Hot Docs’ Doc Ignite

SEPTEMBER 25 & 26, 2020

* ALL SESSIONS WILL TAKE PLACE ONLINE *

DOC DISTRIBUTION 101
with Julian Carrington, Distribution Manager, Hot Docs

The distribution workshop will equip filmmakers with the tools they require to develop distribution strategies for their projects, helping them to identify key audience segments, hone their marketing messaging, better understand the roles that festivals, sales agents, and distributors play in bringing films to the marketplace, and what to expect from each of these partnerships.

STRATEGIES FOR BUILDING A SUSTAINABLE CAREER
with Stephanie McArthur, Senior Industry Programs Manager, Hot Docs

Documentary filmmaking is a métier; a career that one should in fact sustain a livelihood from. Evolving industry changes have made that more difficult. Core skill building, diversifying talents and strategic planning are at the heart of this workshop. Participating filmmakers do skill assessments, identify areas of growth and self-prescribe action plans to move their professional goals forward.

Julian Carrington is an industry programmer with the Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival. He oversees Distribution Rendezvous, a curated one-on-one pitch series that pairs industry decision-makers with producers seeking distribution, and the Doc Shop, Hot Docs’ online documentary marketplace. Prior to joining Hot Docs, Julian managed the Documentary Organization of Canada’s Festival Concierge service. In that capacity, he supported independent filmmakers in developing distribution and audience-engagement strategies, and promoted Canadian documentaries at festivals around the world. Julian also serves as a film programmer for Toronto’s Planet in Focus Environmental Film Festival, and previously served as an associate programmer at the Toronto International Film Festival.

Stephanie McArthur is an eleven-year veteran of industry programming at Hot Docs CanadianInternational Documentary Festival, North America’s largest documentary festival and market. In her role asSenior Industry Programs Manager, Stephanie oversees Hot Docs’ Emerging Filmmaker program Doc Accelerator, and manages Hot Docs’ International Delegation and Alumni programs. Stephanie has been instrumental in the development and launch of several key Hot Docs programs including the Hot Docs Blue Ice Group Documentary Fund for filmmakers living and working on the continent of Africa, and most recently the Canadian Storytellers Project, which is supported by Netflix. Since 2015 Stephanie has been traveling throughout Canada leading Doc Ignite workshops which offer filmmakers insights into marketing and distribution, market readiness, pitch preparation and festival strategies. She regularly travels to international festival and events scouting for projects and talent. Stephanie curates the yearly programming strand Close Encounters of the Funding Kind and oversees the Emerging Producer Bursary Program for the World Congress of Science and Factual Producers (WCSFP), one of the world’s leading events for factual television producers. Stephanie has been working in theatre and film for two decades. Notable festivals include: Sundance Film Festival, Toronto International Film Festival, Toronto Fringe Festival, Miami International Film Festival, and the Provincetown Film Festival. Previously she worked in Singapore as Associate Producer of the Asia Factual Forum (2007); was Head of Programming for the inaugural Doc Fest Stratford (2008); and served a four-year term on the Toronto Fringe Festival Best of the Fest Jury beginning in 2007.

All industry sessions require applications or registrations.  Filmmakers receive free-admission to industry sessions with the purchase of an All Access Pass.