“The Doc Intensive Program really helped us to whittle down our story in THE RIVER AND THE WALL, gave us invaluable insight into what sections of the film were and weren’t working, and allowed us to consult with people who know the editing process.” – Ben Masters, director of THE RIVER AND THE WALL
Modeled after our Artist Intensive for narrative feature film projects, in 2018 AFS launched counterpart program the Doc Intensive, a multi-day, invitational workshop that takes place annually in the spring. Days are filled with work, focus, and mentorship for emerging Texas documentary feature filmmakers poised for career leaps. The Doc Intensive includes a variety of panels and mentorship meetings with established documentary filmmakers, works-in-progress screenings with group feedback sessions, and community building social engagements all of which have been instrumental in providing filmmakers with creative feedback, resources, and momentum for their projects. The participants are documentary directors and producers from across Texas with projects in development or post-production. Participants are selected from the applicant pool for the previous year’s AFS Grant as well as through existing connections with AFS.
To learn more about the AFS Doc Intensive, please contact filmmakersupport@austinfilm.org.
2025 Participants
GIMME TRUTH
Bradley Abrahams & Simon Ennis
THE LOVE MARRIAGE
Fatima Wardy
NOT FADE AWAY
Jim Mendiola
LET YOUR HANDS GO
Kenny Rigsby
2024 Participants
WHERE THE SUN SETS
Ái Vuong and Samuel Díaz Fernández
SOL TO SEOUL
Hannah Zamora and Bex Rodriguez
WHY AM I LIKE THIS? ADOPTION AND THE SEARCH OF SELF
Lauren Page Sanders
THE MAN WITH THE BIG HAT
Austin Sayre
IMMORTAL
Michael Rowley
RETURN TO SENDER
Susanne Mason
2023 Participants
I NEED SPACE
Ivy Chiu & Hannah Varnell
BEIRUT ON THE BAYOU
Brent Joseph
DABNEY
Monika Watkins
ALTYN AI (GOLDEN MOON)
Aisha Sultanbekova
ON DYING OF DEMENTIA IN A CAPITALIST SYSTEM
Anne Lewis
WALKER
Amy Bench
TONKAWA: THEY ALL STAY TOGETHER
Andrew Richey
2019 Participants
FIGHTING FAIR
Director, Eban Hathaway.
I AM, BUT I AM NOT
Director, Shalisa Thornburg. Producer, Eboni Johnson.
HEALER
Director, Candice Bellamy.
THE TROUBLE I SEE
Co-Director, Sally O’Grady. Co-Director, Patrick Gregory.
VALLAM KALI
Director, Phillip Abraham.
WHEN WE WERE LIVE
Director, John Moore. Producer, Keeley Steenson.
2018 Participants
A TOWN CALLED VICTORIA
Director, Li Lu. Producer, Anthony Pedone.
COQUINA
Director, Rachel Bardin. Producer, Mira Lippold-Johnson.
FREEDOM OF THE HILLS
Director, Andy Sarjahani.
JULIAN
Director, Illiana Sosa.
SPEAK FOR ME
Director, Gretchen Stoeltje.
UNTITLED HIGH SCHOOL BORDER PROJECT
Director, Maisie Crow.
NOTHIN’ NO BETTER
Co-director, Ben Powell. Co-director, Bo Powell.
THE RIVER AND THE WALL
Director, Ben Masters. Producer, Hillary Pierce.
