Documentary Storytelling: Following Where The Story Leads
Summary
This panel brings together documentary storytellers who embrace uncertainty, discovery, and evolution in their creative process. Rather than imposing a predetermined message, these filmmakers follow their subjects with curiosity and trust—allowing the story to unfold organically in front or beyond the camera. How do you know when to intervene and when to step back? What do you do when the story changes direction midway through production? And how do you shape a compelling narrative in the edit without betraying the truth of lived experience?
- Format: Panel
- Category: Panel
- Event Type: panel
- Presented By: n/a
Contributors
- Scott Veltri
- Bella Randle Racklin
- Bayan Joonam
- Marq Evans
Raw Event JSON
Large nested arrays are compacted for page readability. Full payload remains in dataset files.
Open JSON payload
{
"id": "PP1150893",
"track": "Film & TV",
"focus_area": null,
"category": "Panel",
"event_id": "PP1150893",
"event_type": "panel",
"format": "Panel",
"genre": null,
"subgenre": null,
"name": "Documentary Storytelling: Following Where The Story Leads",
"presented_by": null,
"publish_at": "2026-03-06T17:31:00.000-06:00",
"reservable": true,
"reservable_id": "PP1150893",
"reserved": false,
"date": "2026-03-14",
"end_time": "2026-03-14T17:00:00.000-05:00",
"start_time": "2026-03-14T16:00:00.000-05:00",
"message": null,
"image": null,
"credentials": [
{
"name": "Platinum Badge",
"type": "platinum"
},
{
"name": "Film & TV Badge",
"type": "filmtv"
}
],
"contributors": [
{
"id": 107557,
"company": "The Ascent",
"credential_types": [
"filmtv"
],
"entity_id": 2280532,
"name": "Scott Veltri",
"speaker_types": [
"Speaker"
],
"title": "Producer / Director",
"image": {
"alt_text": "Scott Veltri",
"credit": null,
"url": "https://images.sxsw.com/B6inH0CCVxpX4RuqojO4fT2Np2g=/0x395:1873x2268/600x600/images.sxsw.com/48/5d984482-6d9d-44e2-9f80-fc32286d7e5d/pcid-1268755"
},
"speaker_type": "Speaker",
"details": "Scott Veltri is a director, writer, and Emmy nominated producer and the founder of Tower Way. Scott recently produced MOVIEPASS, MOVIECRASH (SXSW 2024) for HBO Documentary films, and executive produced the documentaries FERRARI: FURY AND THE MONSTER and ONE ROAD TO QUARTZITE. He has produced for Participant Media and has doc projects in the works with Oscar nominated directors Ross Kaufman (winner) and Jed Rothstein. On the scripted side he has projects in development with Universal Content Productions, Netflix, MGM, Apatow Productions, Get Lifted, Watch This Ready, Augenschein Filmproduktion Germany, Blumhouse, Hartbeat, Good Karma Productions, Big Jump Entertainment, and Universal Intl. Studios. Tower Way's first original novel, EXIT BLACK, was published by Blackstone in February 2024. \n \nPreviously Scott was a partner at Assemble Media where he Executive Produced John Michael McDonagh’s THE FORGIVEN (TIFF 2021) starring Jessica Chastain and Ralph Fiennes and and Gia Coppola’s MAINSTREAM (Venice 2020) starring Andrew Garfield and Maya Hawke. Prior to Assemble, Veltri was Head of Worldwide Sales at Magnolia Pictures where he oversaw the international launch on over 30 independent films including Sean Baker’s TANGERINE, Crystal Moselle’s THE WOLFPACK, Werner Herzog’s LO AND BEHOLD, Steve James’ LIFE ITSELF, Albert Maysles’ IRIS, Morgan Neville’s BEST OF ENEMIES, and LUCKY starring Harry Dean Stanton and David Lynch.\n",
