Center For
Independent
Documentary
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Have you heard about CID's Virtual Community Discussions?
Every Thursday afternoon at 3pm EST, CID holds a group discussion open to all fiscally sponsored filmmakers (online via Zoom). Most conversations are focused around specific themes which have included "Fundraising", "Remote Production", "Editing Remotely", "Outreach and Impact Campaigns", and "Staying Creative and Motivated During COVID-19". These sessions have given filmmakers from across the country the opportunity to connect, share knowledge and resources, and to build valuable support networks. Director Stu Maddux ("Gen Silent", "Reel In The Closet") says, "These weekly gatherings have really helped me continue my work when I hear from others about how they find innovative ways to move forward. There's a lot of passion there too."
These meetings are open to CID filmmakers only. If you are considering fiscal sponsorship with CID and are curious about our community, please reach out to
Mira@documentaries.org to inquire about attending one of our sessions as a guest.
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Industry News & Opportunities
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LEF MOVING IMAGE FUND PRE-PRODUCTION & EARLY DEVELOPMENT GRANT DEADLINE
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Friday, June 5t
h
is the deadline for applications for the LEF Foundation's Moving Image Fund Pre-Production and Early Development Grants.
For more details, read the
LEF Moving Image Fund Guidelines and contact LEF staff to determine whether your project matches LEF's eligibility requirements and funding criteria.
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THE DOCUMENTARY IMPACT PRODUCER RELIEF FUND
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The Documentary Impact Producer Relief Fund will provide grants of up to $4,000 to help alleviate the acute hardships faced by freelance impact producers working anywhere in the world in this time of economic uncertainty. This fund is being administrated by Doc Society with support from Perspective Fund.
The first funding round will be open June 3rd - June 8th.
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JOB OPPORTUNITY:
JUSTFILMS PROGRAM OFFICER
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The Ford Foundation seeks a dynamic JustFilms Program Officer to help shape and advance the Foundation's work at the intersection of non-fiction media and social justice, specifically its work in global documentary film and emerging media practices.
More information available
here.
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2021 VILCEK PRIZES FOR CREATIVE PROMISE IN FILMMAKING
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The Vilcek Foundation currently seeks young foreign-born applicants for the 2021 Vilcek Prizes for Creative Promise in Filmmaking. Three winners will each receive a $50,000 unrestricted cash prize and a comprehensive promotional campaign to honor their career and achievements.
The deadline for applications is Wednesday,
June 10 at 5pm EST
.
Learn more and apply
here.
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JOHN LEWIS: GOOD TROUBLE
OFFICIAL TRAILER RELEASED
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Directed by Daw
n Porter ("Gideon's Army", "Bobby Kennedy for President"), the film examines the life and career of the longtime congressman. The film will be released in theaters and on-demand July 3rd.
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LEF MOVING IMAGE FUND
SPRING 2020 GRANTEES
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The LEF Foundation has announced $205,000 in production and post-production funding to New England based filmmakers. Among the grantees are CID sponsored films/filmmakers THE CALL, directed by Chico Colvard (Production Grant of $15,000),
EL SIGNO VACIO (the empty sign), directed by Kathryn Ramey (Post-Production Grant of $25,000), and
NO ONE TOLD ME, directed by Zulilah Merry (Post-Production Grant of $25,000).
LEF and the Harvard Film Study Center have also jointly announced that CID sponsored filmmaker, Kathryn Ramey, has been awarded the FSC-LEF Fellowship for 2020-21.
Congratulations to all of the grantees! Read the full press announcement
here.
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UNTITLED PRC PROJECT
PARTICIPATING IN
FILM INDEPENDENT
AND
IFP FILMMAKER
LABS
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A portrait of China's economy,
Untitled PRC Project charts the changing nature of labor, production, and aspiration in the People's Republic of China.
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WORLDS OF URSULA K. LE GUIN
NOMINATED FOR A 2020 HUGO AWARD
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Arwen Curry's
WORLDS OF URSULA K. LE GUIN
has been nominated for a prestigious 2020
Hugo Award
in the Best Related Work category. The film is now available on
Kanopy
for free with public library and university ID cards.
Other summer shelter-in-place streaming opportunities for
Worlds of Ursula K. Le Guin
include streaming
Los Mundos de Ursula K. Le Guin en español
in Spain and all Latin American countries for $1 USD for a limited time while viewers shelter in place. English-speaking Ursula fans abroad can watch for $1 USD streaming/download
here
; UK viewers can watch free on
BBC iPlayer
. And
PBS American Masters
will stream the film free during June and July.
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FROM BAGHDAD TO THE BAY
IN OXFORD FILM FES
TIVAL (ONL
INE)
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From Baghdad to the Bay follows the journey of an Iraqi refugee and former translator for the US military. Wrongfully accused of being a double agent, tortured by the US, and ostracized from his family and country, G
hazwan Alsharif struggles to rebuild his life in the United States while coming out as an openly gay man.
