Working Films leverages the power of documentary films to advance social justice and environmental protection. Recognizing the power of film to inform and inspire, Working Films positions documentaries to increase civic engagement and shift culture at the local, state, and national level. The organization offers funding and in-kind support to underrepresented filmmakers, shares learning and fosters dialogue that furthers constructive change within the documentary field, and leads conversations and trainings for grassroots groups and nonprofits to ensure that nonfiction media is increasingly embraced as a critical resource in their strategies for social change. Working Films offers consultation and strategy development to filmmakers, resources nonprofits and grassroots groups with powerful stories, and partners with foundations to train their grantees to utilize documentaries that make a difference. The organization’s work is supported by The Campbell Foundation, Ford Foundation, John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, Kendeda Fund, North Carolina Local News Lab Fund, Perspective Fund, Putnam Foundation, the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation, and individual donors.
Why it matters: Working Films positions documentaries not merely as artistic works or awareness-raising tools but as critical resources for grassroots organizing and social change strategies, training non-profits and community groups to leverage film for civic engagement at local, state, and national levels. By offering funding and in-kind support specifically to underrepresented filmmakers, Working Films addresses the reality that those closest to social justice and environmental issues often lack resources to tell their stories, ensuring powerful narratives reach audiences who can act on them. The organization’s combination of filmmaker support, grassroots training, and foundation partnerships demonstrates that documentary film achieves greatest impact when filmmakers, organizers, and funders collaborate strategically rather than working in isolation, making nonfiction media an integral part of movements for constructive change.
