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Panels & Workshops

Our year-round series of topical seminars led by experts in the documentary field.


Thu. July 27, 2023 @ 1:00 - 2:30pm PST
Do you want to take the Nonfiction Media Makers with Disabilities Survey but are struggling with the motivation and/or focus to complete it independently? Join IDA staff for a virtual accountability or body doubling survey-taking session.

Thu. July 20, 2023 @ 1:00 - 2:00pm PST
For Disability Pride Month, join artist thai Lu in an interactive sensory workshop. In this 60 minutes workshop, artists Thai Lu will build knowledge around neurodivergence through the everyday ritual of getting dressed. The term Neurodivergence encompasses brain functioning that processes information differently than typically considered. This workshop is open to current and previous IDA members and community supporters.

Wed. July 19, 2023 @ 9:30 - 11:00am PT
Join Emmy®-winning filmmaker Lindsey Dryden and filmmaker & writer Kyla Harris in a workshop on Disability Justice, disabled-led creativity, and accessibility in the film and TV industry.

Fri. July 7 - Mon. July 10, 2023 @ All day PT
From July 7-10, 2023, IDA will bring together a diverse group of researchers, artists, curators, creative technologists, poets, and collectives for an in-person convening in Los Angeles, CA.

Thu. June 29, 2023 @ 9:00 - 10:30am PST
Immersive media vibrates embodiment. It allows the viewer to dissolve into dimensional narratives, making experiences and bodies pliable. The introduction of VR, AR, and interactive exhibitions into practice has given nonfiction media makers new tools to tell expanded narratives. In turn, these same tools, with their capacity to innovate, strengthen the need for accessible storytelling. The disabled community, in particular, calls for a radical restructuring of pre-existing frameworks, from inclusive asset libraries to cripped (accessible) workflows and haptics.

Wed. June 28, 2023 @ 10:00 - 11:30am PT
Join Emmy®-winning filmmaker Lindsey Dryden and filmmaker & writer Kyla Harris in a workshop on Disability Justice, disabled-led creativity, and accessibility in the film and TV industry.

Tue. June 27, 2023 @ 10:00 - 11:30am PT
In this panel, moderated by filmmaker Charlie Shackleton, representatives from an array of archives will discuss these challenging issues, while also highlighting the ways in which archives can serve the independent filmmaking community.

Sat. June 10, 2023 @ 11:00am - 12:30pm PT
Can film advance and energize Black Women’s Wellness? If so, how?

Thu. June 8, 2023 @ 10:00am - 12:00pm PT
A very small number of film festivals seem to hold an enormous amount of sway over a film’s sales and distribution prospects, as well as the filmmakers’ chances at creating a sustainable living through filmmaking. This perception drives many filmmakers to pin their hopes on just a handful of market-driven festivals that are most important in their region, whether it’s North America (where Sundance looms large), Europe (Cannes, which accepts very few documentaries), Asia (A-list festivals like Busan or Singapore) or elsewhere. In reality, there is a vast ecosystem of film festivals that can all contribute to the healthy life of a documentary film project, and distribution that doesn’t rely on the catalyst of perceived film festival success.

Wed. June 7, 2023 @ 10:00 - 11:30am PT
Join Emmy®-winning filmmaker Lindsey Dryden and filmmaker & writer Kyla Harris in a workshop on Disability Justice, disabled-led creativity, and accessibility in the film and TV industry.