IDA News and Features

Meet the Oscar Nominated Films: West Memphis Free! 'Paradise Lost' and the Power of Advocacy Films

Laura Almo — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 18:00:00 -0500

'Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory' airs January 12 on HBO.

A Tragic Loss: Documentary Filmmakers Andrew Wight and Mike deGruy

krelth — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 14:01:00 -0500

As reported by al.com, documentary filmmakers Andrew Wight and Mike deGruy were killed this past weekend in Australia when a helicopter malfunctioned during take-off.

A excerpt from a Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival newsletter puts the measure of grief into better words than we can. Scroll to the bottom for ways to honor the memory of Mike deGruy.

We grow closer in times of shared sadness, and this week the international documentary film community grieves the devastating loss of two well-loved and deeply respected colleagues. Andrew Wight, known to his ...

Media That Matters 2012: Change for Good

IDA Editorial Staff — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 15:30:20 -0500

The Center for Social Media at American University is hosting Media That Matters 2012, a conference that brings together professionals, artists and students interested in making an impact through media.

This year's theme, "Change for Good," features conversations about how independent social change filmmakers can execute integrated campaigns that are strategic, action-oriented, and have enduring impact.

The conference begins on Friday, February 10, 2012 at 5pm with an opening keynote address from Meredith Blake, distinguished attorney, social entrepreneur, and Founder and CEO of Cause & Affect—a strategy consulting and management firm in ...

Meet the Oscar Nominated Filmmakers: Robin Fryday--'The Barber of Birmingham'

IDA Editorial Staff — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 10:00:00 -0500

RECAP: Doc U: Understanding Fair Use [PHOTOS]

krelth — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 19:03:51 -0500

This past Monday, January 30, members of the documentary community kicked off the first Doc U of 2012 at Cinefamily at the Silent Movie Theater with a conversation about the intricate details of fair use in documentary filmmaking.

We may or may not have broken a few fire codes to get everyone in the building, but we should have known that this panel would be so popular! Chairs had to be set up in the aisles to accommodate the overwhelming turnout for this event.

Michael Lumpkin started the seminar by introducing ...

Pare Lorentz Documentary Fund 2012 Now Accepting Submissions

IDA Editorial Staff — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 15:53:44 -0500

The International Documentary Association is now accepting proposals for the Pare Lorentz Documentary Fund, which provides production support for full-length documentary films. The Pare Lorentz Documentary Fund is made possible by a grant from The New York Community Trust.
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 ...

BREAKING NEWS: GASLAND's Josh Fox Arrested on Capitol Hill

krelth — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 16:42:07 -0500

Reuters and the Huffington Post have reported that documentary filmmaker and co-host of the 2011 IDA Documentary Awards Josh Fox has been arrested on Capitol Hill this morning. Fox was attempting to film a House committee meeting where a report by the EPA on the possible contamination of a Wyoming aquifier due to "fracking" was being discussed. The filmmaker, whose film Gasland deals specifically with this issue, was arrested for not having the proper credentials to film this event, despite an attempt to apply for credentialing the day prior to ...

Focus Forward – Short Films, Big Ideas Launches Worldwide $200,000 Filmmaker Challenge

IDA Editorial Staff — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 17:59:33 -0500

GE and CINELAN announced the FOCUS FORWARD Filmmaker Challenge and plan to award $200,000 in cash prizes to the top five entries in the professionally juried Challenge, with $100,000 going to the Grand Prize Winner. The Filmmaker Challenge is an expansion of the FOCUS FORWARD - Short Films, Big Ideas, a series of 30 three-minute nonfiction films developed by leading documentary filmmakers about the incredible human power of ideas and invention that will screen at prestigious film festivals globally, followed by day-and-date distribution online to millions of viewers. The initiative ...

IndieGoGo's Adam Chapnick to Moderate Upcoming Doc U

IDA Editorial Staff — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 16:40:32 -0500

The IDA is happy to welcome IDA Board Vice President Adam Chapnick as the moderator for our upcoming Doc U on Fair Use on Monday, January 30 at the Cinefamily. Chapnick will be probing panelists Michael Donaldson, Russell Hickey and Mitchell Block on what constitutes fair use of copyrighted material, and how the implications of fair use affect you and your next film.

Adam Chapnick is a Principal at IndieGoGo, where he serves as CEO of Distribber.com, a new-model flat-fee distribution service that places independent films on digital sales platforms such ...

New! Student Membership Ticket Pricing

IDA Editorial Staff — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 17:41:58 -0500

We know how hard it can be to be a student in Los Angeles. That's why IDA is pleased to announce a new benefit for Student Members - $5.00 tickets to the monthly Doc U seminars at Cinefamily!

In order to take advantage of this special pricing, you must be a current Student Member and present your valid Student ID at the door.

Not a member yet? Join IDA now!

Doc U is the International Documentary Association's series of educational seminars and workshops for aspiring and experienced documentary filmmakers. Taught ...

DocuDay LA 2012 Needs You!

