It is truly amazing the lengths to which documentary filmmakers will go to 'get the shot.' At times they put their lives at risk to give depth and meaning to stories that otherwise would remain untold. During a recent Doc U, filmmakers Till Schauder, Katherine Fairfax Wright and Laura Nix speak about their experiences working in Iran, Uganda and Syria. They share the complexities of filmmaking in countries with strict gender codes and even stricter journalism laws, as well as their strategies for hiding sound equipment at border crossings. Underwear never seemed so useful! Watch now>>
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Over the next month, we at IDA will be introducing our community to the filmmakers whose work is represented in the DocuWeeks™ Theatrical Documentary Showcase, which runs from August 3 through August 30 in New York City and Los Angeles. We asked the filmmakers to share the stories behind their films—the inspirations, the challenges and obstacles, the goals and objectives, the reactions to their films so far. So, to continue this series of conversations, here is Jane Weiner, director/producer/writer of RICKY on LEACOCK. Synopsis: The work (on- and off-screen) of legendary filmmaker Richard
Over the next month, we at IDA will be introducing our community to the filmmakers whose work is represented in the DocuWeeks™ Theatrical Documentary Showcase, which runs from August 3 through August 30 in New York City and Los Angeles. We asked the filmmakers to share the stories behind their films—the inspirations, the challenges and obstacles, the goals and objectives, the reactions to their films so far. So, to continue this series of conversations, here is Danielle Gardner, director/producer/writer of Out of the Clear Blue Sky. Synopsis: On September 11, 2001, the Wall Street bond trader
Over the next month, we at IDA will be introducing our community to the filmmakers whose work is represented in the DocuWeeks™ Theatrical Documentary Showcase, which runs from August 3 through August 30 in New York City and Los Angeles. We asked the filmmakers to share the stories behind their films—the inspirations, the challenges and obstacles, the goals and objectives, the reactions to their films so far. So, to continue this series of conversations, here is Megan Smith-Harris, director/producer/writer of TRIAL BY FIRE: Lives Re-Forged. Synopsis: Scars are like tattoos-but with better
Over the next month, we at IDA will be introducing our community to the filmmakers whose work is represented in the DocuWeeks™ Theatrical Documentary Showcase, which runs from August 3 through August 30 in New York City and Los Angeles. We asked the filmmakers to share the stories behind their films—the inspirations, the challenges and obstacles, the goals and objectives, the reactions to their films so far. So, to continue this series of conversations, here is Jonathan Kalafer, director/producer of Once in a Lullaby. Synopsis: The PS22 Chorus from Staten Island became a YouTube sensation when
Over the next month, we at IDA will be introducing our community to the filmmakers whose work is represented in the DocuWeeks™ Theatrical Documentary Showcase, which runs from August 3 through August 30 in New York City and Los Angeles. We asked the filmmakers to share the stories behind their films—the inspirations, the challenges and obstacles, the goals and objectives, the reactions to their films so far. So, to continue this series of conversations, here is Doug Shultz, director/producer/writer of Defiant Requiem. Synopsis: A memorial concert reawakens the story of an artistic uprising in
Anyone who makes documentary films is aware of the idea that the social issue documentary is "the new black." Nearly every call for grant proposals now includes a section asking filmmakers how their film will be used to move people to action, and further asks them to propose metrics for measuring this action. Before this mad dash for social justice took off, there were a few smaller funders that came together specifically to coalesce around the idea of using documentary to highlight important social issues and then use the films in a robust way to bring attention to topics that mainstream
Over the next month, we at IDA will be introducing our community to the filmmakers whose work is represented in the DocuWeeks™ Theatrical Documentary Showcase, which runs from August 3 through August 30 in New York City and Los Angeles. We asked the filmmakers to share the stories behind their films--the inspirations, the challenges and obstacles, the goals and objectives, the reactions to their films so far. So, to launch this series of conversations, here is Martin Smith, director of Jimmy. Synopsis: A day in the life of Jimmy McIntosh, MBE, who has tirelessly campaigned for disabled rights
Over the next month, we at IDA will be introducing our community to the filmmakers whose work is represented in the DocuWeeks™ Theatrical Documentary Showcase, which runs from August 3 through August 30 in New York City and Los Angeles. We asked the filmmakers to share the stories behind their films—the inspirations, the challenges and obstacles, the goals and objectives, the reactions to their films so far. So, to launch this series of conversations, here is Finlay Pretsell, co-director/co-producer, with Adrian McDowall, of Cutting Loose. Synopsis: Hairdressers poised, scissors at the ready
Editor's Note: Kings Point is nominated for an IDA Documentary Award in the Short category. The folloiwing is an interview with director/producer Sari Gilman when the film was screened in IDA's DocuWeeks. Over the next month, we at IDA will be introducing our community to the filmmakers whose work is represented in the DocuWeeks™ Theatrical Documentary Showcase, which runs from August 3 through August 30 in New York City and Los Angeles. We asked the filmmakers to share the stories behind their films—the inspirations, the challenges and obstacles, the goals and objectives, the reactions to