After 3 years, MIF reconvenes film funders to discuss the state of the field, priorities for the work ahead
The Media Impact Funders team was pleased to be able to return to Park City, Utah, to attend the Sundance Film Festival this month, viewing powerful documentary films and reconnecting with film funders who have not had a chance to convene in person since before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. It was exhilarating to […]
A call to action: Recommendations for documentary impact funders
Since 2020, Perspective Fund has been gathering current and recent grantees whose work serves as the backbone of the documentary impact field. These grantees, all focused on strengthening and innovating different aspects of the documentary impact ecosystem, participated in these gatherings not only to build community but to participate in a two-way channel of conversation […]
Member spotlight: Catapult Film Fund
With a fresh Oscar nod and a Sundance Film Festival Audience Award, 2023 is shaping up to be an exciting year for Catapult Film Fund. A longtime partner and stakeholder in MIF’s efforts to convene a robust network of documentary film funders, and a member of MIF since 2022, Catapult has gained a reputation for […]
WATCH: How to leverage philanthropic capital to transform the media landscape
This members briefing was organized in partnership with New Media Ventures and co-sponsored with Philanthropy New York. All members and supporters of Media Impact Funders have the opportunity to initiate and produce issue-related programming for their peers. Learn more about member briefings. This week, experts from industry leaders New Media Ventures and Accelerate Change joined […]
Watch JFunders 22: The annual gathering of journalism funders
The power of community was on full display last week at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, where MIF hosted JFunders22, the annual gathering of journalism funders. This network, which has not gathered in person since 2019, celebrated 20 years of journalism funders in community and connection. At the start of our two-day gathering, attendees […]
Philanthropy can help expose the truth about racial inequality in America through support of documentary films
Across America, there is a battle being fought in state houses and school boards over the future of our society, and whether we will continue to build on progress to be a diverse and inclusive nation or if we will allow ourselves to revert to being a society that discriminates on the base of race […]
The 2022 Media Impact Forum: Stories for Justice
The 2022 Media Impact Forum: Stories for Justice, held at the National Geographic Society in Washington, D.C., showcased media and dialogue about the ways in which funders can support storytelling as a powerful lever in the fight for equal justice. Below, you’ll find recordings of each session, links to resources, and transcripts for each session […]
Member spotlight: Perspective Fund
The role of the impact campaign and its impact producer is critical to the long-term success of a film whose goal is to catalyze social change. It’s the impact producer who must deeply understand the film’s mission and message, and then figure out how best to leverage it for impact—whether it’s raising awareness, inspiring action […]
Looking forward prompts us to look back: Reflections from our 2019 Media Impact Forum
As we prepare for our first in-person gathering since the pandemic began, the Media Impact Forum at the National Geographic Society on June 1, we have been thinking back to the last time we got together in person for our Forum—titled Radio Active Culture—in May 2019, at the American Philosophical Society, here in Philadelphia. In […]
WATCH: Here’s how Color Congress is building a more inclusive documentary film ecosystem
We didn’t get to have our annual funder meeting at Sundance, but we were eager to make space for our film funders to connect with each other and build in time to reflect on the film festival as a group. We also learned about a new field-building organization called the Color Congress. The organization, seeded […]
WATCH: Making the case for local journalism, featuring “Storm Lake”
Is one of your goals to increase support for local news and media in your region? If so, MIF presented a special opportunity to learn more about how to make the case for increased media and journalism investments through the documentary film “Storm Lake.” “Storm Lake,” about a family-run Iowa newspaper that has been struggling […]
WATCH: How funders can use data maps to inform funding decisions
In partnership with Candid (formerly Foundation Center and GuideStar)—which provides data-driven tools, educational resources and trainings, analyses, and more to the philanthropic sector—MIF offered a workshop to help funders learn how to use data maps to inform funding priorities and strategic decision-making. These maps are free, interactive tools that show the full scope of philanthropically-funded […]