Menu
The Southern Documentary Convening is an annual three-day conference for first-time, emerging and experienced documentary makers taking place this year 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.
June 6 – 8, 2025
Durham, NC
Interested in Volunteering next year?
2025 Convening Program recap
Participants gained practical insights on how to identify the right festivals for their films, navigate the submission process, and make the most of their festival experience. The panel equipped first-time documentary filmmakers with tools to help their work stand out and maximize its impact.
In her keynote, filmmaker Elaine McMillion Sheldon reflected on the evolving role of Southern storytellers and the power of documentary to shape not only how we see the South, but how we imagine its future. Drawing from Heroin(e), Recovery Boys, and King Coal, she urged filmmakers to move beyond despair—to grieve, celebrate, and ultimately dream through their storytelling.
This panel explores the vital role that creative collectives play in helping documentary filmmakers thrive. By offering a platform for collaboration, resource-sharing, and emotional support, creative collectives empower filmmakers to overcome financial and logistical hurdles while fostering a sense of belonging in a competitive field. The panel will highlight how these collectives amplify diverse voices, nurture artistic growth, and enable filmmakers to create impactful stories that resonate with audiences..
In this session, PRX VP of Content Stephanie Kuo guided participants through a product design lens to explore how successful podcasts are built by balancing risk with intentional strategy. From concept development and audience growth to budgeting and sustainability, attendees walked away with tools to shape podcasts that are desirable, feasible, and viable.
The Distribution Playbook is a new open-source educational tool from Seed&Spark and Kinema designed to help filmmakers, video creators, funders, and co-collaborators take the lead in their distribution journeys. This panel will explore the current state of distribution across the entertainment industry, including how to decide the best path for a film, evaluate potential partners, enter negotiations, and understand the economics for every window from theatrical through VOD and beyond.
Discover why independent producers should partner with their local PBS stations. This panel will showcase three fruitful collaborations, exploring how PBS stations served as vital allies in bringing compelling, independently produced projects to life and connecting them with broader audiences.
This session explored the complex, often unspoken dynamics between filmmakers and their participants, asking what is truly exchanged when someone agrees to be seen on camera. Through candid conversation, attendees reflected on how to balance care, boundaries, and responsibility in relationships that often outlast the film itself.
This session offered filmmakers practical tools to design and execute strategic impact campaigns that connect their films with the right audiences, partners, and communities. Participants learned how to amplify their film’s reach and inspire meaningful engagement and action.
Following her brother's death, a filmmaker returns to Eagle Pass, the Texas bordertown where she grew up, to document the places that shaped their family. She finds a treasure trove of his own footage that brings him back to life, sparking a reflection on growing up Mexican American along the U.S.-Mexico border. She rediscovers the beautiful mysteries of their complex hometown. There will also be a post-film discussion with filmmaker Robie Flores and Michael Kinomoto (Senior Manager, Production at ITVS).
Filmmaker Elaine McMillion Sheldon explores the power of storytelling in shaping the future of Appalachia and the South. Through personal reflection and the evolution of her work—including Heroin(e), Recovery Boys, and King Coal—she examines the complexities of place, the role of documentary filmmakers as both observers and participants, and the need to move beyond despair toward imagination. This keynote challenges Southern storytellers to document not just what is, but what could be—to grieve, to celebrate, and most importantly, to dream.
Please follow this link to purchases your passes for the Southern Documentary Convening : https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2025-southern-documentary-convening-tickets-1203640062829?aff=oddtdtcreator
The Southern Documentary Convening takes place in downtown Durham, NC at The Fruit.
Your safety is our top priority. Masks are not required but please use one if you are feeling ill. By purchasing event passes, you are acknowledging that health or safety requirements are subject to change and may be different by the time of the event.
Registration will be limited to 200 attendees.
Visit our Sponsorship page for more information. You can also contact us at giving@southerndocumentaryfund,org for more information.
You can pick up your pass starting at 1:30pm EST on Friday, June 6th at The Fruit. They will be available throughout the duration of the convening.
For those interested in volunteering for the Southern Documentary Convening, please contact info@southerndocumentaryfund.org.
The Southern Documentary Fund is dedicated to equitable access to our events. All venues are accessible and ADA compliant. For more information or to request additional accessibility accommodations contact info@southerndocumentaryfund.org or call 919-308-3714 for phone assistance. We will respond promptly and work with you on your request.
Our programming is unfolding right now. We will release it as soon as we can.
The best way to stay in the loop on all important updates is by signing up for our Southern Documentary Convening newsletter right here. You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to receive updates throughout the year. Also, keep our Southern Documentary Convening website bookmarked.
Under the Hotel Recommendations you can find a list of affiliates that includes a discount for hotels.
There are tons of things to do in Durham! Please click HERE to find out more.
Sponsors
Sponsors
Sponsors
Sponsors
Sponsors
Please contact us if you would like to become a 2024 Sponsor. Sponsorship helps secure key talent, organize impactful events, and cover essential operational expenses.
Support the Southern Documentary Convening today! Contact SDF at: GIVING@SOUTHERNDOCUMENTARYFUND.ORG
Southern Documentary Fund
Durham, NC 27701
info@southerndocumentaryfund.org 919-308-3714
P.O. Box 2614, Burlington, NC 27216
SDF is committed to making its programs and the facilities we use accessible to people of all abilities. If you need special accommodations, please contact info@southerndocumentaryfund.org or call (919) 308-3714.
