nominate a doc

Nominating documentaries for possible inclusion in The American Documentary Showcase

With the renewal of a grant by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs to UFVA, we are able to include 5-10 new titles and filmmakers in our second round, which runs through December 2010.

Mission:
The American Documentary Showcase, funded by and as a cooperative program with the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the US Department of States, and administered through a cooperative grant to the University Film and Video Association, is a curated selection of contemporary documentaries that is offered to US Embassies for screening abroad. The Showcase is designed to travel American documentaries and their filmmakers to international overseas venues, including U.S. Embassy organized events and/or U.S. Embassy supported international documentary film festivals.

The goal of The Showcase is to offer a broad diversified look at life in the United States and the values of a democratic society as seen by American documentary filmmakers. The Showcase is intended to demonstrate the role documentary plays in fostering understanding and cooperation among people.

Qualifications for Consideration:
Documentaries nominated can be of any length and style, although the emphasis is on shorter, under one hour films in this grant cycle. They must have a release date no earlier than January 2007and must be completed by September 2009, and available on DVD. They must be made by an American citizen, focus primarily on American subject (this can be Americans overseas, but the main emphasis must be on American citizens), and fit in to one or preferably more, of the following categories. Filmmakers may nominate their own films. Student films of exceptional quality are welcome.

Subject Categories:
The Democratic Process
Emigration/Immigration
Environment, Nature, Our Planet
Ethnic Diversities
Health
Innovation in Education
Music and Society- no concert films or music videos
Popular Culture
Women, Families and Children

A panel of experts will vet up to 10 films for possible inclusion. The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs makes final decisions about selection. To nominate a film, four NONRETURNABLE DVDs must be submitted along with a short SYNOPSIS and CREDIT LISTS. Entries must be shipped PREPAID. Nomination Postmark Deadline: SEPTEMBER 25, 2009

Nomination to this curated Showcase grants the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Department of State, the UFVA and the IDA the right to use brief clips, photographs, and biographical data of filmmakers and their subjects for publicity and promotional purposes, including UFVA/ IDA/DOS websites, podcasts and internet feeds. If the film is chosen to be in the American Documentary Showcase, the copyright holder further grants permission to the Showcase to make DVD duplicates, to screen the entire documentary, or portions thereof, at American Embassies and overseas venues selected by the Embassies, including foreign film festivals. The copyright holder also agrees to allow the Showcase to subtitle their film as deemed necessary by the Showcase.

All materials must be shipped/mailed with all charges prepaid to:
Betsy A. McLane, PhD
Showcase Director
3801 University Avenue
Suite 260
Riverside, CA 92501

For more information visit www.ufva.org/showcase
Any questions not addressed above should be directed to:
betsymclane@documentarydiva.com