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Filmmaker Forum

October 12-13, 2026

About the Forum

The HSDFF Filmmaker Forum is a two-day filmmaker/industry conference and convening to be held Monday, October 12 - Tuesday, October 13, 2026 during this year’s 35th annual Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival (October 9 – 17).

Taking place in scenic Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas, the Filmmaker Forum offers dynamic programming focused on the business, art and craft of documentary storytelling. The Forum is a major annual convening of filmmakers and industry leaders from throughout the U.S.

With a focus on public media, as well as a wider lens on the nonfiction ecosystem as a whole, the Forum is a unique and essential professional development opportunity for filmmakers and a major regional convening of filmmakers and industry leaders. Our goal is to create unique and dynamic programming intended to inform and inspire.

Join approximately 125 filmmakers and 50 industry leaders for the 4th annual Forum, for two days of engaging panels, conversations, breakouts, meetings, screenings and parties.

Focusing On:

Non-fiction storytelling and key trends in the documentary industry
Collaborative opportunities with public media
Documentary filmmaking in the Mid-South and South
Forum Pass includes access to the Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival (Oct. 9 - 17).

The Forum is the best value of any of the major documentary film conferences.

Cost:
Early Bird (Sept 30th): $95
Regular: $125

Stay tuned to this page for announcements regarding confirmed speakers and panels.

Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival · 2026

Filmmaker
Forum Schedule

October 12–13, 2026
Hot Springs, Arkansas

Monday

October 12
–

Breakfast

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Opening

Welcome / Opening Remarks

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Session 01 · Keynote conversation

Joe Berlinger in Conversation with Allison Berg

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Session 02 · Panel

Outside the Hubs: Building Sustainable Documentary Ecosystems in the South and Beyond

Drawing on recent convenings and conversations taking place from Los Angeles to Nashville to Hot Springs, filmmakers and representatives of various organizations reflect on the current state of support for nonfiction filmmakers in our region and discuss effective advocacy strategies.

  • ModeratorMolly Murphy, Organizing Committee, Indie Media Arts South (IMAS) + Documentary Accountability Working Group (DAWG)
  • ParticipantsKen Ikeda, Community Arts Stabilization Trust; Grace Lee, Filmmaker / Viewers Like Us; Sarah Childress, Executive Director, Office of Entertainment, Metro Nashville Office of Entertainment; Wendy Keeling, Film Coalition Civic Media 2.0 Advisor, IMAS Organizing Committee Member
–
Session 03 · Work in progress

Work in Progress, Part 1

Three filmmakers based in or with roots in the U.S. South/Mid-South present their works in progress and receive feedback from the audience. Co-presented with Indie Media Arts South (IMAS).

  • ModeratorWeenta Girmay, Regional Initiatives Coordinator for Firelight Media
–

Lunch

Lunch-time chat: Risé Sanders-Weir, documentary filmmaker and Assistant Professor of Media Law at the University of Arkansas, will host a table discussion around current Fair Use issues.

–
Session 04 · Work in progress

Work in Progress, Part 2

Three filmmakers based in or with roots in the U.S. South/Mid-South present their works in progress and receive feedback from the audience. Co-presented with Indie Media Arts South (IMAS).

–
Session 05 · Impact Award

Impact Award Presentation and Conversation

HSDFF’s 2026 Impact Award recipient Yoruba Richen, whose many films have illuminated issues of race, space and power, engages in a lively conversation with Erika Howard and Asad Muhammad, two experts on impact strategy and engagement.

  • ParticipantsYoruba Richen, 2026 HSDFF Impact Award recipient; Director, Free Joan Little: The Rebellious Life of Mrs. Rosa Parks; Erika Howard, Director, Impact Strategy and External Relations, WGBH/Frontline; Asad Muhammad, Vice President of Impact and Engagement Strategy, American Documentary
–
Session 06 · Panel

Telling (and Selling) Stories Across Platforms

These creators and industry insiders are embracing innovative storytelling strategies and practices across digital platforms, and elevating Southern stories region-wide and beyond.

  • ModeratorLuis Ortiz, Managing Director of Latino Public Broadcasting
  • ParticipantsLindsey Hodgson, Director of Distribution, ITVS; EJ Johnson, Black History & Culture Content Creator, Award-Winning Documentary Filmmaker; James Mieczkowski, Program Development Producer, PBS NC; Nick Price, Series Producer, Reel South
–
Reception

Pool Deck Reception

Tuesday

October 13
–

Breakfast

–
Opening

Welcome Day 2

–
Session 07 · Panel

Rethinking Fundraising + Distribution

This session will address current financial challenges, funding opportunities, and creative approaches to project development and funding.

