54 filmmakers. 20 countries. $1.4 million distributed. 14 premieres. 10 impact campaigns. 485+ hours of tailored mentorship.
What does it mean to keep telling stories in a world that keeps trying to silence them? This year, we’ve watched public media gutted, diversity efforts attacked, and policies written to erase the existence of trans and gender-expansive people. These are not distant headlines. They are the conditions we’re all living within.
We know documentary is not neutral, that who holds the camera, whose story is funded, and whose truth gets amplified is political. That’s why we spent our 20th anniversary year much as we have every other year—funding and uplifting the voices we believe the world needs to hear. And the work of our brilliant filmmakers is rippling outward: moving policy conversations, sparking cultural shifts, and reaching audiences who deserve to see themselves on screen.
Community remains our greatest shared achievement. A global circle of artists embodying collective courage. A staff and board committed to making sure the each filmmaker has what they need. And donors who don’t just give, but also believe in our mission.
As we stare down a challenging but hopeful new year, we ask for your support. Together, we can resource the storytellers capable of shifting our culture toward empathy and justice. Thank you for standing with us, for fueling this work, and for daring to imagine by our side.
