Silver Sessions 2011

2011 Silverdocs Documentary Conference

Silver Sessions – You must be registered to sign up!

On-Line Signup has closed. Please visit the Conference Information Desk in the Silver Spring Civic Center Atrium to sign up or put your name on the waiting list.

All registered attendees may sign up on-site at the Conference Information Desk for Silver Sessions (depending on space availability); Silverdocs Filmmakers, Platinum Package and Sterling Access Pass holders have priority access. Student pass holders may sign up for the wait list on site only. Each session is limited to 15 participants.

Silver Sessions are small-group meetings with development, programming and acquisition executives; program officers from funding agencies; theatrical, DVD and international broadcast distributors; digital media innovators, marketing and PR consultants; producers’ representatives; legal advisers and industry leaders.

All Silver Sessions will be held in the Colesville Room at the Silver Spring Civic Building, One Veterans Place (at the corner of Fenton St. & Ellsworth Dr.), Silver Spring, MD 20910

Please note: The schedule is subject to change and will be updated as sessions are added. During the Festival, please check at the Conference Desk in the Atrium of the Silver Spring Civic Center for the most up-to-date list, or to be placed on a waiting list for a session.

TUESDAY

Tuesday, June 21, Colesville Room
10:00 a.m. – 10:30 p.m.
NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE HUMANITIES (NEH)

The NEH's Division of Public Programs supports humanities-rich projects that engage general public audiences. Join Senior Program Officer Danielle Shapiro for a conversation about funding opportunities for filmmakers. In addition to providing an overview of the NEH mission, the session will focus on future grant competitions and deadlines; explain the internal review process; discuss the nuts and bolts of putting together a competitive application; and answer questions regarding your specific project(s). Special attention will be given to a new grant opportunity, Bridging Cultures through Film: International Topics as well as America’s Media Makers grants for filmmakers.

PRESENTER
Danielle Shapiro, Senior Program Officer, Public Programs, NEH

Tuesday, June 21 - Colesville Room
11:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS (NEA)

The National Endowment for the Arts primarily supports non-profit organizations to carry out specific arts projects. Through the Art Works category, the Media Arts Program supports organizations that are involved in a broad spectrum of activity in the media arts -- film, video, audio, and other forms of digital media -- including the production, exhibition, distribution, and preservation of work; the provision of services to the field; and the training of artists. Through the Arts in Media category, projects may either be about the arts or art works themselves. This includes high profile multi-part or single television and radio programs (documentaries and dramatic narratives); artistic segments for use within an existing series; media created for theatrical release; installations; multi-part webisodes; content for mobile platforms; and interactive games. Short films, five minutes and under, will only be considered in packages of three or more. Arts in Media proposals must demonstrate the ability to reach a national audience.

PRESENTER
Mary Smith, Media Arts Specialist, Visual Arts Division

Tuesday, June 21 - Colesville Room
12:00 p.m. - 12:30 p.m.
INDIEPIX UNLIMITED

is the new subscription on-demand streaming store for independent films. Based on 5 years of technology development in catalog management, video streaming, and account tracking at IndiePix, this store is open to all content holders of independent film as a streaming platform for their titles. As audiences are increasingly demanding the streaming option, and too much independent content is not given a high-profile streaming presentation, IndiePix Unlimited is seeking to offer consumers a comprehensive and excellent collection of independent films through its subscription platform.

PRESENTERS
Mark DeFrancis, Director of Film Acquisition
Mike Swain, ?Acquisitions Associate?

Tues., June 21 - Colesville Room
1:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
KINO LORBER

Alive Mind Cinema , Lorber Films and Kino International are theatrical releasing arms of Kino Lorber, Inc., specializing in award-winning documentaries, international films and classics. The Alive Mind Cinema distribution label specializes in docs related to Personal Transformation, Progressive Spirituality and Cultural Change. Planning to bring to market over 20 titles per year, Alive Mind Cinema will pursue multi-platform releases via digital and packaged home media along with 6 to 8 flagship national theatrical releases, of which "El Bulli: Cooking in Progress" is the first.

PRESENTER
Elizabeth Sheldon, Vice President, Kino Lorber, Inc.

