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Program 34 & 35 - Third Annual WUFF Activist Filmmaker Bootcamp and After Party

  • National Writers Union 256 West 38th Street New York, NY, 10018 United States (map)

Program 34 & 35 - Third Annual Activist Filmmaker Bootcamp & After Party

Every filmmaker bootcamp attendee receives a complimentary one year subscription to Videomaker Magazine (a $20 value!), lunch and refreshments.

Do you have an important story to tell to the world about economic and social justice, workers' rights or their fight to organize? Have the equipment and the passion but just not sure where to start? For the third year Workers Unite Film Festival is providing a space for emerging filmmakers to learn information on everything from finding your story to financing, distribution, networking with progressive groups for material and outreach. We are thrilled to have Deirdre Fishel lead this bootcamp to help filmmakers get their ideas onto the screen and out to the public.

Deirdre has a 20 year history of directing both documentaries and dramas which have premiered in competition at Sundance and SXSW and been broadcast in thirty countries worldwide. Her most recent documentary CARE, which looks at the poignant, but hidden world of home elder care was funded by ITVS, as well as the Ford and MacArthur foundations. She is an Associate Professor and the Director of the BFA in Film/Video at the City College of New York.

We will also have Erica Anderson from Seed&Spark and John Trigonis from Indiegogo, to explain the nuances of setting up your crowdfunding site so you have money to make your film. John was a crowd favorite last season and generous with his time and advice in explaining how to raise money to make your film. 

This year we are honored to have Roselly A. Torres Rojas, Distribution & Marketing Director for Third World Newsreel, celebrating 50 years of distributing progressive video and film to universities and libraries across the country. Roselly has kindly agreed to speak about the final part of the production puzzle: distribution! Getting your film seen and recouping your investment.  Roselly holds an MA degree in Cinema Studies from New York University and a BA degree in Interdisciplinary Studies from the University of Puerto Rico.

We are also thrilled to have the participation of several established documentary filmmakers, who will screen clips from their most recent projects and answer your questions, give their advice and listen to your ideas about how to proceed and get your film finished and screened. 2017 mentors include: Director Annabel Park (Into The Divide) and Victorious De Costa from both The Love Seat and Can't Wear A Wig Forever.  Dori Cohen and Kelin Long-Gaye are documentary filmmakers, youth media educators, and co-founders of Framing The Cause Pictures, a production company that works with non-profits and NGOs.  Their film about Uber and the gig economy will premiere this Fall.  We want to give each new filmmaker the chance to closely interact with those doc filmmakers who've been through the process and found success.

Lunch and refreshments provided! Afterwards, stay to party at a cool bar down the block! Learn to network with your new filmmaker friends and our wonderful guests!

Filmmaker Bootcamp - 2PM - 6PM.  Save your seat on Eventbrite here!

Program #35 - WUFF After Party @6:30PM to 9PM @ a cool bar down the block.