2024 WFF Panel: The Future of Documentary | Sandi DuBowski, Yance Ford, Benjamin Ree + Jessica Edwards

Amidst the softest distribution market in decades, at the peak of its popularity, documentary filmmaking has reached an inflection point. In this wide-ranging conversation with some of the most prolific filmmakers in the industry, we take a “bird's-eye” view of the challenges and opportunities. Addressing audience engagement and career sustainability while contextualizing our current climate in broader documentary history, the panel addresses how docs will survive and thrive into the future.

With Sandi DuBowski, Yance Ford, and Benjamin Ree. Moderated by Jessica Edwards.

Sandi DuBowski is the director/producer of Sabbath Queen and Trembling Before G-D, producer of A Jihad For Love, and co-producer of Budrus. His award-winning work screened at Sundance, Berlin, Tribeca, Toronto, and he is a doc branch member of the Academy.

Director Yance Ford's documentary Power premiered at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival. His film Strong Island was nominated for an Oscar in 2018 and won the 2019 Emmy for Exceptional Merit in Documentary Film.

Benjamin Ree’s The Remarkable Life of Ibelin received the Audience Award and Directing Award in World Documentary at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival. His previous film The Painter and the Thief received a 2020 Sundance World Documentary Special Jury Award.

Jessica Edwards is a Peabody award-winning director, producer, and publicist. In 2010, she launched Film First to produce short and feature-length documentaries. Since then, she’s created and released dozens of projects across all platforms.

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