The American Documentary Showcase is looking for nominations of documentaries for possible inclusion in the 2010 series of the program. With the renewal of a grant by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs to UFVA, the ADS is able to include 5-10 new titles and filmmakers in its second round, which runs through December 2010.
Mission:
The American Documentary Showcase, funded by and as a cooperative program with the Bureau of
Educational and Cultural Affairs of the US Department of States, and administered
through a cooperative grant to the University Film and Video Association, is a
curated selection of contemporary documentaries that is offered to US Embassies
for screening abroad. The Showcase is designed to travel American
documentaries and their filmmakers to international overseas venues, including
U.S. Embassy organized events and/or U.S. Embassy supported international
documentary film festivals.
The goal of The Showcase is to offer a broad diversified look at life in the United States and the values of a democratic society as seen by American documentary filmmakers. The Showcase is intended to demonstrate the role documentary plays in fostering understanding and cooperation among people.
Qualifications for Consideration:
Documentaries
nominated can be of any length and style, although the emphasis is on shorter, under one hour
films in this grant cycle. They must
have a release date no earlier than January 2007and must be
completed by September 2009, and available on DVD. They must be made by an American
citizen, focus primarily on American subject (this can be Americans
overseas, but the main emphasis must be on American citizens), and fit in to
one or preferably more, of the following categories. Filmmakers may nominate their own films. Student films of
exceptional quality are welcome.
Subject Categories:
The Democratic Process
Emigration/Immigration
Environment,
Nature, Our Planet
Ethnic Diversities
Health
Innovation
in Education
Music and Society (no concert films or music videos)
Popular
Culture
Women,
Families and Children
A panel of experts will vet up to 10 films for possible inclusion. The Bureau of Educational and Cultural
Affairs makes final decisions about selection. To nominate a film, four NONRETURNABLE DVDs must be
submitted along with a short SYNOPSIS and CREDIT LISTS. Entries must be shipped PREPAID. Nomination
Postmark Deadline: SEPTEMBER 25, 2009
Nomination to this curated Showcase grants the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs
of the U.S. Department of State, the UFVA and the IDA the right to use brief
clips, photographs, and biographical data of filmmakers and their subjects for
publicity and promotional purposes, including UFVA/ IDA/DOS websites, podcasts
and internet feeds. If the film is
chosen to be in the American Documentary Showcase, the copyright holder further
grants permission to the Showcase to make DVD duplicates, to screen the entire
documentary, or portions thereof, at American Embassies and overseas venues
selected by the Embassies, including foreign film festivals. The copyright holder also agrees to allow
the Showcase to subtitle their film as deemed necessary by the Showcase.
All materials must be shipped/mailed with all charges prepaid to:
Betsy A. McLane, PhD
Showcase
Director
3801
University Avenue
Suite
260
Riverside,
CA 92501
For
more information visit www.ufva.org/showcase
Any
questions not addressed above should be directed to:
betsymclane@documentarydiva.com
Read more about the 2009 American Documentary Showcase program here.