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International |
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Film |
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Competition |
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Film Market |
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OPEN CALL FOR ENTRIES • Select a Category of Entry to continue.
Features |
Contemporary documentaries from around the world – 41 minutes in length or longer – that demonstrate a bold commitment to subject matter, excellence in cinematic craft, and innovation in storytelling. Feature submissions may be considered for inclusion in either competition or non-competition sections, at the discretion of DOC NYC's programming team.
Only feature documentary submissions that are NYC premieres at minimum will be considered for inclusion in Competition sections. Occasional exceptions may be made for non-NYC premieres for non-competition sections. You must email submissions@docnyc.net to inquire before submitting a film that will have already screened in NYC before DOC NYC's dates. |
Shorts |
Contemporary documentaries from around the world – 40 minutes or shorter – that demonstrate a bold commitment to subject matter, excellence in cinematic craft, and innovation in storytelling.
NYC premieres preferred, but not required. DOC NYC will consider short films that have had an online presence, though our preference is to spotlight work that has not already reached a large audience.
The winning short film will qualify for consideration in the Documentary Short Subject category of the Annual Academy Awards® without the standard theatrical run, provided the film otherwise complies with the Academy rules. |
Only in New York (Works-in-Progress Features or Webseries) |
Submissions are open to nonfiction works-in-progress features or series proposals in any genre or style. NOTE: COMPLETED FILMS OR PILOTS ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR SUBMISSION, ONLY WORKS-IN-PROGRESS.
Works-in-progress must be on track to be completed within 1-2 years, with at least 50% of their budget already in place. Filmmakers must submit a 2-5 minute video work sample, one-page description, and simple budget.
Projects will be selected based on their artistic merit, ability to engage an audience, and potential for success in the marketplace.
Projects that are selected will participate in roundtable meetings with industry figures over four days.
Additionally, they will be considered for Pitch Perfect, a pitching event presenting WIPs to influential industry figures. Pitch Perfect projects will be given 10 minutes to pitch, including trailer or clip, and 15-20 minutes of feedback from an industry panel. |
MISSION & OBJECTIVE
DOC NYC, America's largest documentary festival, is an annual event based in New York City at the West Village’s IFC Center, Chelsea’s SVA Theatre and Cinepolis Chelsea Cinemas. Voted by MovieMaker magazine as one of the "top five coolest documentary film festivals in the world," the eight-day fest showcases new achievements in documentary film along with panels and conversations. DOC NYC seeks to make connections that happen “only in New York.”
"This cinematic bonanza covers everything new and noteworthy in the world of documentary filmmaking.” - The Huffington Post
“DOC NYC has cemented itself as one of our favorite festivals of the cultural calendar." – Flavorpill
“DOC NYC has become an essential summit for all kinds of documentary filmmaking.” – Wall Street Journal
“An essential event on the cinephile's calendar.” - TimeOut New York
“Images that dare you to turn away.” – The New York Times
“The most comprehensive celebration of the nonfiction form in the five boroughs or anywhere else for that matter.” - AM New York
“Bigger isn't always better. But when it comes to DOC NYC, now the largest documentary film festival in the U.S., the five-year-old upstart event has proven itself a worthy new addition [...] By all accounts, screenings have been selling out; the country's top documentary filmmakers, from Albert Maysles to D.A. Pennebaker, are showing up for tributes and events; and sales agents are closing deals on select world premieres." - Indiewire
ABOUT THE FESTIVAL
Within its first five years, DOC NYC quickly became America's largest documentary film festival. In 2016, the festival showcased 214 films & events, presented by 300 filmmakers and special guests. Past guests include Secretary Hillary Rodham Clinton, Michael Moore, Martin Scorsese, Ethan Hawke, Susan Sarandon, Danny DeVito, Jim Carrey, Sarah Polley, Noam Chomsky, Ricki Lake, Michel Gondry, Errol Morris, Oliver Stone, Eve Ensler, Jonathan Franzen, Dick Cavett, Brian Stelter, Neil deGrasse Tyson, Bill Moyers, L7, Omar Epps, Malik Yoba, Bill Binney, Sonia Sanchez, Gilbert Gottfried, Yvonne Rainer, Beau Willimon, Kathleen Hanna, Spandau Ballet, Greil Marcus, Bela Fleck, Nat Hentoff, Chuck Workman, Frederick Wiseman, Barbara Kopple, Amy Berg, Morgan Neville, Jim Jarmusch, Ronnie Spector, Steve Miller, Steven Van Zandt, Cissy Houston, Betty Harris, Brenda Reid, Tony Alva, Mayor David Dinkins, Billie Jean King, and The Mekons. Audience attendees have included Harry Belafonte, Rosario Dawson, Fred Armisen, Sandra Bernhard, Marisa Tomei, Thandie Newton, Emma Watson, Michael Stipe, Martha Stewart, Darren Aronofsky, Maggie Q, Joan Jett, Paul Shaffer, Cornel West, Naomi Watts, Bob Costas, Julian Schnabel, Bill Nye, Michael Musto, Cherry Jones, and The Luna Chicks, among others.
