The pieces in this issue on filmmakers under fire continue a conversation this magazine has been having for decades. Many years ago, for example, in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, Laura Almo wrote: 

Danger comes in many forms. There is the geopolitical danger of a country in the middle of a war, or that has been ravaged by war and is politically destabilized. There is also the sociopolitical danger of filming in a totalitarian state, where subjects address the camera at their own peril—and that of their family and friends. And there is the danger of repercussions to the filmmaker once the film is out in the world. (“Documenting in the Face of Danger,” Documentary, February 2002)

Today, the dangers are as great as ever, and they take many forms. Our field is under attack. Filmmakers face rising censorship, funding cuts, and political threats designed to silence dissent. Through this magazine and our wider communications, IDA will continue to share insights and perspectives on the escalating threats.

More than that, we will defend filmmakers from these threats. As an advocate for documentary practice, IDA is committed to defending the rights and safety of nonfiction filmmakers across the United States and around the world.

IDA has been involved in advocacy work for many years. We have had success with such issues as public records access, fair use, and legal protections for sources. We have worked with longtime partners such as the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press and the Knight First Amendment Institute to bring legal actions in the interests of documentarians. But we need to do more. We are doing more.

This month, IDA is announcing a broader, deeper commitment to advocacy. This includes a more powerful and sustained practice of strategic litigation—we are currently exploring options for our third legal action against the Trump administration’s visa rules. We will provide fast and accurate interventions on behalf of filmmakers and film organizations at risk from harmful government and business dealings. We are creating emergency funds and pro bono legal support for filmmakers in danger, and developing education and resources related to legal affairs, safety, and security. And we want to do even more. 

We are not alone in this work. There are great organizations advocating for documentarians in other countries. As a field, we need to be globally connected and work with many partners because the issues are shared across borders. Given that many technology and business interests are based in the U.S., it is important that there is a U.S.–based advocacy entity that is globally connected. IDA is positioned to be that.

Other fields of cultural practice have long-standing and effective advocacy organizations: the Authors Guild, the Society of Professional Journalists, the Artistic Freedom Initiative, and many others. Documentary filmmaking has IDA. We who work at IDA and you as IDA members need to make sure we can provide the advocacy that documentary needs and deserves.

We need your help. By being an IDA member, you support this critical work.

Dominic