Zoom online meeting
This is a funder-only meeting.
Funders supporting film and narrative change are invited to join us for a timely meeting that builds on a conversation we hosted earlier this year in Park City, Utah. That discussion, which featured an overview of the US Independent Film Audience & Landscape Study, which was written by former Sundance CEO Keri Putnam and published by Harvard’s Shorenstein Center, underscored the vital role independent film plays in society. But the independent film sector is navigating significant challenges: Streaming platforms are scaling back support for independent projects, and public media funding faces growing threats in today’s shifting political climate.
Moderated by Media Impact Funders’ Executive Director Vince Stehle, this session will examine some of the ways funders are approaching the Opportunities and Recommendations section of the study.
We’ll focus on three critical areas for action:
Support for Public Media
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- Rachel Edelman, Grants Manager, Wyncote Foundation, will share how deep investment in public media strengthens the independent film ecosystem.
Investing in Film Festivals and Artist Support Programs
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- Zeyba Rahman, Director of the Building Bridges Program at the Doris Duke Foundation, will highlight the essential role of film festivals and the need for greater investment to sustain their impact.
Advancing Film Through Collective Action
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- Former Sundance CEO Keri Putnam will provide an update from the Future Film Coalition, which was created to spearhead field-wide research, innovation, and public policy advocacy and dive into what a new consolidated distribution infrastructure could look like.
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Join us to learn, connect, and collaborate with colleagues tackling these pressing challenges to ensure the future of independent film remains vibrant, impactful, and accessible.
Speakers:
- Rachel Edelman, Grants Manager, Wyncote Foundation
- Keri Putnam, former Sundance CEO
- Zeyba Rahman, Director of the Building Bridges Program, Doris Duke Foundation
- Vince Stehle, Executive Director, Media Impact Funders (moderator)