Over the last 25 years, Working Films has become a globally recognized leader in what has grown to become an entire field focused on the social impact of documentary films. Founded in 1999 by film curator Robert West, filmmaker Judith Helfand, with a visionary board that included luminaries like George Stoney, we have remained a trailblazer of approaches that leverage the power of film to drive meaningful change. Trace our history below!
2024
Rapid Response
Films play a crucial role in informing and mobilizing communities when pressing social and environmental challenges arose. That was why we launched Rapid Response Mini-Grants in 2024. This funding was intended to offset the financial costs of holding screenings and could be applied to expenses such as venue rental, equipment, and marketing. Mini-Grants of up to $600 per event helped organizers focus on creating impactful experiences that inspired action and sustained engagement by audiences.
To be eligible, screening organizers had to meet the criteria for the Rapid Response Mini-Grants, which included events that were timely, reached strategic audiences, had actionable outcomes, and aligned with social and environmental justice values. Applications were accepted on an ongoing basis.
2023
2022
2019-2018
Putting Films to Work
Putting Films to Work is a year-long training institute for Georgia-based nonprofits that helps organizations leverage the power of documentary media to advance their organizing, educational, and advocacy goals. The program is designed to help organizations embrace nonfiction film as a critical resource and a natural component of what they do; resource organizations and individual leaders with specific films and the skills to put them to work; and increase the strategic use of documentary films in community settings, creating more opportunities for people in Georgia to engage on issues of critical social and environmental importance.
Shore Stories
Shore Stories is an organizing initiative that uses short documentary films to build public opposition to offshore drilling. The six short films curated by Working Films and allied organizations, highlight the grassroots resistance taking place across the US, as well as stories from past oil and gas exploration – including the BP Deepwater Horizon disaster.
2017
America Divided
Democracy for Sale is part of the Epix America Divided series featuring actor Zach Galifianakis. The short film uncovers the role that money has played in shifting electoral politics in North Carolina and offers a lesson for the entire nation. In 2017, Working Films partnered with Divided Films to organize dozens of screenings across the state that mobilized tens of thousands of residents to demand campaign finance reform, environmental protection, and an end to racist gerrymandering.
Across the Line
In 2017 we partnered with Planned Parenthood Federation of America to bring the virtual reality (VR) experience Across the Line to communities in the South. Across the Line is an immersive VR film that puts the viewer on scene as anti-abortion extremists intimidate patients as they seek reproductive health care. We toured Across the Line from the festival circuit into communities to reach a wide cross section of residents.
Visit the Across the Line website to learn more.
2016
Fracking Stories
Fracking Stories was an organizing campaign in 2015-2016 using short films to highlight the dangers of hydraulic fracturing. The compilation of six short documentaries expose the public health and environmental consequences of fracking, and the ways that communities are responding to protect their land and water. In 2015 & 2016, we partnered with dozens of organizations in multiple states to use the films to build awareness and resistance to fossil fuel drilling, and to advance a just transition to a low carbon economy.
Coal Ash Stories
Coal Ash Stories is a compilation of four short films that illustrate the public health concerns, policy issues, and ways communities are responding to this toxic waste. The series informs residents and draws attention to the toxic impact of coal ash on communities. In 2016, the series toured North Carolina, Tennessee, Missouri, Illinois, Alabama, Virginia, and Florida.
Unacceptable Risk
Unacceptable Risk follows four Colorado firefighters who have battled some of the state’s epic wildfires of the past decade. This short film explores how human-caused climate changes are transforming Colorado’s fire environment and creating a volatile situation for firefighters and communities. In 2016, we used the film to engage firefighters and first responders in dialogue and action around climate change. With the focus on firefighters, audiences had an alternative point of entry to these crucial conversations.
Race Flicks
Facing Race and Working Films partner to present Race Flicks, the film track of Facing Race, the largest multiracial, inter-generational gathering for organizers, educators, creatives, and other leaders pursuing racial justice. Race Flicks focuses on showcasing films that have been or could be used by activists, organizers, educators, nonprofits, and others to advance their work for racial justice.
Catching the Sun
Catching the Sun follows the stories of workers and entrepreneurs in the U.S. and China as they lead the race to a clean energy future. Their successes and failures speak to one of the biggest questions of our time: Will the U.S. actually be able to build a clean energy economy that works for everyone? We managed the impact campaign for the theatrical release and a 96 city community screening tour, all of which led up to the film’s launch on Netflix on Earth Day 2016.
