Saturday, March 29

10 a.m.
Choosing the Right Subject. What elements make up a compelling documentary? Successful documentary filmmakers discuss how they identified their stories/subjects and how they approached them. Ruth Leitman (Lipstick and Dynamite), Brad Lichtenstein (Almost Home), Christine O’Malley (I.O.U.S.A.), Jon Siskel (Louder Than A Bomb)

12 p.m. Lunch

1:30 p.m.
Tim Kelley Legal Seminar on fiscal agency, releases forms, and contracts.

3:30 p.m.
I.O.U.S.A. Case Study with Producer Christine O’Malley

5 p.m. Dinner Break and Reception

7 p.m. I.O.U.S.A. Sneak Preview

Sunday, March 30

10 a.m.
ITVS Proposal writing workshop and In The Family case study with ITVS Director of Programming Richard Saiz and Kartemquin Films‘ Joanna Rudnick

12:30 p.m. Lunch break

1:00 p.m.
Funder Panel and Pitch Sesssions
Several registrants will have the opportunity to pitch ideas to a panel of funding experts including Richard Saiz (ITVS), Matt Pakula (Playboy Foundation), Encarnacion Teruel (Illinois Arts Council) and Ryan Lewis(Illinois Humanities Council).

Saturday, April 5

10 a.m.
Jobs for Doc makers
Join representatives from Towers Productions, Grand and Noble Productions and other companies to learn about the work they are doing and how to be a part of it.

12 p.m. Lunch

1 p.m. Tim Kelley Legal Seminar licensing and fair use, distribution agreements

3 p.m. 100 hours to 2: Editing the Documentary
Top documentary editors discuss how they have approached cutting their projects. Leslie Simmer (The War Tapes ) and Tom Haneke (Almost Home)

4:30 p.m.
Darkon Case Study with Producers Thomas Kikis and Cherise Wolas

7 p.m. Darkon Sneak Preview

Sunday, April 6

10 a.m.
Creative Capital workshop and Nice Bombs case study with CC’s Kemi Ilesanmi and filmmaker Usama Alshaibi

1:30 p.m.
Distribution Opportunities
IFC FILMS‘ Ryan Werner, Distribution Executive Rob William (Netflix/Red Envelope Entertainment), P.O.V. Producer Chris White, Filmmaker Yvonne Welbon (Ruth Ellis @ 100, Garbage The Revolution Starts at Home), and others discuss the various outlets for documentary films

3 p.m.
Work in Progress Screenings
Several registrants have the opportunity to screen their works-in-progress for the panelists and other participants.