The College’s MFA Social Documentary Film program is well represented in this year’s lineup.
Above: Still from Just Story Hour, directed by MFA Social Documentary Film student Lu Yao. Below: Still from South to Black Power, directed by SVA Faculty Sam Pollard.
We’re deep into the annual fall film festival circuit, but no film festival is as arguably connected to SVA as DOC NYC. This year, as in the past, the lineup includes a slate of films selected to premiere and screen by the College’s MFA Social Documentary Film faculty and students; as well as Doc NYC Pro panels populated with SVA alumni.
Doc NYC was co-founded by MFA Social Documentary Film faculty member Thom Powers, along with his wife, Raphaela Neihausen. Dubbed the “Kingmaker of Documentaries” by The New York Times, Powers served as the festival’s artistic director for 12 of its 14 years, screening and programming films. More recently, he has shifted to director of special projects, a role that includes overseeing the festival’s Visionaries Tribute, which this year honors documentarian Michael Moore and Academy Award-winning filmmaker Deborah Shaffer (Witness to War: Dr. Charlie Clements).
“DOC NYC and SVA forged a strong relationship in the festival’s third year when it began to use the SVA Theatre for its biggest events, as it has ever since,” Powers said of the evolving relationship between the festival and MFA Social Documentary Film program. “During that time, I’ve taught at the SocDoc program and it’s been a great extension of the classroom for students to participate in DOC NYC events. Over time, many graduates of SocDoc have had their films selected by the festival. Several have been selected for the festival’s prestigious 40 Under 40 list.”
Still from One with the Whale, directed by faculty Peter Chelkowski.
Still from Obsessed with the Light, directed by faculty Sabine Krayenbuhl.
Two current SocDoc students have short films made in their first year in the DOC NYC line-up. Lu Yao’s Just Story Hour—about an affable drag queen storyteller during a time when drag culture has been under attack in conservative parts of the U.S.—is a part of the “DOC NYC U” student program. SocDoc student Tabitha Yong’s Pigeons Mate For Life —about indie-rock band Mother Pigeon’s dissolution and the husband and wife duo at the center trying to create something new together—will have its world premiere in the shorts competition.
Faculty are represented at DOC NYC, too. Sabine Krayenbuhl's film Obsessed With Light, which features cinematography by fellow faculty member Bob Richman, will have its North American premiere this week. Camera specialist and faculty member Peter Chelkowski’s doc One With The Whale also premieres at the festival. The prestigious closing night DOC NYC film slot has been given to South To Back Power, the latest documentary from the Academy Award-nominated and Emmy and Peabody-award-winning director and faculty member Sam Pollard, known for MLK FBI and his editing work with Spike Lee’s seminal ’90s films.
Two alumni will be featured speakers on the DOC NYC PRO Cinematography Panels, as well. Amitabh Joshi (MFA 2013 Social Documentary Film) is on a SocDoc-sponsored panel called “DP to Director,” and Justin Ervin (MFA 2012 Social Documentary Film) will sit in on “Capturing Sensitive Moments.” Both are scheduled for November 11.
MFA Social Documentary Film alumni are also being honored at the festival. Sarah Rachael Wainio (2016) is being awarded in the Documentary New Leaders section, which celebrates figures in the American documentary industry whose work and potential bring greater inclusion and equity to the field. Her producing and directing credits include nonfiction series for the Food Network, TLC, MTV, Netflix and Max. She is on the board of the Documentary Producers Alliance and co-chairs their ethics subcommittee.
Last but not least, alumnus Inaya Graciana Yusuf (2014) has been named one of the festival’s 40 Under 40, celebrating emerging talent. Yusuf’s recent work as a film editor includes Selena Gomez: My Mind and Me; Lucy and Desi and she’s currently directing a doc about an Italian prison’s theater troupe.
DOC NYC runs November 8 - 26, in theaters and online. Learn more at DocNYC.net.
