The Paley Center for Media Announces Lineup for DocFest2011

Films will explore subjects from the International Criminal Court, the life and career of Rin Tin Tin, Muslim comic book heroes, the fascinating life of the man who brings Elmo to life, and the life lessons of Mister Rogers.

Participants will include Susan Orlean, David Carr, Kevin Clash, Ann Curry, Luis Moreno-Ocampo, Estela Bravo, Tiffany Shlain, Pamela Yates, Joe Berlinger, Josh Fox, Perri Peltz, Jennifer Siebel Newsom, Jane Rosenthal and Tom Brokaw.

New York, NY-The Paley Center for Media today announced a diverse lineup of documentaries to be screened at its 12th annual documentary festival, DocFest2011, in New York throughout the month of October. With a slate of new and noteworthy works of nonfiction focusing on this year's theme, "Media is the Connection", PaleyDocFest will explore how documentaries are investigating media to develop connections between individuals and larger society as well as the past with the future. Films at this year's DocFest will explore subjects from the International Criminal Court, the life and career of Rin Tin Tin, Muslim comic book heroes, the fascinating life of the man who brings Elmo to life, and the life lessons of Mister Rogers. Following each screening, the filmmakers, subjects of the presenting films, and special guests will take part in the lively Q&A discussions that are a hallmark of the Festival. Complimentary wine receptions will take place before each screening.

Two special PaleyDocFest events which have become mainstays of the Festival are also included this year - DocuJam on Saturday, October 20th and The Art of the Documentary Pitch workshop on October 29th.

The Art of the Documentary Pitch, which is sponsored by DocChannel and awards the winner a $5,000 grant to be used toward the completion of the film, is scheduled for October 29th at 2pm. One of the signature events of the PaleyDocFest, and certainly one of the most popular, this workshop/competition has served as a springboard for numerous films that have gone on to secure distribution or long successful runs on the festival circuit.

DocuJam will celebrate outstanding works produced by young documentary video and filmmakers nationwide, presented on October 20th at 5pm in collaboration with Downtown Community Television New York. An informal Q&A will take place after the screening.

A new addition to the DocFest lineup is a special seminar called The Doc Filmmaker Taking On Power with filmmakers Joe Berlinger (Paradise Lost, Crude) and Josh Fox (Gasland) on October 20th at 6:30pm. They will discuss how they defended themselves against the corporations they were exposing, detailing the financial and legal ramifications. Josh Fox will talk about the various challenges by the natural gas industry against Gasland, including its scornful reaction to his Academy Award nomination. Joe Berlinger will explore how he not only covered the class action lawsuit against Chevron, but also became part of the trial. This event is a must for any emerging filmmakers who desire to make a socially conscious film.

Ticket prices include admission to The Paley Center for Media, wine receptions, and attendance at the question and answer panel discussion related to the events. DocuJam is included with general admission to The Paley Center for Media. For additional information and tickets, please visit: www.paleycenter.org.