2023 Schedule

Across the country, nonprofit newsrooms are springing up to fill a void in local reporting, with many of them turning to film and documentaries to expand their reach and build audiences. Many are joining filmmakers and text-native reporters to create locally-based films of journalistic and artistic integrity. This partnership, however, can also invite tension, as it weaves together approaches and standards from distinct disciplines. This session will explore those differences to open a dialogue …

Investigative Filmmaking Under Fire: The Holly, a Case Study

11:00am

-12:00pm

Robert Gutierrez

Julian Rubinstein

The Holly documentary goes deep inside a gentrifying community in Denver, where a shooting case involving an activist exposes the political machinations of urban development and the city’s gang activity. From production all the way through distribution, a variety of legal issues threatened to shut the film down. In this session, we take a look at the legalities of filming in a courtroom, what to do when you’re being sued by people in the film, and, ultimately, ensuring the safety of the filmmake…

Forging the Future: FRONTLINE/Firelight Fellowship

1:00pm

-2:00pm

Carla Borrás

Monika Navarro

Kevin Shaw

Marta Urquilla

The FRONTLINE/Firelight Investigative Journalism Fellowship was created in 2018 to support independent filmmakers of color interested in journalistic documentary filmmaking. Representatives from each organization will show us three case studies on how these two media powerhouses are coming together to guide the next generation in leading-edge work.…

The Art of Visual News

2:15pm

-3:30pm

Reem Akkad

Erica Berenstein

Rozina Breen

Margaret Mishi Ebrahim

In an era shaped by the omnipresence of social media and a burgeoning demand for greater inclusivity in journalism, a fresh wave of younger audiences is gravitating towards unconventional modes of visual news consumption. This panel seeks to delve into the realm of innovative storytelling methods that are blossoming within newsrooms eager to forge deeper connections with a media-savvy demographic. As this ongoing experimentation gives rise to a variety of diverse narrative forms and styles, it p…

Using and Abusing Deepfakes: The Dangers and Potential of AI in Documentary

3:45pm

-5:00pm

The Theater at Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library

Fatima Anwar

Patricia Aufderheide

Sophie Compton

Lisa Zycherman

Pseudonyms and blurred faces. Altered voices. Filming in silhouette. Masking victims. Faced with the challenging question of protecting the anonymity of film subjects who have already been victimized once, a handful of investigative filmmakers are turning to deep fakery. Using artificial intelligence, they are able to alter the appearance and voice of their source, restoring the humanity of vulnerable subjects as they tell their stories. How do filmmakers make that decision, and what are the imp…

Opening Night Film: Locked Out

7:00pm

Luchina Fisher

Tracy Jan

Nothing symbolizes ‘making it in America’ quite like owning a home. Yet today, the racial gap in home ownership is widening, and those most impacted are women of color. Set in Detroit, “Locked out” takes us into the lives of courageous Black women who face evictions, predatory lenders and traditional banking, in a movement to battle housing injustice, so The American Dream may become a reality for all. Audience talkback with the director follows the film screening, with Opening Night Reception a…

Locked Out: Post Screening Reception

9:15pm

-11:30pm

Hotel Monaco

Opening Night Reception at the Hotel Monaco's restaurant, Dirty Habit.…

BREAKFAST

8:30am

-9:30am

Come early for social time and breakfast before heading to the sessions.…

Friday, November 3

Working Intersectionally – Race & Ethnicity

9:30am

-10:30am

jeanelle augustin

Princess Hairston

Julian Rubinstein

As documentary filmmakers strive to become accountable to the communities in which they film, filmmaking teams are becoming more diverse. These new alliances can be fraught with misunderstandings and may impede the progress of the project. In this workshop, we'll develop best practices for working with people from a variety of backgrounds and cultures in ways that recognize and honor differences to produce meaningful content. We'll hear from the directors of two films with diverse crews. Princes…

