MASTERCLASS – The Art of Documentary Film Production

The Art of Documentary Production features four accomplished panelists, each diving deep into a crucial aspect of documentary filmmaking. From crafting compelling narratives and mastering cinematography to navigating post production and effective distribution strategies, this masterclass offers a comprehensive overview of the documentary process. Attendees will leave equipped with practical insights and techniques to enhance their projects, connect with audiences, and elevate their storytelling.

Moderator – Alex Rafi

Alex H. Rafi is a St. Louis based documentary filmmaker and educator. His short documentaries have screened at festivals around the United States including Brooklyn Film Festival, BlackStar Film Festival, New Orleans Film Festival, and the St. Louis International Film Festival. His most recent short, a door away (2021, is also the recipient of three best documentary awards from AfroComicCon International Film Festival, Con Nooga Film Festival, and PensaCon Short Film Festival. He earned an MFA in Documentary Film from Stanford University, and he is currently the Program Coordinator for the Film & Media Studies minor and an Assistant Professor in the department of Communication at Saint Louis University.

Panelists –  

Ben Scholle (Catching Bullets)

Ben Scholle’s first feature documentary, HairKuTT, followed a heroin addict struggling to kick his addiction. In 2005, it was named Best Feature Documentary at the St. Louis Filmmakers Showcase, Best Social Documentary at the New York International Independent Film Festival, and it won the Director’s Award at the Hearts and Minds Film Festival. The film went on to be selected for MoMA’s Documentary Fortnight and air on BET and the Documentary Channel. It also played theatrically in Boston and screened in schools and universities nationwide.

The documentary, Silver Spurs, which Scholle edited and co-produced in 2006, portrayed a year in the lives of the residents at a group home for the mentally ill and developmentally disabled in St. Louis, MO. It aired on Free Speech TV in 2009. Scholle’s recently completed third feature film, The Worst Crime, covers the story of a capital murder case from 2002, provoking questions about the death penalty and mental illness. The film was named Best Feature Documentary in the 2019 St. Louis Filmmakers Showcase. Ben Scholle is a senior professor of cinema arts at Lindenwood University in St. Charles, MO.

Mitchell Wenkus (Broken Flight)

Mitchell is a passionate filmmaker and skilled cinematographer whose love for the outdoors shapes his storytelling. With a background as a video producer for Greenpeace USA, he has created impactful advocacy content that shines a light on pressing environmental issues. His short documentary, Fracking in the Land of Lincoln, delves into the consequences of contamination in a small Illinois town facing the potential threat of an oil boom.

Another significant work, Judy’s Rock, captures the inspiring journey of a woman standing firm against the world’s largest coal mining company, amplifying the voices of those fighting for their land and livelihoods in Southern Illinois. This film not only highlights the personal stories of affected residents but also raises critical questions about sustainability and community resilience.

Through these projects, Mitchell demonstrates a commitment to elevating stories that often go unheard, emphasizing the intersection of personal narrative and environmental activism.

Lucas Harger (Lions of Mesopotamia, Clemente)

Lucas is an acclaimed film and commercial editor, supervising editor, and partner at Bruton Stroube Outpost. Interspersed between long-form editing, Lucas cuts broadcast and web commercials for nationally recognized clients such as but not limited to Nike, Enterprise, Anheuser-Busch, Uber, Amazon, Apple & Disney+. He has been the editor and/or supervising editor on over ten feature documentaries—two of which made their debut at SXSW 2024, with one securing the Audience Choice Award—Lucas will be starting post in 2024 on a multi-hour doc series for HBO. Priding himself on being a key collaborator across diverse project categories, Lucas brings passion and creativity to every venture. Building timelines and teams is his passion.