Tuesday, June 21 - Colesville Room
2:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
HOME BOX OFFICE (HBO)

PRESENTER
Nancy Abraham, Senior Vice President, Documentary Programming, HBO

Tuesday, June 21 - Colesville Room
3:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
WOMEN IN FILM AND VIDEO

Women in Film & Video (WIFV) of Washington, DC is dedicated to advancing the professional development and achievement for women working in all areas of film, television, video, multimedia and related disciplines. WIFV supports women in the industry by promoting equal opportunities, encouraging professional development, serving as an information network, and educating the public about women’s creative and technical achievements. WIFV, a 501(c)(3) non-profit community benefit organization founded in 1979, is the premier professional resource for women who want successful media production careers in Washington, DC. Our resources, connections and advocates support a vibrant, creative media industry

PRESENTER
Melissa Houghton, Executive Director

Tuesday, June 21 - Colesville Room
4:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
WOMEN MAKE MOVIES

Women Make Movies is a non-profit feminist media organization based in NY which supports the production, promotion and distribution of independent films and media projects by women directors. Our two main programs are an internationally recognized Distribution Program and a unique Production Assistance Program. The largest distributor of films which are both by and about women, we develop individual distribution strategies for the more than 500 films we distribute. Each year we acquire 15-23 shorts and feature length films, primarily documentaries, and release them to theatrical, broadcast, educational and digital markets. Our Production Assistance Program works with women directors who are making films about all kinds of subjects. Benefits include fiscal sponsorship, fundraising consultations, budget review, rough cut screenings, discounts to workshops and seminars and a wealth of informational resources on production and distribution. We have 3 deadlines per year and accept 20-40 new projects each year.

PRESENTER
Debra Zimmerman, Executive Director, Women Make Movies

WEDNESDAY

Wednesday, June 22 - Colesville Room
10:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
CHICKEN & EGG PICTURES

Chicken & Egg Pictures is a hybrid film fund and non-profit production company dedicated to supporting women filmmakers who are as passionate about the craft of storytelling as they are about the social justice, environmental and human rights issues they’re embracing, translating and exploring on film.

We match strategically timed financial support with rigorous, respectful and dynamic mentorship, creative collaboration and community-building to nurture women filmmakers whose diverse voices represent a range of lived experience and realities that have the power to change the world as we know it.

PRESENTERS
Wendy Ettinger, Co-Founder, Chicken & Egg Pictures
Julie Parker Benello, Co-Founder, Chicken & Egg Pictures

Wednesday, June 22 - Colesville Room
11:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
POV

POV—public television’s premier showcase for independent documentaries—reaches over 97 percent of American TV viewers with a cumulative audience average of 2.5 million per program. The 1000 programs submitted for consideration each year undergo a rigorous review process that involves independent media professionals, public television station programmers and PBS departments. POV both co-produces films and acquires finished films, ranging from shorts to feature length films. Once chosen, the filmmakers and POV craft a broadcast plan that includes a national press campaign and a marketing initiative that provides a springboard for the film.

PRESENTER
Simon Kilmurry, Executive Producer, POV

Resource Room:
POV: Documentaries with a Point of View

Wednesday, June 22 - Colesville Room
12:00 p.m. - 12:30 p.m.
RO*CO FILMS INTERNATIONAL

PRESENTER
Annie Roney, Founder

Wednesday, June 22 - Colesville Room
1:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
FLEDGLING FUND

PRESENTERS
Sheila Leddy, Executive Director, The Fledgling Fund
Emily Verellen, Director of Programs and Communications, The Fledgling Fund

Wednesday, June 22 - Colesville Room
2:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
CROWDSTARTER

Join Paola Freccero and Liz Ogilvie as they walk you through specific marketing strategies that will extend the reach of your film. CrowdStarter offers filmmakers, distribution and entertainment companies a range of marketing services including grassroots marketing, release & digital marketing strategies, business development, and creative ways to build audiences through the power of the crowd. With over 30 years of combined experience in the broadcast, exhibition, home video, new media and international markets, Paola and Liz can give you tangible tips and tools to the successful marketing and distribution of your film. This session is a chance to get answers to the questions you have always wanted to ask.

PRESENTERS
Paola Freccero, Partner, Crowdstarter
Liz Ogilvie, Partner, Crowdstarter

Wednesday, June 22 - Colesville Room
3:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
NEW VIDEO

Celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2011, New Video is a leading entertainment distributor and the largest aggregator of independent digital content worldwide. Headquartered in New York City, with an international presence in 45 territories, the company delivers feature films, TV programs and web originals via digital download, streaming media, video-on-demand, Blu-ray and DVD, and theatrical release. New Video streamlines the distribution and marketing process for filmmakers, producers and brand partners to bring a wide variety of fresh content to new audiences. The company’s library includes original TV series and movies from A+E® Home Entertainment, HISTORY™, and Lifetime®, unforgettable games and trophy sets from Major League Baseball®, storybook treasures from Scholastic®, award-winning documentaries from Docurama Films®, Arthouse Films, and Plexifilm, next-gen indies and web hits from Flatiron Film Company®, the best in Chinese cinema from China Lion, and festival picks from Tribeca Film.