IDA Editorial Staff — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 19:40:22 -0500

DocuDay LA 2012 will be held Saturday, February 25 at the Writers Guild of America Theater. A great opportunity to see this year's Oscar® nominated documentary features and shorts!

As with all of IDA's programs and events, we can't make it happen without your help. Come show your support for documentary filmmaking, and get an opportunity to see some of the year's best films and filmmakers!

Volunteer responsibilities include greeting filmmakers and guests; registration; seating and theater management; and venue set-up and breakdown.

Sound interesting? Fill out this form to register your interest ...

Academy Award Nominations Announced

IDA Editorial Staff — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0500

Let the games, parties and office pools begin! The Academy Award nominations are in, and here are the Documentary nods:

Documentary (Feature)
Hell and Back Again Danfung Dennis and Mike LernerIf a Tree Falls: A Story of the Earth Liberation Front Marshall Curry and Sam CullmanParadise Lost 3: Purgatory Joe Berlinger and Brice SinofskyPina Wim Wenders and Gian-Piero RingelUndefeated TJ Martin, Dan Lindsay and Richard Middlemas

Documentary (Short Subject)
The Barber of Birmingham: Foot Soldier of the Civil Rights Movement ...

Docs In Progress Announces Peer Pitch West

IDA Editorial Staff — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 19:11:09 -0500

Docs In Progress will be taking its popular Peer Pitch program on the road to the Sebastopol Documentary Film Festival in Sonoma County, California. This program will give documentary filmmakers the opportunity to present new projects to fellow filmmakers for feedback and for all attending to gain valuable insights and new connections which can guide their own filmmaking. Constructive feedback from peers in a nurturing environment will help to identify strengths and areas for improvement in projects. Participants will also develop skills and comfort in verbally describing their projects ...

Doc U: Documentary Producing Workshop with Mitchell Block

IDA Editorial Staff — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 14:16:40 -0500

Multi-award winning executive producer Mitchell Block doesn’t just develop, produce, and market indie features and documentaries; he also really wants to help you make your projects. Block has joined forces with the IDA once again to put on this exclusive 2-day Documentary Producing Workshop to help you and other aspiring documentary filmmakers do just that. Under the banner of IDA’s longstanding Doc U series, Block and Oscar-winning producer Jeffrey Tuchman are holding two full days of producing advice and information at The Writers Boot Camp and The Spitfire Grill. The big ...

Marjan Safinia Elected as New IDA Board President

IDA Editorial Staff — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 14:19:28 -0500

On Tuesday, January 17, Marjan Safinia was elected as IDA's new Board President. The other officers were re-elected to their current positions: Adam Chapnick as Vice-President, Moises Velez as Secretary, and Laurie Ann Schag as Treasurer.

Marjan Safinia is an Iranian documentary filmmaker. Her feature debut, Seeds, premiered as the Opening Night Film at SilverDocs and played at over 50 international film festivals. The film was broadcast in the US, UK, New Zealand, Jamaica and across the Arab world. Her first film, But You Speak Such Good English (UK), premiered at ...

Three IDA Fiscal Sponsorship Films at Sundance

IDA Editorial Staff — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 17:25:23 -0500

Over the years, we have supported the development of many films through our Fiscal Sponsorship Program, a formal arrangement in which IDA helps a documentary to obtain grants and donations. Participating in our Program is an alternative to starting one’s own nonprofit, allowing a filmmaker to seek grants and solicit tax-deductible donations for a documentary with the support and endorsement of the IDA.

Several hundred filmmakers and their diverse films make up IDA’s Fiscal Sponsorship Program membership. Many of these films are now successfully completed, and some of the ...

C&S Insurance Signs on as DocuDay Sponsor

IDA Editorial Staff — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 19:16:15 -0500

C&S Insurance, a leading international insurance broker, has signed on as sponsors of DocuDay. C&S Insurance covers all types of productions in all forms of media including: Documentaries, Fact Based Entertainment, Episodic TV, Corporate, Educational, Commercials, Music Videos, Feature Films, Internet Production, Streaming and related production services such as post production, studios and equipment, rental houses and facilities.

DocuDay is the IDA’s all-day, back-to-back screenings of this year’s Oscar-nominated documentary films. DocuDay returns to the Writers Guild of America Theater in Beverly Hills, CA on Saturday, February 25. Not only ...

Thought Equity Motion Now Doc U Sponsor, Trustee Level Donor

IDA Editorial Staff — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 18:21:58 -0500

Thought Equity Motion (TEM), the world's most comprehensive resource for news, archival, nature & sports content, has signed on with the IDA’s Doc U public program as an official sponsor of the monthly event. The company's diverse global footage collections provide documentarians with contrasting world views and enhanced storytelling capabilities. On top of becoming a Doc U sponsor, TEM has also become a major donor at the Trustee level.

Doc U is the International Documentary Association’s series of educational seminars and workshops for everyone from aspiring to experienced non-fiction filmmakers. ...