TFI and A+E Films Launch Doc Workshop
Today TFI and A+E Films announced that they have launched the TFI/A+E Films Feature Doc Storytelling Workshop. This three-day program—which is currently underway today at the newly opened Made in NY Media Center by IFP in DUMBO, Brooklyn—is designed to help position commercially-viable documentaries for the big screen and will provide one-on-one mentorship, pitch training and a pitch forum, master class discussions, case studies, screenings, and networking opportunities.
Master classes will be led by two-time Academy Award-winning producer Simon Chinn (Man on Wire, Searching for Sugar Man). Additional industry leaders will serve as mentors, including Academy Award-winner Ross Kauffman (Born Into Brothels), famed producer Julie Goldman (Buck, A Place at the Table), A+E Films’ Molly Thompson (Jesus Camp, The Tillman Story, September Issue), TFI’s Director of Documentary Programming Ryan Harrington and TFI’s Director of Digital Initiatives Ingrid Kopp.
Five programs have been chosen to participate in this year's workshop, they include:
Pride: MUSHARRAF IN EXILE, Directed and Produced by Mohammed Ali Naqvi (2012 TAA, GTDF grantee for Children of the Red Mosque); Produced by Jared Ian Goldman – Exiled former Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf, despite having a flawed legacy as dictator and being sought for arrest on murder charges, decides to return to Pakistan and run for President.
Silenced, Directed by James Spione (2013 GTDF grantee); Produced by Daniel Chalfen (2013 GTDF grantee) – In a time of increasing secrecy, four national security whistleblowers fight to reveal the darkest corners of America's war on terror as the government steps up its campaign to punish them.
(T)error, Directed and Produced by Lyric R. Cabral (2013 TAA grantee) and David Felix Sutcliffe (2013 TAA grantee)—(T)error is the first film to explore—in real time—an active FBI counter-terrorism sting operation, from both the perspective of a government informant and the suspect that he has been assigned to monitor.
The Hand That Feeds, Directed and Produced by Rachel Lears and Robin Blotnick – An undocumented immigrant deli worker sets out to end abuses at a Manhattan bagel shop and winds up making history.
Untitled Transgender Youth Documentary, Directed and Produced by Eric Juhola (2011 TAA grantee for Broken Heartland), Produced by Jeremy Stulberg (2011 TAA grantee for Broken Heartland) and Randy Stulberg (2011 TAA grantee for Broken Heartland)—The film follows a landmark case in Colorado, where a 6-year-old male-to-female transgender girl is banned from using the girls’ bathroom at her elementary school.
Lean more about the workshop on the next episode of the TFI LIVE podcast where we chat with our own Ryan Harrington and A+E Films' Molly Thompson. Look for it next week.
[Photo: The Hand That Feeds]
