In this full-day, in-person workshop, designed by filmmakers who know this process firsthand, dig into the real work of bringing your documentary project to life. You'll move through story development, funding, and pitching with practical exercises and real-world examples.
10-11:10am: Emmy Award-winning director Contessa Gayles (Songs From The Hole) will show you how to find and sharpen the core of your story and make deliberate choices about structure and voice.
11:10-11:20 BREAK
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1:20-12:30pm: Director Michael Premo (Homegrown) and DOC NYC’s Malikkah Rollins will navigate the trust-building conversations you'll have with communities and participants.
12:30-1:30 LUNCH
1:30-2:40pm: Producer Sarah Rachel Wainio (The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson) will present creative funding strategies beyond the traditional grant route with approaches that give you more agency and control over your project.
2:40-2:50 BREAK
2:50-4pm: Industry leader Monika Navarro will break down what it takes to pitch for funding: the language you need, the approach that works, and the timing that matters.
Whether you're just starting out or further along, you'll leave with concrete tools and insights you can apply immediately to your own work.