"links": {},
"type": "person"
},
{
"id": 107556,
"company": "Pure Nonfiction",
"credential_types": [
"filmtv"
],
"entity_id": 2280531,
"name": "Bella Randle Racklin",
"speaker_types": [
"Speaker"
],
"title": "Editor",
"image": null,
"speaker_type": "Speaker",
"details": "Born in London, based in Los Angeles, Bella is the editor of Doc Voices, Pure Nonfiction's Substack which reaches over 45K documentary industry members and fans, covering festivals, awards, and distribution, with interviews including Rashida Jones, Davis Guggenheim, Matt Wolf and Victor Kossakovsky. A filmmaker in her own right, she is completing her feature debut about the legacy of maverick artist completing the most ambitious sculpture of her career. Since 2018, she has run communications for IndieCollect, a film restoration non-profit focused on rescuing, restoring and reactivating American independent films made after 1950. Most recently, she served as co-archival producer on the 2026 Sundance documentary \"Once Upon A Time In Harlem\" directed by William and David Greaves.",
"links": {},
"type": "person"
},
{
"id": 107555,
"company": "Laugh Cry Wow",
"credential_types": [
"filmtv"
],
"entity_id": 2280530,
"name": "Bayan Joonam",
"speaker_types": [
"Speaker"
],
"title": "Founder",
"image": null,
"speaker_type": "Speaker",
"details": "Bayan Joonam is an Emmy Award-winning filmmaker known for his bold and culturally incisive nonfiction storytelling.\r\rJoonam began his career at Jay-Z’s RocNation producing, directing, and editing lifestyle content, ultimately pioneering early digital video strategies. From 2011 to 2018, he served as Partner and Head of Production at SoulPancake, where he developed more than 50 original series alongside Rainn Wilson, including breakout hits such as “Kid President” and “My Last Days” – Joonam grew SoulPancake to an audience of over 10 million, generating more than one billion minutes watched. In 2016, he drove the company’s acquisition by Participant Media, earning an Emmy? Award, 13 Webby Awards, 3 Streamy Awards, 2 Clio Awards, and a NAACP Image Award nomination, during his tenure.\r \rFollowing SoulPancake, Joonam expanded his focus across high-impact nonfiction television projects. As creator and host of VICE’s Search for Q, he investigated the origins and influence of QAnon. He also executive produced and helmed CNN’s Shorts Anthology, a four-part series introduced by Anderson Cooper that explored distinctive American subcultures, and produced 16 & Recovering for Paramount+, which examined teen addiction recovery. 16 & Recovering received the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights Journalism Award for Domestic Television.\r\rIn 2024, Joonam co-founded Laugh Cry Wow, a nonfiction creative hub dedicated to uplifting and elevating auteur-driven storytelling, alongside actress and producer Jami Gertz. The company’s first project, Magic City: An American Fantasy, explored the legendary Atlanta strip club and its decades-long impact on hip-hop and American culture. The series premiered to critical acclaim at SXSW in 2024, was acquired by STARZ, and debuted on the platform in August 2025. Joonam served as Showrunner and Executive Producer. In October 2025, the project earned a Critics Choice Documentary Award nomination for Best Limited Documentary Series.",
"links": {},
"type": "person"
},
{
"id": 107515,
"company": "The McCaw",
