International Documentary Association

02/20/2026

Articulating the purpose and promise of your documentary is a foundational step in advancing your project. Through a series of short-form video presentations, IDA’s Maria Santos and Katy Hurley break down Core Application questions into four distinct sections. Watch on the IDA YouTube channel. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SHUhmWKgv0c

02/18/2026

For our next virtual IDAinsight, Dale Nelson (a partner at Donaldson Califf Perez and previous IP counsel at Warner Bros., who co-wrote “AI Tips for Documentary Filmmakers”) and Jan Bernd Nordemann (attorney and an honorary professor of German and European copyright law at the Humboldt University of Berlin) will present the most recent and impactful case law on AI. Join us Tuesday, March 3, 2026, 9 AM PT. Register today!

In this panel, we will address standards for using AI in nonfiction filmmaking, how to disclose it to partners and audiences, and what documentary filmmakers need to consider before choosing to use AI in their productions.

02/18/2026

The documentary community mourns the loss of one of its pioneers and most vital chroniclers of society, institutions, and humanity. A past IDA committee chair and recipient of a 1990 IDA Career Achievement Award, Frederick Wiseman, 96, leaves behind a brilliant legacy.

02/15/2026

Congratulations to IDA Fiscal Sponsored Project, ‘A BETTER WAY: James Lawson, Architect of Nonviolence’ on its World premiere at this year’s Pan African Film Festival in Los Angeles. Click here for screening times and tickets!

A Better Way explores the strategies James Lawson created for 1960s Civil Rights campaigns, including the Nashville Sit-ins and Memphis Sanitation Workers Strike, and their relevance to critical issues today.

02/15/2026

This essay and interview examine how James Benning’s ‘EIGHT BRIDGES’ builds on his decades-long approach to extended observation, personal geography, and political engagement. Read more at .

This essay and interview examines how James Benning’s EIGHT BRIDGES builds on his decades-long approach to extended observation, personal geography, and political engagement

02/14/2026

Congratulations to all makers and IDA members attending Big Sky 2026! Take a look at the member projects premiering at Big Sky and find a screening. The festival takes place in Montana from February 13-22, 2026. Find screening times on the Big Sky website.

Aanikoobijigan [ancestor / great-grandparent / great-grandchild] - 2021 Pare Lorentz - Northwest Premiere
Always - IDA Fiscal Sponsored Project, 2023 IDA Supported Artist - Montana premiere
Gatorville - IDA Fiscal Sponsored Project - World premiere
Seeds - 2021 Enterprise - Montana Premiere
To Use a Mountain - 2023 Enterprise - Montana Premiere
Wood Street - IDA Fiscal Sponsored Project - World premiere

https://www.bigskyfilmfest.org/festival/current-films-2026

02/13/2026

Newly restored documentaries from the 1950s–1980s reveal how Caribbean filmmakers forged a liberation cinema and why its practices matter now. Read more on .

Newly restored documentaries from the 1950s–1980s reveal how Caribbean filmmakers forged a liberation cinema and why its practices matter now

02/13/2026

Calling IDA Members in LA - On March 12, 2026, join IDA to celebrate the arrival of Documentary magazine’s latest issue! We will gather at All Season Brewing Company in Los Angeles for a casual mixer where IDA members can get to know the folks behind Documentary and learn what goes into producing a print publication solely devoted to the artistry and industry of documentaries. Come grab a bite, a drink, and mix and mingle with fellow LA-based IDA members. RSVP is required.

On March 12, 2026, join IDA to celebrate the arrival of Documentary magazine’s latest issue. We will gather at All Season Brewing Company for a casual mixer where IDA members can get to know the folks behind Documentary and learn what goes into producing a print publication solely devoted to the a...

02/12/2026

Watch the theatrical trailer for Angelo Madsen’s feature documentary ‘A Body to Live In,’ an exploration of body modification and the life of performance artist Fakir Musafar.

Debuting the theatrical trailer for Angelo Madsen’s feature documentary A Body to Live In, an exploration of body modification and the life of performance artist Fakir Musafar

02/11/2026

Post house Sugar Studios offers filmmakers with mid-tier budgets a lifeline in an era of contraction, enabling projects that might otherwise collapse in the expensive patchwork of L.A. post. Read more at .

Post house Sugar Studios offers filmmakers with mid-tier budgets a lifeline in an era of contraction, enabling projects that might otherwise collapse in the expensive patchwork of L.A. post

02/10/2026

Articulating the purpose and promise of your documentary is a foundational step in advancing your project. Writing the Nonfiction Core Application is a process that doesn’t just apply to grants—it is a powerful development tool that helps you clarify your film’s intention, structure, and impact, and teaches you how to communicate those ideas clearly to others. Check out these upcoming events to help edit and hone your Core App language.

Through a series of short-form video presentations, IDA’s own Maria Santos and Katy Hurley—who have been working in the nonfiction funding space for the past ten and four years, respectively—will break down the Core Application questions into four distinct sections.

02/09/2026

The documentary industry looks for upsides amid decimation at Sundance 2026. Read more at .

The documentary industry looks for upsides amid decimation at Sundance 2026