Sponsorship at SILVERDOCS

SILVERDOCS offers a wide variety of sponsorship opportunities to fit a company’s specific goals. Through a customized package of promotional, hospitality and brand awareness components, SILVERDOCS sponsors and media partners reach a highly engaged and committed audience. SILVERDOCS attracts over 22,000 guests from the DC area and around the world. The Washington metropolitan area has the highest percentage of postgraduates and the highest median household income in the country.

Sponsors reach far beyond those who attend the Festival, Conference and year-round programs. Hundreds of thousands more learn about the Festival and its sponsors through local, regional, national and international press coverage and through promotional campaigns in print, broadcast and on the Web. In 2006, SILVERDOCS achieved over 66 million combined marketing impressions (TV, radio, print, Web and outdoor). The Festival’s multi-media marketing campaign targets general audiences and film professionals, enthusiasts and students. In 2006 alone, creative media partnerships resulted in a global, national and regional campaign valued at over $1,000,000.

SILVERDOCS sponsors are highly integrated into the Festival programs, events and venues. Our attendee surveys show that our guests acknowledge that sponsors make an essential contribution to their personal festival experience. They are also more inclined to patronize companies that support SILVERDOCS. Sponsors build customer loyalty by associating themselves with a nationally recognized documentary festival.

Depending upon level of commitment, the following sponsorship opportunities are available for SILVERDOCS 2008:

On-Site Naming Opportunities

  • The Cinema Lounge
  • Community Night - Outdoor Screening & Concert
  • Industry Screening Library

Premier / Signature Event Sponsorship Opportunities

  • Opening Night Screening and Gala Reception
  • SILVERDOCS 5th Anniversary Community Celebration
  • The Annual Guggenheim Symposium
  • Sterling Award Ceremony
  • Music Documentary Award
  • Doc Talks Series
  • Special Events in the Late Night Lounge
  • Individual events

International Documentary Conference Opportunities

  • Keynote Address
  • Networking Lunches
  • Filmmaker breakfast series
  • Individual Panels
  • "Silver Session" networking meetings
  • Industry Happy Hours
  • Booth /Exhibition Space at the Cinema Lounge

New Opportunities

  • International Documentary Fund
  • International Filmmaker Exchange
  • SILVERDOCS On-Line Film Festival
  • “SILVERDOCS Festival Daily” e-mail and print newsletter

SILVERDOCS can also to create a package of benefits and opportunities that fit your company’s needs.

Contact 301.495.6742 or KStroud@AFI.com with any sponsorship inquiries.



  • Hilton Hotels
  • Maryland Film Office
  • Avid
  • Pump Audio
  • InBaseline
  • WMATA