Conference Events
Tuesday, June 12
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REGISTRATION OPEN
Lee Building
12:00 – 6:30 p.m.
Wednesday, June 13
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FILMMAKER BREAKFAST
AFI Silver Lobby
8:30 – 9:30 a.m. -
REGISTRATION OPEN
Lee Building
8:30 – 6:00 p.m. -
SILVER SESSIONS
TBD
9:30 – 5:00 p.m. -
AVID PANASONIC P2 HD POST PRODUCTION SEMINAR
Discovery Conf. Room
9:30 – 11:00 a.m. -
Experience the power and time advantages of working in a truly "tapeless workflow". Direct integration of Panasonic P2 formats into Avid® Media Composer®. No more shuttling through tapes looking for your shot. Spend your time being more creative. Revolutionary Avid ScriptSync™ and Avid DNxHD® encoding will also be covered.
PRESENTERS
Keith Bodner, Pixel Jones Productions
Bernie Mitchell, Silver Platter Productions
James Deigan, Digital Video Group -
INSIDE DISCOVERY
Discovery HD Theater
9:30 – 11:00 a.m. -
Success stories from experienced production companies that have become “go to” creators of content for the Discovery Networks. How they got their start? How they continue to adapt to changing network priorities? How to work with them to get your next great idea on the air?
MODERATOR
Mat Tombers, Managing Director, Intermat/ISG
PANELISTS
Margery Baker, VP CBS Eye too/CBS News Productions
Charlie Debevoise, Executive Producer, North/South
Mary Donahue, VP, Creative Content/Talent, Discovery Channel
Beth Hoppe, President and CEO, Optomen Productions
John Smithson, Executive Chairman and Creative Director, Darlow Smithson Productions -
THE FUTURE OF REAL 2.0: FROM MUSIC TO MAYHEM PLUS FAIR USE AND COPY RIGHT/COPY LEFT
Theatre 3
9:30 – 11:00 a.m. -
What are the legal implications of the brave new world of Internet distribution? What rights must be cleared, and at what cost? What is the difference between VOD and Download to Own? Join filmmakers and digital resource experts in this discussion that will help define the terms, and the implications of digital rights.
MODERATOR
Diana Ingraham, SILVERDOCS Conference Producer
PANELISTS
David Garber, President/CEO, Lantern Lane Entertainment
Brett Gaylor, Filmmaker, Open Source Cinema/EyeSteelFilm
George Rush, Attorney, Law Offices of George M. Rush
Max Segal, HBO Archives/Co-President of ACSIL: The Association of Commercial Stock Image Licensors
David Sheehan, ABCNEWS VideoSource/Co-President of ACSIL: The Association of Commercial Stock Image Licensors -
MORNING BREAK
TBD
11:00 – 11:30 a.m. -
STUDENT PITCH: Grooming the Next Generation of Filmmakers
Round House
11:30 – 1:00 p.m. -
Students from top graduate film schools including NYU’s Graduate Program in Culture and Media, the Documentary Institute at the University of Florida, Gainesville and American University’s School of Communications present their projects to commissioning editors, distributors, and executive producers.
MODERATOR
Chris Haws, International Media Consultant
PANELISTS
Maryanne Culpepper, Senior Vice President, Development, National Geographic Television and Film
Yance Ford, Series Producer, American Documentary/P.O.V.
Andrea Meditch, Commissioning Editor, Executive Producer, Discovery Films
Sumner Menchero, Sr. Programming Assoc., Program Development and Independent Film, PBS -
THE FUTURE OF REAL 2.0: READINESS AND REVENUE
Theatre 3
11:30 – 1:00 p.m. -
What about content (a.k.a. documentaries!) sitting on the shelf and in distributors’ catalogs? What are the newest potential streams of revenue: advertising-based, share of sales, subscription, other? We’ll hear from some of the companies developing new models to exploit media properties in the on-line environment and discuss what deals make sense for independent media artists.
MODERATOR
Bill Triplett, Washington Correspondant, Variety
PANELISTS
Tamara Gould, Vice President of Distribution, ITVS
Mike Haney, Content Acquisitions, CustomFlix
Linda Lawrence, Vice President, Open Media Network
Jonathan Miller, President, First Run/Icarus Films, Inc.
Brian Newman, Executive Director, Renew Media -
SHORTS 1: SIGHT AND SOUND
Theatre 1
12:00 – 1:14 p.m. -
TOTAL RUNNING TIME: 74 MIN.
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FILMMAKER CONNECTION BROWN BAG LUNCHEON
Cinema Lounge
1:00 – 2:30 p.m. -
Take a new friend to lunch at one of the many establishments in Silver Spring or buy a box lunch in the Cinema Lounge.
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SHORTS 5: LONG DISTANCE
Theatre 1
2:00 – 3:11 p.m. -
AVID PANASONIC P2 HD POST PRODUCTION SEMINAR
Discovery Conf. Room
2:30 – 4:00 p.m. -
Experience the power and time advantages of working in a truly “tapeless workflow”. Avid, Panasonic and Digital Video Group demonstrate the direct integration of Panasonic P2 formats into Avid® Media Composer® means no more shuttling through tapes looking for your shot. Spend your time being more creative. Revolutionary Avid ScriptSync™ and Avid DNxHD® encoding will also be covered.
