Thom Powers and Raphaela Neihausen at DOC NYC Visionaries Tribute 2021: (photo: Lou Aguilar, courtesy of DOC NYC)
DOC NYC, the largest doc festival in the US has announced that it is searching for a new Artistic Director, “reshaping the role with an expanded scope to serve the organization’s growing year-round activities as it enters its 13th year.”
The festival’s founding Artistic Director Thom Powers, who works concurrently at other festivals and in podcasting, will take up the new role of Director of Special Projects.
“The scope and reach of DOC NYC have dramatically expanded since our first festival in 2010, and it’s time to bring in a new Artistic Director who can devote undivided, year-round attention to the organization,” said Powers. “I’m excited to work alongside that person to carry on the festival’s growth.”
In addition to his role at DOC NYC, Powers also serves as the documentary programmer for the Toronto International Film Festival and Miami Film Festival. He hosts the podcast Pure Nonfiction and co-hosts with Neihausen the WNYC radio segment “Documentary of the Week.”
DOC NYC’s core leadership team of Executive Director Raphaela Neihausen, Director of Industry and Education Malikkah Rollins, and Director of Filmmaker Development Caitlin Boyle remain in place, confirms the festival.
Following a 2021 festival that offered a program of more than 300 films and events, including an 8-day in-person PRO conference, to more than 31,000 festivalgoers in theaters and online, the organization has announced several upcoming online events. Among them are the Winter 2022 season of PRO panels and workshops in February and March and the second annual Spring Showcase in May and June. The 13th edition of the festival will be held in New York November 9-17, 2022.
“This is an exciting new chapter for DOC NYC,” said Executive Director Neihausen. “We’re building on a strong foundation with a great team, continuing to benefit from Thom’s experience and passion, while bringing on board a new Artistic Director to help expand our vision of what DOC NYC can become.”
DOC NYC was launched in 2010 as a project of the IFC Center by Senior Vice President and General Manager John Vanco and Vice President of Programs and Promotions Harris Dew, joined by Powers and Neihausen, building on the success of their long-running Stranger Than Fiction screening series at IFC Center.
“Thom has been a dynamo whose commitment, smarts and energy have turned DOC NYC into a powerhouse in the documentary world,” said Vanco. “We’re delighted he’ll continue to play a key role in the festival and are thrilled to be expanding DOC NYC’s team.”
The festival statement says how, since its founding, DOC NYC has showcased thousands of films and spawned initiatives such as its DOC NYC PRO Conference for filmmakers, Short Lists spotlighting the year’s awards frontrunners, the 40 Under 40 honors for rising creative talent in the field, the Documentary New Leaders program to promote diversity and inclusion in the industry, Storytelling Incubator, the newsletters Monday Memo and Weekend Watch, and the newly renamed Industry Roundtables (formerly “Only In New York”) for works-in-progress.
As part of Powers’ new portfolio at DOC NYC, he will oversee the annual Visionaries Tribute gala that has honored such legendary figures in the documentary field as Barbara Kopple, D.A. Pennebaker, Chris Hegedus, Sheila Nevins, Wim Wenders, Stanley Nelson, Martin Scorsese, Sam Pollard, Jean Tsien, among others.
Powers will also continue to collaborate on the 40 Under 40 and
Documentary New Leaders initiatives, along with other projects.
DOC NYC is looking to hire a new Artistic Director by spring of 2022.
