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History isn’t just found in books—it lives in the music. 🪕✨

We were honored to host Patrice Strahan of the Black Banjo & Fiddle Fellowship (Oakland Public Conservatory of Music) for a special screening of BOIL DOWN THAT CABBAGE.

After watching Candace Williamson’s moving short film, 100 students got to experience the music firsthand. Patrice didn’t just perform—she brought the film’s history to life, sharing the deep and vital roots of the banjo in Black American culture.

A huge thank you to Patrice and @oaklandpublicconservatory for an absolutely stellar experience. 🎶🖤

⚽️ DocLands 2026 was a win! But like with all things, there’s always room to improve.

Take this quick survey to help us make next year’s DocLands even better.

Plus, you’ll automatically be entered to win tickets to the Smith Rafael Film Center. Score!

🔗 in profile

Vid: NO PLACE FOR FOOTBALL @noplaceforfootball © Allison Levenson

🏆 The votes are in... the DocLands Audience Award winner is NUNS VS THE VATICAN and filmmaker Lorena Luciano!

This powerful documentary follows three former nuns who come forward to seek justice against their rapist, a priest with close ties to the highest levels of the Catholic Church. Their courage, testimony, and the solidarity they find in one another leave a lasting impression.

Thank you to all the filmmakers who were part of the 10th Annual DocLands Documentary Film Festival, and to everyone who voted. 💛

Photos:
-Director Lorena Luciano, producer Filippo Piscopo, protagonist Barbara Dorris, and SNAP representative Mary Dispenza; conversation moderated by Anne Barrett-Doyle, co-director of BishopAccountability and co-founder of the Coalition of Catholics and Survivors
- NUNS VS THE VATICAN director Lorena Luciano
📷 © Allison Levenson

@lorenalucianony @filippopiscopofilm2

🏆 The votes are in... the DocLands Audience Award winner is NUNS VS THE VATICAN and filmmaker Lorena Luciano!

This powerful documentary follows three former nuns who come forward to seek justice against their rapist, a priest with close ties to the highest levels of the Catholic Church. Their courage, testimony, and the solidarity they find in one another leave a lasting impression.

Thank you to all the filmmakers who were part of the 10th Annual DocLands Documentary Film Festival, and to everyone who voted. 💛

Photos:
-Director Lorena Luciano, producer Filippo Piscopo, protagonist Barbara Dorris, and SNAP representative Mary Dispenza; conversation moderated by Anne Barrett-Doyle, co-director of BishopAccountability and co-founder of the Coalition of Catholics and Survivors
- NUNS VS THE VATICAN director Lorena Luciano
📷 © Allison Levenson

@lorenalucianony @filippopiscopofilm2

🏆 The votes are in... the DocLands Audience Award winner is NUNS VS THE VATICAN and filmmaker Lorena Luciano!

This powerful documentary follows three former nuns who come forward to seek justice against their rapist, a priest with close ties to the highest levels of the Catholic Church. Their courage, testimony, and the solidarity they find in one another leave a lasting impression.

Thank you to all the filmmakers who were part of the 10th Annual DocLands Documentary Film Festival, and to everyone who voted. 💛

Photos:
-Director Lorena Luciano, producer Filippo Piscopo, protagonist Barbara Dorris, and SNAP representative Mary Dispenza; conversation moderated by Anne Barrett-Doyle, co-director of BishopAccountability and co-founder of the Coalition of Catholics and Survivors
- NUNS VS THE VATICAN director Lorena Luciano
📷 © Allison Levenson

@lorenalucianony @filippopiscopofilm2

📸 What a fabulous night and rockin' film! DocLands 2026 Closing Night with LITTLE FEAT: THE DOCUMENTARY and director Jesse Lauter!

Find more photos → 🔗 in bio

Photo © Allison Levenson

Sunday, Sunday! A big thanks to our guests who joined us to share more about their films and filmmaking process.

Including:
🎬 NO PLACE FOR FOOTBALL
🎬 INTO THE GREAT OUTDOORS with DIPSEA GENERATIONS & INTO THE LIGHT - A STORY OF SURFERS, NOT STREET CHILDREN
🎬 PLAN C FOR CIVILIZATION
🎬 HARD TWIST: THROUGH THE LENS OF BARBARA VAN CLEVE

Find more photos: 🔗 in profile
Photos 1. Allison Levenson, 2. CAFILM Staff, 3-4. © George Lazarus

Sunday, Sunday! A big thanks to our guests who joined us to share more about their films and filmmaking process.

Including:
🎬 NO PLACE FOR FOOTBALL
🎬 INTO THE GREAT OUTDOORS with DIPSEA GENERATIONS & INTO THE LIGHT - A STORY OF SURFERS, NOT STREET CHILDREN
🎬 PLAN C FOR CIVILIZATION
🎬 HARD TWIST: THROUGH THE LENS OF BARBARA VAN CLEVE

Find more photos: 🔗 in profile
Photos 1. Allison Levenson, 2. CAFILM Staff, 3-4. © George Lazarus

Sunday, Sunday! A big thanks to our guests who joined us to share more about their films and filmmaking process.

