News

Docs In Progress Alums Around the Globe and Coming Soon to a Screening Space Near You

PRICE OF PARADISE (titled PRICE OF FREEDOM when it screened at Docs In Progress in July 2007) will premiere August 18 at 8 pm on The Documentary Channel. Congratulations to filmmaker Jeffrey Kramer.

THE JESUS GUY (titled WHAT'S YOUR NAME when it screened at Docs In Progress in October 2006) was recently broadcast in Australia and New Zealand on the Biography Channel and screened at the Biografilm Festival in Bologna, Italy. The film will screen at the Indianapolis Fringe Festival on August 16, with director Sean Tracey in attendance. Rumor has it that What's Your Name (the title character) may also attend.

Joe Wilson and Dean Hamer report that OUT IN THE SILENCE, their documentary feature on fighting homophobia in rural America, has received a $25,000 grant from Pennsylvania Public Television Network. Originally titled HEARTLAND USA when it was presented as part of Docs In Progress' Peer Pitch program in 2005, a work-in-progress version of OUT IN THE SILENCE has been invited to screen at upcoming conferences of the National Religious Leadership Roundtable and the National Conference on LGBT Equality and at Reel Affirmations, Washington's International Gay & Lesbian Film Festival.

Natalie Halpern, whose first film TUMAINI LETU, was screened at Docs In Progress in July 2006, is having success with her second film, AFRICA'S DAUGHTERS about the journey of two Ugandan girls seeking to lift themselves and their families out of poverty by challenging cultural traditions to graduate high school. The film won the Atlanta Film Festival's Grand Jury Prize for Best Short Documentary and the Best Short Documentary award at the Tallahassee Film Festival. It has screened at a dozen film festivals so far this year including the Pan African Film Festival and Reel Women International Film Festival in Los Angeles, the Women's International Film Festival in Miami, and the Charleston International Film Festival.

Jes Therkelsen, who screened THE BEST PART OF EVERYTHING at Docs In Progress in September 2005, Is now on production on a new documentary in Nepal called CLEAN HANDS, which is part of a larger program where Therkelsen and co-director Phoebe Gilpin, are holding small workshops with Nepalese Dalit activists and journalists on using different forms of media to tell their own stories.

Heather Taylor, whose film RAG WING DERBY is part of Docs In Progress' private consultation program, received an IDA Fiscal Sponsorship. A trailer for the film, about the aviatrixes who competed in the first women's transcontinental air race, will be screened at Air Venture, the largest air show in the country

Docs In Progress Alums Earn Rave Reviews, Continue the Festival Circuit

Critics have praised two Docs In Progress alumni films. BALLOU (an alum of our one-on-one story advising services) made its theatrical debut in Washington DC in June 2008 with an exclusive run at Landmark's E Street Theatre. Washington Post critic Ann Hornaday has called the film "lively and affecting." THE MATADOR (rough cut screened in June 2007) by Stephen Higgins and Nina Seavey continues to dazzle critics through its festival screenings. Jeffrey Lyons called the film "a thrilling look at Spain's most passionate art." Meanwhile, other DIP alums are continuing their festival runs. BLACK DIAMONDS (rough cut screened in July 2006) by Catherine Pancake was featured in the Documentary Fortnight at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. THE FIXER (rough cut screened in October 2007) by Aaron Rockett played the Newport International Film Festival in Rhode Island. BEAUTY: IN THE EYES OF THE BEHELD (rough cut screened in January 2008) by Liza Figueroa was screened at the Indie Spirit Film Festival in Colorado Springs and was a semi-finalist for the Moondance International Film Festival.

Congrats to Docs In Progress Alums for Festival Awards

UNRAVELING MICHELLE (rough cut screened in October 2007) by Dan Shaffer won Best Local Film in Shaffer's hometown of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania at the Artsfest Film Festival. The film also screened at the Rosebud Film Festival and will screen at the New York Independent Film and Video Festival. REDEMPTION STONE: THE LIFE AND TIMES OF TOM LEWIS (rough cut screened in January 2007) by Tom Dziedzic won Best Documentary at the Cape Fear Independent Film Festival in Wilmington, North Carolina.

Michelle Farrell (R), the subject of
Dan Shaffer's UNRAVELLING MICHELLE,
with fellow Baltimore native John Waters
at the Artsfest Film Festival.

