Getting Real '26 - Volunteer | International Documentary Association

Call for Volunteers!

Getting Real is a biennial conference designed for and by documentary practitioners and focused on the business and art of nonfiction storytelling. The seventh edition of Getting Real will celebrate a decade of what is now the largest peer-to-peer gathering of its kind in North America. This year, we are returning to Little Tokyo.

This four-day event provides a space for the field to hold constructive conversations, build lasting relationships, and tackle the ethical, creative, sustainability, production, and distribution challenges facing our growing community. The core of the conference programming connects participants from diverse independent filmmaking sectors, geographic regions, and professional statuses, platforming the most exciting new and established voices as they dialogue with each other.

Regarding commitments, we ask that all volunteers commit to 10+ volunteer hours for the conference, show up on time for their shift, and attend a virtual training before the Getting Real conference.

In exchange, IDA will provide all volunteers a complimentary all-access pass to attend the conference during non-volunteer hours.

To apply for this year’s Getting Real ’26, please fill out our Getting Real ’26 Application by 6:00 PM PT, Monday, June 1, 2026. The selection process will begin on June 2, 2026, and someone from our team will be in touch if selected. Please sign up below or click here.

APPLY HERE

Testimonials From Past Getting Reals

“My experience was incredible. All of the staff and volunteers were kind and helpful. All of the filmmakers I met were so ready and willing to connect and share knowledge. There were many last-minute changes, but the email communication was clear and consistent, making it easier to navigate all the moving pieces. All in all, it was an incredible experience.” —Thanh Tran

Testimonials From Past Getting Reals

“I loved it. The quality of the curation was absolutely stellar, and attending was a communal event in the best sense: I really appreciate how you welcomed everyone from top-level industry insiders to film students (and all the rest of us in between) on an equal level. It felt democratic, accessible, inclusive. To be clear, I only attended the ‘live’ events, not the virtual ones, since I was there on-site. I really appreciated the variation in the programming, which had a clear theme, but which allowed for every talk to unfold on its own terms. In my experience, the talks felt genuine, honest, and ‘human’ in a way that some industry events do not manage to achieve. There was political commitment and a shared sense of cause, and I appreciate how it was made clear in text and talk that this was a forum in which everyone was encouraged to freely speak their mind and voice their opinion. I also really liked the ones about form and craft/art, as well as the one about using AI for concrete practices. For all those reasons, I find it hard to single out highlights, as Getting Real was so very rewarding as a complete experience. Also, it should be said that it was really great FUN too.”

—Mads K. Mikkelsen

Testimonials From Past Getting Reals

“I loved connecting with the people there. The people were really great. I feel like I made some really organic connections, and it was also nice to reconnect in person with some folks that I had met virtually during the pandemic.”

—Anonymous

“The sense of community I felt in person was invaluable. I also appreciate the discussions fostered among my peers, but the incredible presentations.” —Anonymous