Panasonic will be showing their popular AG-HVX200 and new AG-HPX500 P2 cameras and is pleased to have Bernie Mitchell present (Wednesday) who recently made the Iditarod Run with P2 cameras. DVG reps will be present to discuss the full P2 line from the HVX200 up to the new AJ-HPX3000G (2.2MPix) expected to ship in August/SeptPRESENTERS
Keith Bodner, Pixel Jones Productions
James Deigan, Digital Video Group
Bernie Mitchell, Silver Platter ProductionsDemonstration sessions and workshops continue throughout the remainder of the conference.
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DISTRIBUTION NOW: WHAT IS REALLY GOING ON?
Round House
2:30 – 4:00 p.m. -
Sales agents, commissioning editors, distributors and filmmakers on the front line, share success stories in the worlds of festivals, theatrical distribution, DVD, broadcast, and video on demand. What is the optimal rollout strategy for a feature length documentary over the many media platforms now available?
Introduced by
Ray Barry, Deputy Director and CAO, AFI Silver TheatreMODERATOR
Brian Newman, Executive Director, Renew Media
PANELISTS
Nancy Abraham, Vice President, HBO
Doug Block, Director/Producer, Copacetic Pictures
Josh Braun, Managing Partner, Submarine Entertainment
Liesl Copland, Head of Acquisitions & Distribution, Netflix – Red Envelope Entertainment (invited)
Richard Lorber, President, Koch Lorber Films/Lorber H/T Digital -
NOTES FROM THE FUTURE
Discovery HD Theater
2:30 – 4:00 p.m. -
Young filmmakers share their vision on the future of real with industry leaders. For major media companies it is all about audience, and the next generation of filmmakers may hold important clues as to what younger audiences are interested in and why. Join us for this discussion, which turns the traditional table on who’s talking and who’s listening, moderated, appropriately, by the new Washington Editor of The Onion.
Introduced by
Violette Davis, SILVERDOCS Registration ManagerMODERATORS
Chris Mincher, Washington Editor A.V. Club, The Onion Panelists
Yoni Brook, Director/Producer, A SON’S SACRIFICE
G.J. Echternkamp, Director, FRANK AND CINDY
Musa Syeed, Producer, A SON’S SACRIFICE
Christian Ugbode, Programs & New Media Coordinator, National Black Programming ConsortiumRESPONDENT
Donald Thoms, Vice President, Production, Discovery Health Media and Fit TV
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AFTERNOON BREAK
Other
4:00 – 4:30 p.m. -
DOC TALK: STORYTELLING IN IRAN
Discovery HD Theater
4:30 – 5:30 p.m. -
SILVERDOCS is proud to welcome independent documentary filmmakers from Iran who will show excerpts of their work and talk about the documentary filmmaking landscape in Iran today.
MODERATOR
Grace Guggenheim, Filmmaker/Producer, Guggenheim Productions
FILMMAKERS
Hossein Dabashi, Filmmaker
Soudabeh Mojaveri, Filmmaker
Marizeh Vafamehr, FilmmakerPANELISTS
Hossein Dehbashi
Mohammed Ehsani
Mohammed Hosseini-Jafari
Soghra Mehrabi
Soudabeh Mojaveri
Nasser Saffarian
Mahmoud Reza Sani
Mohamad Shirvani
Marzieh Vafamehr -
INDUSTRY HAPPY HOUR
5:30 – 7:00 p.m. -
DISCOVERY FILMMAKER COCKTAIL (INVITATION ONLY)
TBD
6:00 – 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, June 14
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DISCOVERY FILMS BREAKFAST (Invitation Only)
TBD
8:00 – 9:00 a.m. -
FILMMAKER BREAKFAST
AFI Silver Lobby
8:30 – 9:30 a.m. -
REGISTRATION OPEN
Lee Building
8:30 – 6:00 p.m. -
SILVER SESSIONS
TBD
9:30 – 5:00 p.m. -
ACE GRANT PITCH for $10,000
Discovery HD Theater
9:30 – 11:00 a.m. -
Six finalists present their documentary projects looking at animal issues to a distinguished panel of broadcast and
distribution executives. The winning pitch will be announced at the Sterling Awards Ceremony on Saturday, June 16.MODERATOR
Amy King, Associate Director, SILVERDOCS
PANELISTS
Laura Annalora, Manager, Development and Production, National Geographic Channels International
Patrick Keegan, Production Specialist, Animal Planet
Kathryn Lo, Associate Director, Program Development & Independent Film, PBS
Julie Lofton, Film & TV Liaison, ACE: Animal Content in EntertainmentDoug Zwick, Head of Non-Fiction, Porchlight Entertainment
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U.S. PUBLIC TELEVISION: A HANDS-ON GUIDE Part I
Round House
9:30 – 1:00 p.m. -
Program Development and Funding, Distribution, Publicity and Outreach, Project Management and Deliverables, and collaborating with local Public Television Stations. There is a system and there are many entry points. Come learn from the insiders what makes the Nation’s public service broadcaster and its member stations tick.
