AFI Docs — the American Film Institute's documentary film festival — has announced its Docs Talks and Industry Forum events for its 19th edition, June 22-27. The inaugural Docs Talks section will feature the World Premiere of Netflix’s and Higher Ground Production’s We the People, as well as History Is Out of the Closet: Excavating Queer Stories for the Screen, a live stream conversation celebrating LGBTQ+ pride. Docs Talks events are free.
The AFI Docs Industry Forum conversations and panels, streamed live, will explore building accessibility practices into all steps of the production process, demystifying investigative documentaries, the making of the hit series Philly D.A., how documentaries shape conversations on racial violence, a behind-the-scenes look at the Hindsight Project films and new collaborations between public media and indie filmmakers.
This year's Industry Forum programming will include closed captioning and American Sign Language interpretation. The AFI Docs Industry Forum is supported by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and the National Endowment for the Arts. Attendees can participate in all events with an Industry Pass or purchase tickets to individual events.
"One of the most unique parts of the festival, the AFI Docs Industry Forum – and now the inaugural Docs Talks events – connects attendees, filmmakers and industry leaders from across the nation in discussions concerning all aspects of documentary film and how the art form both shapes and is shaped by society," said Sarah Harris, AFI Festivals director of programming. "We're thrilled to welcome such an inspiring group of panelists and look forward to the thought-provoking conversations."
In addition to the Industry Forum panels, AFI Docs will host curated one-on-one meetings on June 22 and June 24 for AFI Docs filmmakers and industry pass holders. Industry meetings provide an opportunity to connect with prominent industry professionals, funders, and public media representatives from across the nation. Participants will include, but are not limited to, representatives from PBS, ITVS, Netflix, CNN Original Series, Imagine Documentaries, Catapult Film Fund, and IDA.
Beyond these dynamic conversations, AFI Docs will offer even more opportunities for filmmakers and attendees to engage and interact with the festival through the new Festival Hub and Docs Connect platform, which will launch on opening day, June 22. The Hub will offer attendees access to everything the festival offers, including exclusive content, programmer picks, photobooth, links to special events and more. Attendees will also be able to access Docs Connect through the Hub. This moderated message board provides an opportunity to interact and discuss AFI DOCS films, sharing insights, reactions, and stories. Docs Connect will also feature question and answer sessions in real time with select feature filmmakers on Friday, June 25, and Saturday, June 26.
Passes and tickets to AFI Docs 2021 are now available at DOCS.AFI.com.