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Covering the latest quick bites from IDA and the world of documentary.

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A full body shot of a Black woman in a black bodysuit and sheer white cover-up with black high heels and red dangling earrings, sitting on a couch with an afro.
IDA Member Spotlight: De'Onna "Tree" Young-Stephens
De’Onna "Tree" Young-Stephens is an award-winning writer and director based in Los Angeles, California. She was born and raised in Walkertown, North Carolina where she developed an interest in film at...
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A group of Trump supporters storm the US Capitol Building on January 6, 2022. From The New York Times Visual Investigations’ 'Days of Rage. 'Courtesy of The New York Times
Essential Doc Reads: Week of January 10, 2022
Essential Doc Reads is our curated selection of recent features and important news items about the documentary form and its processes, from around the internet, as well as from the Documentary...
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Alvin Ailey is a legendary Black male dancer, photographed on stage, in a ballet pose. From Jamila Wignot’s ‘Ailey.’ Courtesy of Jacob's Pillow / Licensed from Harvard (John Lindquist rights)
Screen Time: Week of January 10, 2022
The 36th season of PBS’ American Masters premieres today, January 11, with Jamila Wignot’s Ailey, the definitive documentary about the life and works of dancer Alvin Ailey, who founded the influential...
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John Wilson is a white male filmmaker wearing a colorful sun umbrella around his head. He is holding a video camera with palm trees in the background. From ‘How To with John Wilson.’ Image courtesy of Joe Buglewicz/HBO.
Essential Doc Reads: Week of January 3, 2022
Essential Doc Reads is our curated selection of recent features and important news items about the documentary form and its processes, from around the internet, as well as from the Documentary...
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A protagonist looks into a hand-held mirror in Lee Grant's 'What Sex Am I?" Courtesy of Criterion Channel
Screen Time: Week of January 3, 2022
Screen Time is your curated weekly guide to excellent documentaries and nonfiction programs that you can watch at home. Start your year with the magical Aretha Franklin performing songs from her best...
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Headshot of a woman in her late 20s wearing a baseball cap over short brown hair. She has a camera hanging around her neck and it is golden hour behind her through the trees.
IDA Member Spotlight: Allison Walsh
Allison Walsh is an independent documentary filmmaker, freelance videographer and fine artist, who is committed to political advocacy and documenting social issues in the Midwest. Walsh’s films have...
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Two Black teenage boys run across a green field holding sticks. Smoke bellows behind them. Still from Patrick Bresnan's 'The Rabbit Hunt'. Courtesy of Argo
Four IDA Documentary Award Nominated Shorts to Watch on Argo
In the crowded documentary field, short documentaries don’t always get the love they deserve. Our friends at Argo understand this well and have built a whole platform that celebrates and streams short...
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Film still of Jacques Costeau underwater in scuba diving gear. Courtesy of National Geographic
Essential Doc Reads: Week of December 6, 2021
Essential Doc Reads is our curated selection of recent features and important news items about the documentary form and its processes, from around the internet, as well as from the Documentary...
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Cast members of the Broadway musical 'Company' recording their album. From DA Pennebaker's ‘Original Cast Album: “Company"’. Courtesy of the Criterion Collection
Screen Time: Week of December 6, 2021
Screen Time is your curated weekly guide to excellent documentaries and nonfiction programs that you can watch at home. Like everyone else, the Documentary team has been deeply mourning the passing of...
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Tsanavi Spoonhunter scouting with Prinz Three Irons, of the Crow Tribe of Montana, at the Wyoming/Montana border for ‘Crow Country: Our Right to Food Sovereignty.’ Photo courtesy of Tsavani Spoonhunter.
Honoring Indigenous Stories for Native American Heritage Month
Every November, for Native American Heritage Month (NAHM), the US commemorates the contributions, culture and history of Native people. It is also a month to reflect on how to honor the rich knowledge...
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