9:30 Round House Theatre
U.S. PTV: Welcome and Remarks
Greg Diefenbach, Senior Vice President for Television Programming, CPB
Patricia Finneran, SILVERDOCS Festival Director9:45–10:15 Round House Theatre
U.S. PTV: Featured Speaker, John Boland, Chief Content Officer, PBS
What will the future hold for public television? What is the unique structure that makes up the public broadcasting service? PBS’ Chief Content Officer discusses the opportunities and challenges facing this unique membership organization of media creators and distributors.10:15–11:15 Round House Theatre
U.S. PTV: PBS - Strategic Information for the Savvy Producer
What are the opportunities / entry points for filmmakers who go directly to PBS? How do the various divisions work together? Key executives from the areas of Education, Television Content, Interactive and Brand Management provide insight on the components that PBS looks for in an integrated media project.Introduced by
Diana Ingraham, SILVERDOCS Conference ProducerMODERATOR
Ruth Bolan, Executive Director, Pacific Islanders in Communication
PANELISTS
Rob Lippincott, Senior Vice President, Education, PBS
Jason Seiken, Senior Vice President, Interactive, PBS
Lea Sloan, Vice President, Communications and Events
John F. Wilson, Senior Vice President & Chief TV Programming Executive, PBSRESPONDENT
Greg Diefenbach, Senior Vice President for Television Programming, CPB
11:30-1:00 Round House Theatre
U.S. PTV: Prime-Time Strands: Entry Points for Independent Documentary Filmmakers
A look at the major strands that comprise the National Program Schedule of PBS. What are the commissioning editors looking for? What are their content priorities? What are the content elements – interactive, in the community, in the schools -- that characterize prime-time content? What are the opportunities for independent filmmakers?MODERATOR
Lesley Norman, NOW on PBS/JumpStart Productions
PANELISTS
Cynthia Lopez, Vice President, American Documentary / P.O.V.
Mark Samels, Executive Producer, AMERICAN EXPERIENCE, WBGH
Nina Chaudry, Coordinating Producer, Thirteen/WNET Wide Angle
Lois Vossen, Independent Lens Series Producer, INDEPENDENT LENS/ITVS
Melanie Wallace, Senior Series Producer, NOVA WGBH TV -
MORNING BREAK
TBD
11:00 – 11:30 a.m. -
SOURCES OF FUNDING FOR INDEPENDENT FILMMAKERS
Discovery Conf. Room
11:30 – 1:00 p.m. -
A look at the ins and outs of seeking funding from ITVS, Sundance Documentary Fund, The National Endowment for the Humanities and The National Endowment for the Arts and the PBS Challenge Fund. Key players share their priorities and interests.
MODERATOR
Nina Gilden Seavey, Director, The Documentary Center, George Washington University
PANELISTS
Claire Aguilar, Vice President, Programming, ITVS International Fund
Julie Goldman, Partner, Cactus Three
Kathryn Lo, Associate Director, Program Development & Independent Film, PBS
Cara Mertes, Director, Documentary Film Program, Sundance
Thomas Phelps, Acting Director, Div. of Public Programs, National Endowment for the Humanities -
TELLING THE HARDEST STORIES: THE DOCUMENTARY AT WORK
Discovery HD Theater
11:30 – 1:00 p.m. -
How does a filmmaker engage an audience around topics that are more likely to send them running out of the theatre…or avoiding the film altogether? How in the world does one market such a film?
MODERATOR
Bill Smee, Executive Producer, Slate.com
PANELISTS
Sean Fine, Director, WAR/DANCE
Andrea Nix Fine, Director, WAR/DANCE
Tony Kaye, Director, LAKE OF FIRE (invited)
Mary Olive Smith, Director, A WALK TO BEAUTIFUL
Mark Urman, Head of Theatrical Distribution, THINK Film Company -
SHORTS 2: EMBATTLED
Theatre 1
12:00 – 1:10 p.m. -
TOTAL RUNNING TIME 70 MIN
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CPB FILMMAKER LUNCHEON
Cinema Lounge
1:00 – 2:30 p.m. -
Join Public Television Executives for a networking luncheon.
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SHORTS 4: BEYOND BELIEF
Round House
1:30 – 2:43 p.m. -
TOTAL RUNNING TIME: 73 MIN.
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KEYNOTE ADDRESS: Ted Leonsis
Theatre 1
2:30 – 3:30 p.m. -
Leonsis is a media leader (Vice Chairman, America Online and President, AOL Audience Business) and leading philanthropist who has turned his attention to documentary film as a means of raising awareness of important social issues.
Introduced by
Jean Picker Firstenberg, President and CEO, AFI
Bruce Campbell, President, Digital Media and Business Development, Discovery Communications -
AFTERNOON BREAK
Other
3:30 – 3:45 p.m. -
U.S. BROADCAST SLOTS FOR FEATURE LENGTH DOCS
Round House
3:45 – 5:00 p.m. -
Television remains at the “head” of the “long tail.” If reports of its imminent demise were greatly exaggerated, what are the opportunities for long form documentaries in the current cable and broadcast landscape? Come hear first-hand the programming priorities and interests from leaders in the non-fiction world. Are multi-part series or strands proliferating? How important are multi-platform extensions/enhancements?
