SDFF’s nascent collaboration with Nor Cal Public Media, Declare Your Independents, is a 4-part series is hosted by actor/activist Peter Coyote and celebrates independent documentary.  Declare Your Independents is organized by the guiding principle that documentary is a powerful tool that brings deep truths to light. Documentary not only opens up new worlds to its audiences, it allows us to see these new worlds from diverse perspectives, and in doing so, to recognize our common humanity. Obligated to the truth of the story they’re telling, documentary filmmakers afford us rare opportunities to engage in what’s real.

Each episode included 3 short docs, organized by theme. Episode 1, “Making Our Own Way,” features docs about dynamic and dedicated trailblazing women strive for excellence, maintain generations of knowledge, tackle the challenges of aging, build community, and inspire the youth of today – all while forging their own way. The episode includes Knocking Down The Fences (Meg Shutzer, 2019), Pat’s Studio (Ashleigh McArthur, 2017), and  A Great Ride (Deborah Craig and Veronica Deliz, 2018). Episode 2, “Inside & Out” features a set of films about identity and representation, including On Beauty (Joanna Rudnick, 2014), I Am Sarah Maple (Tyler Gurd + Ariel Fisher, 2012), This Is Not The End (Hilary Campbell, 2012). Episode 3, “Celestial Pioneers,” includes documentaries that explore our relationship to outer space and what it has to tell us about our earthbound relations. This installment includes the films Madame Mars (Jan Millsapps, 2018), Eliana Nossa: The Ionosphere (Daniel L. Bernardi, 2020), and Almost Famous: The Lost Astronaut (Ben Proudfoot, 2019). Episode 4, “Loss & Restoration,” is an international group of films that looks around the world to find meaning in damage and decay, restoration and renewal. It includes the films Last Days At Paradise High (Derek Knowles & Emily Thomas, 2020), Minka (Davina Pardo, 2011), Irish Folk Furniture (Tony Donoghue, 2012). See the episode listing below for details on the films.