NEXT DOC
The Next Generation of Diverse Documentary Storytellers
The need for diversity in film and media is not new, but in recent years, calls to address this issue have intensified. The stories being told, and as equally important, the people telling them need to reflect the world we live in. A program of Youth FX, co-directed by Bhawin Suchak and Darian Henry, NeXt Doc is a year-long Fellowship program on the leading edge of this movement, cultivating and amplifying the voices of bold young non-fiction filmmakers of color ages 20-24 years old. The Fellowship provides these emerging talents access to mentorship from established documentarians in the field, while providing a safe space for deep conversations about aesthetics, artistry along with critical explorations of power and representation in non-fiction storytelling.
The year-long NeXt Doc Fellowship kicks off with a week-long gathering that is an intensive community building experience, and is followed by a year of mentorship and development for the entire cohort that is designed to bolster their capacity to succeed professionally and creatively at the beginning stage of their career. The 2019 NeXt Doc opening gathering will take place in the Green Mountains of Vermont, a quiet natural setting intended to bolster creativity and provide time for self-reflection in an inspiring environment. This processes enhances master class discussions and informal exchanges, encouraging NeXt Doc fellows to be fully present while facilitating the forming of deep relationships and a sense of community amongst the cohort. The NeXt Doc intensive includes masterclasses and film screenings presented by award-winning filmmakers along with workshops led by our team that explore the art of non-fiction, project development, treatment writing, budgeting, doc history and critical conversations in the field.
NeXt Doc is a one-of-a-kind opportunity for young diverse documentary filmmakers and we strive to make the Fellowship accessible to all filmmakers who are eligible to apply no matter their financial status. This is made possible by support from: JustFilms Ford Foundation, MacArthur Foundation, The Academy, NoVo Foundation, and NYSCA. Supporting organizations include: Sundance Institute, POV, International Documentary Fund, Women Make Movies, A-Doc and The Alliance (NAMAC).
