STORY TO ACTION is a program supporting documentary filmmaking teams to create strategies, build partnerships and organize screenings that educate and expand audience understanding and inspire tangible action on the social and environmental issues featured in their films.
In 2021, the Story Money Impact Pod (five Canadian impact producers in training) chose a handful of films to investigate with regards to what impact these stories made in society. The purpose was to scan the Canadian impact film environment over the years to learn from what was happening and also to ask the question ‘what else may have been possible if there had been more formalized support for this impact work?’. There are many more amazing Canadian films that have done great things to address issues than are included in these studies. The selected films demonstrate different time frames, issues, points of view and financing as a broad first exploration.
The SMI Pod Program is a part-time paid adventure in building the skillset and toolbox of an impact producer. The goal is to create an understanding of the power and importance of impact campaigns for documentary films, and to endow participants with the necessary skills to design and execute impact strategies. The Pod also works alongside SMI staff to apply their learning directly on active projects and campaigns. This six month long program includes a weeklong in-person residency, and a three month practicum term in support of projects on SMI’s slate.
Story Money Impact offered impact coaching hours to three Canadian documentary films (25–90 mins in length) by underrepresented creators that are in the development phases of their projects so that they can be better positioned for impact upon completion.
Good Pitch is a program that brings together documentary filmmakers with changemakers from across civil society to forge coalitions and campaigns that are good for these partners, good for the films, and good for society.