2016 grand jury prizes winners included “The Islands and the Whales,” “Off the Rails,” and "Bedside Manner," with the audience award presented to "Death by a Thousand Cuts," and the DOC NYC PRO Pitch Perfect Award going to "Untitled Women Leaders of the First Intifada Project."
COMPETITION SECTIONS:
Viewfinders – A competition section that covers nonfiction perspectives from around the world. Eligibility requires a minimum New York City premiere with preference given to World or U.S. premieres. Past titles include World premieres of "Almost There," "The Lure," "The Anthropologist," "The Sunshine Makers," and "Web;" and U.S. premieres of "The Beekeeper and His Son," "Girl Unbound: The War to Be Her," "I Am Sun Mu," "A Journey of a Thousand Miles: Peacekeepers," "P.S. Jerusalem," "The Dark Matter of Love," and "The Wound and the Gift."
Metropolis – A competition section of documentaries about New York City or New Yorkers. Eligibility requires a minimum New York City premiere with preference given to World or U.S. premieres. Past titles include World premieres of "All the Rage (Saved By Sarno)," "Rikers," "Woman On Fire," "Daddy Don't Go," "The Lost Arcade," "Patrolman P," "Some Kind of Spark," "More Than the Rainbow," and "To Be Heard;" and U.S. premieres of "Winter at Westbeth," "Homme Less," "The Sarnos - A Life in Dirty Pictures," and "Rubble Kings."
Shorts Programs – Selections of nonfiction shorts, organized thematically. New York City premieres are preferred but not required. Preference is also given to shorts which are not already available online. Past titles include Laura Poitras and Henrik Moltke's "Project X," Aaron Schock's "La Laguna," Maxim Pozdorovkin's "Clínica de Migrantes: Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness," Jon Alpert's "Mariela Castro's March: Cuba's LGBT Revolution," Irene Taylor Brodsky's "Open Your Eyes," Alison Klayman's "The 100 Years Show," Doug Block's "The Children Next Door," and Lucy Walker's "The Tsunami and the Cherry Blossom."
**The winning short film qualifies in the Documentary Short Subject category of the Annual Academy Awards® without the standard theatrical run, provided the film otherwise complies with the Academy rules.**
NON-COMPETITION SECTIONS
Remaining festival section are all feature-length and require New York City premieres at a minimum, with a preference for World or U.S. premieres. Note: Exceptions may occasionally be made to consider films which have already screened in NYC - contact submissions@docnyc.net to inquire.
Special Events – High-profile events and guests. Past titles include the World premieres of Netflix sensation "Making A Murderer," the Netflix docuseries "Captive" (with executive producer Doug Liman in person), "City of Joy" (with Eve Ensler in person), Springsteen doc "The Ties That Bind" (with Thom Zimny in person), "Is the Man Who Is Tall Happy?" (with Noam Chomsky and Michel Gondry in person), “Darkness on the Edge of Town” (with Max Weinberg in person), Amy Berg's "An Open Secret," "Can't Stand Losing You" (with Andy Summers in person); U.S. premieres of "Finding Vivian Maier," "The Yes Men Are Revolting," "Do I Sound Gay," "Sing Me The Songs That Say I Love You" (with Rufus Wainwright in person), "Charlotte Rampling: The Look" (with Charlotte Rampling in person), and others.
