Impact producing & consulting
The World is Bright - mental health in immigrant communities
The World is Bright is an intimate film about the 10-year journey of two Chinese parents to understand their son's suicide in Canada. This campaign is trying to break down the cultural stigma against mental health and illness in immigrant communities, and address racism and prejudice in mental health care to create something called cultural competence.
creating safe spaces across the country for immigrants to ask questions about mental illness and mental health
providing tools that help shift immigrant attitudes to make them more comfortable to seek or offer help
(At one public library screening, many audience members challenged the notion on whether their community needed any mental health support. We used examples from the film to gently highlight how these issues can be hidden, and our expert panelists directly addressed the challenge with a more nuanced definition of mental health challenges. At the end of this screening, some of the more antagonistic voices had changed their minds and requested additional mental health support materials, and some sent emails to the organizer apologizing for their misguided questions. We are shifting attitudes in a big way!)
build cultural competence and examine systemic racism in mental health or settlement service providers
cultivate partnerships between different sectors and organizations to collaboratively address these issues
Best efforts are made to connect all the various NGOs, government agencies, and private orgs so they can continue to cultivate their relationships after the event
(At an earlier screening, the City of Richmond invited city employees and other service providers to symposium screening. During the Q&A, audience members began answering each other's questions based on their respective expertise in mental health or settlement sectors. Many of these organizations then worked together with each other and with SMI to bring the film to their own communities. The following event and planning thereof was the meeting place for Immigrant Services Society of BC (who refers clients to mental health practitioners) and the Primary Care Network of Vancouver Coastal Health (who have culturally competent clinical counselors and have the capacity to take on referred clients). It was also the meeting place for Dr. Jaswant Guzder, a professor and academic of Transcultural Psychiatry at McGill University to meet and exchange ideas with the Division Manager of Settlement Services at Immigrant Services Society of BC, allowing the latter to learn from Dr. Guzder's policy recommendations and for Dr. Guzder to learn about the practical on-the-ground challenges to implement those policy recommendations.)
The director of the hospital Shi-Meng was institutionalized at gave a heartfelt apology for the actions and inaction of his staff
Dozens of letters, videos and voice recordings were delivered to Shi’Meng’s parents as a care package after the premiere of this film
Politician Jane Thornthwaite advocated for the improvement of sensitivities of authorities that deal with immigrants and international students in the Legislative assembly
Conviction - stopping the flow of people into prisons
Working collaboratively with system impacted women, the Canadian Association of Elizabeth Fry Societies, and Senator Kim Pate, this campaign engaged the broad public in conversations about the harmful, ineffective, and costly impact of prisons; supported initiatives and organizations that focused on human rights of prisoners, eliminating mandatory sentencing, and ultimately decarceration – radically reducing the number of people in prison; and educated audiences on the work of Senator Kim Pate.
Held a screening of the film for the Office of the Correctional Investigator
Hired system impacted, lived experience women to work on campaign
46 cross-sectoral partners convened from academic, non-profit, political, corporate, grass roots and media sectors
Developed website to continue to engage audiences after screenings
70.34% surveys showed an increase in knowledge about decarceration after seeing the film
24.87% showed an increase in support of decarceration after seeing the film
96% people would take action on the issues raised, including
write a letter to a government official (43.65%)
donate or volunteer (48.43%), host a screening (17.29%)
share on social media (53.21%)
Good Pitch Vancouver
Good Pitch Vancouver is a core program of Story Money Impact. Good Pitch was created by the UK organization DocSociety who now oversee Good Pitch programs locally funded and produced all over the world. With two editions complete SMI have supported ten Canadian documentary film teams in developing strategies and fostered coalitions to achieve impact goals around key issues.
Good Pitch Vancouver First Edition: June – December 2018
Good Pitch Vancouver Second Edition: October 2019 – March 2020
Good Pitch Vancouver Virtual: August 2020 - December 2021
KLABONA KEEPERS
From 2006 to 2018 the Klabona Keepers have blockaded roads, shut down camps, and created such immense public pressure that not one, but two massive mining companies have pulled their mining operations from the region. This is the story of a community protecting their land.
$113,000 raised at Good Pitch Vancouver for impact campaign
Klappan Land Plan signed by BC government protecting the Sacred Headwaters until 2039
ANTHROPOCENE: THE HUMAN EPOCH
At the intersection of art and science, Anthropocene: The Human Epoch witnesses, in an experiential sense, a critical moment in geological history – delivering a provocative and unforgettable account of our species’ breadth and impact.
Bilingual education program to teachers across Canada FOR FREE, in partnership with the Royal Canadian Geographical Society (RCGS). The program will reach more than 23,000 classroom teachers from across the country through the RCGS’s educational arm, Canadian Geographic (Can Geo) Education
10+ international awards and honours
★★★★ (out of 4) — The Globe and Mail
★★★★ (out of 4) — Toronto Star
★★★★ (out of 4) — National Post
THE NEW CORPORATION
With Corporate Social Responsibility programs and Shared Value initiatives, corporations now proclaim they are more caring and conscientious. Has the psychopath just become more charming?
Premiering soon
FIRST WE EAT
Putting food sovereignty to the test in the far North of Canada, filmmaker Suzanne Crocker banned all grocery store food from her house for a year and fed her family only food that could be hunted, foraged, fished, trapped, grown or raised around Dawson City, Yukon, capturing the attention of others who also believe in the surprising bounty of the North. Directed by Suzanne Crocker.
Coalition created between BC Farmer’s Markets Association, Buy Social Canada, KPU Institute of Sustainable Food, and Vancouver Food Policy Council
LOVE, THE LAST CHAPTER
Exploring the taboo topic of elder intimacy and the stigma surrounding aging and decision-making, this documentary visits the Aspen Silvera Home for Seniors where involvement in romantic relationships creates challenges for the residents, uncharted territory for their families, and disruption within the elder care system for facility staff.
Screening opportunities created for healthcare workers at Canadian Association of Gerontology conference, International Association of Gerontology conference, Gerontology Research Centre and the Gerontology Program at Simon Fraser University, Planned Lifetime Advocacy Network (PLAN), Association of Community Response Networks, Canadian Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse, West End Seniors Network and more
MAKE MONEY ONLINE: A VERY HUMAN TECH DOC
In a world where millions of people find their main source of income from gig work, the side hustle, the on-demand economy, this film poses a critical question for the rest of us, How can we value the human lives behind this work?
Coalition built between unions like UFCW1518, UBC Department of Sociology, human rights lawyers, and Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives to create Platform Labour Accord
FOOD FOR THE REST OF US
From a farm in Hawaii, to greenhouses in the Arctic, and one of the only female kosher butchers in the world, this film tells compelling stories about people who are using food to fight for a better world, despite a society that alienates us from that which nourishes and sustains us.
$32,000 raised at Good Pitch Vancouver
Coalition created of farms, farmers and educators to use this film to engage youth in food activism
THE MAGNITUDE OF ALL THINGS
A cinematic exploration of the emotional and psychological dimensions of climate change, this film weaves together two powerful stories of grief: the death of the filmmaker's sister and the tragic state of climate change, provoking viewers to find meaning - and meaningful action - in our troubled and changing world.
Climate grief workshops being organized internationally in co-operation with Good Grief Network, Canadian Mental Health Association, Australian activist organizations, etc