Break ꩜ut Symposium 2025
Break Out ‘25 is a two-day symposium (of sorts) that celebrates the research, writing and filmmaking initiated by the 2025 UnionDocs UNDO Fellows, hosted at the Experimental Media and Performing Arts Center (EMPAC). Set within the extraordinary architecture of EMPAC, this gathering brings together an exciting mix of filmmakers, writers, critics, and curious minds to think together about the evolving shape of documentary and how it operates in the world today. Come through and spend two days with us as we dive deep into the fellows’ evolving research with screenings, spirited dialogue, and shared inquiry!
This year’s cohort—artists Bo Wang, Parastoo Anoushahpour, Faraz Anoushahpour, Ryan Ferko, Travis Wilkerson, and Courtney Stephens—are joined by leading critics and writers Rachael Rakes, Aruna D’Souza, Victor Guimarães, and Julia Gunnison, whose conversations have helped shape the threads of inquiry that continue to unfold.
Connected through a match-making process, each pair’s research has expanded out from the practice of the documentary artist, to ask a question that seeks to understand how it operates in the world and can impact social movements.
Main Image: Courtesy UnionDocs.
SYMPOSIUM SCHEDULE
Nov 14 - Friday
2:00 PM Greeting / Check In (EMPAC Entry)
2:30 PM - Welcome & Orientation (30 minutes, Studio 2)
3:15 PM - Screening – ARTISTS: Parastoo Anoushahpour, Faraz Anoushahpour, and Ryan Ferko (75 minutes with introduction, Theater)
5:00PM – Dinner Break
7 PM – Conversation with WRITER Aruna D’Souza & ARTISTS Parastoo Anoushahpour, Faraz Anoushapour, & Ryan Ferko (1.5 hours, Studio 2) – Fellows share their research and collaboration, with open discussion with audience.
OFFSITE 10:00PM - After Party
Nov 15 – Saturday
1:00 PM - Screening – ARTIST: Travis Wilkerson (90 minutes, Theater)
2 :45 PM - Conversation with ARTIST Travis Wilkerson & WRITER Victor Guimarães (1.5 hours, Studio 2) – Fellows share their research and collaboration, with open discussion with audience.
4:30 PM - Work-in-progress Screening & Conversation – ARTIST: Courtney Stephens & WRITER Julia Gunnison (2.5 hours, Studio 2) – Alongside a screening of work-in-progress film material, fellows share their research and collaboration, with open discussion with audience.
OFFSITE 10:00PM - Bowling - After Party
*Work by artist Bo Wang & writer Rachael Rakes will be made available as an online program through Uniondocs at a later date.
Dates + Tickets
EMPAC / UNIONDOCS
This event is a partnership between UnionDocs and EMPAC at RPI. The UNDO Fellowship is a program of UnionDocs, with additional programming provided at the DocLisboa Film Festival.
The UNDO Fellowship is supported by JustFilms | Ford Foundation. Additional support provided by Artists + Machine Intelligence (AMI), a research program at Google.
EMPAC programs are made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.
