Peter Ettedgui
Misfits Entertainment
Producing & Directing (Nov. 18)
Join us for an enlightening day of panels featuring renowned producers and directors as they share their experiences, insights, and best practices in crafting compelling documentary films. Discover the creative processes behind compelling documentaries, learn how to navigate common filmmaking challenges, and explore innovative techniques.
Co-presented by:
In the Festival Lounge, the day starts with Breakfast (9-10AM) hosted by community partner the Documentary Producers Alliance (DPA) and ends with a Happy Hour (4:30-5:30PM).
10-11:15AM
Emotion Over Information!
Join us for an engaging session with Peter Ettedgui and Ian Bonhôte, directors of Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story, McQueen, and Rising Phoenix. They’ll discuss their directorial journeys, share behind-the-scenes challenges, and reflect on their careers. Expect exclusive footage and personal anecdotes, with opportunities to interact and ask questions. This is a unique chance to delve into their storytelling craft and connect with these creative visionaries.
Peter Ettedgui
Misfits Entertainment
Before beginning to work in documentary, Peter worked as a screenwriter and producer in the scripted space, with credits ranging from ‘Onegin’ (starring Ralph Fiennes and Liv Tyler) to ‘Kinky Boots’ (with Joel Edgerton and Chiwitel Ejiofor). In 2015, Peter was awarded the best writing accolade at the IDA for his work on ‘Listen to Me, Marlon’ (a documentary portrait of Marlon Brando) and soon after began his directing partnership with Ian Bonhôte with the BAFTA-nominated feature documentary ‘McQueen’ (2018). The duo went on to make ‘Rising Phoenix’ (2022) for Netflix, followed by ‘Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story’ (2024). They also created and executive produced the TV docu-series ‘Kingdom of Dreams’ (2023) which premiered at DocNYC.
Ian Bonhote
Misfits Entertainment
Ian Bonhote
Misfits Entertainment
Ian Bonhote is a two time BAFTA-nominated director and producer of McQueen, a feature documentary about iconic fashion designer Alexander McQueen. Rising Phoenix was Ian’s second documentary which he co-directed with Peter Ettedgui. The film tells the story of the Paralympics from its humble beginnings to becoming the third-biggest sporting event in the world. Rising Phoenix won Outstanding Long Sports Documentary and Outstanding Music Direction at the 2021 Emmy Awards. In 2024 Ian co-directed Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story with Peter Ettedgui, which premiered at Sundance and was bought by Warner Brothers for $15M, the second largest documentary sale of all time.
Co-presented by DC Studios, HBO Documentary Films, and CNN Films.
11:30-12:45PM
Game Changers: The Impact of 30 for 30
Join a panel of the producers behind the award-winning ESPN Films’ 30 for 30 series which is celebrating its 15th anniversary. Representatives Marsha Cooke, Marquis Daisy, Carolyn Hepburn, Gentry Kirby, and Preeti Varathan will discuss how the series has shaped sports documentaries and influenced culture. Gain insights on storytelling, balancing journalistic integrity, and the creative process behind acclaimed projects. A preview of the future of 30 for 30 and the evolving role of sports documentaries in today’s media landscape will be showcased.
Marquis Daisy
Producer, ESPN Films
Marquis Daisy
Producer, ESPN Films
Marquis Daisy, co-director of “Baltimore Boys,” is a producer for ESPN Films. Among his most notable work includes Rand University, a 30 for 30 film on the often-turbulent career of former NFL great Randy Moss and Black Hoosiers, a Spike Lee Lil’ Joint on the high school years of NBA Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson. Daisy’s 2021 project, “The March on Washington: Keepers of the Dream,” debuted on NatGeo and is available on-demand from Hulu.
Marsha Cooke
Vice President & Executive Producer, ESPN Films and 30 for 30
Marsha Cooke
Vice President & Executive Producer, ESPN Films and 30 for 30
Marsha Cooke currently serves as vice president & executive producer for ESPN Films and 30 for 30. She is responsible for overseeing development, production, distribution, branding and strategy of all projects under the ESPN Films umbrella, including the 30 for 30 series.
Cooke joined ESPN from VICE Media Group, where she served as senior vice president of global news and special projects. In her role at VICE, Cooke developed and produced special news and entertainment projects across VMG digital and broadcast platforms, leading the youth media company in pushing the limits of broadcast news formats and playing a key role in integrating VICE’s forward-thinking values with its award-winning content.