MODERATOR
Tom Koch, Director, WGBH International
PANELISTS
Liz Brach, Director of Program Development, Discovery Channel
Sam Paul, Director, Original Programming and Development, Sundance Channel
Kim Spencer, President, LinkTV
Bridget Whalen, Director of Development, National Geographic Channel
Chris White, Director of Programming & Production, American Documentary/P.O.V.
Allison Winshel, Senior Director Primetime Programming, PBS -
THINKing ABOUT FILM with Mark Urman
Discovery HD Theater
4:00 – 5:00 p.m. -
A one-on-one discussion with leading specialty film distributor Mark Urman, the architect behind some of the most innovative theatrical release strategies happening today, and the distributor of such documentaries as BORN INTO BROTHELS, and at SILVERDOCS 2007: IN THE SHADOW OF THE MOON; LAKE OF FIRE; NANKING and WAR DANCE. I
Interviewer
Todd Hitchcock, Senior Programmer, AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center -
THE FUTURE OF REAL 2.0-ENGAGING NEW AUDIENCES
Discovery Conf. Room
4:15 – 5:30 p.m. -
Exciting reports from the front lines. How are digital innovators applying the plethora of new technologies? How best to create community and sustain it? Are there new types of partnerships and collaborations to be explored? In seeking to engage diverse audiences, what are the challenges, recent successes and solutions to issues of digital access and divide?
MODERATOR
Pat Aufderheide, Professor and Director, Center for Social Media
PANELISTS
Daniel Cross, Director, HomelessNation.org
Dennis Palmieri, Director of Communications, ITVS
Shane Seggar, Program Director, Pacific Islanders in Communications
Stephanie Sharis, Director of Creative Development, AOL/ AOL True Stories
Angela Tucker, Director of Production, Arts Engine, Inc/Big Mouth Films -
DOC TALK: DOC TAKES ON WAR
Discovery HD Theater
5:30 – 6:30 p.m. -
MODERATOR: Guy Raz, Defense Correspondent, NPR
RESPONDENT: Richard Leiby, Reporter, The Washington Post
Panelists
- Charles Ferguson, Director, NO END IN SIGHT
- Lawrence Wilkerson
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INDUSTRY HAPPY HOUR
Other
6:00 – 7:30 p.m.
Friday, June 15
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FILMMAKER BREAKFAST
Other
8:30 – 9:30 a.m. -
REGISTRATION OPEN
Lee Building
8:30 – 6:00 p.m. -
SILVER SESSIONS
TBD
9:30 – 5:00 p.m. -
THE FUTURE OF REAL 2.0- CUTTING EDGE TECHNOLOGY ISSUES
Discovery Conf. Room
9:30 – 11:00 a.m. -
Web 2.0 may be a buzz phrase, but that doesn’t alter the fact that there is a sea change in the way the public is viewing and interacting with all types of media. Why should documentarians care? Creators of all stripes are beginning to look to the Internet as a vehicle for distribution, promotion, and dialogue with their communities. The number of Web-based tools that facilitate these tasks is increasing exponentially: blogs, newsfeeds, video upload sites, virtual worlds, social networking sites, review aggregators, recommendation engines, and search engine optimization, among the most popular. Choosing well from amidst this plethora will give any creator a better chance at distinguishing their efforts and reaching truly appreciative audiences.
INTRODUCED BY: Nick De Martino, Vice President, Media and Technology, AFI
MODERATOR: Suzanne Stefanac, Director, AFI Digital Content Lab
Panelists
- Bryan Carter
- Kevin Dando
- Mark Irwin
- Steve Michelson
- Joel Schwartzberg
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THE GREENCODE PROJECT: RISING TO THE CHALLENGE OF ECO-ETHICAL FILMMAKING
Theatre 3
9:30 – 11:00 a.m. -
The greening of the film and television industry is moving forward apace. As documentarians strive to raise awareness and engage new audiences in environmental issues, what are filmmakers' responsibilities to "walk-the-walk" in their production process? Come hear from a new Canadian-based international initiative called the GreenCode Project for the Media Industries, whose goal is to establish best practices and develop a voluntary "GreenCode certification system" for the documentary community.
INTRODUCED BY: Amy King, Associate Director, SILVERDOCS
MODERATOR: Peter Wintonick, Co-founder DocAgora; GreenCode Project
Panelists
- Marie-France Côté
- Deborah Drisdell
- Sam Paul
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U.S. PUBLIC TELEVISION: A HANDS-ON GUIDE Part II
Round House
9:30 – 1:00 p.m. -
Program Development and Funding, Distribution, Publicity and Outreach, Project Management and Deliverables, and collaborating with local Public Television Stations.