"credential_types": [
"filmtv"
],
"entity_id": 2280442,
"name": "Marq Evans",
"speaker_types": [
"Speaker"
],
"title": null,
"image": {
"alt_text": "Marq Evans",
"credit": null,
"url": "https://images.sxsw.com/w_1LeNy3foxB-EJMFJwBPZFvGiA=/294x117:1606x1429/600x600/images.sxsw.com/48/446e1ba3-9c4c-4d44-8a3b-9771550c7693/pcid-1556501"
},
"speaker_type": "Speaker",
"details": "Marq is an award-winning independent filmmaker, creative entrepreneur, and documentary coach. His most recent documentary, THE DIAMOND KING premiered at the 36th annual Palm Springs International Film Festival in January 2025 where it won \"Best of Fest,\" and was released in April 2025 to great fanfare from the baseball community. His previous film, CLAYDREAM, premiered at the 2021 Tribeca Film Festival to critical acclaim and had an extensive theatrical run in the summer of 2022. It was named one of the top 10 documentaries of 2022 by The A.V. Club. His debut feature film, THE GLAMOUR & THE SQUALOR, won top prize at film festivals around the world and was named one of the top 20 music documentaries of all time by American Songwriter. Marq’s new film, CAPTURING BIGFOOT, will premiere at the 2026 South by Southwest Film Festival. He is represented by XYZ Talent Management.",
"links": {},
"type": "person"
}
],
"venue": {
"accessible": false,
"age_policy": null,
"floor": null,
"id": "V2400",
"indoor_outdoor": null,
"mixhalo_url": "https://translate.mixhalo.rocks/433?venue_id=433&partner=true",
"name": "Pennybacker",
"parent_id": "V0466",
"parent_venue_name": "Omni Downtown",
"venue_entry_info": null,
"formats": null,
"location": {
"address": "700 San Jacinto Blvd.",
"lat_lon": [
30.2689471,
-97.7403971
],
"city": "Austin",
"postal_code": "78701",
"state": "TX",
"name": "Omni Downtown"
},
"root": {
"id": "V0466",
"name": "Omni Downtown",
"mixhalo_url": null
},
"events": "[omitted 5 venue events]"
},
"description": "This panel brings together documentary storytellers who embrace uncertainty, discovery, and evolution in their creative process. Rather than imposing a predetermined message, these filmmakers follow their subjects with curiosity and trust—allowing the story to unfold organically in front or beyond the camera.\nHow do you know when to intervene and when to step back? What do you do when the story changes direction midway through production? And how do you shape a compelling narrative in the edit without betraying the truth of lived experience?",
"experience_level": "Intermediate",
"audio_url": null,
"accessibility": [],
"accessible_venue": false,
"add_bcl_url": false,
"add_slido": false,
"after_midnight": null,
"age_policy": null,
"american_sign_language": false,
"apple_url": null,
"audio_description": false,
"caption_url": null,
"captioned_qa": false,
"closed_captioned": false,
"cpe_credit": false,
"event_status": "none",
"has_subtitles": false,
"hash_tags": [],
"high_sensory_experience": false,
"live": false,
"long_description": "This panel brings together documentary storytellers who embrace uncertainty, discovery, and evolution in their creative process. Rather than imposing a predetermined message, these filmmakers follow their subjects with curiosity and trust—allowing the story to unfold organically in front or beyond the camera.\nHow do you know when to intervene and when to step back? What do you do when the story changes direction midway through production? And how do you shape a compelling narrative in the edit without betraying the truth of lived experience?",
