2020 A&E IndieFilms Speakeasy | Documenting Distress: A Discussion

Throughout history, documentary film has been used to bring to light the abuses that human beings can inflict upon one another, whether during war, genocide, imprisonment, or via policies that force people into desperate conditions, such as exile, migration and/or starvation. Such work can and has brought public awareness to circumstances that bring about changes in laws, policing, public opinion, and inspire cultural norms to shift. How do documentary filmmakers walk the fine line of exposing abuse and not exploiting victims? What is appropriate to portray and what crosses the line? This group of esteemed Full Frame colleagues discuss their work, the work of the field, and how today’s image-heavy culture impacts the work of documentarians.

Moderator:
Adama Delphine Fawundu

Panelists:
Marco Williams
Rory Kennedy
Laurens Grant