Working Films - Linking Non-Fiction Film to Cutting Edge Activism

No Impact Man Goes Beyond the Individual

Before a film launches, we often times host a strategy meeting, or summit, to pull together a group of organizations that will set the direction for the film’s campaign and point us to the upcoming opportunities where the film can help build the movement. A couple weeks ago we hosted a strategy summit for No Impact Man -

Cinereach Seeking Young Filmmakers for $5,000 Fellowship

Cinereach is now accepting applications for its young filmmakers fellowship. Deadline is July 15th 2009

Good Fortune at SILVERDOCS

We are excited that our former Ithaca Park Scholar, Jeremy Levine, is heading to SILVERDOCS this week for the World Premiere of a film that he has been working tirelessly on with his filmmaking partner Landon Van Soest.

Announcing the First Annual Fledgling Fund and Chicken & Egg Pictures Grantee Residency

Working Films is accepting applications for the first annual Fledgling Fund and Chicken & Egg Pictures Grantee Residency to be held in the beautiful Hudson Valley at the LifeBridge Sanctuary Retreat Center, August 12-15, 2009. Eight filmmakers will be selected to participate in this interactive retreat focused on the nuts & bolts of audience and community engagement campaigning for non-fiction films.

Monifa Bandele - Bio

Media That Matters Film Festival - 12 Shorts Making a Difference

Arts Engine presents Media That Matters: More than a Festival on Wednesday, June 3, 2009 at the School of Visual Arts in New York City. This year’s festival includes a spectacular line up of 12 jury selected short films (each 12 minutes or less) on issues of social and environmental concern.

Lineup for the Good Pitch at SILVERDOCS

The Good Pitch North America tour, taking place at the the AFI-Discovery Channel SILVERDOCS Festival on 16 June 2009, is a partnership between the Channel 4 BRITDOC Foundation and the Sundance Institute documentary Film Program, generously supported by the Fledgling Fund and us, Working Films.

Filmmakers Think Creatively About Distribution

We know that filmmakers are looking for new ways to think about distribution. We hear it on our consultations, at film festivals and our residencies that we host. We often hear questions like: “Should I consider a non-exclusive agreement with a distributor?”, “How can I use Facebook and YouTube to release my film?”, and of course, “How can I increase the access of my film to organizations who are working on the issues?”

Outstanding Filmmaker Honored: Marco Williams

We would like to congratulate filmmaker Marco Williams who has been selected by the Organization of American Historians to receive the 2009 Erik Barnouw Award, which is given annually for outstanding reporting or programming on network or cable television, or in documentary film, concerned with American history, the study of American history, and/or the promotion of history. On Saturday, March 28, OAH President Pete Daniel and President-Elect Elaine Tyler May will present the awards and prizes in Seattle, Washington, during the 102nd Annual Meeting of the Organization.

The Good Pitch at Hot Docs

We are excited to share an announcement of the films in the first Good Pitch North America. Held on May 7, 2009,in Toronto at Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival the Good Pitch North America is a partnership between Channel 4 BRITDOC Foundation and the Sundance Institute Documentary Film Program, generously supported by the Fledgling Fund. Working Films is acting as an outreach consultant on the Good Pitch. Specifically, we have invited NGO’s and non-profit partners to participate in the event and we are training filmmakers accepted into the program for their individual “good pitch”.

Images of the Institute

Anna Lee takes a moment to share some photos from the Content +Intent Documentary Institute in the hopes of giving you a glimpse into the inner workings of the residency and, if you are a filmmaker, peak your interest in participating in future Working Films’ residencies and workshops.

And the Award Goes to...

Judith and I just announced the Full Frame / Working Films Award at the barbecue. Our award is for the film that holds the greatest potential for supporting serious grassroots organizing, equity, justice and human rights.

Working Films Opens UK Office

Tue, 31 Mar 2009

Working Films is excited to announce the opening of Working Films UK, a London office in partnership with the Channel 4 BRITDOC Foundation – extending the services of Working Films to filmmakers in the United Kingdom and the European Union. Since 2007, the Working Films team has collaborated with BRITDOC on filmmaker trainings, strategy summits for feature documentaries, festival workshops and, most recently, the foundation’s very first North American Good Pitch at Hot Docs.

Social Justice Film Conference Tour Comes to Jackson, MS

Reel Justice, a film conference on media activism will kick-off its national tour in Jackson, MS at Tougaloo College from Friday, March 27, 2009 at 6PM through Saturday, March 28, 2009. Sponsored by Working Films and the Andrus Family Fund, the conference focuses on models for community reconciliation as a response to violence, and in particular police brutality, racially motivated violence and violence against women.

Be a Change Maker This Summer!

Read about the experiences of past George Stoney Fellows. Apply today! Deadline is March 30th