Find Your Filmmaking Home
With an established track record of success in documentary film production and education, the Documentary Film Program at Wake Forest University offers you two graduate degree options:
A Home to Award-Winning Student Work
Diverse in both content and style, our award-winning student thesis films offer powerful stories on the human experiences at the center of a wide range of social and cultural issues. Experience the depth, breadth, and creativity of our student films by watching the clip below and reading more here.
A Home to Documentary Film Experts
The Documentary Film Program (DFP) is not only the home to full-time faculty members with decades of industry experience! The DFP is proud to have accomplished visiting filmmakers every semester that offer students education in the latest industry knowledge and trends. Learn more about current and past program visitors.
Interested in Learning More?
If you are interested in learning more about the program, please enter your name and email address and we will reach out soon.
Latest News
- Chicago Humanities Festival Celebrates Hoop Dreams Anniversary
Another impactful event recently took place in Chicago to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Hoop Dreams, highlighting the film’s lasting influence. Often called “the great […] - Sheridan Participates in Culture in Sports Leadership Summit
Professor of Practice Chris Sheridan recently shared his industry expertise at the Culture in Sports Annual Leadership Summit. As a panelist at this year’s event, […] - Bloom to Screen at Cucalorus!
- Alum Premieres Film at Toronto International Film Festival
Congratulations to producer Monica Berra (MFA ’16) on the premiere of her film Paul Anka: His Way at the Toronto International Film […]
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You know it’s another successful end to the fall semester when the first-year students are sporting their new DFP hats! 👏
We had a fabulous “Finals Day” with our first year MFA and MA students. The students pitched thesis ideas in the morning, screened their observational short films in the afternoon and earned a hat for all of their hard work! 🎥 🎞️🧢
Have a safe, happy, and restful Winter Break! We’ll see you in the New Year! ❄️
#wfudocfilm #wfugrad #wfuwakethearts
Congratulations to Austin Price (MFA ’24) @of_price_and_men on successfully defending his thesis film, “American as Apple Pie”! 👏
Austin’s archival based film explores the role of food in American politics revealing the “recipes” politicians use to connect with voters. 🎥🍕🍻
We are looking forward to screening the film during our graduation thesis showcase in May!
#wfudocfilm #dfpgraduate #wfugrad
Applications for the 2025 Southern Exposure Film Fellowship are now open!👏
Now in its 13th year, the Southern Exposure Film Fellowship program provides a challenging learning experience to exceptional film students and emerging filmmakers from across the country seeking to explore and develop their talent as environmental advocates through nonfiction storytelling. This innovative summer fellowship equips students with the skills, equipment, content knowledge and contacts to create authentic, engaging, inspiring films intended to raise public awareness about important issues facing Alabama’s environment — from the mountains to the coast.📽🏔🌊
Learn more and apply here: https://alabamarivers.org/se2025
#southernexposurefilmfellowship #southernexposurefilms #wfudocfilm #environmentalfilmmaking #documentaryfellowship
Thank you, @rodrigo_dorfman, director of BULLS AND SAINTS, for sharing your filmmaking journey with the DFP students! It was the perfect way to wrap up the fall season of the @southerncircuit Tour of Independent Filmmakers.🎥👏
We greatly appreciate the partnership between @southerncircuit and @aperturecinema, which brings such an incredible lineup of films to our community and these talented filmmakers into our classrooms.
We can’t wait for the spring season!
#wfudocfilm #southerncircuit #aperturecinema #arthousecinema
Fieldwork and teamwork in action! 🎥 Professor of Practice Peter Gilbert and DFP students are working with members of @hes_wfu to share the story of TOPS—The Osteoarthritis Prevention Study.
Led by Dr. Steve Messier, this multi-center clinical trial investigates the effectiveness of a combined intervention—dietary weight loss, exercise, and weight-loss maintenance—in preventing knee osteoarthritis among women.
@wfuniversity Cross school collaboration at work! 👏
#wfudocfilm #wfugrad #TOPSStudy #OsteoarthritisPrevention #healthandexercisescience
Major shoutout to MFA student Sheridan Coats for bringing the festive Halloween vibe to the DFP this week and turning each day into an entertaining character reveal! 🎃👻
From the Cheetah Girls to the Mighty Ducks, Disco Diana Ross, Princess Diaries, Red Riding Hood, and Legends of the Hidden Temple—Sheridan brought the ultimate costume game this week. Love the creativity and commitment to the Halloween spirit!🧡👏
#HalloweenHero #CostumeChampion #halloweencostume #spookyseason #happyhalloween #dfpspirit
Thanks to all who came out to our DFP Thesis Showcase screening of FINDING HOME and joined in on the post-screening discussion!
