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William Cheng

Headshot of adult of East Asian descent with medium-light skin; short hair; dark blue polo shirt; in front of grassy field

William Cheng is a writer, pianist, and gamer. He is a professor of music at Dartmouth College and a founding co-editor of the Music & Social Justice Series with the University of Michigan Press.

Articles

An AI-generated video of a factory floor with glass walls and a man in a black suit holding a floating red ribbon.
The Synthesis: Here’s What Happened When We Prompted Sora With Taglines From Oscar-Winning Documentaries
Column
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Two white people in navy blue suits stand on stage.
“Our Commitment Is to the Space Where Difficult Conversations Can Happen, Not to Issuing Verdicts”: Interview With CPH:DOX Artistic Director Niklas Engstrøm
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An illustration of the see no evil, hear no evil, and speak no evil monkeys against a yellow background.
The Synthesis: All Bets Are Off for AI and Documentary—It’s Time for a Reset
Column
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In a bright room with concrete pillars and floors, a man in a sweater answers a question from the audience.
“First, We Learn How to Work Together”: Leonard Cortana Discusses the BIPOC EURODOC Task Force
Online Feature
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A merged image of two photographs of a young white man in front of Southeast Asia looking buildings.
Exclusive: Trailer Debut From Peter McDowell’s ‘Jimmy in Saigon’
Exclusive News
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Film still from 'Writing Hawa' featuring two women - one with a book in hand, the other writing on a whiteboard.
IDA Grantees & Members at Hot Docs 2025
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A young woman wearing a head scarf and a keffiyeh patterned scarf stands in the middle of a crowd of reporters holding microphones to her face.
“Part of a Peace Movement”: ‘The Encampments’ Co-Director Kei Pritsker on Correcting the Historical Record and Breaking a Box Office Record
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At a conference table, five people in laid back clothing smile at the camera. There are palm trees in the window behind them.
Making a Production: Concord Originals
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Two filmmakers work at a computer desk.
Peace Is Loud and UFO Announce Post/Impact Residency and Inaugural Recipients
Exclusive News
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On a beige couch, a teenaged boy sits with his cat.
Existing Next to Each Other: Monica Strømdahl Turns a 15-Year Photography Project Into ‘Flophouse America’
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A group of white male filmmakers prep for a shot in a parking lot.
Producer’s Diary: ‘ChiefsAholic: A Wolf in Chiefs Clothing’ (December 2022–December 2024)
Column
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A panel of six people sit in front of a large theater full of documentary filmmakers.
Statement on NEH Grant Terminations
Advocacy
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On a steep mountainside, two men sit on the ground next to their horses.
“A Brutal Kind of Beauty”: Kasimir Burgess on His Visions du Réel-Premiering ‘Iron Winter’
Online Feature
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In a grand multi-story theater, a packed audience looks at an off-screen movie screen.
Amid “Perfect Storm,” International Documentary Business Tries to Stay the Course at CPH:DOX
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In red italics, "Give It Back" text overlays a painting of stereotypical Native Americans in a forested area.
Doc Fortnight 2025: Archival Emergence
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In a full auditorium, a group of panelists sit on coaches in front of a screen that reads: "Thessaloniki Pitching Forum Presentation".
Thessaloniki Docfest’s Agora Remains a Beacon of Hope Despite Geopolitical Turmoil and Broadcasters’ Retreat, Says the Industry
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Pixelated screen shot of a U.S. congressman in front of a "Fire Elon Save Elmo" sign. The PBS News logo is in the bottom left corner.
PBS and NPR Leadership Face Accusations of News Bias During U.S. House DOGE Subcommittee, While Documentaries Mostly Escape Scrutiny
Online Feature
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A woman with gray hair and glasses looks at a blurry figure in the foreground.
SXSW 2025: Made in the USA
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A lo-fi image of two young people sitting on a plaid couch, looking at a small TV.
“This Bandit Art Collective”: Jeremy Workman Strikes Gold With ‘Secret Mall Apartment’
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A group of protesters, many using wheelchairs, with an American flag with an icon of a person in a wheelchair instead of the usual stars.
Exclusive: Clip Debut From Jim LeBrecht’s Peter Dinklage-Narrated ‘Change, Not Charity: The Americans With Disabilities Act’
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Photograph of a young girl and her mom.
Exclusive: Trailer Debut From Vicky Du’s ‘Light of the Setting Sun’
Exclusive News
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Portrait of No Other Land co-director Hamdan Ballal.