  • ModeratorGrace Lee, Filmmaker / Viewers Like Us
  • ParticipantsJen Rainin, Co-Executive Director, Frankly Speaking Films; CEO, Kenneth Rainin Foundation; Sara Glassberg, Coordinator, Documentary Fund at the Sundance Institute; Amanda Arya, Development Strategist, Catapult Film Fund
–
Session 08 · Conversation

Two Producers Walk Into a (Coffee) Bar

Two producers waiting in line at a local coffee bar in Hot Springs find themselves chatting about what all producers must grapple with these days, including: a completely inadequate funding environment and a distribution “system” that is indifferent at best. Before their coffee gets cold, these veterans of the documentary game may not figure it all out, but they will share their hard-earned wisdom and perhaps generate some new buzz.

  • Caryn Capotosto, Producer, Museum + Crane, Los Angeles
  • Darcy MacKinnon, Producer, Gusto Moving Pictures, New Orleans
–

Lunch

–
Session 09 · Pitch

The Art of the Pitch

Emerging and mid-career filmmakers will pitch their works-in-progress to a panel of industry representatives with the goal of helping filmmakers identify potential collaborators, funders, and distribution partners.

  • Industry panelistshaydée souffrant, Director of Programs, Kartemquin Films; Clint Jukkala, Executive Director, Southern Documentary Fund
–
Session 10 · Breakouts

Marketplace of Ideas

Artist Development + the Power of No (in helping you get to yes)Led by haydée souffrant, Director of Programs, Kartemquin Films
All Things LegalMatt Rogers
Finding Support in Your CommunityKen Ikeda, Community Arts Stabilization Trust; Grace Lee, Filmmaker / Viewers Like Us
Nonfiction HotlistAdam Neuhaus, Nonfiction Hotlist + CEO at Neuhaus Ideas
Closing

Closing Remarks

By Don Young, Executive Director, Center for Asian American Media (CAAM).

–
Session 11 · Meetings

Filmmaker / Industry Roundtable Meetings

Meetings between filmmakers and industry leaders in a roundtable format.

Industry Delegates

Meet the filmmakers, producers, funders, and industry leaders joining the Forum.

  • Amanda AryaDevelopment Strategist, Catapult Film Fund
  • Caryn CapotostoProducer, Museum + Crane, Los Angeles
  • Sarah ChildressExecutive Director, Office of Entertainment, Metro Nashville Office of Entertainment
  • Chris EverettArtistic Director, Southern Documentary Fund
  • Weenta GirmayRegional Initiatives Coordinator for Firelight Media
  • Sara GlassbergCoordinator, Documentary Fund at the Sundance Institute
  • Lindsey HodgsonDirector of Distribution, ITVS
  • Erika HowardDirector, Impact Strategy and External Relations, WGBH/Frontline
  • Ken IkedaCommunity Arts Stabilization Trust
  • EJ JohnsonBlack History & Culture Content Creator, Award-Winning Documentary Filmmaker
  • Clint JukkalaExecutive Director, Southern Documentary Fund
  • Grace LeeFilmmaker / Viewers Like Us
  • Wendy KeelingFilm Coalition Civic Media 2.0 Advisor, IMAS Organizing Committee Member
  • Gentry KirbySenior Director Producer ESPN Films/30 for 30
  • Darcy MacKinnonProducer, Gusto Moving Pictures, New Orleans
  • James MieczkowskiProgram Development Producer, PBS NC
  • Asad MuhammadVice President of Impact and Engagement Strategy, American Documentary
  • Molly MurphyOrganizing Committee, Indie Media Arts South (IMAS) + Documentary Accountability Working Group (DAWG)
  • Adam NeuhausCEO at Neuhaus Ideas + Nonfiction Hotlist
  • Luis OrtizManaging Director of Latino Public Broadcasting (LPB)
  • Maggie Piazza CarrollManager, Community Manager and Engagement, Video Consortium
  • Nick PriceSeries Producer, Reel South
  • Jen RaininCo-Executive Director, Frankly Speaking Films
  • Matt RogersAttorney
  • Risé Sanders-WeirDocumentary filmmaker and Assistant Professor of Media Law at the University of Arkansas
  • Lisa SmallsDirector of Arts Access and Learning at South Arts
  • haydée souffrantDirector of Programs, Kartemquin Films
  • Don YoungExecutive Director, Center for Asian American Media (CAAM)

Schedule and participants are subject to change.

