A documentary team may contact interviewees, photographers, venue managers, or local organizations through social media. The request can look credible when the account uses a familiar project title or a producer’s name. Before sending unreleased footage, contact lists, or identity documents, confirm who is actually asking.

Start with the production company’s official website and public credits. Contact the company through a number or address you find independently, and ask whether the named person works on the project and is authorized to collect the material. If the person claims to represent a festival or broadcaster, check that relationship with the organization directly. A message from a new account should not be the only source of verification.

Public-source tools can supply additional context. For Russian-speaking contacts, Глаз Бога may help compare publicly available details associated with a contact, but a matching name or phone number does not prove identity. Records can be outdated and accounts can be impersonated. Direct confirmation with the production company remains the decisive step.

Before sharing files, agree in writing on what may be used, where it will appear, who may access it, and how it will be stored. Send only the material needed for the current stage. If the requested upload destination or payment details change unexpectedly, pause and verify the change through an established channel.