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Panels & Workshops

Our year-round series of topical seminars led by experts in the documentary field.


Tue. November 25, 2025 @ 8:00 - 10:30am PT
Join us for a pitching workshop with the IDA Artist Services Manager, Maria Santos. For the first hour, she will share some tips for preparing a pitch and using that process to keep developing your project. Then, we will take a 20-minute break to review the recommendations from the presentation and reset. In the last hour, we will have 3 IDA members pitch to the virtual room.

Thu. October 30, 2025 @ 6:00 - 8:30pm PT
Join us for a pitching workshop with the IDA Artist Services Manager, Maria Santos. For the first 40 minutes, she will share some tips for preparing a pitch and using that process to keep developing your project. Then, you’ll have 20 minutes to work on your pitches and take in the recommendations of the presentation.

Fri. September 12, 2025 @ 10:00am - 1:00pm PT
This self-help workshop teaches you how to future-proof your films—whether shot on celluloid, video, or digital—so they survive you. You’ll come away from this session not only inspired but also armed with specific protocols for protecting your work.

Tue. May 13, 2025 @ 10:00 - 11:30am PT
Location: Hybrid, virtual on Zoom or in-person at IDA Office in Los Angeles Documentary filmmakers are often navigating complex legal terrain by the very nature of our work. In the current political climate and with the rise of fascism around the world, it can be difficult to know how to protect

Mon. May 12, 2025 @ 10:00 - 11:30am PT
Location: Hybrid, virtual on Zoom or in-person at IDA Office in Los Angeles In today’s rapidly evolving political and technological landscape, a legal doctrine as established as fair use, which remains as crucial to documentary filmmakers as the day it was introduced, is not safe from change. As a

Mon. May 12, 2025 @ 10:00 - 11:30am PT
Location: Hybrid, virtual on Zoom or in-person at IDA Office in Los Angeles In today’s rapidly evolving political and technological landscape, a legal doctrine as established as fair use, which remains as crucial to documentary filmmakers as the day it was introduced, is not safe from change. As a

Wed. March 19, 2025 @ 11:00am - 12:30pm PT
IDAinsight: The Ins & Outs of the Producer’s Errors and Omissions (E&O) Insurance Wednesday, March 19, 2025 | 11:00 am - 12:30 pm PT | Virtual on Zoom Navigating the legal side of filmmaking can be a daunting task, but it is crucial to set your film up for success. Errors & Omissions (E&O) insurance

Thu. February 20, 2025 @ 10:00am - 12:00pm PT
Date: Thursday, February 20, 2025 Time: 10:00 am - 12:00 pm PT Location: Location: Virtual on Zoom and at the IDA Office, 3600 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 1810, Los Angeles, CA 90010 A very small number of film festivals seem to hold an enormous amount of sway over a film’s sales and distribution prospects

Thu. February 13, 2025 @ 7:00 - 10:00am PT
Due to high demand and to better accommodate our international IDA and community members, we’ve scheduled a second iteration of the Budgeting and Scheduling 101 workshop with Robert Bahar. If you missed the first session, don’t miss your chance to reserve a spot!

Wed. February 5, 2025 @ 10:00am - 1:00pm PT
IDAinsight: Budgeting and Scheduling 101 Workshop with Robert Bahar Please note that the number of registrants for this "IDA Insight: Budgeting and Scheduling 101 with Robert Bahar" session has reached the technical capacity of IDA's Zoom account. Attendance will be limited to 500 participants and