INDUSTRY ROUNDTABLES

DOC NYC’s INDUSTRY ROUNDTABLES is DOC NYC’s works-in-progress live pitch program for documentary film teams with features or series. Now in its 8th year, this year the program will take a new format - 8 selected projects will be pitched onstage, in front of industry panelists and an audience. The place on November 9th in Manhattan.

DOC NYC’s INDUSTRY ROUNDTABLES (formerly known as “Only In New York” or "OINY") presents an opportunity for filmmakers with works-in-progress to present live pitches to key industry figures from the fields of distribution, financing, publicity, marketing, social impact, and more. The program aims to curate the most promising documentaries of the future for industry consideration, and select projects from a competitive pool of online submissions. Selected projects will have access to pitch training from DOC NYC prior to the live pitch event.

Selected teams will live pitch to industry figures from the fields of distribution, philanthropic funding, financing, PR, marketing, social impact, festival programming, and more. Past industry representatives have included Amazon Studios, Blue Ice Docs, A&E, ABC News Studios, Black Public Media, Chicken & Egg Pictures, Cinephil, Cinetic Media, Conde Nast (The New Yorker), Disney+, Disney’s Onyx Collective, ESPN Films, Fifth Season (formerly Endeavor Content), Firelight Media, HBO, IFC Films, Hulu, Impact Partners, Imagine Entertainment, IDA, Kickstarter, MTV Documentary Films, National Geographic, Netflix, NBC News Studios, NEON, Paramount+, Participant, POV, Showtime Documentary, Sony Pictures Classics, Story Syndicate, Submarine Entertainment, Sundance Institute, The New York Times, Topic Studios, Vice Media, WME Agency, WNET, and others.

INDUSTRY ROUNDTABLES is open to all documentary filmmakers, regardless of their geographic location or that of their subjects or topics. Projects submitted must be works-in-progress; specific eligibility requirements are below.

Note that the program is not intended for films that are applying to make their public screening debut at DOC NYC in November 2023. Film teams that wish to have their films considered for DOC NYC’s festival line up should submit their projects at the main DOC NYC submission page (https://filmfreeway.com/DOCNYC).

Previous projects that have participated in the INDUSTRY ROUNDTABLES (previously OINY) program that have gone on to successful launches include AFTER SHERMAN, BAD PRESS, SILENT BEAUTY, and many more.

***QUESTIONS***

Should you have any questions about INDUSTRY ROUNDTABLES, please first review this entire page for answers to common issues. If you still need assistance, please email Malikkah Rollins, DOC NYC Director of Education & Industry, at malikkah@docnyc.net

***ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS***

Submissions are open to nonfiction works-in-progress features or series proposals in any genre or style. Submitted works-in-progress must have at least 30% of their budget already in place.

Projects will be selected based on their creative potential, ability to engage an audience, and potential for success in the marketplace. The representation, authorship, and positionality of the project’s lead creative team will also be considered.

To participate in live pitches during DOC NYC 2023, each participating member of accepted project teams must purchase a discounted INDUSTRY festival pass, which offers access to DOC NYC during the 9-day, in-person festival. This includes access to the filmmaker lounge for networking and rush access to the DOC NYC PRO professional development conference and film screenings.

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

Filmmakers must submit a video work sample and a one-page project description including a narrative budget summary. Detailed requirements for each are below. Please read all guidelines carefully, as incomplete applications will not be reviewed.

VIDEO SAMPLE:
A video work sample is required. Samples should be at least two minutes and should not exceed five minutes. Please do not upload any video files with run times that exceed five minutes. Video samples may include a trailer, a teaser reel, scene selects, or a combination of all, as long as the total run time does not exceed five minutes. We recommend sending whatever video sample best represents your project and provides a sense of your technical and storytelling proficiency, including your voice and creative approach. If you do not yet have footage from your project, you may send a work sample from a previous project, but please make sure you clearly indicate this in your project description.

Video work samples must be submitted as Vimeo links or FilmFreeway online screeners only; DOC NYC does not accept .mov or mp4 files, DVDs or Blu-rays.

WRITTEN DESCRIPTION:
A one-page project description is required. Project descriptions should be submitted via FilmFreeway as PDFs, and should be single-spaced. Any copy exceeding one page will not be reviewed.