Docs In Progress Alums at Established and Emerging Film Festivals in Early 2008

THE MATADOR (rough cut screened in June 2007) by Stephen Higgins and Nina Seavey will premiere in competition at the South by Southwest Film Festival in Austin in March 2008. THE FIXER (rough cut screened in October 2007) by Aaron Rockett premiered at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival in January 2008. UNRAVELING MICHELLE (rough cut screened in October 2007) by Dan Shaffer and Michelle Farrell will premiere at the DC Independent Film Festival in March 2008. REDEMPTION STONE: THE LIFE AND TIMES OF TOM LEWIS (rough cut screened in January 2007) by Tom Dziedzic will premiere at the Atlanta Film Festival in April. And a big congratulations to Docs In Progress alums Jennifer Crescenzo, Jes Therkelsen, and Kendra Rubinfeld, who were featured in a cover story for The Washington Post Sunday Source as part of coverage of the One City Film Festival, a new festival in Washington DC spotlighting local filmmakers and stories.

A New Home, A New Member of the Docs in Progress Team

Docs in Progress has set down roots in documentary capital Silver Spring, Maryland. Our new address is 8607 Second Avenue, Suite 402-E, just a few blocks from the Silver Spring Metro Station, the American Film Institute, and Discovery Communications. This office will be used for administrative functions and the growing demand for private consultations. Our public workshops will continue to take place at the Jack Morton Auditorium in Washington DC six times a year and other venues for special events.

We are also thrilled to welcome Sam Hampton to the Docs in Progress team. Sam is a documentary filmmaker who has nearly 20 years of professional and academic experience in research and documentation of social justice activities. He is also an experienced grantwriter and consultant for non-profit organizations who will be focusing on developing our strategic plan as an organization and also supplementing our consulting services to filmmakers needing advice on fundraising strategies.

Big round of applause to Peer Awards winners

Congratulations to Docs in Progress alum Jes Therkelsen (THE BEST PART OF EVERYTHING, screened September 2005). The finished film won an award for Student Production at the 2007 Peer Awards, held at the National Press Club. We also want to celebrate with Docs in Progress co- founder Adele Schmidt (right, in photo), whose production company Journey Films also won a Peer Award for Best Entertainment Film (over 30 minutes) for ALBERT SCHWEITZER: CALLED TO AFRICA. Adele produced and edited the docudrama. The Peer Awards are sponsored by TIVA (formerly ITVA-DC) and recognize the highest achievements in the regional film and video industry.

Docs in Progress Consultee Film Spotlighted on Good Morning America

BALLOU, a film about a year in the life of a Washington DC high school's acclaimed marching band, was featured on ABC's Good Morning America on September 24, 2007 . Producer Casey Callister and director Michael Patrei were interviewed, along with the band's director as part of the segment. The film is yet to be released but has already scored quite a bit of buzz and was the catalyst for the Washington DC Public Schools to release $3.2 million for music and extracurricular programs. Docs in Progress co-founders Adele Schmidt and Erica Ginsberg served as story consultants for the film. Click here for more information on the film.

Docs in Progress alumn to screen on PBS in primetime

READY TO PLAY will air on PBS' Washington DC affiliate WETA on Monday, August 20, 2007 at 10 pm. Jennifer Crescenzo's film about a softball league in the Glover Park neighborhood was workshopped at Docs in Progress in January 2005.

REDEMPTION STONE which screened at Docs in Progress in January 2007, has been accepted to the IFP Market. The short documentary by Tom Dziedzic about one man's lifelong journey to find redemption, is one of only seven shorts accepted by the prestigious market.

YALE RUSSIAN CHORUS, which screened at Docs in Progress in November 2005, has been retitled KHORISTORIA: THE STORY OF THE YALE RUSSIAN CHORUS. Catherine Mattingly's film premiered at the Woods Hole Film Festival in Massachusetts in August 2007 at a special screening which included a performance by 30 alumni of the famed chorus. The film was also chosen for screening at the Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival in October 2007. Click here for more information.

Docs in Progress to participate in Artomatic panel "Documentary Filmmaking in the YouTube Age." Docs in Progress co-founder Erica Ginsberg will be among the panelists at this April 29, 2007 session on new outreach methods for independent documentary filmmakers. Click here for more information.

Docs in Progress co-founder readies new PBS docudrama

The new docudrama ALBERT SCHWEITZER - CALLED TO AFRICA produced and edited by Docs In Progress co-founder Adele Schmidt will be broadcast nationwide on PBS in April 2007 in commemoration of Earth Day. Check online for airtimes.

Docs in Progress alumni are finalists in national online shorts competitions.

