THE TRUE/FALSE SWAMI mentorship program was launched in 2007 as a way to help new nonfiction filmmakers navigate the sometimes treacherous terrain of the doc film world. Through meetings with seasoned industry professionals, first-time filmmakers get friendly advice on everything that happens after they finish their final cut. From sales agents to online distribution to European press, this is a chance for filmmakers to get honest answers to some of the thorniest topics in the movie business.

2017 FILMMAKERS (SWAMMETTES):

Mette Carla Albrechtsen, co-director, Venus

Theo Anthony, director, Rat Film

Guido Hendrikx, director, Stranger in Paradise

Shevaun Mizrahi, director, Distant Constellation

Jeff Unay, director, The Cage Fighter

Anna Zamecka, director, Communion

2017 SWAMI MENTORS:

PAOLO BENZI, documentary producer (Roberto Minervini’s The Other Side, Alessandro Comodin’s Summer of Giacomo), and founding member/general manager of the Italian independent film company Okta Film.

VICTORIA COOK, partner at Frankfurt Kurnit and member of The Entertainment Group. Cook focuses on the motion picture and television industry and provides legal counsel on many docs such as How to Survive a Plague.

SANDI DUBOWSKI, director, Trembling Before G-d and the work-in-progress Rabbi. As Good Pitch U.S.’s grassroots distribution maven, DuBowski specializes in creative audience outreach, engagement, and funding.

KRISTIN FEELEY, associate director at the Sundance Institute. Feeley oversees the year-round creative support activities for Documentary Film Program grantees including four annual Creative Documentary Labs.

JOHN HOFFMAN, executive VP of documentaries and specials for the Discovery Channel (Jen Peedom’s Sherpa among others). Formerly, Hoffman was CEO of the Public Good Projects and worked as a producer and director for HBO Documentary Films.

MICHAEL TUCKMAN, owner, mTuckman media. Tuckman provides theatrical releasing and booking services and festival programming. Tuckman started at Cinema Guild and served as VP of theatrical sales for THINKFilm.

SWAMI Lunchtime Speaker: JAMES SCHAMUS, legendary screenwriter (on Ang Lee films such as The Ice Storm), producer, director (Indignation), and former CEO of Focus Features.

For previous SWAMIs and SWAMettes, check out our archive pages.