Time 9:30 – 10:45 Round House Theatre
U.S. PTV: THE NATIONAL MINORITY CONSORTIA: DIVERSIFYING PUBLIC TELEVISIONWhat do the films HIP HOP: BEYOND BEATS AND RHYMES, BLACK GRACE, LIFE AND TIMES OF FRIDA KAHLO, IMELDA, and INDIAN COUNTRY DIARIES have in common? They all received funding support from a member of the National Minority Consortia. The NMC's individual and collective work has brought hundreds of hours of programming to PBS and created opportunities for producers seeking an entree into public television. Representatives of each of the NMC discuss how their work helps ensure that US public television reflects the diversity of America.
Welcome by
Murray Horwitz, Director & COO, AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural CenterIntroduced by
Angela Palmer, Director, TV Programming Development and Producer Relations, CPBMODERATOR
Cynthia Fenneman, President and CEO, American Public Television
PANELISTS
Ruth Bolan, Executive Director, Pacific Islanders in Communications
Penny Costello, Television Manager, Native American Public Telecommunications
Leslie Fields-Cruz, Director of Programming, National Black Programming Consortium
Stephen Gong, Executive Director, Center for Asian American Media
Luis Ortiz, Managing Director, Latino Public Broadcasting
Time 11:00 – 11:45 Round House Theatre
U.S. PTV: FROM THE MAGIC OF STORYTELLING TO MUNDANE DELIVERABLESSuccessful filmmakers share their perspective on the pros and cons of working within public broadcasting and how best to navigate all the various stages of production: from funding, to carriage, to publicity, to deliverables.
MODERATOR
Elizabeth Lindsey, Producer, Pacific Islanders in Communication
PANELISTS
Robert Bahar, Producer and Almudena Carracedo, Director, MADE IN L.A.
Gwendolen Cates, Director, WATER FLOWING TOGETHER
Marco Williams, Director, BANISHED
Time 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. Round House Theatre
U.S. PTV: Putting It All Together
Congratulations, you’ve finished your documentary for public TV. Now you need to navigate station relations, carriage, outreach, promotion, syndication and interactive. Do you have the elements required to launch a project successfully through PBS or the broader public television community? What are American Public Television and National Educational Telecommunications Association and what role do they play in delivering content to audiences in the US? Come learn from the experts on maximizing outreach and impact at the local level.MODERATOR
Jacquie Jones, National Black Programming Consortium
PANELISTS
Cynthia Fenneman, President and CEO, American Public Television
Eliza Licht, Director, Community Engagement, American Documentary | P.O.V.
Gayle Loeber, Director of Programming, NETA
Luis Ortiz, Managing Director, Latino Public Broadcasting
Cara White, Publicist, Caramar, Inc.CLOSING REMARKS
Diana Ingraham, SILVERDOCS Conference Producer
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MORNING BREAK
TBD
11:00 – 11:30 a.m. -
"FILMANTHROPY" - CREATIVE FINANCING & MAVERICK MARKETING FOR DOCUMENTARIES
Other
11:30 – 1:30 p.m. -
Nonprofits and advocacy groups have long been involved with documentary film, but the past year has seen a rise in awareness of these partnerships, and hopefully, increased impact. Join leaders from the documentary film world as they discuss how these partnerships have helped with funding and facilitated strategic marketing campaigns. Have they demonstrably improved distribution outcomes? Come find out.
MODERATOR
Patricia Finneran, Festival Director, SILVERDOCS
PANELISTS
Gillian Caldwell, Executive Director, WITNESS
Cynthia Lopez, Vice President, American Documentary/P.O.V.
Susan MacLaury, Executive Director, Shine Global, Inc.
Ellen Schneider, Executive Director, Active Voice
Meighan Stone, ONE Campaign
Paul Taylor, Director, WE ARE TOGETHERRESPONDENT
Matt Nisbet, American University, School of Communication, author, Documentaries On A Mission: How Non-Profits Are Making Movies For Public Engagement. A Future of Public Media Project, funded by the Ford Foundation. Center for Social Media, American University
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THE FUTURE OF REAL 2.0 - DISTRIBUTION IN THE DIGITAL NEXT
Discovery HD Theater
11:30 – 1:00 p.m. -
Explorers on the frontlines who have boldly staked out new territory on the Internet, share insights into the plethora of distribution options available now. Is the Internet driving sales, creating new streams of revenue or cannibalizing what used to be called ancillary products? How have established brands adapted their marketing strategies in the wild new digital next? Who is making money and how?
MODERATOR
Colin Brown, Screen International (invited)
PANELISTS
Cynthia Close, Executive Director, Documentary Educational Resources
Kelly DeVine, Acquisitions, Renew Media
Kathleen Powell, Senior VP Programming, JAMAN
Steve Savage, President, New Video
John Suydam, Director, Digital Distribution, PBS Interactive (invited) -
SHORTS 3: YOU & ME
Theatre 1
12:00 – 1:11 p.m. -
TOTAL RUNNING TIME: 71 MIN.
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FILMMAKER CONNECTION BROWN BAG LUNCHEON
Other
1:00 – 2:30 p.m. -
Take a new friend to lunch at one of the many establishments in Silver Spring or buy a box lunch in the Cinema Lounge.
