Southern Documentary Fund is pleased to present MAMA BEARS at the 28th Annual Cucalorus Film Festival.Sara Cunningham and Kimberly Shappley are two mama bears — conservative, Christian mothers whose profound love for their LGBTQ+ children has turned them into fierce advocates for the entire queer community. Tammi Terrell Morris is a young African American lesbian […]

One of the most critical components of any documentary grant application is the work sample. In this interactive mentorship roundtable, documentary editor & producer Sabrina Schmidt Gordon will dive into the ways that you can craft an effective documentary work sample.*Please note that live captioning is available for all virtual public events. To make a […]

Join SDF for a special webinar on fiscal sponsorship and how it can help you fundraise for your documentary film. SDF Program Manager Christopher Everett will provide an overview of the basics of fiscal sponsorship, including what it is and how it works. We will be joined by John Beder, a documentary filmmaker who has […]

Join the Academy Center of the Arts in viewing UNMARKED, a film about the thousands of African-American grave sites and burial grounds for enslaved persons that have been disappearing over the years. In Virginia alone, stories of thousands at rest could vanish from history altogether if these locations are not restored and those with personal […]

Southern Documentary Fund is pleased to present a free work-in-progress screening of GRANDMASTER: THE VIC MOORE STORY, by Christopher Everett as part of our Fresh Docs program. In 1965, Vic Moore became one of the first African Americans to win a major karate competition. Now over 50 years later, Vic Moore is locked in a […]

Join Southern Documentary Fund (SDF) for an interactive mentorship roundtable with award-winning filmmaker Emily Harrold. Learn from a seasoned professional as she shares her expertise on the art of archival research. Discover the best resources for finding and organizing archive and third-party visual materials for your documentary, and gain a deeper understanding of the research […]

Join Southern Documentary Fund (SDF) for an interactive mentorship roundtable with Emmy-nominated filmmaker John Beder. During this webinar, John will share his expert knowledge on how he successfully distributed his film for educational purposes, resulting in over 60 screenings worldwide. Utilizing his film COMPOSED as a case study, John will walk you through his outreach […]

Join Southern Documentary Fund (SDF) for an interactive mentorship roundtable featuring Shawna Brakefield-Haase, president of The Brakefield Company and a two-time Emmy Award® nominee and winner of an Emmy Award® for documentary producing. This event will feature a Compliances and Delivery Boot Camp that will equip you with essential knowledge on administrative, legal, and clearance […]

The Southern Documentary Convening is a three-day conference for first-time, emerging and experienced documentary makers taking place annually in Durham, NC. Attendees will benefit from workshops, panel discussions and networking opportunities with industry professionals. The event aims to provide both practical skills and artistic growth through personal connections and relevant discussions.Registration includes: Admission to all […]

Hours upon hours of footage with no sense on how to move forward with editing? Join documentary filmmaker Emily Harrold for this nuts-and-bolts conversation about how to organize, prepare, and script your documentary film -- from raw footage to finished film.Don't miss this opportunity to ask questions and gain insights from an experienced filmmaker.*Please note […]

SDF is hosting information session #2 for the 2023 Production Grant. This session will give an overview of SDF’s Production Grant, eligibility requirements, and tips for writing a successful application.Attendees will also have an opportunity to ask questions about the grant process.The information session will take place on Tuesday, August 15, 4pm EST via Zoom. […]

Join Southern Documentary Fund (SDF) on Wednesday, August 23 at 12PM EST for an interactive mentorship roundtable with Shawna Brakefield-Haase, a two-time Emmy Award® nominee and winner of an Emmy Award®. In this roundtable, Shawna Brakefield-Haase will talk about the process of creating a pitch deck and sizzle reel, what elements should always be included […]