Founded in 2014, the annual Storytellers’ Institute sponsored by the John B. Moore Documentary Studies Collaborative (MDOCS) is a five-week residency hosted at Skidmore College. For the month of June, the Institute welcomes its Fellows to work on independent projects and engage in an annual theme.
The institute brings together four-five professional documentary practitioners (Visiting Fellows) and 8-10 Skidmore College students and 1-2 faculty/staff members (by invitation) to work on personal projects and engage with the year’s theme. This is a unique opportunity to have a focused period of dedicated time to develop a non-fiction project, with the inspiration of a community of makers and thinkers who are pursuing similar questions and ideas in the beautiful setting of Saratoga Springs.
All Fellows are competitively selected and work in a range of documentary mediums and practices. Along with an honorarium, practitioners are provided with room, board, workspace, and the opportunity to take advantage of MDOCS’ production equipment, media lab and other resources.
Opportunities for public presentations of current or past work are offered to Visiting Fellows during the annual documentary Forum – a weekend of events combining festival presentations of artistic work with symposium-style conversations grounded around the annual theme. Occurring during the second weekend in June, the Forum offers a chance for the Skidmore and local community to engage in lively and thought-provoking conversation and inspiration with the Institute Fellows and Forum presenters. These screenings, performances, and presentations are all free and open to the public.
The MDOCS Storytellers’ Institute is generously funded by Skidmore College, The John B. Moore Documentary Collaborative Endowment created by Jim and Sue Towne, and The MDOCS Storytellers’ Student Fellow Endowment created by Gayle Nosal. We have also received funding from the Ford Foundation and private donors.
What to expect:
60% intense work on your proposed project
40%- participation in institute activities including giving/taking seminars, giving/taking workshops, giving/taking critiques, group meals, outings, and participating in the final exhibition (not mandatory).
In the words of 2019 and 2020 MDOCS Storytellers Institute Fellows:
