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Painting a Family Portrait

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Demme & Moore docs in Special Presentations!
Yes, it's THAT Phil Donahue
Wyclef Plays at TIFF Party
Celebrities Exposed at Final Doc Talk

Cinematography
Night is not so dark
Reflections on "A Jihad for Love"
Lawrence Johnston heads deep into "Night"
Blindsight Opens Eyes and Hearts
ON CINEMATOGRAPHY: Ghosts of Cite Soleil

Directors
Herzog takes us to the South Pole
SHOWING DOC THE DOC
Reflections
Madina on Farmer's Requiem
Bill Maher on RELIGULOUS

Distribution
Doc Corner: Exchange of Ideas
Industry survey: W. Wilder Knight II
Industry survey: Cara Mertes, Sundance Doc Film Program
Industry survey: Jan Rofekamp & Diana Holtzberg, Films Transit
Industry survey: Peter Broderick, Paradigm Consulting

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Last Minute Finishes
Another Fragment from Iraq

Free Speech
Read more on "Obscene"
TIFF picks from Renew Media's Brian Newman

Human Rights
Young Girls Speak Out
One trip to Iraq, three Real to Reel films
Pakistani Women’s Activist speaks at TIFF
Unorthodox Shooting on SHAME
Desi Docs: South Asian Sensations at TIFF

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Play on Playa'
Sick Humor Makes Us Well

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Back to Reality
Growing up on the Kibbutz
TIFF memory: US vs John Lennon
Memories of Summercamp! at TIFF 06
From TIFF to Congress race

Music
TIFF memory: US vs John Lennon
Getting Close to Philip in "Glass"
Wyclef Plays at TIFF Party
Kurt Cobain Speaks Out at TIFF
Yoko Sits in at Lennon Peace Film Premiere

Panels
Covering War
Complicated Lives
Living to the Fullest
Let's Talk about Darfur
Sunday School with Bill Maher and Larry Charles

Parties
Time to Relax and Mingle
TIFF picks from True/False's David Wilson
Memories of Summercamp! at TIFF 06
Celebrating Office Tigers
Docs Discussed Over Breakfast

Picks
The race begins!
TIFF picks from Michaelle McLean, Hot Docs Forum
Meet the Press
TIFF picks from Sean Farnel of Hot Docs
TIFF picks from Jonathan Rosenbaum

Politics
Read more on "Body of War"
Collaborating with Ariel Dorfman on "A Promise to the Dead"
From TIFF to Congress race
Yes, it's THAT Phil Donahue
Iranian Cinema Part of the Revolution

War & Conflict
Read more on "Body of War"
Collaborating with Ariel Dorfman on "A Promise to the Dead"
From TIFF to Congress race
Yes, it's THAT Phil Donahue
Former US Soldier Speaks at Premiere of Iraq films

Wavelengths
Wavelengths, part III
I'm writing to you from Kuala Lumpur...
Docs in Wavelengths, Part II
Exploring the world of Schindler's Houses
Docs push boundaries in Wavelengths

Feeds
Filtered by Topic: Distribution
September 14, 2021
Doc Corner: Exchange of Ideas
Posted By Heidy Morales At 2:11 PM
File under: Distribution

The Reel to Reel program has set up a meeting place, Doc Corner, for documentary filmmakers to meet with distributors and others in the industry to discuss upcoming projects, pitch ideas and simply make connections.

Doc Corner took place over three days.  There were representatives from various film companies like ThinkFilm, Sony Pictures Classic and Cinetic.  The meetings were set up for 10 minutes for each individual.  I spoke with a young filmmaker and she told me how great these meetings were.  She said it gave her a chance to discuss her ideas with someone...

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September 4, 2021
Industry survey: W. Wilder Knight II
Posted By Thom Powers At 9:04 AM
File under: Distribution
W. Wilder Knight II is a New York-based entertainment attorney. His diverse practice includes brokering deals for documentary financing on titles such as "Mad Hot Ballroom" and "The A to Z of Soccer" written and produced by John Cleese. Here are his thoughts on our industry survey.

1) What changes do you see in the documentary marketplace?

I'm seeing more direct distribution by individual filmmakers to their audiences. Many films simply cannot find homes and many filmmakers who do receive offers from tv and cable stations reject those...