PRESENTERS
April Benavides, Brand Director
Emily Rothschild, Acquisitions Manager

Wed., June 22 - Colesville Room
4:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
KINO LORBER

Alive Mind Cinema , Lorber Films and Kino International are theatrical releasing arms of Kino Lorber, Inc., specializing in award-winning documentaries, international films and classics. The Alive Mind Cinema distribution label specializes in docs related to Personal Transformation, Progressive Spirituality and Cultural Change. Planning to bring to market over 20 titles per year, Alive Mind Cinema will pursue multi-platform releases via digital and packaged home media along with 6 to 8 flagship national theatrical releases, of which "El Bulli: Cooking in Progress" is the first.

PRESENTER
Elizabeth Sheldon, Vice President, Kino Lorber, Inc.

THURSDAY

Thurs., June 23 - Colesville Room
10:00 a.m. - 10:30 am
CNN PRESENTS

CNN Presents is the award-winning long-form unit of the CNN News Group, producing in-depth programming for multiple formats and networks. Currently CNN Presents’ programs appear in a weekly documentary series, airing Sunday nights at 8 and 11PM. The series features everything from enterprise documentaries to investigative reports to specials on big breaking news events. Its producers draw on unparalleled resources around the world for reporting depth and reach. Recent and current projects include documentaries on the internet revolutionaries behind the Arab spring, the mission to get bin Laden, the online trafficking of under age girls, and a rogue crime lab in North Carolina that put innocent men in prison. Besides winning numerous awards for individual programs, CNN Presents has been recognized by the International Documentary Association as the Best Documentary Series, and by the Emmy President’s Award for its documentary body of work.

PRESENTER
Kathy Slobogin, Managing Editor, CNN Special Investigations/Documentaries

Thursday, June 23 - Colesville Room
11:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
THE SAN FRANCISCO FILM SOCIETY

The San Francisco Film Society recently announced the SFFS Documentary Film Fund (DFF), which will disburse $300,000 to documentary filmmakers in postproduction nationwide over the next three years. SFFS Grants and Residencies Coordinator, Sara Dosa, will introduce filmmakers to the DFF’s funding priorities, lead filmmakers through application writing strategy and Do’s and Don’ts, as well as sharing examples of documentary films SFFS has supported in the past.

PRESENTER
Sara Dosa, Coordinator, Grants and Residencies Programs

Resource Room:
San Francisco Film Society

Thursday, June 23 – Colesville Room
1:00 P.M. – 1:30 p.m.
DISCOVERY ACCESS

Discovery Access is a robust e-commerce site that is home to over 100,000 hours of world-class content covering Discovery's 28 entertainment networks and multi-platform media brands. Join Jocelyn Shearer, Vice President of Footage Sales for an intimate discussion about the depth and breadth of content readily available through Discovery Access.

PRESENTER
Jocelyn Shearer, Vice President, Footage Sales

Thurs., June 23 - Colesville Room
2:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
THE TRIBECA FILM INSTITUTE

The Tribeca Film Institute is a 501(c)(3) year-round nonprofit arts organization founded by Robert De Niro, Jane Rosenthal, and Craig Hatkoff in the wake of September 11, 2001. TFI empowers filmmakers through grants and professional development, and is a resource for and supporter of individual artists in the field. The Institute’s educational programming leverages an extensive network of people in the film industry to help New York City students learn filmmaking and gain the media skills necessary to be productive citizens and creative individuals in the 21st century.

TFI grants $1,000,000 annually via it's documentary filmmaker support programs to a diverse range of filmmakers and non-fiction genres: the Gucci Tribeca Documentary Fund; the TFI Documentary Fund, presented by HBO; the TFI Latin America Media Arts Fund (including the new Heineken Voces Grant); Tribeca All Access; and the TFI New Media Fund.