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SPECIAL SCREENING OF
DAWNLAND
AND
DEAR GEORGINA
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Join the makers of the Emmy Award winning film
DAWNLAND
for a special screening of the films
Dawnland
and
Dear Georgina
on
Tuesday June 16th at 8:00pm ET / 5:00pm PT
.
For decades, child welfare authorities have been removing Native American children from their homes to save them from being Indian. In Ma
i
ne, the first official “truth and reconciliation commission” in the United States begins a historic investigation.
Dawnland
goes behind-the-scenes as this historic body grapples with difficult truths, redefines reconciliation, and charts a new course for state and tribal relations.
In
Dear Georgina
, a Passamaquoddy elder journeys into an unclear past to better understand herself and her cultural heritage.
Join Maine-Wabanaki Truth Commissioner Sandy White Hawk (Sicangu Lakota) filmmaker Adam Mazo, producer Tracy Rector (Choctaw/Seminole), linguist and Upstander Project learning director Mishy Lesser for a Q & A moderated by Claudia Fox Tree (Arawak/Yurumein) after the films.
Free event, donations appreciated. Registration
here
.
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A SPARK OF NERVE
AVAILABLE ON VIMEO ON DEMAND
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Dr. Susan E. Mackinnon is a plastic surgeon whose pioneering work in nerve transfer surgery is restoring movement to limbs that many doctors believe to be permanently paralyzed. Loren was fifteen when she was brutally stabbed, severing the nerves in her neck. Michael suffered a freak chain saw accident while Chelsey survived a horrific car wreck. As a quadriplegic, Tom no longer had use of his hands. Follow their emotional journeys from trauma and disappointment to hope and finally joy as movement is slowly regained. We also visit the Walter Reed Peripheral Clinic to learn how nerve transfer surgery is being used to help our Wounded Warriors.
A Spark of Nerve
is an inspiring story of life-changing medical innovation and personal triumph.
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5 BLOCKS
SCREENING ONLINE THROUGH ROXIE VIRTUAL CINEMA
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San Francisco's Market Street was once the grandest boulevard in America. No stranger to civic celebrations since the 1900s and just minutes from City Hall, the area fell into decline and became home to the city's p
oorest population. The neighborhood is currently undergoing its most dramatic change in 50 years as tech companies, their employees, and the restaurants and stores that cater to them confront the realities of a neighborhood that still houses some of the city's most marginalized residents.
5 Blocks explores the complex questions of income disparity, changing demographics, and the very nature of place.
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CALL 'EM FISHERMEN
UPDATE
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While sheltering-in-place in California, David Wells was able to do four shoots for the CID sponsored project
CALL 'EM FISHERMEN
(observing social distancing and state mandated protocols.) During the same time, he and his Brooklyn based project partner, Lee Lawrence took part in various CID webinars. Galvanized by what they learned from the CID community, they are currently working on their first newsletter.
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MORE JOY LESS PAIN
AVAILABLE TO STREAM AND RENT
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More Joy Less Pain
is a documentary feature surrounding the life of award-winning journalist and raconteur, Peter Gorman. For the past 25 years, Peter has been leading journeys to Peru and the Amazon jungle. On these trips Gorman shows his guests what it’s like to live in the jungle for a week. He introduces his guests to the ways of the indigenous tribe known as the Matsés. This documentary explores how Peter navigates the two worlds in which he lives: a life in Peru and a life with his family in Texas.
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CALL FOR ENTRIES FOR
6TH ANNUAL IRISH AMERICAN MOVIE HOOLEY
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Call for Entries!
6th Annual Irish American Movie Hooley
on
September 25, 26, 27, 2020 in Chicago at The Gene Siskel Film Center
. The festival aims to discover Irish American filmmakers who epitomize Irish American pride, bravado, and legendary storytelling. All work submitted should represent the best of the Irish American experience on screen. Airfare and hotel is paid for all filmmakers. More info available
here
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CID Sponsored Film Of The Month
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"GENTLE GIANT: A FILM ABOUT DAVE MCKENNA"
Directed by Greg Mallozzi
Described by The New York Times as the "hardest swinging piano player of all time", Dave McKenna's rare genius on the piano went largely unnoticed by the music world, until now.
Read more and contribute to the film
here.
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Featured Resource Of The Month
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"Independent Documentary Filming In The Time of Corona"
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Doc Society, Field of Vision, and Sundance Institute have collaborated on a risk-assessment guide for non-fiction filmmakers considering shooting during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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We are grateful for the generous support of the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency, and the Boston Cultural Council, a local agency which is funded by the Mass Cultural Council, and administered by the Mayor's Office of Arts and Culture.
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Center For Independent Documentary | 1-339-364-1278 | www.documentaries.org
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