Established in 2016, the Documentary Producers Alliance (DPA) is an all-volunteer, diverse coalition of more than 500 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 NEED YOUR SUPPORT TO

Sustain our part-time coordinator who keeps the organizational wheels in motion; schedules and manages agendas for our biweekly leadership meetings; responds to emails and membership requests; maintains our web and social media accounts; and lends 360-degree administrative support. ($9,600)

Retain legal counsel and accounting support. ($9,000)

Implement and improve internal and external communications; develop new guidelines addressing contemporary issues in documentary ethics, equity and inclusion practices; and deepen and expand the research and reportage about documentary producing today, made possible by the DPA census. ($21,000)

Sponsor regional meet-ups and panel discussions that bolster our regional outreach and compensate lead participants with honoraria. ($19,500)

Continue to provide community among our members via bimonthly meetings, internal Slack channels, in-person events, and ongoing impact and educational efforts ($12,000)

Organize and hold a leadership-training event, to help clear the path forward for the DPA into 2023 and beyond. ($1,250)

INNOVATIVE CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE FIELD

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.

SUPPORT OF THE FIELD

Launched an Office Hours Pilot Program in partnership with FWD-DOC and Undocumented Filmmakers Collective to provide skill-sharing/building opportunities for emerging producers.

Secured an NEA grant toward the development and execution of a series of Producing Toward Equity workshops for underserved producing communities. Hired coordinators to facilitate the program that will launch in 2023.

Supported independent, allied filmmaker organizations in the creation and distribution of their own industry guidelines, including: The Alliance of Documentary Editors/BIPOC Editors’ “Best Practices in Documentary Editing” guidelines and FWD-DOC’s “Toolkit for Inclusion & Accessibility: Changing the Narrative of Disability in Documentary Film.”

Shared public support for I.A.T.S.E. throughout their negotiations with AMPTP and partnered with the Producer's Union to host a Town Hall with Local 600 members.

Demanded accountability on behalf of Muslim and MENA colleagues around the Sundance programming of Jihad Rehab.

Partnered with the Film Festival Alliance to encourage the recognition of Producers in festival crediting, fostering dialogue with festivals and the industry around the issue of Producer erasure.

Continue to build meaningful relationships with industry entities such as FWD-DOC, Undocumented Filmmakers Collective, Dear Producer, Sundance Institute, ITVS, and others toward a more equitable and inclusive field.

DPA Fund

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.