New filmmakers joining the short doc initiative include Urbanized director Gary Hustwit [pictured].

GE and Cinelan have struck a multi-year collaboration with IDFA to be a strategic partner on the Focus Forward Documentary Initiative.

As previously reported, Focus Forward is an initiative to create three-minute short documentaries about human ideas and invention.

In addition to previously announced directors such as Morgan Spurlock, Steve James and Jessica Yu, new particpants joining Focus Forward incldue Gary Hustwit, Nelson George, Katy Chevigny, Jessica Edwards and Michele O’Hayon.

“We’re thrilled that our friends at Cinelan are supporting IDFA this year,” said Ally Derks, director of IDFA, “and are delighted they’ll be returning in 2012 for our 25th anniversary with an integrated program to celebrate documentary film.”

Focus Forward will launch its first programme at Sundance 2012 and its other festival partners will include Berlin, Tribeca and Doha.

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