Leading documentary associations from the UK, Canada and the US announced this week in Sheffield the formation of a new international alliance to coordinate support for independent documentary film.
During the DocFest panel organised by the UK’s Documentary Film Council (DFC) and moderated by UK producer Krishan Arora, speakers from DFC were joined by representatives from the Documentary Organization of Canada (DOC), the International Documentary Association (IDA) in the US and the Documentary Association of Europe (DAE).
The panel was programmed and produced by Emily Copley, Joint Acting CEO of the DFC, in her role as Senior Producer of Talks & Sessions at Sheffield DocFest.
Following a lively discussion of policy strategies to protect the documentary sector from multiple shared challenges, DFC, IDA and DOC have agreed to share research and collaborate on cross-border advocacy efforts. Each will also promote the other associations.
Steve Presence, Joint Acting CEO of the Documentary Film Council, emphasised the importance of international co-operation: “Despite the different contexts we’re working in, it’s really striking how similar the challenges are. There is so much work to do to improve the outlook for documentary filmmakers in the UK,” he said. “The more we can co-ordinate with international bodies working on the same fundamental issues, the better – whether that’s on funding, regulation, advocacy, inclusivity or the value of public service media.”
IDA Director of Programs Abby Sun said, “We can all see the present and coming challenges to the sector on a political, financial and technological level. I know that together we are stronger, both in the US and internationally. Doc makers are some of the most resourceful, committed and agile people in the industry and right now we all need to pull together.”
Canadian Julian Carrington, DOC’s Executive Director said: “DOC’s 40-year history shows that robust advocacy has been essential to sustaining Canada’s independent documentary community. Our members regularly undertake production partnerships with international colleagues, and an international advocacy alliance is a natural extension. This partnership can only empower us in confronting the challenges that face our industry globally.”
The Documentary Film Council (DFC) is the first national membership association for UK documentary film. A charitable co-operative that is owned and run by and for its members by an elected board of trustees, the DFC represents the sector to industry and government and works to build documentary film culture and community across the UK.
International Documentary Association (IDA) supports the vital work of documentary storytellers and “champions a thriving and inclusive documentary culture.” More than 3000 members enable IDA to connect audiences with the best of the form, provide resources, create community, and defend the rights and freedoms of documentary artists, activists and journalists around the globe.
Documentary Organisation of Canada (DOC) is the “collective voice of Canada’s independent documentary creators.” Founded in 1983, DOC now represents over 1400 members across six chapters from coast to coast. DOC’s mandate as a member-driven organization is to advocate for an equitable, sustainable environment for documentary production and to strengthen the sector within the broader cultural industry.
