About
Read about our mission and story.
Year-round, our local teams of VC community organizers program in-person gatherings and workshops around the globe. Interested in getting involved? Scroll to find the action in city near you; email your team to say hey. Or, contact us about hosting an event or bringing creatives together in your backyard.
Well, aren't you a peach
Atlanta
Launched in September of 2020, VC’s Atlanta team meets monthly to plan gatherings, workshops, and Video Labs, where we screen documentary shorts, feature excerpts, and works-in-progress from members for feedback.
Our goal is to uplift nonfiction media makers and bring together every voice working in Atlanta's nonfiction film and video landscape — and to provide resources, feedback, and support to ATL's growing community of visual storytellers.
Organizers: Myriah Towner, Daniel Schwartz, Fraser Jones, and Matt Clegg.
Journalism by the bay
Bay Area
Our Bay Area filmmakers unite regularly to celebrate the community’s top nonfiction work. The team came to life in July of 2017, when we saw the region’s need for a network like VC! The rest is history. Come out and hang, or just send us a message to say hi.
Organizers: Annie Pancak, Elivia Shaw, Jason Alarcón, Jim McSilver, Pari Mathur, and Inês Pedrosa Melo.
The Windy City beckons
Chicago
Chicago officially launched in October 2021 and became the Video Consortium's thirteenth local chapter worldwide. We've been hosting regular screening events and happy hours around the city ever since.
We're always seeking new short and long-form nonfiction films to screen. So if you have something you'd like to show or are interested in receiving invites to upcoming events, send us an email.
Organizers: Emmett Adler, Jaye Callahan, Clare Keating, Jenny Shi, and Lily Qi
Nuevas perspectivas en Colombia
Colombia
¡Bienvenidos al nuevo capítulo de VC Colombia! En este espacio buscamos brindar apoyo a cineastas emergentes de Colombia que busquen maneras de conectar, financiar, proyectar y discutir sus proyectos documentales. Entendemos el género documental de una forma abierta, cuyas fronteras se pueden entrecruzar con la ficción y también con otras disciplinas artísticas, para brindar nuevas perspectivas sobre lo que llamamos la “realidad”. A través de VC Colombia, queremos además ayudar a descentralizar el desarrollo cinematográfico del país, y tejer conexiones entre los colectivos regionales y los diferentes focos de producción a nivel nacional. Para esto, estaremos organizando charlas, proyecciones, talleres y mentorías con expertos en distintas áreas del cine y de la creación audiovisual, así como oportunidades de encuentros con productores, artistas y organizaciones internacionales que estén buscando crear nexos con creadores colombianos.
Si estás interesado en participar, por favor mándanos un mensaje. ¡Nos encantará conocerte!
Miembors: Christian Carvajal, Federico Serna González, Canela Reyes, y Sebastián Pinzón Silva
Welcome to London!
London
At the Video Consortium’s London chapter, we celebrate non-fiction storytellers from a vast diversity of backgrounds who are determined to thrive in this international creative hub from all over the world. We build a welcoming community for the more experienced and new entrants alike, by creating in-person and virtual hangouts, and cross-border collaborations. The directors of the London chapter are a socially conscious bunch and are passionate about making VC London a positive force in the broadcasting and media industry in the UK.
Organizers: Shanshan Chen, Aletta Harrison, and Grace Lin
Captains of Industry
Los Angeles
We've been gathering at production houses, small theaters, and backyards around East and West LA since April, 2016. We screen shorts, feature excerpts, and works-in-progress—a variety of pieces that speak to the variety of nonfiction work that our members are actively creating. Follow us on Instagram to hear about upcoming gatherings and workshops!
Organizers: Natalie Holt, Lauren Mahoney, and Colin Weatherby
¡Bienvenido a Mexico!
Mexico
El capítulo de Video Consortium en México inició este verano 2020. Celebramos nuestra primera reunión virtual el pasado julio. Actualmente nuestro equipo de colaboradores están desarrollando y planeando nuevos eventos que permitan a la comunidad documentalista mantenerse unida e inspirada. El Video Consortium México quiere crear comunidad entre los narradores audiovisuales mexicanos de no ficción y también con los realizadores foráneos en la CDMX.
México, y particularmente la Ciudad de México, tiene una larga tradición en el ámbito del cine documental y además es un espacio crucial de interés periodístico en América Latina.
Actualmente, tenemos eventos y proyecciones virtuales cada dos meses. Si estás interesado en participar, por favor mándanos un mensaje. ¡Nos encantará conocerte!
Miembros: Brenda Avila, Daniel Chavez-Ontiveros, Joyce Garcia, Andrea Marcial, Alicia Ortega, Carlos Pérez, Adan Ruiz, Bruno Santamaria, y Monica Wise
Viva il Documentario!
Milan
Per il prossimo anno, il chapter italiano di Video Consortium si vuole impegnare particolarmente nel rendere l'inclusione di genere, di abilità, di provenienza, di orientamento sessuale o religioso sia tra i registi e producer coinvolti sia nei documentari mostrati.
