Dear Friends of Docs In Progress,

It is hard to believe that it was March when Docs had to close its physical doors due to the CoVid Pandemic. Over these past many months, our families, friends, neighbors and communities have faced unprecedented medical and financial challenges and heartache—from the more than 200,000 people who have died from the virus and the many who have died or have been injured in the fight for human rights and liberties. Through these difficult times, Docs continues to be amazed at the creativity and fortitude of documentary artists—new, emerging, and established—who are committed to telling their stories.    

In our last newsletter, we shared our decision was to hunker down, assess the situation and above all, make sure that Docs In Progress could weather this storm.

We are happy to report that not only is Docs financially stable but we have successfully made the 'pivot' to virtual/remote programming. The 2020 Fellows Program, which was Doc's first foray in the virtual arena, is wrapping up in October; and this summer it was the teens turn to share My Life Under Covid in our first-ever remote teen filmmaking workshop. We can't wait to share their work at the Community Stories Film Festival. And we were pleased to welcome Jan Krawitz as our 2020 Filmmaker in Residence   

So what is next for Docs In Progress' Fall Programming:

• October 12: our 55+ Filmmaking Workshops will go virtual with teaching artist Olha Onyshko
• October 22: Intro to Documentary Editing with Paul Moon, again remote
• October date TBD: Silver Screen Series - screening of Perfect Strangers by Jan Krawitz
• November 6-8: Community Stories Film Festival scheduled for November 6-8. 
• And please stay tuned for our redesigned Intro to Documentary Filmmaking set to launch in November.   

And Docs In Progress today is launching its search for a new permanent Executive Director.

As noted, we closed our physical doors and anticipate that we will not reopen to in-person programming for the rest of 2020. The next several months will be challenging; please continue to wear a mask and social distance.  I personally can't wait until we can open our Silver Spring doors and greet you in person!  From all of us at Docs In Progress, be well.

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The National Endowment for the Arts announced more than $84 million in grants as part of the Arts Endowment’s second major funding announcement for fiscal year 2020.

Docs In Progress is pleased to announce that once again we are receiving an Art Works award for our Artist Services portfolio. This is one of 1015 grants nationwide that the agency has approved in this category.

“These awards demonstrate the resilience of the arts in America, showcasing not only the creativity of their arts projects but the organizations’ agility in the face of a national health crisis,” said Mary Anne Carter, chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts. “We celebrate organizations like Docs In Progress for providing opportunities for learning and engagement through the arts in these times.”

Docs In Progress is elated to announce our 2020 Fellows. Now in its eighth year, the Docs In Progress Fellowship provides selected filmmakers from across the Washington DC/Maryland/Virginia area monthly facilitated meetings where they come together to share progress with their projects and receive feedback and advice on issues related to the documentary landscape, work/life balance, and the creative process. 

Summer is popping at our new space. AFI DOCS focuses on localism. Community Stories Festival is looking for submissions. Plus news from alums, upcoming funding deadlines, hot reads, and more...