Documentary Ethics Workshops
The Documentary Ethics Workshop advances ethical leadership in documentary filmmaking.
Overview
In 2024 and 2025, the Emory Center for Ethics hosted two two-day documentary ethics workshops at Emory University and the Plaza Theatre/The Supermarket respectively. In these interactive workshops, nonfiction filmmakers at all stages of their careers gathered to explore common ethical dilemmas facing filmmakers today. Over the two days presenters disseminated ethical frameworks, probed ethical case studies from contemporary films, and audience members workshopped their own projects in facilitated small groups.
Some of the big questions we addressed during our time working together included: Do you wonder about what responsibility documentary filmmakers have to their participants throughout the filmmaking process and beyond? Should filmmakers compensate participants? When we use AI to create images, what could go wrong? What if a filmmaker doubts the integrity of their protagonist?
While documentary ethics rarely offer simple answers, engaging with case studies and peer discussions can offer guidance for filmmakers at all stages of their careers and provides concrete tools, resources, and community support to strengthen their filmmaking practice. We look forward to our next gathering in 2027.
A participant related the following in their evaluation survey: “Incredible experience! I am exponentially more prepared to be an ethically responsible and accountable documentary filmmaker. The ‘Finding Your Compass’ workshop provided the education, networking, resources, and access to ongoing support that I needed to be more confident with navigating humanitarian challenges in a productive, collaborative, and peaceful way. I can’t wait for the next one!”
Year 1 and 2 themes:
- Navigating the Gray Areas: Ethical Dilemmas in Documentary Filmmaking (2024)
- Finding Your Compass: A Documentary Ethics and Accountability Workshop (2025)
Read the Emory News feature story here.