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September 3, 2021
Industry survey: Cara Mertes, Sundance Doc Film Program
Posted By Thom Powers At 10:47 AM
File under: Distribution
Cara Mertes moved from the indie-doc PBS series P.O.V. to Sundance last
year to run the Sundance Documentary Film Program, a resource for contemporary- issue filmmakers worldwide. Since then, she has revamped the granting categories, increased the amounts available to artists, added year-round support initiatives and laid the groundwork for a new web site and new partnerships to aid funded artists in their work. Five Sundance DFP films will be premiering at TIFF, including Please Vote for Me, Dinner with the President, Iron Ladies of Liberia, (more...)
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August 31, 2021
Industry survey: Jan Rofekamp & Diana Holtzberg, Films Transit
Posted By Thom Powers At 9:31 AM
File under: Distribution
When it comes to international documentary sales, Films Transit is one of the most respected names in the business. This year at TIFF they're representing the titles The Dictator Hunter; A Promise to the Dead: The Exile Journey of Ariel Dorfman; and Operation Filmmaker (pictured). The company's main reps Jan Rofekamp and Diana Holtzberg supplied thoughtful answers to our questions below.

Q: What changes do you see in the documentary marketplace?

ROFEKAMP & HOLTZBERG:  The documentary market will see two major changes over the next...

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August 30, 2021
Industry survey: Peter Broderick, Paradigm Consulting
Posted By Thom Powers At 5:34 AM
File under: Distribution
Peter Broderick is a kind of Johnny Appleseed of the idea that independent filmmakers should take more control over their own distribution. He has given lectures at major film festivals all over the world and will be participating in Doc Roundtables at TIFF. Here he weighs in as the ninth participant of our industry survey.

Q: What changes do you see in the documentary marketplace?

BRODERICK: Traditionally, filmmakers have had little or no control of how their films are brought into the world. However independent they were...

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August 29, 2021
Industry survey: Dylan Leiner, Sony Pictures Classics
Posted By Thom Powers At 12:05 AM
File under: Distribution
The latest response to Doc Blog's industry survey is Dylan Leiner of Sony Pictures Classics. Their imprint, led by Michael Barker and Tom Bernard, represents a gold standard in taste. Thye have numerous films in TIFF this year, including the documentary My Kid Could Paint That (click the title to watch the trailer). Here are Leiner's reflections on the current theatrical scene for docs.

Q: What changes do you see in the documentary marketplace?

LEINER: Broadly speaking, the "D" word that used to ghettoize the format is...

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August 28, 2021
Industry survey: Ryan Harrington, A&E; Indie Films
Posted By Thom Powers At 12:32 AM
File under: Distribution
Ryan Harrington of A&E Indie Films joins the Doc Blog industry survey. A&E Indie Films, a branch of the cable TV channel, has gotten behind critically-acclaimed theatrical docs such as Murderball, Jesus Camp, and My Kid Could Paint That (playing in Real to Reel). Here's Ryan in an Indiewire photo with his colleague Molly Thompson (middle) and Docurama's Liz Ogilvie.

Q: What changes do you see in the documentary marketplace?

HARRINGTON: This is a very important time for making and selling docs and I'm excited...

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August 27, 2021
Industry survey: Josh Braun, Submarine Entertainment
Posted By Thom Powers At 12:05 AM
File under: Distribution
Continuing our industry survey of sage advice on documentary distribution, we begin this week with Josh Braun of Submarine Entertainment. Braun has been an active player behind the scenes at TIFF over the years, helping to broker the distribution deals for Spellbound, Gunner Palace, Three of Hearts and many more. This year his slate includes the doc Obscene  about the legendary publisher Barny Rosset (pictured). Not to mention that Braun played a role as executive producer shepherding the comic book A History of Violence to the screen for David...

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August 24, 2021
Industry survey: Nancy Gerstman, Zeitgeist Films
Posted By Thom Powers At 9:05 AM
File under: Distribution
The fifth participant in our doc industry survey is Nancy Gerstman, co-founder and partner with Emily Russo in the New York-based distributor Zeitgeist Films Ltd. They have released numerous features, including the Academy Award-winning Nowhere In Africa and the Academy Award-nominated Sophie Scholl: The Final Days and My Country, My Country; as well as numerous documentaries that played at TIFF such as The Corporation, Ballets Russes and Into Great Silence (pictured).  Their new releases include last year's TIFF doc Manufactured Landscapes and the 2007 Camera d'Or winner Jellyfish.

Q: What...

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August 23, 2021
Industry survey: Ira Deutchman, Emerging Pictures
Posted By Thom Powers At 9:02 AM
File under: Distribution
The fourth participant in our Industry Survey is Ira Deutchman, the CEO of Emerging Pictures, an innovative distributor pioneering new spaces for theatrical exhibition. He has a long career marked by notable docs, including his days at Fine Line Features when he worked on the release of the record-breaking Hoop Dreams.

Q: What changes do you see in the documentary marketplace?

DEUTCHMAN: Theatrical is getting harder and harder. Audiences and critics seem to be getting numb from all the serious subject matter on the screen, and it now takes much...