Professor of Practice Peter Gilbert moderated a thoughtful conversation with director @sidneybeemanfilm (MFA ’22) and Dr. Beth Davison, Professor of Sociology and Co-Director of AppDocs @appstate exploring the ethics of telling Appalachian stories and the unique impact of regional filmmaking.
Stay tuned for details on our spring semester DFP Thesis Showcase screening—we can’t wait to see you there!🎥✨
🎉 Huge thanks to award-winning filmmaker @andrewhbrown for sharing his latest film, @betweenthe rains, and his filmmaking insights with our DFP students this week!
We had an enlightening conversation about filming techniques, ethical obligations, and outreach strategies.
Catch BETWEEN THE RAINS now on Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV+! 📽️✨
Please join us next week for a DFP Thesis Showcase screening of Finding Home! Mark your calendar for Tuesday, October 29 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in the @ZSRlibraryAuditorium. 🎥
Directed by Sidney Beeman (MFA ’22), Finding Home, follows the journey of a young Burmese immigrant, Cing Khek, and her family as they search for opportunities to build a new and better life in the conservative stronghold of West Virginia. The film depicts the ethnic diversity of the Appalachian region, the economic forces causing people to migrate to this area, and the choices individuals make to stay within the region. At its core, the film empowers a diverse cast of Appalachian citizens to reclaim their own narrative in a region that is often dominated by stereotypes.
⁉️ - A Q & A with @sidneybeemanfilm will follow the screening.
#wfudocfilm #wfugrad #wakethearts
Check out this fabulous DFP reunion--DFP Program Director and Associate Professor Christopher Zaluski, Allison Rieff (MFA ’23) and Monica Berra (MFA ’16)—at the @hsdff Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival Filmmaker Forum Conference & Convention!
@mmberra participated in the “10 Years of @reelsouthdocs Retrospective Showcase of Documentary Shorts” panel representing her thesis film, "Soul City" (co-directed with Gini Richards and SheRea DelSol).
@avrieff attended as an Industry Representative for @alpublictv
The Filmmaker Forum offers dynamic programming focused on the business, art and craft of documentary storytelling. With a focus on public media, as well as a wider lens on the nonfiction ecosystem as a whole, the Forum is a unique and essential professional development opportunity for filmmakers and a major regional convening of filmmakers and industry leaders
#wfudocfilm #wfugrad #wakethearts #hotspringsdocumentaryfilmfestival #reelsouth #publictelevision #alabamapublictelevision
Congrats to Brian Gersten (MFA ’16) for being featured today as a Vimeo Staff Pick for his short film, "Balloon Boy."
Check it out here: https://vimeo.com/952374565
Congrats, Brian!
Sharing a great article in @nytimes The Athletic highlighting the staying power of the film Hoop Dream as it celebrates its 30th anniversary! Love to see the continued coverage of this groundbreaking film and how it has impacted the lives of its participants--Arthur Agee @mr.hoopdreams and William Gates--and the filmmakers, including our very own DFP Professor of Practice Peter Gilbert @pmgilbs
Check out the article at: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5833855/2024/10/15/hoop-dreams-william-gates-arthur-agee-30-years/
#hoopdreams30thanniversary #wfudocfilm #wfugrad #ktqfilms
Get your submission in! You don’t want to miss out on being a part of a festival that explores and celebrates Appalachian life and takes place in beautiful Boone, NC!
The 3rd Annual @BooneDocs Film Festival submission deadline is November 1.
Submit your film at @filmfreeway.com/BooneDocs!
#boonedocs #boonenc #wfudocfilm #shortdocumentary
Huge thanks to @candicedalsingcreative for an informative conversation on impact producing strategies, highlighting her work as the National Impact Producer for Bring Them Home!
Produced by @thunderheartfilms, Bring Them Home, follows the decades-long effort by members of the Blackfoot Confederacy to bring buffalo back to the Blackfeet Reservation and rewild them.
Candice came to the film as an award-winning Director/Producer based in Los Angeles, CA and co-owner of deerwomanproductions a nonprofit Native/women run production company.
You can learn more about Bring Them Home and the mission of Thunderheart Films at https://www.thunderheartfilms.com/bring-them-home
Directed by @willowbranch54 @ivymacdonald @daniel.glick
Produced by @daniel.glick @willowbranch54 @sarahbeingsarahclarke
Cinematography by @zaneclampett @motionnoise@daniel.glick
Executive Produced by @lilygladstone @mhgrumhaus @sarahbeingsarahclarke
Narrated by @lilygladstone
#wfudocfilm #wfugrad #lammuseum #wakethearts #IndigenousPeoplesDay
Congratulations to Elizabeth Miller-Derstine (MFA ’23) and Allison Rieff (MFA ’23) on the official selection of their thesis film, Bloom, to the @cucalorus Film Festival!🌸👏
#wfudocfilm #wfugrad #Cucalorus30 #filmfestival
We are looking forward to the Indigenous Peoples Day screening of Bring Them Home / Aiskótáhkapiyaaya on Sunday, Oct. 13 at 4:00 pm in the Byrum Welcome Center. The film tells the story of a small group of Blackfoot people and their mission to establish the first wild buffalo herd on their ancestral territory.
