SWAMI Program
The True/False SWAMI mentorship program was launched in 2007 as a way to help new nonfiction filmmakers navigate the sometimes treacherous terrain of the doc film world. Through meetings with seasoned and knowledgeable industry professionals, first-time filmmakers get unvarnished advice on everything that happens after they finish their final cut. From sales agents to online distribution to European sales, this is a chance for filmmakers to get unbiased answers on some of the thorniest topics in the movie business.
Special thanks to Chicken and Egg Pictures and The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for sponsoring the 2010 SWAMI program.
"I can say without hesitation that True/False's SWAMI program was one of the single most important events in our film's progress. Not only did the program provide a wealth of practical advice and creative options, but it helped usher us into the community of film makers who have been invaluable in every decision we've made since. For me, the real strength of the program is this introduction to peers who will continue to guide and support your work as it proceeds out into the world. Many of the choices we've made about the final shape of the film, where and when to enter it in festivals, what to do with the attention it receives, have been aided by the SWAMIs we had." (Donal Mosher, 2009 T/F SWAMI program participant, co-director of the award-winning documentary October Country)
2010 selected filmmakers:
- Aaron Schock, director, Circo
- Andy Wolff and Stefanie Brockhaus, directors, On the Other Side of Life
- Charlotte Glynn, director, Rachel Is
- Fatima Geza Abdollahyan, director, Kick in Iran
- Nuria Ibáñez, director, The Tightrope
- Pippa Robinson, director, The British in Bed
2010 SWAMIs:
- Andrea Meditch, creative consultant for films and media start ups, advisor to Michigan State University's film and new media initiative, and executive producer (Oscar-winning Man on Wire, Oscar-nominated Encounters at the End of the World). Meditch helped launch and build Discovery Films, the theatrical documentary unit of Discovery Communications.
- Esther Robinsonhas worked on behalf of America's artists for more than 15 years in many capacities including: foundation program officer, film/television producer (The Canal Street Madam, Strong Island, Savior), film director (A Walk into the Sea: Danny Williams and The Warhol Factory), technology entrepreneur and arts activist. Robinson was chosen as one of Filmmaker Magazine's "25 to Watch" in 2006, and is the former Director of Film/Video and Performing Arts for the Creative Capital Foundation and one of the principal architects of its innovative grant-making system.
- Julia Reichert and Steven Bognar, producers/directors (A Lion in the House, The Last Truck: Closing of a G.M. Plant). The Last Truck was recently nominated for a 2009 short doc Academy Award.
- Lisa Heller, Vice President of Original Programming at HBO. Heller develops, programs and promotes non-fiction films (Oscar-winning Smile Pinki, The Trials of Ted Haggard, Baghdad High), new media activity and outreach strategies for HBO documentaries, the Cinemax Reel Life series and family programming.
- Sandi Dubowski, director (Trembling Before G-d), producer (A Jihad for Love, Budrus) and grassroots distribution maven. Dubowski speaks about strategic international distribution campaigns, creative audience outreach and engagement, global fundraising, publicity and marketing, and Web mobilizing and sales at leading festivals and conferences.
- Yance Ford, series producer and core member of the programming team for PBS' iconic series of independent documentary films, P.O.V. Ford also has served as a programming consultant and pre-screener for film festivals around the country (Full Frame, Silverdocs, ITVS).
Participation in the SWAMI program is by invitation only and is open to first-time filmmakers whose films are just coming into the world.
"Navigating through the sea of information and the distribution end of filmmaking can be overwhelming at times. Having one on one face time with experienced filmmakers and industry gurus was an incredible resource and a privilege to have. The personal feedback, connections, and insider info was priceless." (Jeremy Stulberg, co-director, Off the Grid; SWAMI '07 participant)
"The T/F mentorship program was extremely helpful. The combination of industry figures and practicing filmmakers was particularly useful, as I was able to get a perspective from both sides of the fence. (The delicious American pub grub each day surrounded by like-minded film lunatics was an added bonus.)" (Anna Broinowski, director, Forbidden Lies; SWAMI '08 participant)
Past SWAMIS have included John and Janet Pierson (producer's reps, Director of Programming, SXSW); Debbie Zimmerman (Women Make Movies); Eugene Hernandez, (editor, Indiewire); Peter Broderick, (Paradigm Consulting); Jess Search (Shooting People); Fenton Bailey (World of Wonder); Liesl Copland (Red Envelope/Netflix); Matt Dentler (Cinetic Rights Management); and Kirby Dick (award-winning filmmaker/founder of Chain Camera Pictures).
Past participants include Anna Broinowski (Forbidden Lies), Michael Palmieri & Donal Mosher (October Country), Aron Gaudet and Gita Pullapilly (The Way We Get By), Rivkah Beth Medow & Gregory O'Toole (Sons of a Gun), Cynthia Lester (My Mother's Garden), Ingrid Demetz, Caroline Leitner, and Daniel Mazza (How I Am), Greg Kohs (Song Sung Blue), Havana Marking (Afghan Star), Ido Haar (9 Star Hotel), Jeremy & Randy Stulberg (Off the Grid: Life on the Mesa), and Raúl de la Fuente Calle, Igor Ochoa Odriozola & Harkaitz Martinez de San Vincente Urriza (Nomadak TX).