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Anatomy of “The Blackfish Effect”

This article was originally posted on Documentary.org.

The final chord of "the Blackfish effect" has finally resounded, with a stunning and unprecedented corporate policy announcement from SeaWorld. 

Courtesy of Dogwoof

In January 2013, the documentary Blackfish premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, telling the story "about Tilikum, a performing killer whale that killed several people while in captivity," according to the official film synopsis. Three years later—a period marked by sustained activism, multi-platform distribution and unrelenting media coverage— SeaWorld officially announced on March 17, 2016, that it will officially end its orca breeding program and end orca shows at all of its theme parks.Read more...

U.S. public media steps up at International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam

This article was originally posted on Current.org.

The International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam has become increasingly important for U.S.–based public media. Producers and filmmakers from PBS’s creative documentary strands come to make deals and make friends, showcase new work and get inspired by the state of the art.

Director Stanley Nelson takes questions at IDFA after screening his Independent Lens film The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution. (Photo: Nichon Glerum)

This year’s IDFA, Nov. 18–29, was a meeting ground for 3,271 documentary professionals from 93 countries, including producers from Independent Lens, Frontline, POV and American Masters, and executives representing PBS, New York’s WNET and the World Channel based at Boston’s WGBH.Read more...

CMSI Leaders Featured as Speakers, Participants at International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA)

For documentary filmmakers, strategists, funders, broadcasters, buyers – and of course, fans – November means the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA), the premier international festival celebrating the best of the form from around the world. CMSI leaders hit the ground running in Amsterdam this year, playing key roles as speakers and participants. 

IDFA Logo

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Daisy and Max: Can Police Let Violence Intervention Work?

 Daisy and MaxDaisy and Max, Jennifer Maytorena Taylor’s quietly heartbreaking film about a family torn apart by ill-conceived programs to quell gang violence, generated a lively discussion about the best approach to address youth violence. The best approach: Treat it as a public health problem.Read more...

2015 Media Rise Forum: Social Change Agents Arise

On Saturday October 3, 2015, CMSI attended the 2015 Media Rise Forum at Impact HUB DC, which was the final event of the festival. The event began with challenging group exercises, followed by panels of social change agents who shared their passions and purposes. The last portion of the forum consisted of breakout sessions, where attendees and panelists met in different rooms for a more intimate communication setting. 2015 Media Rise FestivalRead more...