Carolyn Hepburn
Producer, ESPN Films
Carolyn Hepburn
Producer, ESPN Films
Carolyn Hepburn is an Emmy and Peabody Award-winning producer whose recent films include American Pain (2022 Tribeca Festival, CNN Films); Unfinished Business (2022 Tribeca Festival); The Return of Tanya Tucker featuring Brandi Carlile (2022 SXSW Audience Winner, Sony Pictures Classics); In The Same Breath (HBO Docs, Oscar shortlisted); The Velvet Underground (Cannes Film Festival, Apple+, Oscar shortlisted); The Mole Agent (Oscar nominee); A Thousand Cuts (Emmy, Gotham and IDA winner); One Child Nation (Sundance Grand Jury Prize winner, Amazon Studios, Oscar-shortlisted); Life, Animated (Oscar nominee and winner of three Emmys); Weiner (IFC Films, Oscar shortlisted).
Gentry Kirby
Producer, ESPN Films
Gentry Kirby
Producer, ESPN Films
Since joining ESPN Films in 2014, Gentry Kirby has produced multiple documentaries for ESPN Films and the “30 For 30” series including Fantastic Lies, Be Water and The Last Dance. Kirby also directed two 30 for 30s –This Magic Moment and Tommy.
Preeti Varathan
Head of Podcasts, ESPN
Preeti Varathan
Head of Podcasts, ESPN
Preeti Varathan is the Head of Podcasts for ESPN’s 30 for 30. She is an award-winning journalist and showrunner with a track record of producing highly-reported, hit audio documentaries that span subjects from political radicalization to criminal justice to sports history. Her work has been recognized by the prestigious Deadline Club Awards and The Society for Professional Journalists and this year, she was named a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in Audio Reporting.
Co-presented by 30 for 30 / ESPN Films.
1:45-3PM
Ask Us Anything: The Ultimate Legal Q&A
Reavis Page Jump attorneys Nicole Page and Daniel Ain answer everything you always wanted to know about the legal aspects of producing and directing documentaries but were afraid to ask. With the help of industry expert Susan Margolin of St. Marks Films and producer Caroline Waterlow, Nicole and Dan will tackle attendee questions about financing, development, and pitching, production agreements, releases, pre-publication review and fair use, AI, distribution deals, and other burning legal questions.
Nicole Page
Head of the Media and Entertainment practice and Partner, Reavis Page Jump LLP
Nicole Page
Head of the Media and Entertainment practice and Partner, Reavis Page Jump LLP
Nicole Page is the Head of the Media and Entertainment practice and Partner at Reavis Page Jump LLP, where she represents film, television and podcast clients in connection with issues ranging from financing, rights acquisition, production, talent and distribution agreements, exploitation of ancillary rights, content licensing, fair use and clearance issues and an array of related matters. She also represents creative talent, athletes, and authors in their various endeavors and negotiates executive compensation deals for top talent at leading entertainment companies.
Daniel Ain
Attorney, Reavis Page Jump LLP
Daniel Ain
Attorney, Reavis Page Jump LLP
Daniel J. Ain is Counsel for Reavis Page Jump LLP, practicing primarily in the areas of entertainment and media law. Named to Realscreen’s Factual Under 40 list in 2024, Dan represents production companies and independent producers on a broad range of television, film and digital media projects across all stages of development and production. He also has experience representing writers, directors, actors and other talent in all aspects of their entertainment transactions. Daniel began his legal career representing corporate clients in the areas of finance, mergers and acquisitions, and executive compensation.
Ryan Harrington
Ryan Harrington is the VP of National Geographic Documentary Films where he develops, commissions and acquires theatrical feature and short docs for cinematic release. He has dedicated his career nurturing and empowering numerous filmmakers and documentaries from around the globe, as both a creative producer and through his various roles in the commercial and non-profit funding worlds.
Susan Margolin
Producer
Susan Margolin
Producer
Susan Margolin is a pioneer of digital film distribution and a creator of independent films with 25+ years’ experience. Margolin co-founded independent film distributor New Video/Docurama Films in 1992, and ran the company until she sold it to Cinedigm in 2012. As Co-President there she distributed critically acclaimed, award winning films including Destin Daniel Crettin’s Short Term 12 and Kirby Dick and Amy Ziering’s Academy Award nominated The Invisible War. In 2016 Margolin launched St. Marks Productions. She produced Nancy Buirski’s A Crime on the Bayou (Starz) and The Rape of Recy Taylor (Starz), Alexandra Codina’s Paper Children (YouTube Originals), Trish Adlesic’s Tree of Life and Executive Produced Judith Helfand’s upcoming Love and Stuff, Zeva Oelbaum and Sabine Krayenbühl’s Obsessed With Light and Cheryl Miller Houser and Cynthia Wade’s Generation Startup (Netflix). Margolin serves on the board of directors of Chicken & Egg Pictures, Manhattan Neighborhood Network, BAFTA NY (emerita), and the Documentary Producers Alliance, and on the advisory boards of Hamptons DocFest and NYWIFT. Margolin is a member of the PGA, BAFTA and AMPAS.
