Doc Distro Lit Review: Addie Morfoot

Man seated in a suit on the phone with a focused expression

How Do Political Docs Stay Alive in New Trump Era? Key Documentary Players Meet at CPH:DOX to Ponder Alternatives After ‘Streamers Went to the Right’

At CPH:DOX, U.S. and European doc leaders met to strategize new funding distribution models for political documentaries as major American streamers shift toward less politically risky content.
Two individuals smiling and taking a selfie in front of a Welcome to Texas sign

Why Some Filmmakers Think Oscars Doc Voters Should ‘Suck It’ for Ignoring Celebrity Subjects

Frustrations are mounting within the documentary community as Oscar voters continue to overlook celebrity-driven docs, highlighting deeper tensions around streamer influence and the future of social issue filmmaking in a polarized political climate.
A lively group of individuals in a crowd releasing colorful smoke bombs.

Sundance Programmers Say Political Documentaries Are Still Crucial, Despite Challenging Market and Right-Wing Hits

While streaming platforms have grown wary of political documentaries, Sundance Film Festival continues to spotlight politically engaged documentaries like “Mr. Nobody Against Putin” and “Khartoum,” prioritizing their cultural significance over commercial appeal.
A film still depicting a person singing on a stage

Could the 31st Edition of Hot Docs Be the Last for the Ailing Toronto Fest? Organizers Warn It Might Be

Writer Addie Morfoot reports on staff departures and government-funding issues surrounding the 2024 edition of the Hot Docs Film Festival.
Photograph of five people sitting in front of a Full Frame Documentary Film Festival sign

Documentary Filmmakers Lament Hollywood Cutbacks and Deal Scarcity: “Our Ecosystem Is in the Midst of a Collapse”

Writer Addie Morfoot summarizes points made from a panel discussion called "Documentary Dealmaking" at the 2024 Full Frame Film Festival, highlighting the financial challenges faced by documentary filmmakers and the need for fair compensation, stronger alliances with industry organizations, and collective action to address systemic issues in the industry.
A compilation of five images, from the films: “Four Daughters,” “Bobi Wine: The People’s President,” “To Kill a Tiger,” “The Eternal Memory,” and “20 Days in Mariupol.”

Doc World Is Reeling from Oscar Nominations and What They Might Mean for the Struggling Sector: “There Is This Resentment Towards Certain Kinds of Success”

The 2024 Oscar documentary nominations, dominated by international filmmakers and with little major streamer-backed films, have sparked discourse on potential resentment in the documentary branch, a preference for social-issue documentaries, and considerations for altering the voting system.
Image of person wearing a Superman costume and flying in the sky

Sundance Offers a Glimmer of Hope for the Struggling Documentary Market: “We’re No Longer in a DOA Situation”

Writer Addie Morfoot details reports of strong interest in independently-made documentaries at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival, which offered hope to sales agents about the trajectory of distribution for these projects.
Black and white photograph of a person with long dark hair sitting on steps

Filmmakers Take Legal Action against Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment as It Faces “Cash Flow Issues”

Writer Addie Morfoot reports on Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment and film distributor 1091 Pictures facing legal disputes centered on missing revenue-sharing payments to filmmakers, who are also trying to reclaim their distribution rights should 1091 Pictures' parent company go bankrupt.
Photograph of two children with blonde hair

The Road to the Oscar Documentary Shortlist Requires More than Just Money for Most

Writer Addie Morfoot describes the 2024 Oscar documentary shortlist race, with fewer streamer-backed films opening up possibilities for filmmakers utilizing smaller awards campaign budgets.