital press kit, uploaded to your Withoutabox.com entry (preferred) or delivered to IDA office on flash drive, CD or DVD, to include the following:
- Short biographies of director and producer
- Director and producer headshots
- Film stills (no logos)
- Brief Synopsis (125 words)
- One sheet sized 21” x 40” and the texted and textless versions of the key art
- 35mm print or Digital Cinema Package (see below)
- Payment of the co-op fee to cover the showcase costs. Fees are $4,500 for shorts and range from $17,000 to $20,000 + for features.
Shipping address:
IDA / DocuWeeks™ 2012
Attn: Amy Jelenko / Programs and Events
1201 W. 5th St. Suite M270
Los Angeles, CA 90017
213 534 3600 tel
Please include your WAB confirmation number with all correspondence.
Share of Ticket Sales
IDA is pleased to offer DocuWeeks™ participants a Box Office Revenue Share Program. Feature films grossing more than $5,000 as a combined total of gross box office receipts from their DocuWeeks™ runs in Los Angeles and New York will receive 50% of combined gross ticket sales above $5,000. Shorts will receive a percentage of gross of gross ticket sales above $5,000 based on the number of shorts screening in their shorts program.
Co-Op Fees
Participation in DocuWeeks™ requires payment of a Co-op fee structured as follows:
Features: (Based on running time)
> 40 to 89 minutes $17,000
90 to 102 minutes $20,000
Over 102 minutes TBD
Shorts:
40 minutes or less $4,500
Co-op fees cover part of the costs of the theatrical run for your film in New York City and in Los Angeles including theater/projection equipment rental, paid advertising, and general publicity and promotion. If you are invited to and accept participation in DocuWeeks™, the Co-op fee is due within two business days of receipt of the invitation. Co-op fees are NON-REFUNDABLE.
Screening Options:
If selected to participate in DocuWeeks™, you may deliver a 35mm print or (Academy compliant) Digital Cinema Package (DCP). Your print or DCP must conform to Academy specs (see #4 here) IDA does not cover the costs of producing either the 35mm print or the DCP.
Digital Cinema Package (DCP) Information
Filmmakers choosing to screen via DCP must provide an Academy/DCI compliant DCP which will be loaded to Academy compliant cinema players and projected with D-Cinema projectors. Click here for the Academy’s technical requirements and information.
Hermosa Beach Filmworks LLC will be overseeing all DCP files for DocuWeeks™ and providing special rates to create Academy compliant DCP files for DocuWeeks™ participants. Please contact Jonathan Liebert directly with any technical questions regarding DCPs or for a quote.
Jonathan Liebert
Hermosa Beach Filmworks LLC
703-B Pier Ave #250
Hermosa Beach, CA 90254
310 897 6277
jliebert@hbfilmworks.com
http://www.hbfilmworks.com/
Applicants will be notified by mid-June if selected to participate in DocuWeeks™. Please contact Amy Jelenko, Program and Events Manager, with any questions.
Read what other filmmakers have to say about DocuWeeks™Click here to read filmmaker comments.
"Kudos to DocuWeeks and its Theatrical Showcase, a wonderful screening program that is well-curated and generous to films that don't have distributors in place. Thanks to DocuWeeks, important, little noticed films can qualify for the Academy Awards and be seen in great theaters."
—Alex Gibney, Academy Award winner, Taxi to the Dark Side (2007)
"The IDA provides an extremely valuable service to filmmakers with DocuWeeks. It's unlikely I would have been able to qualify my films for Academy consideration without it."
—James Longley, Academy Award nominee, Sari's Mother (2007); Iraq
in Fragments (2006)
"DocuWeeks is a must! In a highly competitive and ever-changing theatrical market, DocuWeeks allows documentary films to be qualified for the big awards. It's a great way to showcase films at a theatre with other documentaries before deciding on a release plan or a distributor."
—Amy Berg, Academy Award nominee, Deliver Us from Evil (2006)
• Hell and Back Again / Oscar® Nominee / 2011
• The Barber of Birmingham / Oscar® Nominee / 2011
• Killing in the Name / Oscar® Nominee / 2010
• Sun Come Up / Oscar® Nominee / 2010
• Wasteland / Oscar® Nominee / 2010
• Rabbit a la Berlin / Oscar® Nominee / 2009
• Smile Pinki / Oscar® Winner / 2008
• The Betrayal / Oscar® Nominee / 2008
• Taxi To The Dark Side / Oscar® Winner / 2007
• War/Dance / Oscar® Nominee / 2007
• Salim Baba / Oscar® Nominee / 2007
• Sari's Mother / Oscar® Nominee / 2007
• The Blood of Yingzhou District / Oscar® Winner / 2006
• Deliver Us From Evil / Oscar® Nominee / 2006
• Jesus Camp / Oscar® Nominee / 2006
• Iraq in Fragments / Oscar® Nominee / 2006
• Darwin's Nightmare / Oscar® Nominee / 2005
• God Sleeps in Rwanda /Oscar® Nominee / 2005
• Born into Brothels / Oscar® Winner / 2004
• Hardwood / Oscar® Nominee / 2004
• Chernobyl Heart / Oscar® Winner / 2003
• Ferry Tales / Oscar® Nominee / 2003
• Spellbound / Oscar® Nominee / 2002
• Why Can't We Be a Family Again? / Oscar® Nominee / 2002
• Children Underground / Oscar® Nominee / 2001
• On Tiptoe: Gentle Steps to Freedom / Oscar® Nominee / 2000
• The Personals / Oscar® Winner / 1998
• The Last Days / Oscar® Winner / 1998
• Regret to Inform / Oscar® Nominee / 1998
• Ayn Rand: A Sense of Life / Oscar® Nominee / 1997
• Colors Straight Up / Oscar® Nominee / 1997
• Still Kicking: The Fabulous Palm Springs Follies / Oscar® Nominee / 1997
© 2013 International Documentary Association. All Rights Reserved.