Uncovering Democracy in Peril: Voting Rights

10:45am

-12:00pm

The Theater at Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library

Eric Feder

Andy Kroll

Brad Lichtenstein

Yoruba Richen

Kate Woodsome

In the runup to the US presidential election, the right to vote has become increasingly challenged, if not imperiled. Journalists and filmmakers stand on the front lines, charged with documenting this battle over democracy's defining feature. This panel will discuss the how-tos of telling the physical and the invisible stories of a beleaguered democracy, the legal basics for covering elections, and safety measures for photographers, filmmakers, and journalists in the line of fire.…

Film Screening: Short Cuts Program 1

12:00pm

In this collection of short films, we explore the profound connection between the personal and the political. This program takes us on a journey, delving into the complexities of family histories and the relentless pursuit of justice for those we cherish. Each film artfully amplifies the universal longing for safety, visibility, and the power to share one's voice.…

Out of Sight/Top of Mind: Covering War’s Forgotten Casualties

1:00pm

-2:15pm

Paco de Onís

Carol Dysinger

Roopa Gogineni

Elahe Izadi

Within the multifaceted nature of any conflict, there exists both conspicuous and obscured narratives. Beyond the geopolitical protagonists lie the stories of everyday individuals entangled in warfare, grappling with the harrowing transformation of their forever-changed lives. In this panel discussion, we embark on an exploration of the hidden casualties of war and the profound implications of documenting their experiences through the lens of a camera. Delving into the dynamics of reporting from…

Eyes Everywhere: The Widening Net of Government Surveillance

2:30pm

-3:45pm

Kathleen McClellan

David Novack

Kate Stonehill

Emma Weil

Clayton Weimers

In this panel, we explore the expanding threats to the privacy of our devices and hard drives through mass extraction techniques, especially by law enforcement and border authorities. The practice has far-reaching implications for fundamental rights, including privacy and the presumption of innocence, but it also poses a particular peril for journalists and filmmakers seeking to protect their sources and material, along with ethical questions about the use of information gleaned through these ta…

The Future (Disappearance?) of Digital Abundance

4:00pm

-5:00pm

The Theater at Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library

Nicholas Bruckman

Alex Clark

Kathy Davidov

Shawn Hazelett

Chris Temple

NFTs and digital currency were once celebrated as offering a futuristic, if barely understood, path forward, both for countless people trying to get rich and for content creators including filmmakers and journalists. Creators saw a way for their followers to support their work, often through the purchase of NFTs, creating a kind of membership base to fund their work. The collapse of cryptocurrency erased $2 trillion in wealth, 80 percent of it from brown and Black investors. With the collapse we…

Film Screening: Minted

6:30pm

Nicholas Bruckman

Shawn Hazelett

A fascinating look at the intersection of art, commerce, and digital ownership through the rise and crash of the NFT market.…

Centerpiece Film: The Price of Truth, Director’s Cut

8:45pm

The Theater at Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library

Patrick Forbes

David M. Herszenhorn

The extraordinary story of a man who risks everything to preserve freedom of speech in Russia. In December 2021 Dmitry Muratov is awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. He is the editor-in-chief of Russia’s only independent newspaper, Novaya Gazeta. Six of his journalists have been murdered, after their reports displeased the state. In February 2022 Russia invades Ukraine. In early March, using the cover of a documentary film festival, Muratov secretly negotiates free passage for forty journalists with …

BREAKFAST

8:30am

-9:30am

Come early for social time and breakfast before heading to the sessions.…

HAPPY HOUR

5:00pm

-6:30pm

Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library

Double Exposure turns 10! Come raise a glass and kick back for social time, drinks, and light fare, as panel discussions conclude and the evening's film premieres await. …

Saturday, November 4

Crossing Borders

9:30am

-10:45am

June Cross

Patricia Finneran

Leyi Huang

Chris Lett

Amanda Pike

Crossing Borders brings together experienced professionals in film and journalism to give feedback on select projects in front of a live audience. Newsrooms moving print projects into film and filmmakers venturing into investigative territory show excerpts of their work and receive feedback from across the aisle. The goal for each side is to raise impact through input from colleagues drawing on unaccustomed expertise. This workshop is possible thanks to the generous support of the CrossCurrents …

