Press Welcome
Welcome to the SILVERDOCS: AFI/Discovery Channel Documentary Festival Press Room, where you can find links to the latest SILVERDOCS news, press releases, press accreditation and press contact information.
THE FESTIVAL
SILVERDOCS brings the best new documentaries to the Washington, DC, area. The Festival has built a reputation for presenting compelling and engaging films that connect with audiences in theaters, and beyond. For 2008, the Festival has expanded by two days and added venues following 2007’s higher demand for shows and increase in industry participation. The Festival will run from Monday, June 16 through Monday June 23, increasing from a six-day to an eight- day event, with the last day “Best of the Fest” screenings to provide pass holders and local audiences an additional opportunity to catch the award winners and most popular films. SILVERDOCS will continue to program 100 documentaries, with the number of screenings per film in the program to increase.
Now in its sixth year, SILVERDOCS serves as a launch pad for independent documentaries, and affords international filmmakers access to US audiences. Called the “Pre-eminent US Documentary Fest” by Screen International, and the “premier showcase for documentary films” by the Hollywood Reporter, the 2007edition of SILVERDOCS screened sold-out shows to more than 21,000 participants who viewed the world’s best new documentaries and experienced free outdoor screenings and performances, panel discussions and many special events.
Variety called SILVERDOCS “Non-fiction Nirvana” because it goes beyond screenings to provide business and creative connections at the concurrent five-day International Documentary Conference. The Conference presents thought-provoking presentations and engages a diverse group of over 1,000 media professionals and industry leaders concerned with the future of non-fiction storytelling, production and distribution.
The Festival’s signature program, the Charles Guggenheim Symposium, honors the legacy of artistic excellence, profound respect for humanity and democratic values of the late four-time Academy Award-winning Guggenheim. Past Guggenheim honorees include Jonathan Demme, Martin Scorsese and Barbara Kopple.
Along with the annual Sterling Award Feature, Short, and Best Music Documentary competitions, the Festival features an award for Best Documentary within special thematic programs. Past programs include “Beyond Belief: Religion, Politics and Film” and “DOCS Rx: A World of Documentaries on Global Health”. The festival also features an award for cinematography and for the film with the most commercial potential.
The SILVERDOCS slate will be announced on May 22, 2008.
Press inquiries, jarlington@AFI.com
