Working Films was founded on the premise that Story Leads to Action. And for 25 years, we’ve made that tagline a reality by building trusting relationships between filmmakers and organizers, ensuring that when the lights come up after a film, audiences have meaningful ways to plug into efforts for change. Two and a half decades later we are still bringing the world of filmmaking together with social justice through dynamic programs that are tackling the most pressing issues of our time.
Our connection to the San Francisco Bay Area is not just part of our history—it’s central to who we are. This community has long been a hub of visionary storytelling and organizing, and our collaborations here have deeply influenced our approach to media and impact. From the very beginning, we’ve worked alongside incredible Bay Area artists, filmmakers, and changemakers whose creativity and commitment to justice have expanded what’s possible in our work. Our first-of-its-kind Impact Producer training, Reel Change, launched in partnership with BAVC, set the stage for a more inclusive and intentional approach to building the field. We’ve proudly collaborated with institutions like ITVS, CAAMFest, Fist Up Film Festival, and The Redford Center—each playing a vital role in strengthening the documentary and media impact ecosystem, not only in the Bay Area but across the nation.
Our partnerships with local organizations and organizers have ensured that powerful media doesn’t just reach audiences—it moves them. Oakland-based organization, Critical Resistance, served as a design partner for Beyond Walls, our compilation of short films reimagining a world without prisons and policing. These films have reached over 100 communities, thanks in no small part to the strategic and values-aligned organizing of our Bay Area collaborators.
Through the Rise-Home Stories Project, we joined forces with groups like ACCE, Causa Justa :: Just Cause, and others to co-create five groundbreaking media projects that reimagine our relationships to land and home. This project also included work with Bay Area artists such as Rober Liu- Trujillo, Leticia Hernández Linares, and filmmaker Leah Mahan. One of the project’s standout pieces—a podcast featuring stories about community-led disaster response highlighted KBBF 89.1 FM’s critical role in recovery efforts following devastating wildfires in the Sonoma area. 
And, the Bay continues to be home to many of the remarkable filmmakers we support. This year, our Impact Kickstart program is backing two groundbreaking documentaries led by women of color directors challenging systems of oppression. Traces of Home, directed and produced by Colette Ghunim, is one of these powerful projects with strong roots in the Bay. “Being selected as part of Impact Kickstart is a life-changing opportunity to serve my community,” says Colette. “I am eternally grateful to partner with such a heart-centered, intentional team.”
There are so many other colleagues and allies from the Bay that we could name, who we continue to draw inspiration and energy from the community’s deep legacy of activism and artistry. Together, we’ve sparked connections, conversations, and actions that have fueled movements and made a lasting impact. Even in moments like this—when the work ahead feels daunting—it’s essential to celebrate the strength of our community of artists, truth tellers, culture bearers, and organizers, and to nourish our spirits for the journey forward.
That’s why we’re thrilled to invite you to join us in San Francisco on May 15th for an evening celebrating Working Films’ 25th anniversary. Together, we’ll enjoy appetizers, drinks, and a special performance by Bay Area poet and filmmaker Yosimar Reyes, along with inspiring stories from filmmakers we’ve worked with, our staff, and board. Most importantly, it will be a chance to come together in community, uplift one another, and connect with others who are committed to using film as a tool for change.
This event and our work are made possible by the generosity of our supporters. Thank you so much to the sponsors for the Working Films San Francisco Anniversary Celebration:
Impact Sponsor:
Lisa Kleiner Chanoff
Changemaker Sponsor:
Julie Parker Benello, in honor of Working Films’ co-founder Judith Helfand
Community Sponsor:
Ally Sponsors:
Center for Asian American Media (CAAM), Color Congress,and Nancy Blachman, Founder, JRMF.org
Purchase your tickets and learn more about sponsorship opportunities by visiting: https://bit.ly/4czmuC5.
We hope to see you there—and stay tuned for details on an NYC celebration this fall!
– The Working Films Team
