SocDoc 2022 DOC NYC U line up. Clockwise from top left: FABRICATOR (F. Vitale); BACKYARD BARBER (M. Yan); FIRST SAKE BREWERY IN NEW YORK (X. Su); LIFE WITH COFFEE (S. Jeon); CRUSH ICEBERGS (H. Rafkin); REFLECTION NO. 1 (J. Price)
DOC NYC, America’s largest documentary film festival, takes over Chelsea Nov 9-17, with many films streaming online through Nov. 27. It’s always thrilling to have the international documentary community in our neighborhood, and as usual we have many MFA Social Documentary Film filmmakers a part of the festival this year.
We are co-presenting a panel: “Producing, Directing & Ethical Dilemmas” in the PRO Conference this year. The discussion (on Friday Nov. 11) includes alumna producer Sarah Rachael Wainio (2016), a member of the Documentary Producers’ Alliance Ethics Committee, as well as Camilla Hall, director of SUBJECT, a fascinating look at the lasting effects a documentary has on a film’s participants, and others. Join us for this essential conversation!
Current SocDoc students are showing their first year films in the DOC NYC U program, which exhibits some of the best documentaries being made at NYC film schools. These films include:
DOC NYC U: All About Love, Thursday, Nov. 10, 11:30a - CRUSH ICEBERGS, dir. Hannah Rafkin (2023); REFLECTION NO. 1, dir Jessy Price (2023)
DOC NYC U: What Bonds Us, Thursday, Nov. 10, 1:45p - LIFE WITH COFFEE, dir. Sohee Jeon (2023)
DOC NYC U: Portraits, Thursday, Nov. 10, 4:00p - THE FABRICATOR, dir. Frank Vitale (2023); BACKYARD BARBER, dir. Mengyu Yan (2023)
DOC NYC U: The Artists, Friday, Nov. 11, 2022 11:15a - FIRST SAKÉ BREWERY IN NEW YORK, dir. Xiaoying Su (2023)
Hannah Rafkin (2023) has a second film in the festival, her SocDoc 'process film', THE CLOCKMAKER screening the festival’s main slate. Other SocDoc alumni shorts in the festival include director Sosena Solomon’s (2011) LIVING WHILE AMERICAN: A freshman Philadelphia city councilman brings police to the table to reduce traffic stops, reducing unnecessary interactions between officers and civilians.
We are extremely proud to see two SocDoc alumni on DOC NYC’s industry honors. Their Documentary New Leaders include Jennifer Crystal Chien (2012); Director of Re-Present Media. Re-Present Media advocates for personal storytelling from underrepresented communities in non-fiction media, including those from diverse racial/ethnic, religious, LGBTQ+, youth/senior, rural and other backgrounds who are often not in mainstream media in the way they see themselves.
Director Bao Nguyen (2011) is on the festival’s 40 Under 40 list. His recent work includes BE WATER, a Bruce Lee biopic, which premiered at Sundance and aired on ESPN, as well as the HBO Max series TAKE OUT WITH LISA LING. DOC NYC's 40 Under 40 spotlights young documentary creatives and Documentary New Leaders honors individuals whose work brings greater equity in the field.
DOC NYC’s annual Shortlist section, highlighting the festival’s picks for those films that should go on to year-end glory includes LOUIS ARMSTRONG’S BLACK & BLUES, produced by Julie Anderson (faculty), plus two films from faculty editor Toby Shimin: THE RETURN OF TANYA TUCKER – FEATURING BRANDI CARLILE (pictured above) and the short THE MARTHA MITCHELL EFFECT, which is also produced by faculty Beth Levison.
Alumna Cinematographer Jenni Morello (2011) also has two films at DOC NYC – the New York premiere of SKATE DREAMS, following skateboarding legends and new stars in the fight for gender equity and respect; and AFTERSHOCK – in the Winners Circle program – which pits a spotlight on the crisis of Black maternal deaths in the US. Alumna Yuby Hernandez (2020) is also an Associate Producer on the film.
SocDoc Systems Admin. and AVID instructor Christa Majoras was assistant editor on DUSTY & STONES, premiering in the U.S. Competition at the festival; camera faculty Axel Baumann is the cinematographer for THE END OF THE WORLD; and mentor Sam Pollard Executive Produced OUTTA THE MUCK.
The DOC NYC x Video Consortium Storytelling Incubator pairs first-time feature directors with mentorship from industry veterans. This year’s line up includes Iranian filmmakers Sara Khaki (2012) and her partner Mohammad Reza Eyni and their in-progress film CUTTING THROUGH ROCKS.
DOC NYC is founded by SocDoc faculty Thom Powers, who is now the festival’s Director of Special Projects. Congratulations to him and the whole festival team on a great festival this year!