NomadsLand is partnering with Docs in Progress to curate special works-in-progress documentaries from international filmmakers seeking to gain valuable feedback on their rough cuts at a critical stage of editing. Anyone can upload or mail us a segment of their unfinished documentary or a rough cut. Semi-finalists will have the option to post their segments on a special Works In Progress section of Nomadsland.com. Two winners (one short documentary and one feature documentary) will be selected for a Docs in Progress workshop in Washington DC on February 17, 2008 where the entire rough cut will be discussed and critiqued by a live audience of filmmakers and film aficionados at progressive café/restaurant Busboys and Poets.  

To see the entries so far, click here.

How it Works?

(1) Between now and February 4, 2008, upload your work-in-progress or mail it to us. If uploading, register on the site here then click on the Works In Progress Upload Console under the Nomads Only menu tab for upload instructions.  Trailers will not be considered.

      If mailing, send a DVD of your rough cut to:

(2) Films that meet the minimum criteria for consideration (see below for criteria) will be selected as a semi-finalist and filmmakers will have the option to showcase up to 10 minutes of their unfinished work on the Nomadsland website. The general public will view your film and write comments and constructive feedback which the judges will take into account in selecting the films we think will most benefit by a live discussion. 

(3) A team of judges headed by Docs in Progress’ Adele Schmidt and Erica Ginsberg & NomadsLand’s Davin Hutchins will review the films and select two for a full workshop.

(4) The two finalists will be screened in their entirety at a special Docs in Progress live workshop session to take place at Busboys and Poets in Washington DC on Sunday, February 17. After each film is screened, the filmmaker(s) will participate in an interactive feedback session with the audience live via Skype. 

Click here to Register with NomadsLand.

Click here to Upload your film to the Works In Progress Upload Console if you've already registered.

 Criteria for Consideration

·         There is no fee to submit your film for consideration. 

·         Films must be at the rough cut stage.  No trailers or completed works. 

·         We accept submissions of both Documentary Shorts (under 15 minutes) and Documentary Features (16-90 minutes). 

·         Although we define "documentary" rather broadly and may screen documentaries with dramatized, experimental, political, or advocacy elements, we do not screen pure fiction films, mockumentaries, music videos, industrials, or works that are purely promotional in nature.  We reserve the right to deactivate any film. Any offensive or purely pornographic material uploaded to the site will be deleted.

·         Films in languages other than English must either be subtitled or dubbed in English.

·         Filmmakers will be given the option to allow up to 10 minutes of his or her film to be screened online for the general public to view.  This initiative will clearly be marked as a “work in progress” program if there are any concerns about it taking you out of consideration for other forms of exhibition or distribution.  Filmmakers are also welcome to have the same content hosted on other sites.

·         If selected, the filmmaker must be available to participate in a live feedback session with an audience in Washington DC on Sunday, February 17, 2008 between 19:00-22:30 (7:00-10:30 pm) U.S. Eastern Standard Time.  We do not have funds to pay for filmmaker travel, but can patch filmmakers in via Skype (either Skype-to-Skype , Skype-to-Phone or Skype Webcam).