Press Welcome

Welcome to the AFI-Discovery Channel Silverdocs Documentary Festival Press Room, where you can find links to the latest festival news, press releases, press accreditation and press contact information.

THE FESTIVAL

Press Room

AFI-Discovery Channel 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. The Festival will run from Monday, June 21 through Sunday June 27, with “Best of the Fest” screenings on Monday June 28 to provide pass holders and local audiences an additional opportunity to catch the award winners and most popular films.

Now in its eighth year, the festival 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 2009 edition screened sold-out shows to more than 22,000 participants who viewed the world’s best new documentaries and experienced free outdoor screenings and performances, panel discussions and many special events.

Variety called the event “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 1,200 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 Albert Maysles, Spike Lee, Jonathan Demme, Martin Scorsese and Barbara Kopple.

SILVERDOCS bestows the following awards:

Sterling Award for Short and Feature (US and World)
Cinematic Vision Award
Witness Award in honor of Joey R.B. Lozano
Writers Guild Award for Best Documentary Screenplay
Audience Award

Press inquiries, jarlington@AFI.com
202.316.4316