2015
Together Tennessee
Working Films, United for a Fair Economy, and partner organizations throughout Tennessee embarked on a collective process in 2015 to support organizing for economic justice and the move toward resilient and sustainable communities in the state. Together, we developed and launched a six city screening tour featuring Citizen Koch, The Hand That Feeds, American Teacher, Inequality for All, Freedom Summer, and Blood on the Mountain.
Water Warriors
Working Films designed and facilitated a strategy summit for the photo exhibit and short film-in-progress Water Warriors in May 2015. The project shares the story of a community’s successful resistance against the oil and natural gas industry. Following the summit, Working Films continued partnering with the film team by fundraising to tour the exhibit and complete the film, to support impact campaign planning, and to lead trainings and workshops focused around the topics raised by the project and on using documentary for change.
Civics of Justice
Civics of Justice is a series of film screenings and dialogues developed by Working Films and Democracy North Carolina in 2015 to help communities develop a deeper analysis of the relationship between civic engagement and social issues, including criminal justice and policing, environmental and economic justice. The month long screening series brought films to ten cities across North Carolina. Films in the series included: Ferguson: A Report from Occupied Territory; Come Hell or High Water: The Battle for Turkey Creek; Fracking Stories; and The Hand That Feeds.
2014
CIFF
Working Films partnered with the Camden International Film Festival (CIFF) to create a statewide community engagement program in Maine. Beginning with an Engagement Summit at the festival facilitated by Working Films. The program continues to connect nonprofit leaders, professionals, and community leaders from across the state to harness the power of documentary film to spark public dialogue and action on critical issues facing Maine.
Moral Movies
With the North Carolina NAACP and two dozen state and local partners, Working Films launched Moral Movies, a multi-issue film series fueling the momentum of the Moral Monday movement. Moral Mondays was the massive public response to extreme policies that have dismantled the social safety net, women’s rights, and environmental protections in North Carolina.
2013
Robert West
Working Films’ co-founder and longtime executive director, Robert West, passed away in June 2013. Please donate directly here to the Robert West Reel Engagement Fund. Like Robert, the work supported by the Fund will be creative and responsive to the needs and opportunities for social change.
Funds contributed to the Robert West Reel Engagement Fund will be used to honor Robert’s legacy and vision, and to support rapid response campaign development on timely environmental and social justice issues!
2010
Reel Power
Working Films, in partnership with Chicken & Egg, the Fledgling Fund and several local partners, brought together ten film teams with grassroots organizations to create a dynamic new film experience to support the movement for a sustainable and just future. Reel Power was Working Films first thematic film campaign, and our model has evolved in the last decade to take the shape of our current day organizing intiatives.
American Documentary Summit
Working Films, in partnership with American Documentary, organized a strategy summit tied to the POV broadcast of Off and Running, Wo Ai Ni Mommy and In The Matter of Cha Jung Hee–all films about transracial adoption. The summit supported the development of an extensive public awareness campaign designed to leverage the national broadcasts, engage key constituencies and deepen understanding of issues facing adoptive families, particularly after they have completed the adoption process.
Dirty Business
Working Films directed and managed the impact campaign for Dirty Business to deepen public understanding of the true cost connected to the sources of energy, expose the dirt behind “clean coal”, and shine light on the viability of green energy alternatives.
Freedom Riders
Working Films organized a strategy summit for the film Freedom Riders to support the development of an extensive public awareness campaign designed to levereage support for the broadcast, engage key constituencies, deepen understanding of the historic issues connected to Freedom Riders, and increase the relevance of this story to contemporary struggles for civil rights and racial justice.
Vanishing Power
Working Films organized a strategy summit for the film Vanishing Power, bringing together the filmakers, partner organizations, and companies including Beyond Pesticides, Burt’s Bees, and the NRDC, in hopes to improve the environment and bring bees back.
The Fence
Working Films, in partnership with Moxie Firecracker, developed and co-led the impact campaign for The Fence, a national community engagement and action initiative to generate support for a comprehensive, federal immigration policy.
2009
The Age of Stupid
Working Films, together with Spanner Films, organized a strategy summit for the The Age of Stupid to create an impact campaign for the film, bringing together nonprofit organizations and foundations that are working to address climate change by rapidly reducing carbon emissions, igniting a green energy economy and building sustainable communities.
Including Samuel
Working Films, together with Dan Habib and the Institute on Disability/UCED, organized a strategy summit meeting to create the impact campaign for the film. At the summit, partners explored key efforts of the disability justice movement, and discussed how Including Samuel could be used in those efforts.
Erasing David
Working Films, together with Green Lions Films and Channel 4, organized a strategy summit for Erasing David that brought together non-profit organizations and foundations that are working to address issues of privacy and defense of civil liberties.
Moving to Mars
Working Films, together with Channel 4, BRITDOC and filmmakers Mat Whitecross and Karen Katz, coordinated a summit meeting to bring together non-profits and NGOs focused on human rights, refugee support, and issues on Burma (now known as Myanmar). With these partners, Working Films created an impact campaign to inspire action to both support justice in Burma and transition for refugees.
Split Estate
Working Films led the impact campaign for Split Estate, partnering with a coalition of national nonprofits to raise awareness about the true costs of socially and environmentally irresponsible drilling, and helping communities in crisis protect their rights, their health and their land.
A New Kind of Listening
Working Films planned the impact campaign for A New Kind Of Listening which included assessing and approaching potential partners, developing a promotion strategy, enhancing the film’s website and social networking presence, and creating a toolkit for screening hosts.
Speaking in Tongues
Working Films provided strategic assistance in launching the film’s highly successful audience engagement initiative on how speaking a foreign language can be a national asset. WF provided extensive consultation on the campaign’s interactive website, and worked in partnership with educators, community organizations and national professional associations and non-profit membership organizations to coordinate community-based screenings, house parties, and revenue split sales of the Speaking in Tongues DVDs.
2008
New Faces
Working Films developed and launched a curriculum to accompany New Faces: Latinos in America to break down stereotypes and gain a greater understanding of the growing Latino population in North Carolina
No Impact Man
Working Films organized a strategy summit that brought together nonprofit organizations that worked to address climate change to create the impact campaign for the book, film, and blog to support the work for both policy change and shifts in individual and corporate behavior that will build sustainable lifestyles and communities.
2007
Tales From Planet Earth
Working Films, in partnership with the Nelson Institute’s Center for Culture, History and Environment (CHE) at UW-Madison harnessed the power of storytelling (non-fiction & fiction), the collective face-to-face energy of a film festival, and the strategic on-the-ground work of Madison’s local grassroots organizations to deepen public understanding and increase civic engagement around critical environmental justice issues.
Everything’s Cool
Directors/ Producers: Judith Helfand and Daniel B. Gold
The Everything’s Cool campaign was a nationwide effort to tackle global warming by highlighting practical solutions. Working Films led this two-year initiative alongside grassroots organizations, organizing events like national days of action and advocating for political action. They empowered young voices to speak out against climate change and pushed for a green energy economy that would create jobs and opportunities for low-income individuals. Community screenings of Everything’s Cool were encouraged to build support for this cause
2006
Banished
“Banished” was a documentary by filmmaker Marco Williams that aired on Independent Lens (PBS) in February 2008. Working Films, in partnership with the Center for Investigative Reporting and Two Tone Productions, led a two-year campaign using the film to address two main goals: helping African-American communities reclaim lost land and fostering reconciliation after race-based violence. Working Films worked with eight campus and community partners to organize screenings, panel discussions, and workshops aimed at promoting reconciliation and justice around the issues raised in the film.
Directors/ Producers:Marco Williams
2005
Saving Jackie
Substance abuse often damages relationships, especially those within families. But in the film “Saving Jackie,” the story shows how love and forgiveness can mend these bonds. You can start conversations about this by hosting a screening of the film with your friends and family.
Directors/ Producers: Selena A. Burks
2002
Blue Vinyl
From 2002 to 2008, Working Films ran the My House is Your House campaign. It aimed to stop the production and use of PVC plastic by organizing community activities inspired by the film Blue Vinyl. The movie played a key role in a worldwide effort to swap PVC for safer, greener alternatives.
Directors/ Producers: Judith Helfand and Daniel B. Gold
Release Date: 2002
Two Towns of Jasper
Working Films organized a national campaign for “Two Towns of Jasper”, funded by the Ford Foundation, to promote dialogue and reconciliation. They held strategy meetings with filmmakers and race organizers in NC, leading to partnerships with group fighting, racial prejudices. Together, they created settings for open discussions about race and understanding differences.
Directors/ Producers: Marco Williams and Whitney Down
2001
Trembling Before G-d
Trembling Before G-d
Directors/ Producers:Sandi Simcha DuBowski
Release Date: 2001
At the Sundance premiere, Working Films organized a dialogue between the filmmaker, individuals in the film, and Mormons on reconciling faith with sexual identity. This heartfelt exchange, now a DVD extra, bridged faith and geography, launching a movement. Working Films strategized with the producers during production and supported a screening tour of “Trembling” to Christian seminaries, urging acceptance of LGBTQ parishioners.