DFP students also have the opportunity to take part in a Lunch and Learn session at noon on Monday, October 14, with the film’s Impact Producer Candice Dalsing! Dalsing will talk about her work as an impact producer, impact strategies, and industry trends.
See you there!
#wfudocfilm #wfugrad #lammuseum #wakethearts #IndigenousPeoplesDay
What a great opening night! We were thrilled to continue our partnership with @outatthemovies by sponsoring the launch of the 11th Annual Out At The Movies International Film Festival with the support of @wakethearts.
It was a particularly special evening as we introduced our first Out At The Movies intern Alissa Simone and provided a sneak peek clip from her thesis film WHERE WE BELONG. The film shines a light on black burlesque performers who strive to balance the pursuit of their art with financial and creative independence.
Thank you Max Cullen @caxwellmullen for hosting an engaging and informative Q&A with all of the opening night participants--Alissa, @alicia_coppola the director of #AndYouAre…?, and Elinor LeClair producer of @artistsattheedge!
Thanks to all of the DFP student who turned out in support--photographic evidence coming soon. 😊
🎬 There is a wonderful line up of films to catch this weekend so head to outatthemovies.org to get your ticket!🎥✨
#wfudocfilm#wakethearts#outatthemovies#filmfestival#filmfest#lgbtq#bipoc#burlesque
Sharing some inspirational HOOP DREAMS news from the @chicagosuntimes! DFP Professor of Practice Peter Gilbert served as Producer and DP on the film which is celebrating its 30th anniversary and inspiring a new generation of dreamers.
Check out the full story here: https://chicago.suntimes.com/entertainment-and-culture/2024/10/02/refurbished-hoop-dreams-basketball-court-chicago-marks-films-30th-anniversary
Be sure to join us on Thursday at 7:00 p.m. for the opening night preview of the 11th Annual @outatthemovies International Film Festival!
The evening will feature the introduction of the first DFP Out at the Movies Intern and the screening of two selected shorts.
🌈And You Are…?
Directed and written by Alicia Coppola
USA / English / Narrative Short / 18 min.
And You Are…? is the most unlikely of buddy films: Lynn, a grandmother suffering from Alzheimer’s only has the past to prove she exists. Her grandson Max, desperately wants to erase his past as it never proved his true existence.
🌈Artists at the Edge
Directed by Patrick A. Riviere
USA / English / Documentary Short / 38 min.
A short documentary film about two remarkable Provincetown queer artists who each found themselves six feet from stardom: Kenny Lockwood, a painter, musician, and herbologist, and Darlene Van Alstyne, a singer, dancer, and actress.
The event starts at 7:00pm at the Wake Forest University Byrum Welcome Center (1834 Wake Forest Rd.)
The screening will be followed by a Q&A, and a free reception with food and drink.
Reserve Your Free Ticket at: https://outatthemovies.org/selected-shorts-preview/
Out at the Movies celebrates the best LGBTQ+ cinema from around the world and strengthens the local community in the process. Take in the full festival from October 3-6 to enjoy its boldest lineup of films yet. Head to outatthemovies.org to learn more about the lineup, watch trailers, and grab your tickets!
#wfudocfilm #wfugrad #wakethearts #lgbtqfilmfestival #LGBTQshortfilms
We`re excited to join all who are celebrating the 30th Anniversary of the groundbreaking film HOOP DREAMS! DFP Professor of Practice Peter Gilbert served as Producer and DP on the film – which is widely considered as one of the greatest documentaries of all time.
To mark the anniversary, @kartemquin, which released the film in October of 1994, has partnered with various local and national organizations for a series of celebratory events. Alamo Drafthouse is kicking things off by screening the film in cities nationwide, as part of their Time Capsule 1994 program.
If you are in the Chicago area, you also don’t want to miss the unveiling of a very cool and special Garfield Park court refurbishment, in honor of the film`s anniversary. Join the film`s stars - Arthur Agee Jr and William Gates - along with a host of community organizations to celebrate community, art and basketball. No tickets needed, 1pm - 4pm at Garfield Park.
#wfudocfilm #wfugrad #wakethearts #HoopDreams #KartemquinFilms #HoopDreamsat30 #AlamoDrafthouse