American Perspectives - Past titles include World Premieres of "After Fire," "Sky Line," "Thank You For Your Service," "Wilhemina's War," "Kids for Cash," "A Murder in the Park," "Sex and Broadcasting," and screenings of "The Fear of 13," "Above and Below," "Only The Young," "Code of the West," "Brooklyn Boheme," and others.
International Perspectives - Past titles include World Premieres of "All Rise," "Every Last Child," U.S. Premieres of "On the Rim of the Sky," "Things Left Behind," "The Mosuo Sisters" and screenings of "Sacred," "Those Who Jump," "Bolshoi Babylon," "The Babushkas of Chernobyl," "Perdida," and "Oma and Bella."
DOC NYC annually presents several thematic strands, which may change from year to year. Among these have been the sports-themed Jock Docs, music-focused Sonic Cinema, films-on-films Behind the Scenes, investigative True Crime, arts-focused Art & Design, performance-based Centerstage, food-focused Doc Eat Doc, activism-oriented Fight the Power, animal-themed The Wild Life, and alternative family-focused Modern Family.
WORKS-IN-PROGRESS:
Pitch Perfect (Works-in-Progress Features or Webseries) - Pitch Perfect is a pitching event that is part of DOC NYC PRO, the festival's industry programming component. The program provides a nurturing environment for emerging filmmakers to present works-in-progress to funders, distributors, and other documentary industry professionals.
Submissions are open to nonfiction works-in-progress features or series proposals in any genre or style. Works-in-progress must be on track to be completed within 1-2 years, with at least 50% of their budget already in place. Filmmakers must submit a 2-5 minute video work sample, one-page description, and simple budget.
Projects will be selected based on their artistic merit, ability to engage an audience, and potential for success in the marketplace.
Selected projects will be given 10 minutes to pitch, including trailer or clip, and 15-20 minutes of feedback from an industry panel, as part of DOC NYC's industry programming, DOC NYC Pro.
In addition to putting filmmakers in front of funders, Pitch Perfect will also seek to connect projects to mentors such as producers, post production supervisors, sales agents, publicists, outreach coordinators, marketing directors, and others to strengthen the film’s potential in the marketplace.
Accepted Pitch Perfect participants will also receive access to DOC NYC programming.
Pitch Perfect applicants who are not accepted will also be provided a discount on select DOC NYC Passes, to be determined.
ORGANIZERS
Basil Tsiokos (Director of Programming); DOC NYC Submissions; Harris Dew (Vice President, Programs & Promotions, IFC Center); John Vanco (Senior Vice President & General Manager, IFC Center); Raphaela Neihausen (Executive Director); Thom Powers (Artistic Director)
GENERAL RULES
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:
• Previously submitted documentaries will not be accepted, unless the film has undergone significant content changes (60% or more) and meets all other submission requirements.
• Feature documentaries are forty one (41) minutes or longer. Shorts are forty (40) minutes or less, including all credits.
• If the documentary is in a language other than English, it must be subtitled or dubbed in English.
• Promotional, instructional, or industrial films, and raw documentation of performances are not eligible.
• Generally, DOC NYC preferences newer films for inclusion. For the 2017 edition, we are ideally seeking films which are making their public premiere within calendar year 2017, or, barring that, no earlier than May 2016.
• To be eligible for inclusion, Features must not have screened publicly in NYC prior to the Festival, nor have been broadcast on US television or online before the festival, nor commercially released on DVD/Blu-ray, VOD, or for download to the public.
• For non-competition sections, exceptions may occasionally be made to consider Features which have already screened in NYC - contact submissions@docnyc.net to inquire.
