Curriculum
First Module
Completion Lab
The first module of the Documentary Feature Lab gathers all Lab Fellows for an intensive five-day program focusing on the nuts-and-bolts of finishing your film. Led by a variety of industry experts, the workshops in the Completion Lab cover topics such as editing, color correction, sound design, deliverables, and more. Workshops are:
- Marketing Intro
- Distribution 101
- Working with a Composer
- Defining and Finding Your Audience
- U.S. & International Sales
- Marketing Budgeting
- Outreach and Partners
2020 Lab Leaders: Angela Tucker and Mia Bruno.
2020 Panelists: Pierce Varous (Nice Dissolve), Julie La’Bassiere (Obscured Pictures), RJ Millard (Obscured Pictures), Annie Pearlman, Barry Cole, Todd Griffin, Tom Paul (Gigantic Post), Basil Tsiokos (DOCNYC), Salma Abdalla (Autlook Filmsales), Eric Sloss (Cinetic), Anya Rous (Multitude Films), Jonathan Bogarin, Jameka Autry, Kellen Quin, Meghan Welsch (Exposure Labs), and Ellis Watamanuk (Picture Motion).
2020 Editors: David Teague, Lindsay Utz, Penelope Falk, Keiko Deguchi, Mary Manhardt, and Toby Shimin.
Please note that the lab leaders, panelists and editors will change in 2021.
September
Gotham Week
All Lab Fellows are invited to Gotham Week, where projects take meetings with relevant distributors, sales agents, funders, and festival programmers as part of the Project Market. Around 300 companies are participating in Gotham Week, below are some of last year’s participants.
- A&E IndieFilms
- American Documentary | POV
- BBC
- Bertha Foundation
- Cargo Film & Releasing
- Chicken & Egg Pictures
- Cinetic Media
- CNN Films
- Doc Society
- Endeavor Content
- EPIX
- Field of Vision
- HBO Documentary Films
- Hot Docs
- Impact Partners
- IDA
- IDFA
- ITVS
- Netflix
- Submarine Entertainment
- Sundance Institute
- The New York Times Op-Docs
Final Module
Distribution Lab
In the final module of the Documentary Feature Lab, Fellows are asked to present their plans for the marketing and distribution of their films. Each presentation is led by an industry expert who provides specific feedback on each presentation. Workshops include:
- Building a Festival Team
- Dealmaking
- Timing and Budgeting Your Release
- Distribution Case Studies
- Feedback Sessions
2020 Lab Leader: Mia Bruno
2020 Panelists: Wendy Lidell (Kino Lorber), Aijah Keith (IFC Films), Lucas Verga (The Film Sales Company), Sylvia Desrochers (MPRM Communications), Ania Trzebiatowska (Sundance), Emma Griffiths (EGPR), Abby Lynn Kang Davis (character.), Lydia Rodman (Visit Films), Kate McLean, Mario Furloni, Laura Heberton, Zeshawn Ali, David Ninh, Holly Meehl, Alexandra Byer, Rashaad Ernesto Green, Mara Adina, and Ilinca Calugareanu.
2020 Mentors: David Magdael, Cecilia R. Mejia, Susan Margolin, Sahar Driver, Vanessa Cuervo Forero, Jennifer MacArthur, Susan Norget, Lindsay Crowder (Exposure Labs), Erin Sorenson (Third Stage Consulting), Alece Oxendine, Anya Rous, and Sasha Joseph Neulinger.
Please note that the lab leaders, panelists and editors will change in 2021.
Ongoing
– Mentorship
In addition, The Gotham Programming Staff provides year-round support as needed, advising fellows and advocating on their behalf. The Gotham also promotes Lab alumni films to its members and constituency during their film festival run and as they become available to audiences through traditional and non-traditional platforms.