Getting Ready for Getting Real: Meet the Programmers

The documentary world is expanding, and Getting Real ’26 is here to examine what that means. This summer, we will explore what it might mean to bridge the gap between industrial reality and the expanding world of documentary filmmaking. What does documentary look like when we follow it beyond the festival circuit into community screenings, participatory media, and creator-driven nonfiction? Who is already doing this work, and what can the documentary community learn from them?

Watch here for a conversation with Getting Real Conference Director Abby Sun, Conference programmers Lisa Valencia-Svensson and Meghan Monsour, and Anisa Hosseinnezhad, IDA Membership Manager, for an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the research, themes, and design shaping Getting Real ‘26 and tips and tricks on how to best prepare for this year’s conference.

Whether you have already purchased your pass or are curiously browsing the schedule, this event gives you a deeper look at this year’s conference, the conversations you can expect, and ways to prepare to get the most out of the experience.

Access:
ASL interpretation is provided for this session.