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August 22, 2021
Industry survey: Liz Ogilvie, Docurama
Posted By Thom Powers At 9:06 AM
File under: Distribution
The third in our series of industry voices is Liz Ogilvie, Head of Programming for Docurama Films. After releasing over 200 documentaries on DVD, Docurama Films expanded its reach to the theatrical market with Air Guitar Nation in early 2007. Pictured is Docurama's DVD from Parallel Lines, the previous film from director Nina Davenport who appears this year in Real to Reel with Operation Filmmaker. Take it away, Liz...

Q: What changes do you see in the documentary marketplace?

OGILVIE: With more and more docs...

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August 21, 2021
Doc Corner Moves Into Match Club
Posted By Thom Powers At 12:27 PM
File under: , Distribution, Panels
Last year saw the debut of Doc Corner, a designated space for registered pass holders to hang out and network. This year the Doc Corner will be moving into the popular Match Club space, located at the 5th Elementt restaurant (1033 Bay Street). We'll be enlivening Doc Corner with a series called Doc Roundtables - held from Sept 9 to 12 during the hours of 2-4 pm  - where filmmakers can meet with influential industry players, including distributors, sales agents, festival programmers and others.

Companies participating this year include A&E Indie...

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Industry survey: Mark Urman, THINKFiilm
Posted By Thom Powers At 9:09 AM
File under: Distribution
Mark Urman, head of U.S. theatrical distribution for THINKFilm, has been an active buyer of past TIFF docs including Spellbound, The Story of Weeping Camel, and last year's Ghosts of Cite Soleil and Lake of Fire (pictured). Here he shares his outlook on the current scene:

Q: What changes do you see in the documentary marketplace?

URMAN: There are more outlets than ever for non-fiction films, and an increased acceptance from a more general audience. That said, there are also more documentary features...

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August 20, 2021
Industry survey: Liesl Copland, Red Envelope
Posted By Thom Powers At 9:30 AM
File under: Distribution
Today we kick off an on-going survey of documentary insiders about new opportunities and challenges in distribution. Our first correspondent is Liesl Copland from Red Envelope Entertainment (the original content division of Netflix). Last year at TIFF, Red Envelope emerged as an important player acquiring titles like The Prisoner Or: How I Planned to Kill Tony Blair (pictured). Liesl previously worked for Cinetic Media on funding and sales of independent films, including many documentaries.

Liesl generously gave expansive answers to three questions below, touching on the latest developments...

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August 2, 2021
D-Word hosts broadband forum
Posted By Thom Powers At 1:43 AM
File under: Distribution
D-Word.com is an international chat room for documentary filmmakers, founded by Doug Block. This week the site is holding a focused discussion called Reaching a Wider Audience: Broadcasters Go Broadband for filmmakers and broadcasters to discuss the impact of on-line social networks and self-distribution. Even if you're not a D-Word member you can still read this Forum; and if you become a member (available to working filmmakers) you can also contribute.
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September 14, 2021
Docs Go Theatrical
Posted By Thom Powers At 4:42 PM
File under: Distribution
On Monday, the Industry Initiatives News & Views panels focused on documentary distribution. Academy Award winner Ross Kaufman (Born Into Brothels) led a discussion on theatrical releases with distributors Peter Goldwyn (Samuel Goldwyn Films), Tom Quinn (Magnolia) and Ken Eisen (Shadow Distribution).

The second panel "The Long Road to Distribution" was a case study of the film 51 Birch Street which had its world premiere at TIFF in 2005. The panel consisted of sales agent Josh Braun, executive producer John Priddy and (pictured left to right) Kelly Sanders (Truly Indie), director Doug...

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Doc Roundtables Create Networking Opportunities
Posted By Thom Powers At 7:51 AM
File under: Distribution
Whew, the festival has been going strong for a week now and I've barely had time to catch my breath, nevermind blog. Then a week from today I'll return to my home base in New York City, speaking on a panel about festival programming at the IFP Filmmaker Conference and beginning the new semester teaching my Documentary Development course at New York University's School of Continuing Professional Studies. (Still time to enroll here.)

Catching up on the past week: here's a snap from Sunday's Doc Roundtables, a new...

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August 22, 2021
Hunt for Distribution
Posted By Thom Powers At 10:02 AM
File under: Distribution

At last year’s TIFF, one of my great memories was seeing the world premiere of 51 Birch Street (left), Doug Block’s intensely personal film about his parents’ marriage. Doug has been a longtime supporter of other filmmakers through his web site D-Word.com. So it was great to see him get the respect he deserves.

After the festival his producing team traveled a long, winding road to secure theatrical distribution. Now the film will debut in US theaters this...

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