

The deadlines to submit entries for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ 2012 Student Academy Awards competition are Friday, March 23, 2012 (Foreign Student Film category) and Monday, April 2, 2012 (all other categories).
In the Foreign Student Film category, entries are accepted only from full-time college and university students attending schools that are members of the international film school organization known as CILECT, and located outside the borders of the United States.
The competition in all other categories is open to full-time college and university students at accredited U.S. institutions, whose films are made within the curricular structure of a film program or class at their respective schools. For 2012, the Academy has limited the list of accepted accreditation agencies for U.S. institutions to the following: Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools; New England Association of Schools and Colleges; North Central Association of Colleges and Schools; Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities; Western Association of Schools and Colleges; and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
The 39th Annual Student Academy Awards presentation will be held on Saturday, June 9, 2012, at the Academy’s Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills. Gold, Silver and Bronze Medal awards, along with cash prizes, may be presented to student filmmakers in the following categories: Alternative, Animation, Narrative, Documentary and Foreign Student Film.
The rules and online application forms are available at http://www.oscars.org/saa.
The Academy established the Student Academy Awards in 1972 to support and encourage excellence in filmmaking at the collegiate level. Past Student Academy Award® winners have gone on to receive 46 Oscar® nominations and have won or shared eight awards. At the 84th Academy Awards earlier this year, 2011 Student Academy Award winners Hallvar Witzø and Max Zähle were nominated in the Live Action Short Film category for Tuba Atlantic and Raju, respectively. James Spione, a Student Academy Award winner in 1987, earned a nomination in the Documentary Short Subject category for "Incident in New Baghdad."
IDA DocuWeeks™ CALL FOR ENTRIES
IS NOW CLOSED.
Full program information coming soon
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.
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:
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):
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
The International Documentary Association
Presents

Doc U: Yes, But Is It Art?
Stylistic Strategies in Non-Fiction Storytelling
WEDNESDAY APRIL 18, 2012
Doors Open: 7:00pm
Discussion & Audience Q&A: 7:30pm - 9:00pm
Wine Reception to Follow
The Cinefamily
611 N. Fairfax Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90036
With the growing popularity of documentary film, many have admirably seized on the power of non-fiction storytelling to affect change around social and political issues. But in all the discussion about content and impact, have we forgotten to explore documentary as cinema, as art? In a lively conversation about how they mobilize aesthetic choices to generate meaning, filmmakers discuss stylistic strategies, creative inspirations, story structure, and the tension between form and content.
On Wednesday, April 18 join Caroline Libresco, Senior Programmer at the Sundance Film Festival, as she moderates a discussion with filmmakers Ondi Timoner (BYOD, We Live In Public) and Marina Zenovich (Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired, Who is Bernard Tapie?) whose documentary work not only delivers a powerful message, but also storytelling impact through visual imagery.
Caroline Libresco (Moderator)
Since 2001, Caroline Libresco has been Senior Programmer for the Sundance Film Festival, where she selects features in all sections, with a special expertise in documentary and international film, and acts as conduit between artists and industry. She spearheaded Sundance’s World Cinema Narrative and Documentary competitions and serves on Sundance’s Women’s Initiative, Creative Producing Initiative, and Film Forward teams. Previously, she was an executive at ITVS (Independent Television Service), the San Francisco Film Festival, and the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival. She produced the award-winning documentary, SUNSET STORY; the Academy Award-winning featurette, BARRIER DEVICE; associate-produced the HBO documentary CAT DANCERS; and was developing producer on THE GRACE LEE PROJECT. She also co-wrote and produced the independent feature, FANCI’S PERSUASION. She serves as consultant to Harvard Kennedy School’s Center for Public Leadership, Hot Docs, and the Zurich Film Festival, on the board of Women Make Movies and the Advisory Council of IFP New York.
Caroline holds a B.A. from Oberlin College, an M.A. in History of Religion from Harvard, an M.F.A. from UCLA Film School, and teaches documentary at Film Independent in Los Angeles. She has appeared widely on film juries internationally—including the Sarajevo Film Festival, Jerusalem Film Festival, Cartagena Film Festival, Istanbul Independent Film Festival, Seattle International Film Festival, and Hot Docs.
In June, 2010, Caroline was named among the Top 10 Most Powerful People in Documentary.
The evening's on-stage conversation will be followed by an audience Q&A, and a reception on the Cinefamily's backyard Spanish patio!
IDA DocuWeeks™ CALL FOR ENTRIES
IS NOW CLOSED.
Full program information coming soon
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.
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:
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):
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


Saturday, April 21, 2012 in Los Angeles
9:30am - 10am Registration/Networking
10am - 6pm Workshop
The Annex, 3rd Floor
3110 Main Street, Santa Monica, CA 90405
(Building is located on the SE corner of Pacific Ave. and Navy St.)
IDA Individual and Student Members get 20% off!
Seating is limited so buy your tickets now to be guaranteed admission.
** Please sign-in to purchase discounted admissions. **

If you have read her book or attended a previous workshop,
this is your chance to see theory in action
with new up-to-date information and case studies.
The fully updated and revised 2nd Edition of Trailer Mechanics
will be on sale at a steep discount for workshop participants.
"Can I see your trailer?" A fundraising trailer can make or break your film. Stop the guess work of what works and what doesn't with this full-day workshop for producers, directors, writers and editors. You will:
Bring your work-in-progress for analysis and discussion!
One trailer will be selected for discussion at random.
(All playback is from Mac laptop, DVD and Quicktimes only).

Application Deadline: Monday, April 23, 2012
The International Documentary Association is now accepting proposals for the Pare Lorentz Documentary Fund, which provides production support for full-length documentary films. Named in honor of the landmark documentary filmmaker, the Fund provides annual grants totaling $75,000 to be used in the creation of original, independent documentary films that illuminate pressing issues in the United States. In 2012, grants will be made to up to 5 projects that tell a compelling story and focus on one of Pare Lorentz’s central concerns—the appropriate use of the natural environment, justice for all or the illumination of pressing social problems.
The Fund supports full-length documentary films that reflect the spirit and nature of Pare Lorentz’s work, exhibiting objective research, artful storytelling, strong visual style, high production values, artistic writing, outstanding music composition, as well as skillful direction, camerawork and editing. Complete guidelines and application are available at www.documentary.org/parelorentz.
Recipients of the 2011 Pare Lorentz Documentary Fund Grants: