Fusion To Launch Documentary Competition

Fusion is offering a documentary competition for young diverse producers that could lead to a premiere at the 2015 Slamdance Film Festival, network executives said Tuesday.

Fusion, a joint venture between Univision Communications Inc. and the Disney/ABC Television Network, will partner with The International Documentary Challenge for the competition, in which filmmakers create short, four to seven minute documentaries over a five day period. The top 12 films will premiere at the Fusion Doc Challenge Screening during the Jan. 2015 Slamdance Film Festival as well as at The Big Sky Documentary Film Festival in February.

 “We know that millennials are smart, young, curious and creative -- and the best way to showcase that is by allowing them to showcase themselves,” Fusion CEO Isaac Lee said. “By partnering with the International Documentary Challenge, we can engage with our audience while holding up the best they have to offer for their peers worldwide to experience.”

R. Thomas Umstead

R. Thomas Umstead serves as senior content producer, programming for Multichannel News, Broadcasting + Cable and Next TV. During his more than 30-year career as a print and online journalist, Umstead has written articles on a variety of subjects ranging from TV technology, marketing and sports production to content distribution and development. He has provided expert commentary on television issues and trends for such TV, print, radio and streaming outlets as Fox News, CNBC, the Today show, USA Today, The New York Times and National Public Radio. Umstead has also filmed, produced and edited more than 100 original video interviews, profiles and news reports featuring key cable television executives as well as entertainers and celebrity personalities.