Including:
🎬 NO PLACE FOR FOOTBALL
🎬 INTO THE GREAT OUTDOORS with DIPSEA GENERATIONS & INTO THE LIGHT - A STORY OF SURFERS, NOT STREET CHILDREN
🎬 PLAN C FOR CIVILIZATION
🎬 HARD TWIST: THROUGH THE LENS OF BARBARA VAN CLEVE

Find more photos: 🔗 in profile
Photos 1. Allison Levenson, 2. CAFILM Staff, 3-4. © George Lazarus

Sunday, Sunday! A big thanks to our guests who joined us to share more about their films and filmmaking process.

Including:
🎬 NO PLACE FOR FOOTBALL
🎬 INTO THE GREAT OUTDOORS with DIPSEA GENERATIONS & INTO THE LIGHT - A STORY OF SURFERS, NOT STREET CHILDREN
🎬 PLAN C FOR CIVILIZATION
🎬 HARD TWIST: THROUGH THE LENS OF BARBARA VAN CLEVE

Find more photos: 🔗 in profile
Photos 1. Allison Levenson, 2. CAFILM Staff, 3-4. © George Lazarus

Thank you to BIRDS OF WAR co-director Janay Boulos for sharing this beautiful, courageous film—shifting the focus from war as politics to the real people whose lives are forever changed by it.

@birdsofwar.film

DOCLANDS 2026, that’s a wrap!
New films open tomorrow at the Rafael…

Thanks, Dan Z!

📸 Tonight we head in for DocLands 2026 Closing Night film LITTLE FEAT: THE DOCUMENTARY with director Jesse Lauter!

What a way to close out this year’s festival with a doc in celebration of one of rock’s most influential bands, Little Feat.

☕️ A great way to start the day! Thank you so much to our wonderful panelists for such an engaging discussion at this morning's DOCTALK: HAS THE NEW NORMAL ARRIVED?

MAIDA LYNN • Founder, FACET
VICTOR VELLE • Y VÂN: THE LOST SOUNDS OF SAIGON
DOUGLAS EMERSON • Y VÂN: THE LOST SOUNDS OF SAIGON
KENJI YAMAMOTO • THOUSAND PIECES OF GOLD, REBELS WITH A CAUSE
NANCY KELLY • THOUSAND PIECES OF GOLD, REBELS WITH A CAUSE
JONI COOPER • DocLands Director of Programming
DAN ZASTROW • Programmer/Director of Cinemas, CAFILM

Sponsored by Eagle Studio
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#doclands2026 #bayareafilmmakers #documentaryfilmmakers #filmcommunity

Photo drop! A huge thanks to all the filmmakers who joined us in person at the Smith Rafael Film Center yesterday.

Including...
🎬 HELLCAT: THE TRUE STORY OF AN UNREASONABLE TEXAN with protagonist Diane Wilson and director Fax Bahr. Paired with 🎬 FOG EATERS with dir. Kyle Baker
🎬 CREATING A PHOTOJOURNALIST, dir. Erik Castro @_erik.castro_
🎬 THE LAST CRITIC, dir. Matty Wishnow & producer Ben Wu @thelastcriticfilm

Find more photos: 🔗 in bio

Photos © George Lazarus

Photo drop! A huge thanks to all the filmmakers who joined us in person at the Smith Rafael Film Center yesterday.

Including...
🎬 HELLCAT: THE TRUE STORY OF AN UNREASONABLE TEXAN with protagonist Diane Wilson and director Fax Bahr. Paired with 🎬 FOG EATERS with dir. Kyle Baker
🎬 CREATING A PHOTOJOURNALIST, dir. Erik Castro @_erik.castro_
🎬 THE LAST CRITIC, dir. Matty Wishnow & producer Ben Wu @thelastcriticfilm

Find more photos: 🔗 in bio

Photos © George Lazarus

Photo drop! A huge thanks to all the filmmakers who joined us in person at the Smith Rafael Film Center yesterday.

Including...
🎬 HELLCAT: THE TRUE STORY OF AN UNREASONABLE TEXAN with protagonist Diane Wilson and director Fax Bahr. Paired with 🎬 FOG EATERS with dir. Kyle Baker
🎬 CREATING A PHOTOJOURNALIST, dir. Erik Castro @_erik.castro_
🎬 THE LAST CRITIC, dir. Matty Wishnow & producer Ben Wu @thelastcriticfilm

Find more photos: 🔗 in bio

Photos © George Lazarus

Photo drop! A huge thanks to all the filmmakers who joined us in person at the Smith Rafael Film Center yesterday.

Including...
🎬 HELLCAT: THE TRUE STORY OF AN UNREASONABLE TEXAN with protagonist Diane Wilson and director Fax Bahr. Paired with 🎬 FOG EATERS with dir. Kyle Baker
🎬 CREATING A PHOTOJOURNALIST, dir. Erik Castro @_erik.castro_
🎬 THE LAST CRITIC, dir. Matty Wishnow & producer Ben Wu @thelastcriticfilm

Find more photos: 🔗 in bio

Photos © George Lazarus

A big thanks to TOUGH OLD BROAD director Stacey Tenenbaum! You are an inspiration.

Photo / vid: Allison Levenson

It was a joy to hear from JOYBUBBLES producer ANNIE MARR!

DocLands, Smith Rafael Film Center
@joybubblesmovie