Caroline Waterlow
Producer
Caroline Waterlow
Producer
Caroline Waterlow is an Oscar, Emmy & Peabody award-winning documentary film producer based in New York City. Waterlow produced the ESPN Films documentary “O.J.: Made in America”, directed & produced by Ezra Edelman. Waterlow co-founded Laylow Pictures, a Brooklyn-based production company with Edelman. Laylow recently produced the 4-part HBO docuseries “STAX: Soulsville, U.S.A.” about the iconic Memphis record-label; the series was nominated for two Prime Time Emmy awards and was an Audience Award-winner at SXSW in March, 2024. Laylow is currently in production on a 4-part docu-series about the life of Indigenous activist Annie Mae Aquash, with Onyx Collective/HULU.
Co-presented by Reavis Page Jump LLP.
3:15-4:30PM
Directing Across Borders: Leading International Teams
Explore the challenges and rewards of directing across borders in this panel in this panel moderated by Sean Weiner (co-director, UFO) with directors Carla Gutiérrez (Frida) and Sissel Morell (Balomania) focused on the art of leading an international team. Hear about navigating cultural differences, language barriers, and logistical hurdles to create compelling films that resonate worldwide. Learn how they foster collaboration, maintain creative vision, and harness diverse perspectives to tell stories that are both authentic and globally impactful. Discover what it takes to bring together talent from around the world and turn that diversity into a powerful cinematic force.
Carla Gutiérrez
Director
Carla Gutiérrez
Director
Carla Gutiérrez ACE is an Emmy and Eddie nominated documentary editor. She edited the Oscar nominated films RBG and LA CORONA, and recently completed PRAY AWAY (Netflix Original, Tribeca). Her latest film, JULIA, about renowned chef, and television personality Julia Child, premiered at Telluride and was an official selection of the 2021 Toronto Film Festival. JULIA was produced by Imagine Entertainment, CNN Films, and Sony Pictures Classics. Carla’s work has received awards at Sundance, Tribeca, Berlinale, Outfest, the Critic’s Choice Awards, the National Board of Review Awards and the DuPont Columbia Awards. She has been a creative adviser for the Sundance Edit Lab, and a mentor for the Firelight Producers’ Lab, The Karen Schmeer Diversity Program, and the Tribeca Film Fellows program. She is a member of the Academy of Motion Pictures and the American Cinema Editors. Carla received a Masters in Documentary Film from Stanford University.
Sissel Morell
Director
Sissel Morell
Director
Sissel has a background in painting graffiti, which lead her to photography, and eventually documentary. As a teenager she lived in Brazil where she through graffiti became part of the balloon world. This would lead to her first feature film Balomanía. She is a graduate the Cuban film school (EICTV), where she directed several shorts that screened across the world. Her short documentary Plastico, was nominated at a number of festivals. “Plástico, her graduation film is a road movie about two pseudo delinquints who turn to tupperware to sell across the Cuba. Later on, she studied games & animation at The National Film School of Denmark. Here she developed the indie game Cai Cai Balão, which is set in the same world as the film and is a cross over of characters and situations between the film and game. It was nominated at the Independent Games Festival, Indiecade and exhibited at the Smithsonian Arts Museum, Museum da Favela and won Games 4 Change Latinamerica for Best Game, and Game of Impact. It ws recently exhibited as well at Games 4 Change in New York.
Sean Weiner
Co-director, UFO
Sean Weiner
Co-director, UFO
Sean Weiner is a film producer and artist community builder based in the Lower Hudson Valley of New York. Sean is the Co-Director of UFO, a filmmaker support organization built upon a philosophy of inclusion and collaboration that provides short film labs, feature film residencies, and grants opportunities to early career and experienced independent filmmakers. He was the Founding Director of Creative Culture at the Jacob Burns Film Center. Sean is an assistant professor in Film & Media Studies at Purchase College. He has produced, edited, and mentored award-winning films selected by Sundance, Berlinale, and SXSW, and acquired by Criterion, Searchlight, HBOMax, POV, The New Yorker, and New York Times’ Op-Docs.
DOC NYC PRO is co-presented by:
