Legal Issues for Documentary Film

Knowing a few legal basics can make the difference between a shelved project collecting dust and a successful film release. Legal issues arise in every aspect of film production.  This workshop, led by media and entertainment attorney Laura Possessky, is designed to help filmmakers identify legal issues and develop a toolkit to navigate challenges as they arise.  Participants will engage in interactive discussions on business structures, production risks, rights clearances, distribution and best practices.

ABOUT THE PRESENTER
Laura Possessky is an attorney with the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and also the Co-Chair of the Docs in ​Progress Board. Prior to this, she was owner of Gura & Possessky, PLLC, a firm with a national practice in intellectual property, media, and entertainment law. For more than a decade, she counseled artists, nonprofits, associations and small businesses on intellectual property protection and on content transactions in publishing, television, film, media and the internet. She also advised clients on First Amendment issues relating to fair use of third-party content and intellectual property. She has also been an attorney with the Smithsonian Institution, negotiating agreements for museums revenue-generating activities including publishing, film and image licensing, product development, art consignments and special events including the Presidential Inauguration. Prior to joining the Docs In Progress Board, she served as President for Washington Area Lawyers for the Arts, President of the Women’s Bar Association of Washington DC, an elected Member of the Board of Governors of the District of Columbia Bar, and served on the board of Women in Film and Video-DC. She received her J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center and her B.A., magna cum laude, from the University of Pennsylvania. She is licensed to practice in Maryland and the District of Columbia.