Statement on the attack on 'No Other Land' director Hamdan Ballal
Advocacy
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Collage of new IDA Board Members. Left to Right: Inti Cordera, Nathalie Seaver, Joel Simon, and Luis Gonzalez Zaffaroni
Inti Cordera, Nathalie Seaver, Joel Simon, and Luis González Zaffaroni Join IDA Board of Directors
Blog
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Lit up in neon blue, a cinema with plush red seats.
Miami Beach Mayor Withdraws Proposal to Defund and Evict O Cinema
Online Feature
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A white man sits in a darkened theater with a blue coat and green sweater.
“The Closer You Get to the Truth, the More You Have to Include Contradictions”: Johan Grimonprez on ‘Soundtrack to a Coup d’État’
Feature
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Under rain umbrellas, hundreds of festivalgoers chat and drink during a party.
West Lake IDF 2024: What’s in a Name
Feature
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In a bright classroom, a teacher holds up his finger in front of a table of students.
“You Couldn’t Have a City Without a School”: Claire Simon on ‘Elementary’
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The Non-Fiction Core Application 3.0 is here!
Introducing Non-Fiction Core Application 3.0: Streamlining the Application Process and Pushing the Field Forward
Blog
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Photograph of a cinema full with attendees watching a film.
Miami Beach’s O Cinema Challenges Mayor’s Threats of Eviction Over ‘No Other Land’ Screenings
Online Feature
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A black & white image of an elderly man of African-American descent sitting on a porch.
Sundance 2025: Sowing Seeds
Online Feature
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An empty room that has been bombed with fabrics, chairs strewn around and windows open.
Screen Time, Winter 2024/2025
Column
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man reclines on a rock hill with a tank in the background
Statement in Support of Freedom of Programming
Advocacy
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Headshot of Biljana Tutorov wearing a blue short sleeve shirt
IDA Member Spotlight: Biljana Tutorov
Blog
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Film still from 'The In Between'
Holding On: Robie and Alejandro Flores Share the Making of ‘The In Between’
Blog
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On top of a wooden table, a shoulder bag and its contents.
What’s in My Bag: Zac Manuel
Column
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Black and white photograph of Simone Biles Rising posters above a white coach in a sunny office.
Making a Production: Religion of Sports
Feature
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In a small office, a group of young filmmakers sit in chairs.
The Future of NEA Funding for U.S. Documentary Film Nonprofits Remains in Limbo After Anti-DEI and “Gender Ideology” Executive Orders
Online Feature
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Silhouette of a man in a desolate landscape.
Sundance 2025: Think Before You Point
Online Feature
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Image of a sign that reads: "No Pit Closures Save Your Job!"
A Workshop For All: The Miners’ Campaign Tapes
Feature
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Three women talk to each other around a table with an "Archival Producers Alliance" sign.
Work in Progress: Archival Producers Alliance Release New “Working with Archival Producers” Guidelines
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CCTV footage of a group of six Russian soldiers from above.
“Working with Emptiness”: Oleksiy Radynski Discusses His CCTV Chornobyl Doc ‘Special Operation’
Online Feature
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Letter From the Editor, Spring 2025
Column
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Notes From the Reel World, Spring 2025
Column
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A plume of smoke rises from the ocean surface.
“I Didn’t Want to Have ‘Migration’ in the Title”: Sam Abbas on ‘Europe’s New Faces’
Online Feature
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Film still from 'Remaining Native'
IDA Grantees & Members at 2025 SXSW
Blog
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A scientist looks at a computer screen.
Exclusive: Clip and Poster Debut From Eleanor Mortimer’s True/False-Premiering ‘How Deep Is Your Love’
Exclusive News
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Screenshot showing the top three scoring projects of a Decentralized Pictures contest.
Democratizing Film Funding Was Never Going to Be Easy
Online Feature
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Open, large and sunny building atrium full of logos and banners of film agencies.
EFM’s Fairly Tepid Market for Nonfiction Deals Drives Innovation and Resilience, According to Sales Agents
Online Feature
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In a black room, two naked people with ear piercings embrace each other.
“Relational Freedom”: Angelo Madsen on ‘A Body to Live In’
Online Feature
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On a computer editing screen, a man stands in front of a video store.
IFFR 2025: Back on Form
Online Feature
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