The Hot Seat

Despite our best efforts to create a more just and distributed documentary ecosystem, we still live in a world where a small group of people select or acquire films for entities that filmmakers desire—unrestricted grants, influential international film festivals, deep-pocketed platforms, and legacy broadcasters. Questions and assumptions about their processes as crucial points of access and support for filmmakers tend toward the worst. For this session, we turn the tables. These intrepid gatekeepers have pledged to give honest answers to your questions, especially the most challenging ones.

Moderator: Abby Sun (IDA)
Panelist: Mads K. Mikkelsen (CPH:DOX), Kiyoko McCrae (Chicken & Egg), Bryn Mooser (XTR), and Luis Ortiz (Latino Public Broadcasting)