DocuWeeks 2011 dimmed the lights on its final screening at the Laemmle Sunset 5 in Los Angeles last Thursday, September 8. We’re sad to see the popcorn boxes and empty beverage containers cleared from the theaters, and it’s bittersweet to see all our DocuWeeks filmmakers off on their own paths with their films in tow.
Filmmakers and IDA Members mingle at the DocuWeeks Wrap Party.
After we cleared our eyes and sorted through all the great things we’ve seen since August 12, we sat down to look at exactly what happened at the 15th edition of DocuWeeks. What we found was a pretty impressive amount of time spent talking, thinking, and breathing documentary!
Over the four weeks of screenings...
>> We screened over 400 hours of documentary programming between 17 features and 7 shorts in two cities.
>> We had a combined total of 144 filmmaker and talent Q&As in both LA and NY.
>> The team from Dying to do Letterman clocked in the most Q&As, and had the closing night Q&A in Los Angeles!
The Dying to do Letterman team.
>> We had our first non-human Q&A participant in Sesame Street’s Elmo. Special thanks to Kevin Clash for bringing Elmo to life!
Connie Marks and Philip Shane of Being Elmo.
>> Filmmakers traveled from as far afield as Switzerland (Nick Brandestini, Darwin), Poland (Pawel Kloc, Phnom Penh Lullaby), England (Phil Grabsky, The Boy Mir) and Haiti (David Darg and Bryn Mooser, Sun City Picture House). These filmmakers make DocuWeeks truly international!
Pawel Kloc, director of Phnom Penh Lullaby.
>> We grew DocuWeeks’ social media presence on Facebook and Twitter from the ground up! We plan on keeping the conversation going, too. Join us for more on what’s going on in the lives of DocuWeeks alums.
More mingling at a Member Mixer at The Standard Hotel, Hollywood.
>> Our fabulous filmmakers weathered the storm in New York—literally! Hurricane Irene may have slowed us down, but it didn't stop us from showing great docs to the NYC community.
>>Menage a Trois Wine, the Standard Hotel Hollywood, and Stella Artois sponsored three Friday night Member Mixers at the Purple Lounge at The Standard.
And that was just the 15th edition. Who knows what Sweet 16 will bring?
Thanks so much to all the participating filmmakers, subjects, theaters, sponsors, and dedicated audience members who told their friends to tell their friends about DocuWeeks. We can't wait for DocuWeeks 2012!