PRESENTER
Ryan Harrington, Director of Documentary Programs, Tribeca Film Institute

Thurs., June 23 - Colesville Room
4:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
KICKSTARTER

Kickstarter is the largest platform for funding creative projects in the world. Every month on Kickstarter, tens of thousands of people pledge millions of dollars and help bring creative projects from the worlds of music, film, art, technology, design, food, publishing and other creative fields to life. The Kickstarter community features projects by Oscar winners, Grammy winners, TED Fellows, New York Times best-sellers, Pulitzer Prize finalists, and thousands of others. Kickstarter is open to creative projects big and small, serious and whimsical, traditional and avant-garde. www.kickstarter.com

PRESENTER
Molly Surno, Outreach Director, Kickstarter

FRIDAY

Friday, June 24 - Colesville Room
10:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
VIDEO PROJECT

Steve Michelson is the Executive Producer for Specialty Studios and its educational division, the Video Project, which celebrates its 27th year in 2011. Located in San Francisco, the studio specializes in distributing films focused on the environment, social justice and sustainability. Many of the studios films are developed into campaign driven cause-related programs including support from non-profits, corporations, and other institutions.

PRESENTER
Steve Michelson, Executive Producer, Specialty Studios/Video Project

Friday, June 24 - Colesville Room
11:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
CINEREACH

Cinereach is a not-for-profit film production company and foundation that champions vital stories, artfully told. Created and led by young philanthropists, entrepreneurs and filmmakers, Cinereach empowers fiction and nonfiction filmmakers from all over the world through Grants & Awards, The Reach Film Fellowship, an internal Productions department, and through partnerships with the Sundance Institute and other organizations. Since 2006, Cinereach has disbursed over $4.5 million in grant funds to more than 90 projects.

Cinereach supports feature-length nonfiction and fiction films that are at the intersection of engaging storytelling, visual artistry, and vital subject matter. Grant amounts can range from $5,000 – $50,000 per project and can be awarded to support any stage of production, including research and development, production and post-production. There are two grant cycles per year (Summer and Winter). Within each cycle, between five and fifteen projects are selected to receive support.

PRESENTER
Adella Ladjevardi, Grants Manager

Friday, June 24 - Colesville Room
12:00 p.m. - 12:30 p.m.
SNAG FILMS

PRESENTER

Andrew Mer

Friday, June 24 – Colesville
1:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
WRITERS GUILD OF AMERICA, EAST

Making documentary films? There's a community of writers for you!?
The Writers Guild of America, East, (WGAE) is a labor union of thousands of professionals who are the primary creators of what is seen or heard on television and film in the U.S.-- including a growing number of TV and film documentaries! The WGAE works on their behalf to promote and protect the professional and artistic interests of this diverse community.
From workshops, screenings and networking to health insurance, pension payments, contract negotiation and legal guidance-- the Guild is looking out for documentary filmmakers. Learn more about the Guild's programs, services and community at our session.

Presenter
Elana Levin, Director of Communications
Rochelle Rubin, Signatories Administrator

Friday, June 24 – Colesville
2:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
JUSTFILMS UNIT, FORD FOUNDATION

The goal of the JustFilms unit is to advance social justice worldwide through the talent of emerging and established filmmakers. There are many pathways for finding and supporting filmmakers whose works tackle issues of human rights, equal opportunity and human dignity—and which are oriented to real voices and real lives in today’s complex world.
JustFilms will pursue three paths: Signature Partnerships for Creativity and Change: Partnering with major film industry and public media organizations such as the Sundance Institute, the Independent Television Service and the Tribeca Film Institute, will help open doors for our filmmakers and broaden the reach of their work.
Signature Partnerships for Creativity and Change: Partnering with major film industry and public media organizations such as the Sundance Institute, the Independent Television Service and the Tribeca Film Institute, will help open doors for our filmmakers and broaden the reach of their work. Strategic Films to Advance Social Causes: Building linkages across the work of the Ford Foundation globally, JustFilms will use its resources to support projects that advance public understanding and engagement on issues aligned to the efforts of our grantees worldwide. New Ideas that Expand Horizons: Remaining open to new ideas wherever they may emerge, JustFilms will devote its grants to projects that we discover through an ongoing open application process.

PRESENTER
Sharon La Cruise, Associate, JustFilms, Media Content Fund, Ford Foundation

Friday, June 24 - Colesville Room
4:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
CINETIC MEDIA/FILMBUFF

Come learn more about digital distribution! FilmBuff is the distribution label of Cinetic Rights Management, a New York based company founded in 2007. FilmBuff curates the best in original content for online audiences. FilmBuff scours the earth in search of compelling stories and ensures that content is available for viewers regardless of their viewing platform. As one of the largest and most successful suppliers of digital entertainment content, FilmBuff delivers to all of the leading platforms across North America and Europe through its partnerships with cable, satellite and telco companies, game consoles, online retailers, wireless platforms, and hardware manufacturers.

PRESENTER
Matt Dentler, Head of Content, Cinetic Rights Management