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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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IDA member and staff holding drinks at a FallDocs reception. Left to Right: IDA member, IDA staff Armando Zamudio, IDA staff Keisha Knight, IDA volunteer
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Join the IDA membership team for our monthly hour-long virtual office hours at 10:00 am PT / 1:00 pm ET. We’ll meet on Wednesday, March 20 this month. Registration is required. Please login to the IDA member portal to register for the March Office Hour.
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IDA staff and board at dinner
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As we usher in the spring season and new beginnings for IDA, we warmly invite you to join IDA staff and our new Executive Director, Dominic Willsdon, for a cash bar casual gathering in Los Angeles on Thursday, March 14, 2024. Please log in to the member portal for exact time and location details and to register.
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Three people standing in a brightly lit room, attending Getting Real '22. (left to right) Man is wearing a black and gray shirt and olive green pants, man in middle is wearing a backpack with a gray shirt and black pants, and woman on the right is wearing a pink tank top dress with her brown hair clipped in the back.
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Join us on Wednesday 14, at 10:00 am PT, to be in conversation with this year’s Getting Real Programmers, Meghan Monsour and Lisa Valencia-Svensson, along with Getting Real and IDA’s Director of Artists Programs, Abby Sun, about GR ‘24, their programming vision, and an early preview of this year’s GR conference.
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Geting Real 2024 Banner
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The sixth biennial Getting Real will celebrate a decade of what is now the largest peer-to-peer gathering of its kind in North America. Join us between April 15–18, 2024, in Little Tokyo and virtually worldwide! Getting Real '24 will encourage a groundswell of initiatives, research, connections, and
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IDA member and staff holding drinks at a FallDocs reception. Left to Right: IDA member, IDA staff Armando Zamudio, IDA staff Keisha Knight, IDA volunteer
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Being part of the IDA community means being part of a global and independent community of non-fiction writers, thinkers, makers, and lovers. Join our Membership and Individual Giving Program Manager, Anisa, for the IDA Member Hours: Virtual Meet and Greet.
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IDA Documentary Awards 2023 flyer
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Join us as we celebrate this year’s most notable documentary work at the 39th annual IDA Documentary Awards! This virtual event can be seen on IDA social media channels and website. Set reminders for December 12, 2023, at 5:00 PM PT / 8:00 PM ET!
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IDA Documentary Awards 2023 flyer
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SHORTS SCREENING ROOM FEATURES SCREENING ROOM BECOME A MEMBER TO STREAM & VOTE Learn more about the 39th IDA Documentary Awards here . Key Dates IDA Member Viewing Begins with all Shortlisted Films: Tuesday, November 7, 2023 Nominee Announcement: Tuesday, November 21, 2023 IDA Member Voting Begins
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The word "Ethics" highlighted with pink marker on a book page
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What are the ethics of using Deep Fakes to anonymize sources in non-fiction media? What are the layers of consent that require consideration? What are the futures, the risks, and the opportunities of these types of manipulations? What strategies can non-fiction media makers (journalists, documentarians, and artists) implement to navigate the complex landscape of these technologies?
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a woman holding her index finger on top of a screen with finger print illustration implying digital security
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IDA’s SPECTRES is a two-part forum with documentary producers, directors, academics, and security experts that attempts to demystify digital security and its need within documentary production. This series will culminate in a best practices field guide for documentarians and a burner OS that allows makers to ingest, edit, and communicate securely.
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Image of a film reel and a clapperboard
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Join the TV and film licensing and research experts from Getty Images during this Member Hours as they address the process of sourcing and safely using stock content, providing vital knowledge and solutions for documentary filmmakers. In this webinar, the Getty Images team will showcase our collections, capabilities, and production-specific services to creatively partner with filmmakers through the entire production cycle - from pitch to post to premiere – demonstrating a practical, step-by-step approach to sourcing and licensing content.