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Back to Committees

About the DGA Independent Directors Committees

The Independent Directors Committees (IDC) are composed of directors actively working in independent film. The IDC and the IDC, East seek to help the Guild develop policies, programs and activities that better serve the needs of DGA Members who work in the independent and low budget film arenas, reach out to independent film directors who are not yet members of the Guild to raise their awareness of the benefits of DGA membership, and educate independent film producers about the DGA’s low budget agreements and encourage them to make use of those agreements. The IDC was established in 1998 in Los Angeles. The IDC, East was created in 2002 in New York.

Explore these pages to find out more about the benefits Guild membership can bring to independent directors and the activities of the DGA Independent Directors Committee.

DGA Interacts with Independent Filmmakers at 2023 Slamdance Festival

An Independent Directors Outreach Event

As part of our continuing outreach efforts aimed at independent filmmakers, the DGA was a sponsor of 2023 Slamdance Film Festival.

2023 Sundance Filmmakers Receptions

Independent Directors Outreach Events

As part of our continuing outreach efforts aimed at independent filmmakers, the DGA recently hosted receptions for Directors with films showing during the 2023 Sundance Film Festival.

2022 Urbanworld Filmmakers Reception

An Independent Director's Outreach Event

As part of the Guild's outreach efforts aimed at independent filmmakers, the DGA hosted a virtual reception for Directors with entries in the 2022 Urbanworld Film Festival in New York.

DGA Hosts Virtual Filmmaker Brunch at the Pan African Film and Arts Festival

An Independent Director's Outreach Event

From April 19 through May 1, the 30th Annual Pan African Film & Arts Festival returned to Los Angeles with films that showcased the diversity and complexity of people of African descent.

The Future of Independent Film, Finding the Right Distributor

A DGA Independent Directors Committee Virtual Event

Directors Patrick Brice, David Lowery, Geeta Malik; IFC Films President Arianna Bocco, ARRAY’s President Tilane Jones and NEON’s EVP of Acquisitions and Production Jeff Deutchman discussed what distribution executives are looking for when selecting independent features and more during a virtual conversation moderated by Committee Chair Kyle Patrick Alvarez.

2021 Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival

A DGA Independent Director Outreach:

The DGA participates in the celebration of Asian Pacific cinema during the 37th edition of the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival.

Contact

IDC in Los Angeles - Jennifer Peat
DGA Field Representative (929) 375-2189
jpeat@dga.org

IDC in New York - Mary Hatch
DGA Assistant Executive Director (212) 258-0801
MHatch@dga.org

Committee Links

Home

Independent Directors Committee Members

DGA Independent Filmmakers Brochure

Frequently Asked Questions

Committee Chairs

Kyle Patrick Alvarez

Chair - IDC

Mary M. Harron

Chair - IDC, East

Declaration of Independents

Independent Filmmakers

Independent directors have helped create an industry and a staggering range of films over the last 30 years.

The DGA Interview: Michael Apted

Michael Apted

Michael Apted's deep documentary experience informs his quest for authenticity, and as the issue of creative rights loomed after Thunderheart, that awareness sparked a decades-long involvement in DGA leadership.

Mira Nair

This is a Visual History Recording

Visual History Interview

Mira Nair discusses her 35-plus-year directorial career, highlighting her documentaries (Jama Masjid Street Journal, India Cabaret), independent features (Salaam Bombay!, Mississippi Masala, Monsoon Wedding), and studio features (Vanity Fair, Amelia, Queen of Katwe).

John Sayles

This is a Visual History Recording

Visual History Interview

Acclaimed independent filmmaker John Sayles (Return of the Secaucus Seven, Eight Men Out), shares his unique views as a director/writer/actor hyphenate, working on tight indie budgets, and how he got Alan Parker, Sidney Lumet and Martin Scorsese to sign his DGA application.

Penelope Spheeris

This is a Visual History Recording

Visual History Interview

Penelope Spheeris discusses her career as a filmmaker, directing documentaries like The Decline of Western Civilization and studio films such as Wayne's World. Spheeris talks about growing up in her father’s traveling carnival, as well as major influences in her life, including Janis Joplin and punk rock music.

Agnès Varda

This is a Visual History Recording

Visual History Interview

French director Agnès Varda (Cléo from 5 to 7, Vagabond, The Beaches of Agnès) discusses her long career creating documentaries, features, and mixtures of the two that pre-dated and inspired several film movements of European cinema.

Joan Tewkesbury

This is a Visual History Recording

Visual History Interview

Joan Tewkesbury discusses working with Robert Altman as the co-writer of Thieves like Us and the writer of Nashville, then building her own directing career in television, the changes she has witnessed for woman directors, and the importance of the DGA’s support of creative rights.