DOC NYC: expanded dates, new sections and more!

DOC NYC, the city’s premier documentary festival, will return to downtown New York with its 2nd annual event from November 2-10, 2011 at IFC Center, NYU and additional venues. This year’s festival will expand from seven to nine days, adding several new sections, increasing the number of competition films and panels, and showcasing a retrospective of Richard Leacock. “We’re building on the success of our inaugural festival by listening to our audience, and it was clear there was a demand for more films and more opportunities to meet the filmmakers,” said DOC NYC artistic director Thom Powers. “If you love documentary film, make sure you save these dates on your calendar.” The festival released the following highlights of what will be new at the 2011 event:

RICHARD LEACOCK RETROSPECTIVE
In honor of the cinéma vérité pioneer, who died on March 23, 2011, the festival will showcase his contributions to classics such as PRIMARY and CRISIS as well as rare gems such as CHIEFS and HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY, introduced by noted filmmakers and Leacock family members.

**NEW SECTIONS**
– Icons will celebrate the genre of biographical documentaries, showing 4-6 new films.
– American Perspectives will cover the vitality of American doc-making on diverse topics from across the country, showing 4-6 new films.
– International Perspectives will encompass topics from around the world, showing 4-6 new films.
– Short List will showcase a selection of outstanding docs previously released in 2011 that are expected to be contenders in awards season.
– Doc Shorts will present notable achievements in short form, showing over 15 new works.

**EXPANDED PANELS**
Discussions that analyze the craft and business of documentary filmmaking will spread across three thematic days: “State of the Industry” (Nov. 2); “State of the Indie Doc” (Nov. 3); and “State of the Art” (Nov. 4).

**EXPANDED COMPETITION SECTIONS**
Returning from last year, the competition sections Viewfinders (showcasing distinct directorial visions) and Metropolis (focusing on New York stories), each presenting a slate of New York premieres, will each grow slightly from last year’s numbers of 6 and 8 titles respectively. Jury winners from each competition will receive a 35mm blow-up and DCP package courtesy of PostWorks NY.

The festival also unveiled its new poster artwork, designed by Jesse Bussey (download from http://media.ifccenter.com/DOC-NYC/DOC-NYC_11x17.pdf).

“None of this could be possible without our key sponsors,” said DOC NYC executive director Raphaela Neihausen. “We’re honored to see so many sponsors returning from last year, including our presenting sponsors A&E IndieFilms, History Films, and New York magazine; and our major sponsors New York University School of Continuing Professional Studies, and PostWorks NY.”

Tickets and festival passes will go on sale when the full roster of films is announced in early October.