• For Shorts, DOC NYC has a preference for NYC premieres, but this is not a firm requirement.
• DOC NYC will consider Shorts that have had an online presence, though our preference is to spotlight work that has not already reached a large audience.
SUBMISSIONS GUIDELINES:
• DOC NYC strongly prefers Vimeo links over Withoutabox's Secure Online Screener video uploads.
• If you change your Vimeo link, or the password connected to it, make sure to email the updated information to submissions@docnyc.net.
• Please Note: We do not accept DVD as a submission format. All entries must be submitted by link.
• Filmmakers may submit more than one documentary, but each documentary must be accompanied by its own Entry Form and Entry Fee.
• The Entry Fee is non-refundable.
• Submitted materials will not be returned. Please do not send film prints, master tapes, or other originals.
• All entrants will be notified of their status on or around September 18, 2017 via e-mail.
• Please keep us informed of any changes regarding your contact information by emailing submissions@docnyc.net
• Due to the number of submissions received, DOC NYC unfortunately cannot provide feedback on entries.
• For questions regarding submissions, see Festival Description or email submissions@docnyc.net.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
By submitting this documentary, I understand that I am agreeing to the following:
• I have the legal right to represent and to submit this documentary film to DOC NYC ("DOC NYC"), IFC Theatres LLC (“IFC”), and Powershausen LLC (“Powershausen”) and to the best of my knowledge, all statements on this document are true;
• There is no action, suit, claim or proceeding pending, affecting or, to the best of my knowledge, threatened against this documentary film or its producers in connection with this documentary film;
• Music and any other third party material clearances and all copyright clearances are my sole responsibility. None of DOC NYC, IFC or Powershausen will be held responsible for any legal disputes regarding the exhibition of this film. Noncompliance may affect, delay, and/or disqualify my entry.
• If this documentary is selected for screening at DOC NYC, I grant each of DOC NYC, IFC and Powershausen the right to screen this documentary at the Festival;
• I understand and agree that my film entry, if selected for the DOC NYC Festival, may be used for promotional purposes for the DOC NYC Festival and/or its partners; and I grant each of DOC NYC, IFC, Powershausen and its partners the rights to use footage (not to exceed 5 minutes), stills and/or titles and information from the film for such promotional purposes;
• Should this documentary win any award, I am authorized and/or empowered by all parties legally representing this film entry to receive all cash prizes and awards and to distribute them appropriately;
• I fully indemnify and hold DOC NYC, IFC and Powershausen, and each of their respective officers, directors, employees, agents, affiliates, sponsors, licensees and assigns harmless from and against any and all claims, damages, liabilities, costs and expenses in connection with my documentary film, including:
o reasonable attorneys’ fees and other expenses of defense arising from or in connection with any breach of any of the foregoing agreements, representations or warranties or from or in connection with any litigation or any claim or proceeding commenced by a third party alleging or arising from libel, slander, defamation, invasion of privacy, infringement, unauthorized use or any other right of such third party or wrongful conduct
o damage to or loss of the film print or videotapes en route to or from DOC NYC or during the course of DOC NYC Festival's possession of the entry;
o and any claims which may arise in connection with my documentary film.
IF SELECTED:
If your documentary is selected to screen in the DOC NYC Festival, you will need to provide the following:
o Projection print or video by required deadline. Filmmaker is responsible for the delivery costs of the print shipment to the festival, including any applicable customs fees. DOC NYC will return the print to the supplier or to the next domestic destination as indicated by the supplier at the festival's conclusion. The festival does not provide extra insurance for originals or masters.
o Press kits, trailers, promotional materials and additional screeners for preview;
o Screener links or DVD copies for the DOC NYC press liaison (optional)
Please do not send these materials until your film is selected for the program. The festival reserves the right to complete any information not supplied by the filmmaker from whatever source available and will not be responsible if incorrect information is entered.
Note: DOC NYC has the right to change any information contained in this document (including Festival dates, venues, events, awards and eligibility requirements) without further notice.
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