THE PREACHER AND THE POET (screened May 2006), Dean Hamer's short film about the challenges of being young, black, and gay, has been selected as a finalist in the Independent Lens Online Shorts Festival. Hamer's partner, Joe Wilson , who participated in our first Peer Pitch program back in 2005, was a finalist in Current TV's Seeds of Tolerance Competition. Wilson won a $10,000 prize for his film WE BELONG about two gay teenagers fighting prejudice in rural America.

Docs in Progress alumn to screen on PBS Memorial Day Weekend 2007

WE CAME TO REMEMBER (screened November 2005), Hugh Drescher's film about the reunion of a group of World War II veterans, has since been retitled AIR GROUP 16: WE CAME TO REMEMBER. It will air nationally on PBS Memorial Day weekend in primetime.

Docs in Progress alumn awarded prestigious grant and gains a major distributor.

BLACK DIAMONDS (screened July 2006), about the impact of mountaintop removal on the environment and people of Appalachia, was recently called "riveting" and "textured" by Washington Post film critic Ann Hornaday. Filmmaker Catherine Pancake has been awarded a grant from the prestigious Paul Robeson Fund to help with grassroots outreach. The film has been playing the film festival circuit and has been acquired by Bullfrog Films for distribution.

Docs in Progress alumn wins Best Short Documentary at 2007 New York AIDS Film Festival

TUMAINI LETU/OUR HOPE (screened July 2006), Natalie Halpern's short film about Kenyan women who care for children orphaned by AIDS, received the Best Short Documentary Award at the New York AIDS Film Festival in December 2006. It has screened at festivals across the country, including the Chicago International Film Festival. The film has been shown on Capitol Hill, at the International AIDS Conference in Toronto, at universities and schools, and local broadcasts in New York and Washington DC.

`Docs in Progress featured on NPR.`

On July 7, 2006, Docs in Progress was featured on Metro Connection, a radio program on WAMU, Washington DC's National Public Radio affiliate. The program featured interviews with co-founders Adele Schmidt and Erica Ginsberg, as well as workshop alumni Chris Billing and Jennifer Crescenzo.
Click here to listen.

`Docs in Progress alum screens on PBS.`

Jennifer Crescenzo adapted segments of her documentary READY TO PLAY (screened at Docs in Progress in January 2005) for interstitials on the Glover Park neighborhood for WETA, Washington DC's PBS affiliate.
Click here to learn more about the WETA Neighborhoods segments.

Docs in Progress co-presents segments from latest Ken Burns films at the Silverdocs Documentary Film Festival

Docs in Progress teamed up on June 16, 2006 with the New York- based DocuClub to co-present an In-the-Works program at the Silverdocs Film Festival and International Documentary Conference. The session presented segments from THE WAR, part of a new seven-part series being developed by Ken Burns and Lynn Novick, that will examine the ways in which World War II touched ordinary lives in four quintessentially American towns.

Docs in Progress alums screen at Cinequest Film Festival

In March 2006, John Monte and Aaron Rockett (who screened 90 MILES APART at Docs in Progress in September 2004) screened their latest short in competition at the Cinequest Film Festival in San Jose, California. VACATIONING IN AFGHANISTAN took the filmmakers to the countryside of Afghanistan where they get behind the headlines and enjoy spontaneous encounters with the ordinary people. This film was also workshopped at a February 2006 Peer Pitch co-sponsored by Docs in Progress and Women in Film and Video.

Docs in Progress alum screens at MOMA and snags a top distributor

Karen Zider's film MOVING FORWARD (previous titled EMPOWERED WOMEN when it screened at Docs in Progress in November 2004) was screened at the Museum of Modern Art in New York on Friday, February 17, 2006 as part of MOMA's Documentary Fortnight program. The film looks at micro credit programs in Colombia. The film has also been acquired by distributor Cinema Guild.

Docs in Progress featured in Washington Post Weekend Section
The Washington Post featured Docs in Progress in its November 11, 2005 Weekend Section in an article entitled "So You Wanna Be a Film Critic?" The article also featured the two films from our November 2005 workshop, WE CAME TO REMEMBER and YALE RUSSIAN CHORUS.
Click here to read the article (requires registration).

Docs in Progress alum profiled in Marc Fisher's column in Washington Post
THE LAST COLONY (screened June 2004), Rebecca Kingsley's documentary about Washington DC's struggle for political representation, was the subject of an election day column in the Washington Post on November 2, 2004.
Click here for full article (requires registration).

Docs in Progress featured on WPFW Pacifica Radio.
In only our second month of existence, Docs in Progress has been profiled in a story for WPFW, Washington DC's Pacifica Radio affiliate.
Click here to download an MP3 file of the broadcast.
Click here to read the transcript.