WESTDOC Conference Announces Newest Speaker and First Feature Documentary Screening at Inaugural WESTDOC: The West Coast Documentary and Reality Conference

Emmy® Award-Winning Producer Mark Samels to be a Featured Speaker

“65_RedRoses” from Philip Lyall & Nimisha Mukerji
Set for Screening Monday, September 14, 2009

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Acclaimed non-fiction producer Mark Samels (“American Experience,” “Earth Days,” “Wounded Knee”) is joining the lineup of top industry executives confirmed to speak at the inaugural WESTDOC: The West Coast Documentary and Reality Conference, taking place in Santa Monica, Calif., from September 14-16, 2009.

Samels joins Susan Lacey, Emmy® Award-Winning creator and executive producer of “American Masters,” on a panel that will explore the convergence between fact and fiction, and the narrowing border between the two in both the documentary and feature film worlds.

“We are honored to welcome Mark Samels to our growing roster of renowned filmmakers and proud to boast a lineup of speakers and panelists who are associated with no less than 13 Emmy® Award-nominated documentaries and reality shows this season,” said Richard Propper, The WESTDOC Conference co-founder and partner.

Mark Samels was named to lead PBS’s flagship history series, “American Experience,” in 2003 after serving as senior producer since 1997. Produced by WGBH/Boston, “American Experience” is television’s most-watched and longest running history series, and the recipient of every major industry award, including the Peabody, Primetime Emmy, Writers Guild and duPont-Columbia Journalism Award. Numerous films for the series have been recognized at major film festivals, including Sundance, and eight have been nominated for Academy Awards. Prior to joining WGBH, Samels worked as an independent documentary filmmaker, an executive producer for several U.S. public television stations and as a producer for the first co-production between Japanese and American television.

The WESTDOC Conference also announces the first new feature documentary scheduled to screen at the conference, “65_RedRoses,” from Philip Lyall and Nimisha Mukerji, two filmmakers who recently graduated from the University of British Columbia. The screening is scheduled for Monday, September 14, 2009 at 9:00 p.m.

“We are thrilled to be exhibiting this exciting new film from two up and coming filmmakers. ‘65_RedRoses’ is compelling drama told in a cinema verité documentary format that is certain to inspire audiences around the world,” said Chuck Braverman, The WESTDOC Conference co-founder and partner. “This film is worth seeing on every level and I couldn’t be more proud of having it at the event.”

The WESTDOC Conference is being produced by Oscar-nominated producer/director Chuck Braverman and non-fiction broadcast distributor Richard Propper, a former president of IDA (International Documentary Association). This new Los Angeles-based conference seeks to facilitate introductions and dialogue to promote the development and production of documentary and reality programming.

Designed to bring together local as well as global talent in the genre, WESTDOC’s featured sessions include: “A Conversation with Robert Greenwald;” “The Download on Digital Delivery;” “From Indie to Oscar Nominee – A Look at Feature Docs That Scored;” and a conference highlight, “Power Programmers Documentary Session” with Charles Foley (Animal Planet), Nicole DeFusco (Sundance Channel), Gena McCarthy (Discovery), Steve Burns (NatGeo), and Charles Norlander (History Channel).” New sessions include: “How to Budget a Reality Show,” with renowned reality guru DMA; and “Selling Docs to Ad Agencies,” hosted by Radical Media’s Frank Stiefel.

For more information about WESTDOC: The West Coast Documentary and Reality Conference, please visit www.theWESTDOC.com

The WESTDOC Conference will offer attendees one-on-one interaction with network buyers, distribution companies and fellow industry leaders by providing a broad cross-section of timely seminars and panel discussions. During the first two days of the conference, attendees may select panels from either The Documentary Village or The Reality Village, where a wide range of topics will be discussed by industry leaders and innovators in a unique and hands-on environment. The third day, PitchFest, will showcase producers from both Villages pitching new programs to network and development executives in front of a live audience for potential acquisition or co-production funding.

Sponsor: Hiscox. Cooperating Partners: IDA, hotDOCS, Cynopsis. c21Media.net, World Screen News, AFI /Discovery Channel Silverdocs, NALIP, Show Starter, and MTG Media

Detailed information about the seminars, panels, keynote speakers, panelists, early-bird and guild discount rates, and more are available at www.TheWestdoc.com.

MEDIA CONTACTS: John Russel . RUSSEL Public Relations . 661.259.2601
Sabrina Gorham . RPiPR . 818.515.5798

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Sabrina Propper
President
R.Propper International Public Relations
twitter: @spropper09
818.515.5798 (Cell)
NEW OFFICE # 661.259-8700 office
www.rpipr.com