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Here's What Really Happened

No tweeting. No press. No industry. Filmmakers-only conversations revealing personal insights into the art and business of documentary filmmaking.


“Here’s What Really Happened” are signature sessions from IDA's biennial Getting Real Conference that began as a filmmaker-led solution to combat the lack of transparency that continues to plague the community. These intimate conversations allow filmmakers to speak openly about what actually happened in the production, sales and distribution life of a film. The rules are, everything said in the room, stays in the room. Our goal is to create a safe space for discussion that allows filmmakers to have frank, meaningful discussions without the influence of industry in the room. We believe that one of the greatest resources for a filmmaker is another filmmaker.

In building a more knowledgeable and transparent community together, IDA tours “Here’s What Really Happened” sessions to various festivals and conferences around the world. These private conversations have focused on security/surveillance, sales agents, festival strategies, fact-finding, ethics, work/family life balance, truth-seeking in production, and other themes.

Learn what really happened behind-the-scenes in an upcoming session. It’s personal, it’s intimate, let’s get into it.


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Join IDA and BADWest for a special evening Master Class with celebrated director Stanley Nelson. One of America’s most acclaimed filmmakers and a chronicler of the African-American experience.
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Join us for an exciting conversation with multiple award-winning filmmaker Julia Reichert, whose dynamic, intimate, direct cinema films focus on gender, labor, the working-class, and globalization. This special evening will be moderated by programmer, film festival curator, producer and strategist, Caroline Libresco.
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IDA Executive Director Simon Kilmurry hosts an afternoon with Disney+ executives and nonfiction filmmakers. Special sessions moderated by Entertainment Weekly Editor Lynette Rice. FEATURING Kristen Bell Executive Producer Encore! Jeff Goldblum Host, Executive Producer The World According to Jeff
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A practical weeklong D-Word special topic for an overview of the budgeting process.
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The IDA Board of Directors and Executive Director Simon Kilmurry are pleased to invite you to an exclusive fundraising party to celebrate and support the vital work of documentary storytellers.