German Soul: Building a Live Documentary
Celebrate Juneteenth with us! Explore the art and impact of live documentary storytelling through German Soul, a dynamic documentary experience rooted in Black Southern family history that blends music, film, and food.
Enjoy a delicious West African dish by chef Adé Carrena as part of the performance and stay for a conversation with the creators, Grammy-winning musician and ethnobotanist Justin Robinson (Carolina Chocolate Drops) and co-director and producer D.L. Anderson (Vittles Films). Space is limited, so registration is required.
Continuing Education Spotlight
One of our upcoming summer courses:
From Idea to Release: Navigating the Contemporary Film Ecosystem
Bring your film from early concept through funding, festivals and distribution in this six-week online course led by award-winning filmmaker Rajee Samarasinghe. You’ll learn the real mechanics behind getting work seen, including building a strong pitch package, refining key materials, and aligning your creative vision with a strategic rollout.
Wednesdays, July 1–August 5, 7–9 p.m. ET
2026 Full Frame Awards
At the conclusion of this year’s Full Frame Documentary Film Festival, CDS’s flagship program presented 10 awards totaling $50,000 to support filmmakers.
Full Frame is a qualifying event for nominations for the Academy Award® Documentary Short Film category and the Producers Guild of America Awards.
The Full Frame Grand Jury Award and the CDS Filmmaker Award were both presented to A Fox Under a Pink Moon by Mehrdad Oskouei and Soraya Akhlaghi. The film follows 16-year-old Akhlaghi, an Afghan woman living in Iran, and her repeated attempts to escape the country.
Program Spotlights
Full Frame Documentary Film Festival
A premier showcase for nonfiction cinema, the 28th annual event runs April 16–19 and will screen dozens of groundbreaking documentaries.
Doc+ Summer Program
The newest summer “plus” program at Duke offers undergraduate students hands-on experience working on real-world documentary projects.
Literacy Through Photography
LTP continues its decades-long work with Durham Public Schools, connecting picture-making with writing and critical thinking.
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