The Documentary Producers Alliance (DPA) is an all-volunteer, diverse coalition of more than 550 international members ranging from emerging to Academy Award-winning documentary producers. We set standards for inclusive, sustainable, and equitable business practices based on research, collective experience, and input from strategic partners, amplifying the voice of documentary producers worldwide. We educate the industry about producers’ essential role from development through financing, production, and distribution.

WE RELY ON YOUR FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO CONTINUE OUR WORK

We also want to take the mystery out of investing in the DPA. Please read on to find out exactly what your gift will be used for:

DPA Coordinator: With an all-volunteer board and membership, we have one employee who keeps the organizational wheels in motion annually. From scheduling to managing agendas for DPA subcommittees to responding to emails and membership requests -- this role lends imperative 360-degree administrative support. ($26,000)

Leadership: After officially creating a 501(c)(3) the DPA founders confidently stepped aside and 6 new board members were democratically elected. Today with a Governance subcommittee and new systems allowing for more shared information and cross-committee support now in place, we are looking to offer the Board training and Strategic Planning support. ($9,000)

Initiatives: Support additional research and reporting using the DPA census data; develop and publish guidelines addressing contemporary issues in documentary ethics and equity and inclusion practices—codifying our current work into another field-accessible resource. ($9,000)

Member Engagement: We are conducting a full brand and website relaunch with a spring 2024 anticipated completion. We welcomed a communications specialist to help us work on spreading the word on the unprecedented field-building work the DPA is doing, including a relaunch of our Office Hours program to support emerging producers facing barriers. ($12,000)

Sponsor regional meet-ups and panel discussions that bolster our regional outreach and compensate lead participants with honoraria. Help us continue to provide community among our members via bimonthly meetings, in-person events, and ongoing impact and educational efforts. ($12,000)

Retain legal counsel and accounting support. ($7,000)

Recent Contributions To The Field

Building Out Member Engagement:

Provided members with networking opportunities at large and small-scale film festivals, from Tribeca to Duluth;
Hosted quarterly Ethics Peer-to-Peer sessions where members received support and a framework for navigating ethical dilemmas;
Organized town halls for WGA and IATSE strike solidarity;
Created an internal Trans Affinity Group;
The Ethics Subcommittee partnered on a groundbreaking study conducted by ITVS and NEA examining participant and filmmaker relationships. Study results will be shared industry-wide in early 2024.

Spotlighting Producing Towards Equity:

Expert consultants alongside the PTE and Equity & Inclusion subcommittees drafted the PTE curriculum and workshop format.
Our consultants and DPA members presented this original workshop series at the Hayti Film Festival, the Philly Latino Film Festival, and the Austin Film Society. This workshop series was envisioned for BIPOC producers, with NEA support, and will become a DPA signature offering.

Focusing on Organizational Expansion:

Launched an inclusive dues structure that eliminates financial barriers to entry;
Created charters with clear goals for all DPA subcommittees;
Expanded to 550 members across 9 countries and 31 states;

Highlighting the DPA's Work

2019 - Released the “Guide to Best Practices in Documentary Crediting,” now the industry-wide standard for documentary crediting.

2020 - Wrote and released the unprecedented “Guidelines for the Documentary Waterfall,” codifying best documentary investment practices for both investors and filmmakers. Our work included designing and deploying a training module for DPA members to train others in best financing practices.

2020 - Designed and conducted our first-ever member-wide census (70% participation), yielding detailed information about who our members are, what challenges they face, and how the DPA can best serve their needs moving forward.

2021 - Created and released an "Anti-Racist and Structural Equality Resource Guide" with the support of partner organizations.

2022 - Developed and workshopped a “Negotiating New Projects: Best Practices for Work-for-Hire Documentary Producers" document and set of compensation guidelines.

2023 - Deepened the content of our Waterfall and Crediting guidelines by re-examining them through the lens of equity and inclusion in the Producing Towards Equity workshop series envisioned for BIPOC producers, with NEA support.

2024 - Advocating and setting best practices on behalf of documentary producers, the DPA will be rolling out "Contract Guidelines" providing best-practice recommendations for work-for-hire producers to evaluate a proposed project and establish a good working relationship with the rights holder. These will be released at Getting Real in April 2024.

Your support moves us one step closer to realizing the DPA's vision to secure and advance for all documentary producers, a thriving, just, inclusive, empowering and sustainable environment, where professionalism, quality, equity and respect are inalienable industry standards.

You Can Fund The DPA:

The Documentary Producers Alliance is a 100% volunteer organization and relies solely on donations to support its ongoing work and advocacy on behalf of documentary producers.