The American Film Institute's international documentary film festival, AFI DOCS 2015 will take place June 17–21, 2015 in and around the nation's capital – with the goal to inspire change by bringing together the nation's leaders and leading artists. Located in Washington, DC's Penn Quarter, as well as the AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center in Silver Spring, MD, AFI DOCS continues the American Film Institute's legacy in Washington, DC where it was born of a presidential mandate in 1965. AFI DOCS presents a diverse slate of documentaries ranging in topics from national politics, education and health to music, sports, nature and culture.
Submissions are now open and filmmakers are invited to submit feature and short documentaries at AFI.com/AFIDOCS or through Withoutabox.com.
This year AFI DOCS will have three deadlines – early, regular and late submission dates for both short films (40 minutes and under) and feature films.
► December 12, 2014 – Early submission deadline for both features and shorts
► January 30, 2015 – Regular submission deadline for both features and shorts
► March 2, 2015 – Late submission deadline for both features and shorts
► June 17–21, 2015 – AFI DOCS
AFI DOCS is the only festival in the U.S. to offer a connection between audiences, policy leaders and filmmakers in our nation's capital.
This promise is fulfilled by the AFI DOCS Filmmaker Engagement Program, a series of professional development sessions that bring together the nation's leaders and the nation's leading artists. The program includes both a Policy Engagement Series — an opportunity for festival filmmakers to meet with congressional and federal agency staff and Impact Panels dedicated to helping filmmakers amplify their message within stakeholder communities.
The 2014 festival opened with HOLBROOK/TWAIN: AN AMERICAN ODYSSEY (DIR Scott Teems) and closed with LIFE ITSELF (DIR Steve James). The annual AFI DOCS Charles Guggenheim Symposium honored Alex Gibney; Spotlight Screenings included E-TEAM (DIRS Katy Chevigny and Ross Kauffman), FREEDOM SUMMER (DIR Stanley Nelson) and GLEN CAMPBELL…I'LL BE ME (DIR James Keach). Catalyst Screenings included THE INTERNET'S OWN BOY (DIR Brian Knappenberger), IVORY TOWER (DIR Andrew Rossi), THE HOMESTRETCH (DIRS Anna deMare and Kirsten Kelly) and THE NEWBURGH STING (DIRS Kate Davis and David Heilbroner). Notable films included HAPPY VALLEY (DIR Amir Bar-Lev), LAST DAYS IN VIETNAM (DIR Rory Kennedy) and VIRUNGA (DIR Orlando von Einsiedel).
Filmmakers can e-mail programming@AFIDOCS.com for more information about the submissions process.
Film stills and photos from the 2014 edition of the festival and the official AFI DOCS logo are available for press use only and can be downloaded at: http://afidocspress.afi.com/afi-images .
About AFI DOCS
AFI DOCS is the American Film Institute's annual documentary festival in the Washington, DC, area. Presenting the year's best documentaries, AFI DOCS is the only festival in the U.S. dedicated to screenings and events that connect audiences, filmmakers and policy leaders in the seat of our nation's government. The AFI DOCS advisory board includes Ken Burns, Davis Guggenheim, Chris Hegedus, Werner Herzog, Barbara Kopple, Spike Lee, Albert Maysles, Errol Morris, D A Pennebaker and Frederick Wiseman. Now approaching its 13th year, the festival will be held June 17-21, 2015 in landmark Washington, DC, venues and the historic AFI Silver Theatre in Silver Spring, MD. Visit AFI.com/AFIDOCS and connect on twitter.com/AFIDOCS, facebook.com/AFIDOCS and youtube.com/AFI.
About the American Film Institute
AFI is America's promise to preserve the history of the motion picture, to honor the artists and their work and to educate the next generation of storytellers. AFI programs include the AFI Catalog of Feature Films and AFI Archive, which preserve film heritage for future generations; the AFI Life Achievement Award – the highest honor for a career in film; AFI Awards, honoring the most outstanding motion pictures and television programs of the year; AFI's 100 Years…100 Movies television events and movie reference lists, which have introduced and reintroduced classic American movies to millions of film lovers; year-round and special event exhibition through AFI FEST presented by Audi, AFI DOCS and the AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center; and educating the next generation of storytellers at the world-renowned AFI Conservatory. For more information about AFI, visit AFI.com or connect with AFI at facebook.com/AmericanFilmInstitute, twitter.com/AmericanFilm and youtube.com/AFI.
