Panels & Workshops

When documentary filmmakers seek experimental forms of nonfiction storytelling, we often look to experimental films and moving image work. But there are other forms of documentary practice, such as in music. In this hybrid workshop, artists Claire Rousay and Lucy Liyou will talk through and

Join us for a gathering at the IDA office in honor of the first annual LA Climate Week! We are thrilled to be in conversation with Indigenous climate justice activists about how they use media to weave together gender justice, racial justice, and climate justice.

The panel discussion will delve into the differences between television/broadcast content and international festival documentaries and how funding works in these different spaces around the world. What does it mean to have broadcast partners versus festival partners? Does one offer more creative freedom than the other? How can we negotiate the drawbacks and best use the opportunities these different forms offer? The conversation will examine broadcasters' priorities and ways they evaluate content that might drive them to co-produce, buy, or broadcast certain films instead of others.

Filmmakers of color often encounter pushback from the industry around how to tell our stories our way. We are nudged to sacrifice our vision, our creativity, and sometimes even the truth, in the name of commercial viability and mass audience appeal. How can we be supported to tell stories outside of the dominant gaze, if most formative spaces for international artists are trying to make a film “accessible” to a mass audience?

In recent years, “creative documentaries,” especially those from India, have soared to new heights globally, carving out a unique space in world cinema. What exactly are "creative documentaries," and how do they intersect with Indian and Western audiences? India has experienced a rise in successful documentaries, yet many of these projects are primarily made possible through support from Western funding bodies and institutions. This dynamic prompts reflection on the tenets by which decisions to fund these films are made.

We strongly encourage you to watch the Open Call Info Video Series before attending this Office Hours session. During this session, the IDA Funds team will be able to answer individual questions about your application and any questions you may have about whether or not your project is eligible to

If you live outside the United States, reviewed the Open Call Info Video Series, and still have questions about the Open Call Applications, then these Office Hours are perfect for you! As non-USA applicants, you may have questions about eligibility, our guidelines, how we evaluate projects, and how

IDA’s SPECTRES is a two-part forum with documentary producers, directors, academics, and security experts that attempts to demystify digital security and its need within documentary production. This series will culminate in a best practices field guide for documentarians and a burner OS that allows makers to ingest, edit, and communicate securely.

What are the ethics of using Deep Fakes to anonymize sources in non-fiction media? What are the layers of consent that require consideration? What are the futures, the risks, and the opportunities of these types of manipulations? What strategies can non-fiction media makers (journalists, documentarians, and artists) implement to navigate the complex landscape of these technologies?

As our everyday lives become progressively computational, the majority of our actions are increasingly trackable. This presents new challenges, ethical concerns, and emerging production realities that documentary practitioners must navigate. SPECTRES is a two part forum with documentary producers, directors, academics, and security experts that attempts to demystify digital security and its need within documentary production. This series will culminate in a best practices field guide for documentarians and a burner OS that allows makers to ingest, edit, and communicate securely, which will be published in 2024.