"meeting_url": null,
"meeting_url_live": false,
"mentorly_url": null,
"mobile_audio_url": null,
"open_captioned": false,
"playlist_tag": null,
"rebroadcast": false,
"recommended_ids": [],
"search_conversions": null,
"short_program": false,
"slido_url": null,
"sort": "DOCUMENTARY STORYTELLING: FOLLOWING WHERE THE STORY LEADS",
"source": "Official",
"squad_up_url": null,
"stream_embed": null,
"stream_id": null,
"stream_url": null,
"strobe_warning": false,
"subdiscipline": null,
"summit": null,
"summit_display_name": null,
"tags": [
{
"id": 2576,
"name": "Recently Added",
"created_at": "2026-02-26T12:08:59.538-06:00",
"updated_at": "2026-02-26T12:08:59.538-06:00",
"sort": "RECENTLY ADDED",
"alpha": "R"
},
{
"id": 950,
"name": "Storytelling",
"created_at": "2016-11-04T11:43:51.305-05:00",
"updated_at": "2024-02-05T16:58:21.488-06:00",
"sort": "STORYTELLING",
"alpha": "S"
},
{
"id": 2037,
"name": "Documentary",
"created_at": "2018-02-09T18:41:07.097-06:00",
"updated_at": "2022-02-14T12:08:00.193-06:00",
"sort": "DOCUMENTARY",
"alpha": "D"
}
],
"talent_attending": null,
"title_only": false,
"track_display_name": "Film & TV track sponsored by Crunchyroll",
"trailer_id": null,
"trailer_url": null,
"video_on_demand": null,
"vimeo_id": null,
"vod": false,
"xr_project_type": null,
"youtube_id": null,
"related_events": [
{
"id": "FS19619",
"event_id": "FS19619",
"type": "event",
"name": "The Ascent",
"publish_at": "2026-02-04T14:00:00-06:00",
"date": "2026-03-15",
"start_time": "2026-03-15T11:00:00-05:00",
"end_time": "2026-03-15T12:42:00-05:00",
"category": "Documentary Feature",
"event_type": "screening",
"genre": "Biography\rDocumentary\rDrama\rMystery\rSports",
"venue": {
"id": "V0559",
"name": "Zach Theater"
},
"image_url": "https://images.sxsw.com/3TQnMN8DQc5tH9bdk8kLegISH98=/0x0:3038x2025/950x633/images.sxsw.com/183/cecf8376-71f0-ca11-dc9d-417970c11df2/the-ascent-349466",
"thumbnail_url": "https://images.sxsw.com/vxB_TQg-t_n4OnoNKGIX3yX1eNw=/950x950/images.sxsw.com/197/5670d91f-8d9d-7c6c-12fb-845285681cc7/the-ascent-349466",
"credentials": [
{
"name": "Platinum Badge",
"type": "platinum"
},
{
"name": "Film & TV Badge",
"type": "filmtv"
}
]
},
{
"id": "FS19618",
"event_id": "FS19618",
"type": "event",
"name": "The Ascent",
"publish_at": "2026-02-04T14:00:00-06:00",
"date": "2026-03-16",
"start_time": "2026-03-16T11:30:00-05:00",
"end_time": "2026-03-16T13:12:00-05:00",
"category": "Documentary Feature",
"event_type": "screening",
"genre": "Biography\rDocumentary\rDrama\rMystery\rSports",
"venue": {
"id": "V0550",
"name": "Alamo Lamar 6"
},
"image_url": "https://images.sxsw.com/3TQnMN8DQc5tH9bdk8kLegISH98=/0x0:3038x2025/950x633/images.sxsw.com/183/cecf8376-71f0-ca11-dc9d-417970c11df2/the-ascent-349466",
"thumbnail_url": "https://images.sxsw.com/vxB_TQg-t_n4OnoNKGIX3yX1eNw=/950x950/images.sxsw.com/197/5670d91f-8d9d-7c6c-12fb-845285681cc7/the-ascent-349466",
"credentials": [
{
"name": "Platinum Badge",
"type": "platinum"
},
{
"name": "Film & TV Badge",
"type": "filmtv"
}
]
},
{
"id": "FS19623",
"event_id": "FS19623",
"type": "event",
"name": "The Ascent",
"publish_at": "2026-02-04T14:00:00-06:00",
"date": "2026-03-17",
"start_time": "2026-03-17T15:15:00-05:00",
"end_time": "2026-03-17T16:57:00-05:00",
"category": "Documentary Feature",
"event_type": "screening",
