STORY TO ACTION is a program supporting documentary filmmaking teams to create strategies, build partnerships and organize screenings that educate and expand audience understanding and inspire tangible action on the social and environmental issues featured in their films.
In 2021, the Story Money Impact Pod (five Canadian impact producers in training) chose a handful of films to investigate with regards to what impact these stories made in society. The purpose was to scan the Canadian impact film environment over the years to learn from what was happening and also to ask the question ‘what else may have been possible if there had been more formalized support for this impact work?’. There are many more amazing Canadian films that have done great things to address issues than are included in these studies. The selected films demonstrate different time frames, issues, points of view and financing as a broad first exploration.
The Empowering Creators for Community program fosters a supportive environment for nine documentarians dedicated to community-focused storytelling to spend 10 hours together. Through peer-led knowledge sharing, curriculum created and supported by three senior artists, community of practice groups, final reflection and sharing sessions, we aim to equip nine independent media makers with the tools and insights needed to create content that transcends entertainment, inspires audiences and effects positive change within and for their communities. Artists currently working on a project will be given priority.
Story Money Impact is offering 10 impact coaching hours to three Canadian documentary films (20–90 minutes in length) by underrepresented creators that are in the development phases of their projects, so that they can be better positioned for impact upon completion.
The SMI Pod program is a four month applied mentorship adventure to support five individuals as they build their impact skills on an existing project. This mentorship focuses on the skills and strategies that support the content being used as a tool for positive change in the issue area it explores.
Our hope with this iteration of the Pod is to support Canadian projects that are striving to be active in the impact space, but desire some guidance from SMI.
Good Pitch is a program that brings together documentary filmmakers with changemakers from across civil society to forge coalitions and campaigns that are good for these partners, good for the films, and good for society.
