Writer and Film Festival Programmer ANTHONY KAUFMAN on the current status of documentaries Independent documentaries struggle to find distribution in the current market. Filmmakers need to raise soft money and grants to cover production costs. Connecting with a built-in audience is crucial for documentary success. Film festivals can still attract audiences for documentaries. The documentary landscape is evolving, requiring filmmakers to adapt.

Producer Director IVY MEEROPOL and her doc on E. JEAN CARROLL who beat Trump in court for $88 million. Recorded May 26, 2026, 29 minutes. Recorded just a day before the Department of Justice announced their criminal investigation into the E. Jean Carroll case. In this powerful new episode of Westdoc Online the six‑year journey gaining access to E. Jean Carroll, the challenges of financing and producing a politically charged film and then distribution