"genre": "Biography\rDocumentary\rDrama\rMystery\rSports",
"venue": {
"id": "V1355",
"name": "Alamo Lamar 5"
},
"image_url": "https://images.sxsw.com/3TQnMN8DQc5tH9bdk8kLegISH98=/0x0:3038x2025/950x633/images.sxsw.com/183/cecf8376-71f0-ca11-dc9d-417970c11df2/the-ascent-349466",
"thumbnail_url": "https://images.sxsw.com/vxB_TQg-t_n4OnoNKGIX3yX1eNw=/950x950/images.sxsw.com/197/5670d91f-8d9d-7c6c-12fb-845285681cc7/the-ascent-349466",
"credentials": [
{
"name": "Platinum Badge",
"type": "platinum"
},
{
"name": "Film & TV Badge",
"type": "filmtv"
}
]
},
{
"id": "FS19483",
"event_id": "FS19483",
"type": "event",
"name": "Capturing Bigfoot",
"publish_at": "2026-02-04T14:00:00-06:00",
"date": "2026-03-12",
"start_time": "2026-03-12T15:45:00-05:00",
"end_time": "2026-03-12T17:27:00-05:00",
"category": "Documentary Feature",
"event_type": "screening",
"genre": "Documentary\rMystery",
"venue": {
"id": "V0605",
"name": "Alamo Lamar 4"
},
"image_url": "https://images.sxsw.com/vIZ7cj3qAMSQYCCrvW58HCWoAjg=/950x633/images.sxsw.com/183/3b2a2e6a-baa0-43ab-b601-d27e098dccb2/capturing-bigfoot-354997",
"thumbnail_url": "https://images.sxsw.com/vUeEkSmuZQrVGPmOiCBZQ1bKqXk=/950x950/images.sxsw.com/197/cd58adf6-59c7-0e9f-3273-3873f96182c3/capturing-bigfoot-354997",
"credentials": [
{
"name": "Platinum Badge",
"type": "platinum"
},
{
"name": "Film & TV Badge",
"type": "filmtv"
}
]
},
{
"id": "FS19484",
"event_id": "FS19484",
"type": "event",
"name": "Capturing Bigfoot",
"publish_at": "2026-02-04T14:00:00-06:00",
"date": "2026-03-15",
"start_time": "2026-03-15T21:15:00-05:00",
"end_time": "2026-03-15T22:57:00-05:00",
"category": "Documentary Feature",
"event_type": "screening",
"genre": "Documentary\rMystery",
"venue": {
"id": "V2212",
"name": "Alamo Lamar 3"
},
"image_url": "https://images.sxsw.com/vIZ7cj3qAMSQYCCrvW58HCWoAjg=/950x633/images.sxsw.com/183/3b2a2e6a-baa0-43ab-b601-d27e098dccb2/capturing-bigfoot-354997",
"thumbnail_url": "https://images.sxsw.com/vUeEkSmuZQrVGPmOiCBZQ1bKqXk=/950x950/images.sxsw.com/197/cd58adf6-59c7-0e9f-3273-3873f96182c3/capturing-bigfoot-354997",
"credentials": [
{
"name": "Platinum Badge",
"type": "platinum"
},
{
"name": "Film & TV Badge",
"type": "filmtv"
}
]
},
{
"id": "FS19485",
"event_id": "FS19485",
"type": "event",
"name": "Capturing Bigfoot",
"publish_at": "2026-02-04T14:00:00-06:00",
"date": "2026-03-15",
"start_time": "2026-03-15T21:15:00-05:00",
"end_time": "2026-03-15T22:57:00-05:00",
"category": "Documentary Feature",
"event_type": "screening",
"genre": "Documentary\rMystery",
"venue": {
"id": "V2337",
"name": "Alamo Lamar 1"
},
"image_url": "https://images.sxsw.com/vIZ7cj3qAMSQYCCrvW58HCWoAjg=/950x633/images.sxsw.com/183/3b2a2e6a-baa0-43ab-b601-d27e098dccb2/capturing-bigfoot-354997",
"thumbnail_url": "https://images.sxsw.com/vUeEkSmuZQrVGPmOiCBZQ1bKqXk=/950x950/images.sxsw.com/197/cd58adf6-59c7-0e9f-3273-3873f96182c3/capturing-bigfoot-354997",
"credentials": [
{
"name": "Platinum Badge",
"type": "platinum"
},
{
"name": "Film & TV Badge",
"type": "filmtv"
}
]
},
{
"id": "FS19486",
"event_id": "FS19486",
"type": "event",
"name": "Capturing Bigfoot",
"publish_at": "2026-02-04T14:00:00-06:00",
"date": "2026-03-16",
"start_time": "2026-03-16T11:00:00-05:00",
"end_time": "2026-03-16T12:42:00-05:00",
"category": "Documentary Feature",
"event_type": "screening",
"genre": "Documentary\rMystery",
"venue": {
"id": "V0552",
"name": "Alamo Lamar 9"
},