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DOC AGORA - THE FUTURE OF DOCUMENTARY
Discovery Conf. Room
2:30 – 4:00 p.m. -
*NOTE*: This session goes from 2:30-5:30 p.m., NOT 2:30-4:00 p.m.
Over the past year stakeholders have convened under the DocAgora banner at the Sheffield Doc Fest, IDFA, and most recently Hot Docs to “open up a conversation on new forms, new platforms and new ways of financing creative, authored and socially-engaging documentary content.” The conversation continues at SILVERDOCS with an interactive, high-profile debate and round-table discussion.
Introduced by
Patricia Finneran, Festival Director, SILVERDOCSFeatured Speaker
Orlando Bagwell, Deputy Director, Media, Arts and Culture Unit, Ford FoundationDEBATE TEAM
Michael Burns, Director of Programming, The Documentary Channel
Katy Chevigny, Executive Director, Arts Engine Inc.Kathleen Powell, Senior Vice President, Programming, JAMAN
Randy Rieland, Vice President of Interactive Media, Discovery Science
Jake Shapiro, Executive Director, PRX: Public Radio Exchange
Angela Wilson Gyetvan, Vice President, Marketing, RevverDoc Agora Debate Proposition: "New Media has redefined the meaning of Public: the wall between public and commercial media no longer exists."
MODERATORNeil Sieling, LinkTV/Center for Social Media
ADJUDICATOR
Pat Aufderheide, Professor & Director, Center for Social Media
DISCUSSION FACILITATOR
Peter Wintonick, Co-founder DocAgora; GreenCode Project, Necessary Illusions
The debate will be informed by the following questions:
CURATION
Can any content that serves the public interest be considered public media, even if it doesn’t appear on the prescribed public platforms?
ACCESS
Do crowd-curated platforms such as blogs, user generated video, and social networks, open up the marketplace of ideas, and provide new opportunities for filmmakers to improve the public discourse because they are no longer controlled by the traditional gatekeepers?
PERSPECTIVE
Can documentaries fundamentally change public opinion, or are audiences really just self-selecting individuals, pre-disposed to the ideas and perspectives in the films, and increasingly aligned with people with similar social and political views?
COST AND VALUE
Does the freedom of the Internet come at a price for filmmakers? Technology brings down the cost of producing and distributing programs, but does it also reduce the value of potential compensation because there is so much more content, and that content is increasingly free to consumers?
ETHICS
Is the concept of journalistic ethics and objectivity anachronistic in the digital age? Is new form documentary an information art? Should it be held accountable to artistic values, rather than just by traditional journalistic standards? -
WORKING WITH PUBLIC TELEVISION STATIONS
Round House
3:00 – 4:30 p.m. -
Working With Public Television Stations Representatives from public television stations discuss successful collaborations with independents on discrete projects through the ITVS LINCS program and other public television distribution options such as LinkTV.
Introduced by
Diana Ingraham, Conference Producer, SILVERDOCSMODERATOR
Shane Seggar, Program Director, Pacific Islanders in Communications
PANELISTS
Jennifer Lawson, General Manager, WHUT Howard University (invited)
Steven Schupak, Vice President, Programming, Maryland Public Television
Amy Shumaker, Executive Producer, South Carolina ETV
Kim Spencer, President, LinkTV -
BEYOND BELIEF: RELIGION IN FILM
Discovery HD Theater
3:30 – 4:45 p.m. -
Creative documentaries in theatres, on television and now via digital media are proving a powerful tool to engage diverse audiences around issues of faith, spirituality, religion and culture. What are the unique challenges of this subject matter both in terms of storytelling and reaching audiences?
MODERATOR
Faye Ginsburg, Director, Graduate Program in Culture and Media;Director, Center for Media, Culture & History; co-Director, Center for Religion and Media, NYU
PANELISTS
Glenn Baker, Director, STAND UP (tbc)
David Hulme, President & Founder, Vision Media Productions
Alberta Nokes, Executive Producer, VisionTV – an S-VOX company, Canada
Nancy Schwartzman, Program Officer Media, Foundation for Jewish Culture -
OSCAR IN THE FUTURE: NEW QUALIFYING RULES FOR DOCS
Other
4:00 – 5:00 p.m. -
MODERATOR
Sandra Ruch, Executive Director, International Documentary Association
PANELISTS
Julie Goldman, Partner, Cactus Three
Frieda Lee Mock, Governor, Documentary Branch of the Board of
the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (invited)
AJ Schnack, Director, KURT COBAIN ABOUT A SON
Marco Williams, Director, BANISHED -
SHORTS 2: EMBATTLED
Theatre 3
4:15 – 5:25 p.m. -
SCREENS WITH:
BULLET PROOF VEST
May Lin Au Yong, USA, 2006, 5 Minutes
In protest of Richmond, California's extreme youth gun violence, twins Mustapha and Jyeshria live in a playground "tent city" with their mother. They candidly tell why they don't play outside.IRAQI KURDISTAN
Ed Kashi, USA, 2006, 12 Minutes
An alternative perspective on a changing culture, one different from the destruction and discord that dominates so much media coverage of the region.LOT 63, GRAVE C
Sam Green, USA, 2006, 10 Minutes
Altamont Free Concert, 1969. Meredith Hunter is killed at this infamous event; his death becomes an icon for the end of the Summer of Love. Now, he lies forgotten, buried in an unmarked and unvisited grave.