Siamo partiti a gennaio 2021, nel nostro secondo anno a Milano, con un grande evento che ha portato Cosima Spender, regista di SanPa per Netflix, a parlare del suo lavoro come donna regista. Per il 2021 VCItalia vi offre una serie di talks e masterclass per rafforzare il networking tra i membri VC e i più importanti player dell'industry non-fiction.
Membri: Silvia Boccardi, Elena Brunello, Kristina Juric, e Elettra Fiumi
Welcome to India!
New Delhi
VC New Delhi seeks to help build a strong, diverse, and inclusive platform that facilitates artistic exchange and collaboration between non-fiction storytellers in India and the rest of the world. The need for a community that unites non-fiction storytellers, filmmakers, and journalists from the world's largest democracy has only risen as we live through a global pandemic, widespread social injustice, and unprecedented political unrest. Let us know if you would like to join our efforts or just say hello!
Organizers: Nundrisha Wakhloo
New York - where it all began!
New York
Our New York chapter is the Video Consortium's home—and where it first came to life on one cold wintery evening in 2015, at the back of an East Village bar, amongst a handful of nonfiction video-creating friends. Today, New York is still VC's headquarters, and as our community continues to flourish, our VCNY gatherings are always-sold-out, spectacularly inspiring celebrations of the brilliant work of our members. Join the party!
Features, shorts, and series excerpts that are screened at VCNY’s monthly gatherings are curated by a rotating triplet of VC members. See below for this quarter’s team. If you have suggestions for VC Selects or would like to nominate a member for a future quarter, please do let us know.
In addition to monthly gatherings, VCNY offers specialized panels/workshops and VideoLab, our quarterly works-in-progress critique and screening series.
Organizers: Martin Awano, Alex Clark, Hyacinth Empinado, Michelle Hanks, William House, Shako Liu, Kurtis Sensenig, Fanny Texier, and Uba Udogwu
BONJOUR!
Paris
Le Video Consortium est un réseau de créatifs et de journalistes. Son principal but est de soutenir les réalisateurs de films documentaires. Notre communauté se rassemble une fois par mois afin de donner à ses membres l’opportunité de discuter de leurs idées, de leurs projets et, bien sûr, de montrer leurs films à leurs pairs.
Paris est la première branche internationale du Video Consortium. Elle nous permet de faire des ponts entre les États-Unis, la France et L’Europe, entre des réalisateurs et réalisatrices, confirmé.e.s pour certain.e.s et en pleine ascension pour d’autres, des producteurs et productrices, des journalistes, des auteures, etc. Ces ponts se révèlent nécessaires en ces temps de « fake news » et de division.
Membres: Sindbad Guggenheim, Jules Lefevre, Sophie Lipinski, et Eleonore Voisard
Philadelphia: The City of Documentary Love
Philadelphia
The Philadelphia chapter started virtually in 2021 due to COVID, but has now transitioned into monthly in-person meetings. We meet for happy hour events around the city, and are planning on expanding into screenings, workshops, and more.
We are focusing on bringing local non-fiction filmmakers together for community, resources, and job opportunities, and are striving to build a chapter that reflects the Philadelphia film community as a whole. All filmmakers are welcome — BIPOC, LGBTQ+, folks with disabilities, and women are encouraged to apply.
Organizers: Alex Albers, Lauren Schneiderman, Kristal Sotomayor, and Zack Wright
Films in the Rust Belt
Pittsburgh
VC Pittsburgh represents non-fiction video storytellers based in the Rust Belt and Appalachian heartlands. Situated at the crossroads of the Midwest, Northeast, and South, Pittsburgh has always been a vital location that bridges different American cultures and economies.
Our mission is to address issues like news deserts, freelancer advocacy and equitable representation in the non-fiction film industry. We hold quarterly screenings of recent work, workshops and networking events. If you’d like to get involved, or attend a future gathering, please reach out to the team!
Organizers: Nick Childers, Ryan Loew, Nate Smallwood, and Steph Strasburg
CAPTURING THE SPIRIT OF EAST ASIA
Taipei
VC launched a team in Taipei in Spring 2023. As interest in Taiwan has increased globally since 2020, the team in Taipei connects local non-fiction storytellers with international platforms. We also encourage creators from abroad to partner with our members and take advantage of their deep fluency in Taiwanese society. We host screenings, networking events, and workshops in English and Mandarin.
Organizers: Michael Garber, Tobie Topenshaw, and William Chen
FILMMAKING IN THE CAPITOL
Washington DC
The Consortium's Washington DC chapter unites the video journalists and documentarians of America’s capital and Mid-Atlantic region. VCDC gatherings are creatively themed and feature both local and outside independent talent as well as shorts from journalists whose outlets call Washington home: NPR, National Geographic, Vox, the Atlantic, The Washington Post, Al Jazeera, and beyond. We alternate monthly offerings of screenings and workshops throughout town as well as gatherings in each other's living rooms––all with an emphasis on community, ethics, and craft. Most recently we launched a mentorship program to nurture the next generation of non-fiction voices. Come join us!
Organizers: Kathryn Carlson, Deanna Del Ciello, Rachel George, Aaron Kalischer-Coggins, Andre Martins, Ellen Rolfes, Veda Shastri, Carlos Waters, and Ray Whitehouse
