Though "Doc Star of the Month" has spotlit cops in the past (the NYPD's Sergeant Edwin Raymond of Stephen Maing's Crime + Punishment; Oakland Police Department Deputy Chief LeRonne Armstrong of Peter Nicks' The Force), this is the first time Documentary has showcased men in uniform who are breaking every conventional policing rule as part of the job. Partners in fighting crime in the San Antonio Police Department Mental Health Unit, Ernie Stevens and Joe Smarro don't wear a uniform to work and are slow to draw a gun. The subjects of Jennifer McShane's mesmerizing (and SXSW Special Jury Prize
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The Truth to Power Award, a new addition to the IDA Documentary Awards roster, recognizes an individual or institution that has shown conspicuous fortitude, tenacity and resoluteness in holding those in power to account. This inaugural honor goes to actor/producer/author Leah Remini, who, as an outspoken critic of the Church of Scientology, of which she was formerly a member, has been subjected to a withering series of attacks—from online trolling to death threats—from the Church. Three years ago, Remini did the unthinkable when she produced an A&E documentary series that exposed the Church of
Freida Lee Mock has, over the past few decades, witnessed a sea change in the documentary space—from the artistry and craft, to the distribution channels and platforms, to representation and inclusion. While her academic background—she majored in history and English at UC Berkeley and did graduate work in law and history—might not immediately signal a career in documentary, the individuals Mock has profiled— architect Maya Lin, playwright Tony Kushner, writer Annie Lamott, law professor/activist Anita Hill, gang intervention activist Gregory Boyle and Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg
We most often associate the radical activism of the 1960s and 1970s with people of color, students, women and veterans organizing to make systemic change. Not unrelated to those movements, that period was also a defining one for journalists. The courts solidified First Amendment rights in key cases like New York Times Co. v. Sullivan (1964) and New York Times Co. v. United States (1971), otherwise known as the Pentagon Papers case. And, in an unusual move in 1970, a group of journalists organized to defend their right to protect confidential sources. Bringing together a network of attorneys
The Emerging Documentary Filmmaker Award was established in 2003 to honor an individual who has made "a significant impact at the beginning of his or her career in documentary film." From the first recipient, Alex Rivera, to the 2018 honoree, Bing Liu, this distinguished corps of artists have gone on to earn Academy Award nominations, Emmys, Peabodys and, for 2009 winner Natalia Almada, a MacArthur "Genius" Grant. This year's Emerging Documentary Filmmaker Award honoree, Rachel Lears, is a director, writer, producer and cinematographer, with degrees and training in music, anthropology and
Since its founding in 2006, Cinereach has grown from a foundation formed to support independent filmmakers through grants, to an award-winning funder and producer dedicated to the support of filmmakers, films, producers and organizations. To learn more about the evolution, culture and unique qualities of Cinereach, this year’s IDA Pioneer Award honoree, Documentary spoke with six members of the Cinereach team: Phil Engelhorn, founder and executive director; Natalie Difford, head of filmmaker development; Leah Giblin, head of grants; Sara Kiener, head of distribution strategies; Caroline Kaplan
For Sama, shot, directed and produced by Waad al-Kateab, is a harrowing love letter to al-Kateab’s daughter Sama, who was born on the last day of 2015, during near-constant airstrikes and bombings on Aleppo by the Russian-backed Syrian dictatorial government. The movie—like other documentaries about the Syrian conflict—focuses on the incredible will of the people, even in the face or horrific events. But this film goes further than any of the others with its unapologetic portrayal of children dying, of parents in agony, of families split apart and of what it means to bring life into a world
As the storytelling for cinematic documentary has evolved over the years, and audiences become ever more comfortable with the blending of techniques, the experience of seeing a documentary on the big screen is often every bit as gratifyingly gripping as a dramatic thriller. Two British films playing at the 63rd annual BFI London Film Festival brought this home to me— both created nail-bitingly suspenseful dramatic storylines from their very different subjects. Ed Perkins' Tell Me Who I Am is essentially a two-hander in which twin brothers confront some painful, long-suppressed secrets of their
Screen Time is your curated weekly guide to excellent documentaries and nonfiction programs that you can watch at home. Now available on YouTube Originals, The Gift: The Journey of Johnny Cash, directed by Thom Zimny, explores the artistic victories, the personal tragedies, the struggles with addiction, and the spiritual pursuits that colored Johnny Cash's life. The Gift: The Journey of Johnny Cash is nominated for an IDA Documentary Award for Best Music Documentary. The Interpreters, from Andres Caballero and Sofian Khan, is streaming on Independent Lens through December 11. The film tells
Essential Doc Reads is a weekly feature in which the IDA staff recommends recent pieces about the documentary form and its processes. Here we feature think pieces and important news items from around the Internet, and articles from the Documentary magazine archive. We hope you enjoy! Variety's Addie Morfoot assesses the documentary landscape for gender parity, and finds more progress than elsewhere in the media arts industry--but challenges remain. But women behind the camera, including an impressive roster of female nonfiction gatekeepers at HBO, Apple, PBS and Netflix, as well as the launch