SARI'S MOTHER
James Longley, USA, 2006, 21 Minutes
Set against the backdrop of the Iraq War, a desperate mother attempts to find medical care for her 10-year-old son, Sari, who has contracted AIDS during a blood transfusion.WAR TORN: STORIES OF SEPARATION
David Modell, United Kingdom, 2006, 21 Minutes
Four women tell of their men at war. Their stories show the emotional resonance of another's story and the often devastating, unexpected outcomes of war. -
DOC TALK: BEYOND BELIEF-INSPIRED FILMMAKING ON INSPIRED SUBJECTS
Discovery HD Theater
5:00 – 6:00 p.m. -
MODERATOR
Sky Sitney, Director of Programming, SILVERDOCS
PANELISTS
Macky Alston, Director, HARD ROAD HOME
David Holbrooke, Director, HARD AS NAILS joined by Justin Fatica
Michael Jacobs, Director, AUDIENCE OF ONE joined by Pastor Richard Gazowsky -
INDUSTRY HAPPY HOUR
Other
6:00 – 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, June 16
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FILMMAKER BREAKFAST
AFI Silver Lobby
8:30 – 9:30 a.m. -
REGISTRATION OPEN
Lee Building
8:30 – 6:00 p.m. -
WORKSHOP: CHARTING A FUNDRAISING BLUEPRINT with Debra Zimmerman
Sign up Required, Limited to 50 participants
Discovery HD Theater
9:00 – 11:00 a.m. -
Sign up Required, Limited to 50 participants
Don’t miss this nuts-and-bolts discussion on how to design your project’s fundraising approach from beginning to end--from traditional grant seeking via private and government foundations to appealing to individual donors through events and direct mail campaigns. Topics include: identifying a fundraising proposal’s elements, writing an effective synopsis and pitching to donors, assessing and approaching funders, writing appeal letters, and more. Options in public television funding will be explored, including ITVS and CPB’s minority consortia. Attendees receive a packet with essential resources and sample proposal components, and may attend a Breakout Session.
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SILVER SESSIONS
TBD
9:30 – 5:00 p.m. -
SHORTS 1: SIGHT AND SOUND
Theatre 1
10:30 – 11:44 a.m. -
SCREENS WITH:
FIGHTING CHOLITAS, THE
Mariam Jobrani, Bolivia, USA, 2006, 21 Minutes
Bolivian indigenous peasants, la cholitas wear traditional layered skirts when slamming each other in the ring. The luchas' strength inside the ring and out is remarkable.GUARANTEE, THE
Jesse Epstein, USA, 2007, 11 Minutes
A male ballet student is confronted about his large nose; he weighs his options in hopes of more lead roles with a smaller schnoz. Told in witty hand-drawn animation.HATTENHORST
Ove Sander, Germany, 2006, 5 Minutes
Hans Hattenhorst moved to the German island of Juist in the 1940s and has worked ever since as a projectionist in the small cinema—but has long lost his passion for movies.MOTODROM
Joerg Wagner, Germany, 2006, 9 Minutes
Vrrroom! On the edge of your seat, watch gravity-defying motorcycle stunts race by in sterling black and white.MY EYES
Erlend Mo, Denmark, 2006, 19 Minutes
Music is integral in Katja's life, evoking experiences and emotion. Young Catherine is also grappling with enhanced senses in her blind world, and with her mother discovers the joy in sound and touch.RENDEZ-VOUS
Marcin Janos Krawczyk, Poland, 2006, 9 Minutes
Get refreshing perspective on the ubiquitous dating rituals that many of us take for granted. Over candelight dinner, a young couple with Down's Syndrome discuss their perception of the "dating" rules, and their desire to adapt to them. -
MORNING BREAK
TBD
11:00 – 11:30 a.m. -
FUNDRAISING BLUEPRINT BREAKOUT SESSIONS
You should have participated in the morning session. Sign-up required limited to 50 participants
Discovery Conf. Room
11:30 – 1:00 p.m. -
You should have participated in the morning session. Sign-up required limited to 50 participants
Follow up Debra Zimmerman’s Fundraising Blueprint lecture with this hands-on interactive workshop. Attendees will receive a list of questions to generate fundraising ideas for their projects and have several minutes to complete the exercise. Everyone will then share their fundraising strategies with a small group of peer filmmakers and an industry expert, and receive feedback and further suggestions. Here is your opportunity to brainstorm funding ideas for your project and get advice from your peers. Be part of these Sessions and walk away with a workable fundraising plan for your next project!
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INTERNATIONAL BROADCAST SLOTS FOR DOCS
Discovery HD Theater
11:30 – 1:00 p.m. -
An insider’s look at commissioning and programming priorities outside the United States. What works for international audiences? Are there universal topics or subjects that travel well? Over the past 18 months, what documentaries or programming has been most successful on the international networks represented and how is success defined?
