What does it take to bring a documentary from an initial idea into the world, and all the way to the Academy Awards?
This session, featuring director David Borenstein, offers a 360° case study of MR. NOBODY AGAINST PUTIN, the 2026 Oscar-winning documentary, examining how the film was developed, financed, produced, and shared with audiences. Through an honest, behind-the-scenes conversation, we'll look at the creative, strategic, and logistical decisions that shaped the project at each stage.
We'll explore how the team found their story, secured funding, built a creative team, and navigated production challenges. From there, we'll dig into the festival, marketing, and distribution strategies that shaped the film's release, along with the tradeoffs and lessons learned along the way. Designed for filmmakers at all stages, this session focuses on real-world decision-making and takeaways that extend well beyond a single film.