American Documentary to Receive the HDF Impact Award at the 2025 Hamptons Doc Fest on December 5, 2025
Overview
Executive Director Erika Dilday to accept on behalf of the organization. Festival also features special screening of the POV film Between Goodbyes,directed by Jota Mun.
Brooklyn, N.Y. – October 29, 2025 – American Documentary (AmDoc), producer of the multi-Emmy®, Peabody, and Oscar® Award-winning PBS documentary series POV, will receive the HDF Impact Award at this year’s Hamptons Doc Fest (HDF), taking place December 4-11, 2025 in Sag Harbor and Southampton, New York. The Award recognizes AmDoc’s decades-long commitment to championing independent documentary filmmakers and leveraging the power of nonfiction storytelling that reflects the diversity, complexity, and urgency of our world. The result of this mission is to foster dialogue, encourage civic engagement and social change. The Impact Award Ceremony will take place on Friday, December 5, 2025 at 7:30pm ET.
Erika Dilday, Executive Director, American Documentary and Executive Producer, POV and America ReFramed, will accept the honor on behalf of the organization.
“Documentaries don’t just inform, they connect us to one another,” said Erika Dilday, Executive Director, American Documentary and Executive Producer, POV and America ReFramed. “At AmDoc, we’ve always believed in the power of film to create space for empathy, dialogue and transformation. To be recognized by Hamptons Doc Fest, an institution that shares our passion for stories that illuminate and inspire, is deeply meaningful to all of us.”
“At a time of profound challenges for filmmakers and public broadcasters alike, we want to recognize the unwavering support and creative leadership that AmDoc has offered to filmmakers for more than three decades,” said Karen Arikian, Hamptons Doc Fest Artistic Director. “Through its distinctive storytelling, AmDoc has deepened our understanding of diverse peoples, cultures, and ways of life — reminding us of our shared humanity, something that feels more essential than ever in today’s world. We proudly honor AmDoc’s enduring work and steadfast commitment to our independent film community.”
AmDoc is also proud to celebrate the inclusion of POV’s Between Goodbyes in this year’s festival lineup. The film marks the feature debut of first-time director Jota Mun, and is produced by Mun, Zoe Sua Cho, and Barb Lee. The documentary follows a queer Korean adoptee as she reconnects with her original mother in Seoul, unraveling decades of silence, stigma, and cultural misunderstanding with tenderness, humor, and resilience. Drawing on Mun’s lived experience as a fellow queer Korean adoptee, the documentary brings uncommon intimacy and personal insight to a story that reframes conventional narratives about adoption, identity, and kinship.
“After growing up wondering what an original mother could be like, I was immediately struck by hearing how Okgyun and her husband searched for their daughter for over 10 years,” said Jota Mun, director, Between Goodbyes. “Meeting Mieke and her entire family upended what I understood about original mothers and being in reunion.
While observing their struggles to connect, I realized there's so little information available to prepare either side for what being in reunion might feel like. In particular, there is almost no public information about what original mothers actually think and feel. When I finally met Okgyun, she was shockingly human - nuanced, imperfect, and full of her own feelings.”
Between Goodbyes will play at Hamptons Doc Fest on Friday, December 5, 2025 immediately after the Impact Awards Ceremony. A Q&A with Erika Dilday and Jota Mun will follow the screening.
Between Goodbyes will make its national broadcast premiere on POV onMonday, December 8, 2025 at 10pm (check local listings) on PBS Television and stream on the PBS App, and PBS’s YouTube page until March 8, 2026. Now in its 38th season, POV remains America's longest-running nonfiction series.
About
About American Documentary, Inc.
American Documentary, Inc. (AmDoc) is a multimedia organization dedicated to creating, identifying and presenting contemporary stories that express opinions and perspectives rarely featured in mainstream media outlets. AmDoc is a catalyst for public culture, developing collaborative strategic engagement activities around socially relevant content on television, online and in community settings. These activities are designed to trigger action, from dialogue and feedback to educational opportunities and community participation.
Major funding for POV is provided by PBS, the Open Society Foundations, The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, the Wyncote Foundation, Reva & David Logan Foundation, Park Foundation, and Perspective Fund. Additional funding comes from the National Endowment for the Arts, New York State Council on the Arts, public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council, Acton Family Giving, and public television viewers. POV is presented by a consortium of public television stations, including KQED San Francisco, WGBH Boston and THIRTEEN in association with WNET.ORG.
About PBS
PBS, with more than 330 member stations, offers all Americans the opportunity to explore new ideas and new worlds through television and digital content. Each month, PBS reaches over 36 million adults on linear primetime television, more than 16 million users on PBS-owned streaming platforms, 53 million viewers on YouTube, and 60 million people view PBS content on social media, inviting them to experience the worlds of science, history, nature, and public affairs and to take front-row seats to world-class drama and performances. PBS’s broad array of programs has been consistently honored by the industry’s most coveted award competitions. Teachers of children from pre-K through 12th grade turn to PBS LearningMedia for digital content and services that help bring classroom lessons to life. As the number one educational media brand, PBS KIDS helps children 2-8 build critical skills, enabling them to find success in school and life. Delivered through member stations, PBS KIDS offers high-quality content on TV — including a PBS KIDS channel — and streaming free on pbskids.org and the PBS KIDS Video app, games on the PBS KIDS Games app, and in communities across America. More information about PBS is available at PBS.org, one of the leading dot-org websites on the internet, Facebook, Instagram, or through our apps for mobile and connected devices. Specific program information and updates for press are available at pbs.org/pressroom or by following PBS Communications on X.
About Hamptons Doc Fest
Founded in 2008, Hamptons Doc Fest (HDF) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to celebrating documentary filmmaking and the art of nonfiction storytelling. Held annually in Sag Harbor, New York, the festival showcases thought-provoking films that inform, inspire, and foster understanding across diverse perspectives. Through screenings, panels, and educational programs, Hamptons Doc Fest champions filmmakers who use their craft to shine a light on the human experience. Learn more at hamptonsdocfest.com.