"image_url": "https://images.sxsw.com/vIZ7cj3qAMSQYCCrvW58HCWoAjg=/950x633/images.sxsw.com/183/3b2a2e6a-baa0-43ab-b601-d27e098dccb2/capturing-bigfoot-354997",
"thumbnail_url": "https://images.sxsw.com/vUeEkSmuZQrVGPmOiCBZQ1bKqXk=/950x950/images.sxsw.com/197/cd58adf6-59c7-0e9f-3273-3873f96182c3/capturing-bigfoot-354997",
"credentials": [
{
"name": "Platinum Badge",
"type": "platinum"
},
{
"name": "Film & TV Badge",
"type": "filmtv"
}
]
},
{
"id": "FS19538",
"event_id": "FS19538",
"type": "event",
"name": "Phoenix Jones: The Rise and Fall of a Real Life Superhero",
"publish_at": "2026-02-04T14:00:00-06:00",
"date": "2026-03-13",
"start_time": "2026-03-13T11:00:00-05:00",
"end_time": "2026-03-13T12:45:00-05:00",
"category": "Documentary Feature",
"event_type": "screening",
"genre": "Action\rBiography\rComedy\rCrime\rDocumentary",
"venue": {
"id": "V0554",
"name": "Rollins Theatre at the Long Center"
},
"image_url": "https://images.sxsw.com/b5DRHSJRDuwdRzY1tjLn_P-XZ8c=/0x0:4859x3239/950x633/images.sxsw.com/183/bf9f5d3e-cbd7-afc1-7d97-89b710d72483/phoenix-jones-the-rise-and-fall-of-a-real-life-superhero-352506",
"thumbnail_url": "https://images.sxsw.com/9psn2K3sl44sWbs569n0-yw-Z7w=/950x950/images.sxsw.com/197/0d8e5ebc-136c-219d-6f6e-6c64cd54ac30/phoenix-jones-the-rise-and-fall-of-a-real-life-superhero-352506",
"credentials": [
{
"name": "Platinum Badge",
"type": "platinum"
},
{
"name": "Film & TV Badge",
"type": "filmtv"
}
]
},
{
"id": "FS19541",
"event_id": "FS19541",
"type": "event",
"name": "Phoenix Jones: The Rise and Fall of a Real Life Superhero",
"publish_at": "2026-02-04T14:00:00-06:00",
"date": "2026-03-16",
"start_time": "2026-03-16T22:00:00-05:00",
"end_time": "2026-03-16T23:45:00-05:00",
"category": "Documentary Feature",
"event_type": "screening",
"genre": "Action\rBiography\rComedy\rCrime\rDocumentary",
"venue": {
"id": "V2212",
"name": "Alamo Lamar 3"
},
"image_url": "https://images.sxsw.com/b5DRHSJRDuwdRzY1tjLn_P-XZ8c=/0x0:4859x3239/950x633/images.sxsw.com/183/bf9f5d3e-cbd7-afc1-7d97-89b710d72483/phoenix-jones-the-rise-and-fall-of-a-real-life-superhero-352506",
"thumbnail_url": "https://images.sxsw.com/9psn2K3sl44sWbs569n0-yw-Z7w=/950x950/images.sxsw.com/197/0d8e5ebc-136c-219d-6f6e-6c64cd54ac30/phoenix-jones-the-rise-and-fall-of-a-real-life-superhero-352506",
"credentials": [
{
"name": "Platinum Badge",
"type": "platinum"
},
{
"name": "Film & TV Badge",
"type": "filmtv"
}
]
},
{
"id": "FS19547",
"event_id": "FS19547",
"type": "event",
"name": "Phoenix Jones: The Rise and Fall of a Real Life Superhero",
"publish_at": "2026-02-04T14:00:00-06:00",
"date": "2026-03-17",
"start_time": "2026-03-17T21:30:00-05:00",
"end_time": "2026-03-17T23:15:00-05:00",
"category": "Documentary Feature",
"event_type": "screening",
"genre": "Action\rBiography\rComedy\rCrime\rDocumentary",
"venue": {
"id": "V0552",
"name": "Alamo Lamar 9"
},
"image_url": "https://images.sxsw.com/b5DRHSJRDuwdRzY1tjLn_P-XZ8c=/0x0:4859x3239/950x633/images.sxsw.com/183/bf9f5d3e-cbd7-afc1-7d97-89b710d72483/phoenix-jones-the-rise-and-fall-of-a-real-life-superhero-352506",
"thumbnail_url": "https://images.sxsw.com/9psn2K3sl44sWbs569n0-yw-Z7w=/950x950/images.sxsw.com/197/0d8e5ebc-136c-219d-6f6e-6c64cd54ac30/phoenix-jones-the-rise-and-fall-of-a-real-life-superhero-352506",
"credentials": [
{
"name": "Platinum Badge",
"type": "platinum"
},
{
"name": "Film & TV Badge",
"type": "filmtv"
}
]
}
],
"related_sales_client": null
}