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Reality Check Forum 2026 / Panel

R/Evolution:

New Paths for Documentary Storytelling

Film funding and distribution are tighter than ever, so why wait for years for our documentary stories to see the light of day?

Film R/Evolution will help you expand your nonfiction horizons. Documentarians see themselves as being primarily “filmmakers” when, in fact, we are storytellers first and foremost – with many platforms at our disposal. 

In this session moderated by Erica Ginsberg, co-host of The D-Word, longtime documentary filmmakers Nina Gilden Seavey and Doug Block discuss how to employ and integrate a multitude of nonfiction platforms to bring our stories to the public.

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Doug Block

Producer-Director

Doug Block is a New York-based documentary director-producer and highly sought-after story consultant. His critically acclaimed, multiple award-winning feature films — including 51 BIRCH STREET, THE KIDS GROW UP, and 112 WEDDINGS — have screened at dozens of leading international film festivals and have been released theatrically and broadcast on television throughout the world.

His popular Substack newsletter, “Getting Personal with Doug Block,” focuses on personal documentary filmmaking, first-person storytelling, and producing for film. In addition, Doug is the founder and co-host of The D-Word, the leading online discussion forum and community for documentary filmmakers worldwide. He currently serves on the Advisory Board of the Full Frame Documentary Film Festival and is a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Erica Ginsberg

Erica Ginsberg

Co-Host, The D-Word and Author, Creative Resilience

Erica Ginsberg is dedicated to building community for artists, especially nonfiction storytellers. She co-hosts The D-Word, a peer-to-peer global community for documentary professionals, and serves on the steering committee of DocuMentality, a mental health initiative for the documentary field. Her book, blog, Substack, and forthcoming podcast, CREATIVE RESILIENCE, help artists navigate the ups and downs of the creative process.

Erica co-founded and served for more than a decade as Executive Director of Docs In Progress, a Washington, DC-area documentary film organization. She has also produced short documentaries, consulted for film festivals, arts organizations, and individual filmmakers, and managed international exchange programs on behalf of the U.S. Department of State and the Meridian International Center.

Nina-Seavey

Nina Seavey

Filmmaker, Podcaster, Author, Educator

Nina Gilden Seavey is an Emmy Award-winning nonfiction storyteller. Her work can be seen in theaters, on television and streaming, in museum installations, heard in podcasts, and read in publications across the globe.

Seavey was the Founding Director of The Documentary Center at the George Washington University, which she led for 30 years. She was also the Founding Director of SILVERDOCS: AFI/Discovery Channel Documentary Festival. In addition to being the President of Seavey Media, LLC, Seavey holds the academic rank of Research Professor Emerita of History and of Media and Public Affairs at GWU.