-Each project description should include:

+ A logline and a short synopsis of the intended project (one paragraph)

+ A narrative description of the project’s timeline, including any anticipated benchmarks for finalizing development, production, post-production, etc. Estimated benchmarks are fine. (one paragraph)

+ A brief, narrative budget summary describing, in prose, your total anticipated budget for the project, and the amount, in both dollars and percentage, of funding you have secured thus far. Please bold all numbers. You may also list sources of current or potential support, investment, or philanthropy. (one paragraph)

+ An authorship / positionality statement describing why your particular team is well suited to execute this project, any unique access you have to the film's story or protagonists, and the creative vision you have for its execution. For example, you may include your intentions regarding storytelling style, form, cinematography, and/or approach to character. (one paragraph)

Your project description and budget must be uploaded to FilmFreeway as part of your submission (in the Files & Attachments section). To access Files & Attachments: Go to "My Projects" > "View." The Files & Attachments tool is located in the lower right side of your Project Page.

CONFIRMATION OF SUBMISSION:
The confirmation of your submission is provided by FilmFreeway at the time of entry; DOC NYC does not send any additional receipt for submissions or materials received.
When completing your application, list the final intended running time of your finished film, not the running time of your sample.

LANGUAGE OTHER THAN ENGLISH REQUIREMENTS:
If your project is in a language other than English, your submission video work sample must be subtitled or dubbed in English, and the remaining submission materials—description and budget—must be in English.

Applicants may submit more than one project to INDUSTRY ROUNDTABLES, but each project must be accompanied by its own Entry Form and Entry Fee.

The Entry Fee is non-refundable.

NOTIFICATION STATUS:
All entrants will be notified of their status by September 15, 2023.

Please keep us informed of any changes regarding your contact information by emailing malikkah@docnyc.net

FEEDBACK:
Due to the number of submissions received, DOC NYC unfortunately cannot provide feedback on any entries.

For questions regarding submissions, see DOC NYC FAQs at docnyc.net or email malikkah@docnyc.net with INDUSTRY ROUNDTABLE in the subject line.

TERMS & CONDITIONS

By submitting this documentary film (the “Film”), I understand that I am agreeing to the following:

I have the legal right to represent and to submit this Film to the DOC NYC film festival (the "Festival”) and IFC Theatres LLC (“IFC”) and all statements on this document are true;

There is no action, suit, claim or proceeding pending, affecting or, to the best of my knowledge, threatened against this Film or its producers, cast, or crew in connection with this Film or otherwise;

Music and any other third party material clearances and all copyright clearances are my sole responsibility and, if selected for the Festival, I agree that the Film will be fully cleared prior to the Film's participation at the Festival and no part of the Film will violate or infringe upon the rights of any third party. None of the Festival or IFC will be held responsible for any legal disputes regarding the exhibition of the Film. Noncompliance may affect, delay, and/or disqualify my entry.

If the Film is selected for participation in the INDUSTRY ROUNDTABLE program at the Festival, I grant each of the Festival and IFC the right for the Film to participate in the program at the Festival;

I understand and agree that the Film, if selected for the the program at the Festival, may be used for promotional purposes for the Festival, IFC and/or its affiliates, partners and sponsors; and I grant each of the Festival and IFC, and its affiliates, partners and sponsors, the right to use footage (not to exceed 5 minutes), stills and/or titles and information from the Film for such promotional purposes;

I fully indemnify and hold the Festival, IFC, and each of their respective officers, directors, employees, agents, affiliates, sponsors, licensees and assigns harmless from and against any and all claims, damages, liabilities, costs and expenses in connection with the Film, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and other expenses of defense arising from or in connection with any breach of any of the foregoing agreements, representations or warranties or from or in connection with any litigation or any claim or proceeding commenced by a third party alleging or arising from libel, slander, defamation, invasion of privacy, infringement, unauthorized use or any other right of such third party or wrongful conduct; and any claims which may arise in connection with the Film.

Note: The Festival has the right to change any information contained in this document (including Festival dates, venues, format, events, awards, and eligibility requirements) without further notice.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • lois lipman

    I highly recommend the opportunity our film in progress was given to meet the top gatekeepers in the industry, to meet film allies and friends, and to meet distributors and individuals focused on film impact. It was an invaluable next step for our film.

    August 2023
  • Mark Andrew Altschul

    Amazing experience. Completely changed the trajectory of our film. Incredibly grateful to the Doc NYC and all of their staff for inviting our film into the Roundtables.

    March 2023
  • OYA Media Group

    We were invited to pitch our feature documentary Bam Bam: The Story of Sister Nancy at the industry roundtables. We landed a number of great meetings for the film. It was so organized and had a friendly vibe - a truly wonderful experience.

    December 2022
  • Alice Shin

    This was a fantastic experience! Everything was great - the festival team members were precise, prompt, and easy to talk to! This is a highly recommended program whichever your stage is - either development, production, and/or rough cut!

    November 2022
  • Meg Griffiths

    Incredible opportunity to meet filmmakers and industry decision makers. It is expertly run by a super communicative team!

    November 2022