Producing Towards Equity w/ IDA & Documentary Producers Alliance

11:00am

-2:00pm

Carletta S. Hurt

Lance Kramer

Producing Toward Equity (PTE) is an interactive workshop offering filmmakers resources to dismantle outdated producing practices and rebuild ones that are more fair and just. Developed by the Documentary Producers Alliance (DPA) in partnership with the International Documentary Association (IDA), PTE is focused on film financing and crediting through the lens of equity and inclusion, for independent documentary producers of all experience levels. The workshop is designed to provide producers wit…

Decoding Police Records

11:00am

-12:00pm

The Theater at Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library

trina reynolds-tyler

cai thomas

A project of the Invisible Institute, Beneath the Surface consists of a team of data analysts, journalists, artists, organizers, and survivors in Chicago who investigate state violence against Black women, working to expand conversations about police violence beyond fatal shootings. This project is led by data scientist trina reynolds-tyler who last year collaborated with filmmaker cai thomas on a film. Join trina and cai in a workshop on how to read police records and incorporate the data into …

Film Screening: Short Cuts Program 2

11:00am

Within this program, these short films collectively explore a broad spectrum of themes, ranging from the aftermath of war, citizen protests, to instances of police violence. Uniting these narratives is a shared focus on the human response to acts of inhumanity, both on American soil and abroad. These films offer a poignant glimpse into the resilience and humanity that emerges in the face of such adversity.…

Visual Forensics for Investigative Filmmakers

12:45pm

-1:45pm

The Theater at Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library

Sarah Cahlan

Meg Kelly

Citizen-generated videos have become an integral piece of countless important news stories, but they represent only the first tier of open-source materials available to investigative storytellers. With a Wi-Fi connection and the right know how, a wealth of information, including emergency audio recordings, documents, CCTV footage, satellite imagery, and flight and shipping traffic, can be unlocked. Visual forensics involves not just knowing what’s available and where to find it, but most crucial…

Film Screening: This is Not Financial Advice

1:30pm

Nicki Mayo

Chris Temple

Glauber Contessoto gambles his life savings on a joke cryptocurrency. Two months later, he becomes "The Dogecoin Millionaire" and an internet legend. While it might seem easy to get rich online, it's even easier to lose it all.…

Master Class: Based on a True Story

2:00pm

-3:00pm

Miranda Rose Hall

Michael Rezendes

A master class from the writer's room of Alaska Daily, the TV series about a state's failure to prosecute the murders of indigenous women, set at a struggling daily newspaper. Join Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative journalist Mike Rezendes and Steinberg Playwright Award-winner Miranda Rose Hall for a workshop on adapting real-life investigative stories into narrative work for stage and screen. https://youtu.be/L_Yrf3DE4-c?feature=shared…

Revealing Records for Filmmakers

2:15pm

-3:30pm

The Theater at Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library

Nate Jones

Based on Nate Jones's popular column in The Washington Post, a workshop for filmmakers on accessing government records, including voice, video, and images. This workshop will provide a basic understanding of the variety of audio, video and other materials that are available to filmmakers in the know. It will teach you how to file successful requests for materials under the Freedom of Information Act, along with tips for ensuring your request doesn't languish.…

Film Screening: Phantom Parrot

4:00pm

Kate Stonehill

The revelation of a top-secret British surveillance program brings down the dominoes in a dark and analytical film about technology, rights and structural racism – and about a man with the courage to speak out.…

Spotlight Film: Another Body

6:30pm

The Theater at Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library

Sophie Compton

A college student searches for justice after she discovers deepfake pornography of herself circulating online.…

Film Screening: Sorry, Not Sorry

8:45pm

The Theater at Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library

Jimmie Briggs

Caroline Suh

Filmmakers Caroline Suh and Cara Mones re-examine the case of Louis C.K., who was accused of sexual harassment in 2017. They explore his comeback and the unseen effects of this on the women who spoke publicly about his behaviour.…

Saturday Night Reception

10:45pm

-12:30am

Dirty Habit at the Hotel Monaco, 700 F Street, NW

A late-night get together following the Saturday night's last screening. Drinks and light fare at Dirty Habit, the Hotel Monaco's restaurant and bar.…

Continental Breakfast

9:00am

-10:00am