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Annalee Drain

FESTIVAL PRODUCER

Annalee Drain is the Festival Producer of the Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival, stepping into the role this year after three years with the festival in other departments.

She holds a BFA in Digital Filmmaking from the University of Central Arkansas. Annalee also serves as Programming Manager for the Persistence of Vision Film Festival, a role she has held for three years.

Based in Northwest Arkansas, she works full time as a freelance Camera Assistant on feature films and television, and recently made her debut as Director of Photography on the documentary feature Dirty Girl (Post-Production).

Deb Fuller

OFFICE MANAGER / MARKETING ASSISTANT / FILMMAKER FORUM CO-PRODUCER

Deb Fuller is a native Houstonian who has called Arkansas home for more than seven years. She has immersed herself in the Inception to Projection filmmaking program in Hot Springs over the past five years.

She has written and directed two short narratives, two documentary shorts, and participated in the production of numerous other projects. Her filmmaking centers on meaningful storytelling, often highlighting people, histories, and issues that deserve greater visibility.

This creative work deepens her connection to the community and amplifies voices that might otherwise go unheard.

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Erin Williams-Weir

SENIOR PROGRAMMER

Erin Williams-Weir is a festival programmer, producer, and award-winning filmmaker from Canada. She programs documentary features for the Chilliwack Independent Film Festival and has worked across international sales, acquisitions, and documentary production.

Her debut documentary, NEVER GET BUSTED!, premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and went on to receive multiple awards on the festival circuit, including the PBS Human Spirit Award.

Sean Volk

SENIOR PROGRAMMER

Sean Volk is a film programmer and arts advocate based in Fargo, ND. He is a Senior Programmer at the Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival.

Additionally, Sean serves as a Lead Programmer at Mountainfilm and he is the Narrative Feature Programmer at the Woods Hole Film Festival. He has previously programmed for the Big Sky Documentary Film Festival and the Nashville Film Festival.

Sean received his MA in Film Studies from Western University in London, Ontario in 2015; his scholarship explored representations of monstrosity in the films of Guillermo del Toro.

Colleen Thurston

SENIOR PROGRAMMER

Colleen Thurston is a documentary filmmaker and curator from Tulsa, Oklahoma.

With two decades experience in the festival world, Colleen has worked for festivals nationwide and specializes in non-fiction and Indigenous storytelling.

In addition to her work with HSDFF, she is the Project Producer for Native Lens, and a programmer for MountainFilm and the Tacoma Film Festival. Her first feature documentary Drowned Land screened at Hot Springs 2025, and is broadcasting on PBS in 2026.

Kyle Therral Wilson

COMMUNICATIONS, MARKETING & SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER

Kyle Therral Wilson is an Arkansas-native, Los Angeles-based consultant specializing in copywriting, digital marketing, publicity, and creative writing.

He has extensive experience in the publishing industry, most notably at Disney Publishing Worldwide, where he built email marketing campaigns and wrote interactive scripts for classic Disney characters.

Kyle also writes and produces for stage and screen; his short film SFH was an official selection at the 2024 Cinema Diverse Film Festival in Palm Springs, California.

Annie Gerber

PROGRAMMING MANAGER

Oversees daily operations and logistics including venue management, sponsor communications, transportation and housing.

Annie Gerber is a native Arkansan who has a Bachelor of Fine arts in music from Ouachita Baptist University but later switched her main focus to film and photography. Annie spent several years working as a Teaching Assistant at the prestigious photography program at the School of Cinematic and Performing Arts in both New York and Los Angeles. For the past 5 years she has maintained her position as the Director of Operations for the Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival.

Ken Jacobson

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Ken oversees all aspects of the festival including fundraising and sponsor relations, program development, management of staff and volunteers, budgeting, and producing the festival each fall.

Ken Jacobson was most recently Senior Programmer, Documentary Films at the Sonoma International Film Festival. He has served as Documentary Film Programmer at the Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival (since 2017) and at the DocLands Documentary Film Festival (since 2019). He is also co-creator/co-host (with Michael Merrill) of the podcast “Top-Docs: Award-Winning Documentary Filmmakers” with presenting sponsor Netflix.

Previously, Jacobson was a senior member of the programming team at the American Film Institute (2018-2021) and Director of Educational Programs and Strategic Partnerships at the International Documentary Association (2013 – 2016). From 2008- 2013, he was Documentary Programmer and Programming/Education Outreach Coordinator at the Palm Springs International Film Festival. He has served on numerous festival juries and as a grant reviewer for the NEA, NEH, Sundance Institute, and IDA Enterprise Fund.