MODERATOR
Sabina Finnern, SILVERDOCS Conference International Liaison
PANELISTS
Michael Burns, Director of Programming, The Documentary Channel, Canada
Nick Fraser, Editor, BBC Storyville, BBC, United Kingdom
Christoph Jörg, Commissioning Editor, ARTE-France
Janet Han Vissering, Sr. VP of Strategic Development and Co- Finance, National Geographic Channels International -
FILMMAKER CONNECTION BROWN BAG LUNCH WITH FESTIVAL LEADERS
Cinema Lounge
1:00 – 2:30 p.m. -
Crafting a festival strategy remains a daunting task for any filmmaker. Come hear from leading Programmers and Festival Directors and get the inside scoop on what makes for a successful festival experience.
MODERATOR
Amy King, SILVERDOCS Associate Director
PANELISTS
Heather Croall, Director, Sheffield Doc/Fest, United Kingdom
Matt Dentler, Producer, South by Southwest Film Festival
Sean Farnel, Director of Programming, HotDocs
Natalie McMenemy, Director of Operations/Festival Producer, Documentary Programmer AFI On Screen and AFI FEST
Thom Powers, Doc. Prod., Toronto International Film Festival
Gabe Wardell, Atlanta Film Festival
David Wilson, True/False Film Festival (tbc) -
DOC AGORA AND INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY CONFERENCE WRAP
"What’s It Worth": Value vs. Values
Cinema Lounge
3:30 – 5:30 p.m. -
“What’s It Worth”: Value vs. Values
Co-Moderated by Peter Wintonick and Neil Sieling
Session Producer: Cameron Hickey
This plenary session will present two leading Now Media companies and a major new paper on monetizing and mission. It is also a culmination of results from the Silverdocs Conference, the Filmanthropy sessions, and eight months of DocAgora’s presence at multiple festivals and markets.
Session Participants:
1) Pat Aufderheide and the “New Deal 1.5” paper from The Center for Social Media and The Independent Television Service
2) Angela Wilson Gyetvan - Revver VP, Marketing and Content
3) Tamara Gould, Vice President of Distribution, ITVS
4) Yvette Alberdingkthijm, Joost Executive Vice President, Content Strategy & Acquisition
5) You, the SILVERDOCS Conference public
The presenters will each be given time to present their position papers or company profiles. This will be intercut with audience dialogues, Observer reports from the Silverdocs festival, and DocAgora findings from its tour of festivals, At the end of the day, everyone will also be asked to contribute to envisioning ideas for a free-thinking “DocAgora @ SILVERDOCS” Manifesto: a digital distillery of the principles of digital documentary. -
STERLING AWARDS CEREMONY
Theatre 2
5:00 – 6:30 p.m. -
Presentation of Sterling Awards for Feature and Shorts films; Music Documentary Award; Witness Award, Creative Vision Award; and ACE Grant to Winner
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INDUSTRY HAPPY HOUR
Cinema Lounge
5:30 – 7:00 p.m.
Sunday, June 17
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SHORTS 4: BEYOND BELIEF
Theatre 3
11:45 – 12:58 p.m. -
TOTAL RUNNING TIME: 73 MIN.
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SHORTS 5: LONG DISTANCE
Theatre 3
2:15 – 3:26 p.m. -
SCREENS WITH:
6 CONCEPTIONS OF FREEDOM
Thomas Ostbye, Norway, 2006, 19 Minutes
A meditative study of Oslo’s Alexander Kiellands Plass. Through the camera lens, loneliness and powerlessness bring into focus the limitations on the ideal of freedom.CALCUTTA CALLING
Andre Hörmann, Germany, 2006, 16 Minutes
Hello? This salesman is phoning from India, selling fire extinguishers to the English-speaking world. Vikeeh takes us into the call center—one of the most lucrative working class jobs in South Asia.MY 9/11
Tjebbo Penning, Netherlands, USA, 2006, 12 Minutes
Finding it too difficult to accept, Penning's reluctant film attempts to show everything but the towers' collapse, but returns to the horrifically beautiful image.TALK TO ME
Mark Craig, United Kingdom, 2006, 22 Minutes
Sex, drugs, music, birth, death, nightlife and lazy days. A life told through 21 years of voicemail. -
SHORTS 3: YOU & ME
Theatre 3
7:00 – 8:11 p.m. -
SCREENS WITH:
FREEHELD
Cynthia Wade, USA, 2007, 38 Minutes
At the center of the equal rights debate, Lt. Laurel Hester is dying of lung cancer and fighting to pass her police pension to her life partner, Stacie Andree. The city explodes with controversy; Laurel only wants to provide for her love—before it’s too late.I JUST WANTED TO BE SOMEBODY
Jay Rosenblatt, USA, 2006, 10 Minutes
Orange juice ad queen Anita Bryant crusaded against gay civil rights in the 70s, but was important both to the creation of the religious right and to the gay rights movement.MONSIEUR BORGES AND I
Jasmin Gordon, France, Switzerland, USA, 2006, 23 Minutes
A portrait of an eccentric French professor who dedicated his life to his friend and hero, the literary giant Jorge Luis Borges.
