"It's about time there was an organization just for us. An organization whose sole purpose is ‘to encourage and to honor the documentary arts and sciences; to promote nonfiction film and video; to support the efforts of nonfiction film and video makers all over the world."
Excerpt from the invitation letter sent out by Linda Buzell to the documentary community in 1982.
42 years ago, on February 6, 1982, in Los Angeles, 75 members of the documentary field convened for the first meeting of what would become the International Documentary Association. The meeting stemmed from a grassroots appeal by IDA founder Linda Buzzell through an advertisement in varying publications, inviting filmmakers to a charter meeting of documentary makers and professionals. They set out to build an organization by non-fiction filmmakers for non-fiction filmmakers. You can learn more about our origins in Backstory: Young IDA and her Radical Roots by Linda Buzzell, published in Documentary Magazine!
42 years later, IDA is a global community of non-fiction media makers, industry professionals, funders, distributors, community organizers, and scholars spanning 76 countries! Through ups and downs and changes and challenges in the industry, IDA has stayed true to her mission of encouraging, honoring, and celebrating non-fiction storytellers and stories across the world. As we look ahead to the new year, we would like to celebrate some of our accomplishments from last year:
- IDA ratified its historic first-ever union contract, paving the way for a fair and just workplace and setting an example for our industry.
- $1,000,000 in grants were given to 23 independent filmmakers and community-centered documentary organizations.
- Nearly $15,000 was granted to groups and filmmakers through our Field-Building Fund, fortifying the foundation of grassroots documentary filmmaking.
- More than 20% of submissions to the 39th International Documentary Awards were international productions representing 48 countries.
- Documentary Magazine returned to print with a renewed design.
Our work is made possible through the support of our members! Together, we are impacting the industry we all love and care about, moving towards a brighter, vibrant, and more inclusive future.
Join or Renew Your Membership This Week to Enter the Raffle
Become a member or renew your membership now through February 12 to enter the raffle and get a chance to win an All Access or Virtual Together Pass for Getting Real '24. New members with no prior membership and members whose membership lapsed before January 1, 2023, are eligible to enter the raffle. Winners will be announced on February 15. If you are a lapsed member considering a renewal, now is a perfect time to come back to IDA.
Thank you for your support of IDA and the storytellers we serve. Our community would not exist without our friends, and we look forward to celebrating our 42nd birthday and beyond with all of you. Guidelines for the raffle:
- How can I enter the raffle?
If you are new to IDA and purchase your membership between February 6 and 12, you will automatically be entered into the raffle.
If you previously had a membership but have not been a member since January 1, 2023, and purchase your membership between February 6 and 12, you will automatically be entered into the raffle.
- What is being raffled?
We are raffling passes to Getting Real ‘24 – one All-Access pass and six Virtual Together passes.
- When will the winners be announced?
Winners will be announced on February 15.
- I am not sure if I was a member in 2023. How can I check?
If you are not sure about the status of your membership in 2023, please log in to the IDA member portal. If you still have questions, please contact our Membership Manager, Anisa, at anisa@documentary.org.