Opportunity, Influence, Ethics, Compromise? Philanthropy, Investment and Documentary Filmmaking

Documentary filmmaking is increasingly reliant on non-government funding. But thanks to the powerful work of filmmakers and dedicated organisations, there are more philanthropists and private donors than ever interested in the capacity of films to make change. But what does this mean for filmmakers? How are the stories being told influenced by the priorities of those who fund them and the implications this may have? And how can our impact campaigns be shaped by funding relationships?

In this session we explore the tangled questions of ‘artwashing’ and of influence, social license, social capital and ethics that the sources of corporate, philanthropic and private investments in our work raise for filmmakers. This is a messy space, there are no right answers, but one thing is for sure – we need to have the conversation.

Image Credit: Fossil fuels + the Arts, A Centre for Everything, 2019