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Panels & Workshops

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


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

Wed. December 18, 2024 @ 1:00 - 2:30pm PT
When documentary filmmakers seek experimental forms of nonfiction storytelling, we often look to experimental films and moving image work. But there are other forms of documentary practice, such as in music. In this hybrid workshop, artists Claire Rousay and Lucy Liyou will talk through and

Wed. September 11, 2024 @ 5:30 - 7:00pm PT
Join us for a gathering at the IDA office in honor of the first annual LA Climate Week! We are thrilled to be in conversation with Indigenous climate justice activists about how they use media to weave together gender justice, racial justice, and climate justice.

Tue. July 9, 2024 @ 9:00am PST
The panel discussion will delve into the differences between television/broadcast content and international festival documentaries and how funding works in these different spaces around the world. What does it mean to have broadcast partners versus festival partners? Does one offer more creative freedom than the other? How can we negotiate the drawbacks and best use the opportunities these different forms offer? The conversation will examine broadcasters' priorities and ways they evaluate content that might drive them to co-produce, buy, or broadcast certain films instead of others.