LATEST NEWS

Today, we announce the departure of co-director Molly Murphy from the Working Films team. Molly has been part of Working Films since 2001, starting as the organization’s first full-time staff member. Reflecting on her years of service, Molly observed, “The…

Working Films got to work with Melissa Marciano over three semesters through our Social Impact internship with UNC Wilmington. Melissa came with a rich background in arts education and was getting her Masters in Social Work to grow even further…

Working Films got to work with Melissa Marciano over three semesters through our Social Impact internship with UNC Wilmington. Melissa came with a rich background in arts education and was getting her Masters in Social Work to grow even further into her values of deep community care and collaboration. We’re honored to have been able to support and work alongside her in her journey of weaving together film, social justice approaches, and macro social work to make an impact. Below are reflections based on three semesters of deep conversations we had about community-led social change strategy and how we all go about making meaningful, lasting change in these times. - Hannah Hearn, Impact and Fellowships Lead As I look back on my journey of becoming a social worker in practice, there are so many things to say. I am grateful for this opportunity and for what this work has given me. I had no doubt that social justice work—and using film to showcase the stories that need to be heard, seen, and understood—mattered. And then the unthinkable happened: the dismantling of supports for non-profits like Working Films.  This has led me to question where I should place my time, energy and advocacy. Is social justice film impact work shifting the dominant narratives? Is it worth the time and energy? Does it matter? These are hard questions, but necessary ones. They made me reflect deeply on my work as a social worker and what I learned during my time with Working Films. Here is what I have learned: this work matters. It REALLY matters. This work—the sharing of stories, allowing the voices that should be heard, need to be heard, and must be heard—matters. Challenging harmful narratives that focus on separation, hierarchy, and hate matters. Showing there is a path forward that honors the individual experience of ALL people matters.  As a social worker, I am charged with empowering individuals and recognizing the worth and dignity of every person. I must reflect on my own bias and identity, speak from the “I,” and understand that the client is the expert of their own life. I am there to support, guide, and help people gain the tools, knowledge, and abilities they need to live their best lives. Through this lens, I have learned that change is not just about understanding the problem. It is about what actually leads to change. It is about connection, empathy, and the ability for people to be seen and heard in ways that move beyond assumptions and stereotypes. I have learned what a powerful tool documentary film can be when it is used intentionally—when films are ethically created and shared with the right audiences, with purpose-filled actions planned around them. When impacted communities cannot be in rooms of power, their voices can still be the ones heard, through documentary film. Participants in the films tell their stories on their own terms and help guide how and where those stories are seen. They speak to their lived experience, cutting through the noise of how the world often sees them. I have witnessed the power of film professionals connecting with high school students, sharing their wisdom, and how in an industry that lacks diversity, there IS a place for them. I also learned from the Works-in-Progress program that uplifts and provides wrap-around care and guidance for underrepresented documentary filmmakers. This program ensures film projects that speak the lived truths of communities that often are silenced, are heard. This is how I, as a social worker, can harness the power of film—to be an ally who finds ways to ensure I do not speak for communities, but instead create pathways for them to speak directly to those who hold the power to make change. This aligns with a core approach in social work, Anti-Oppressive Practice. It shifts my role from advocate to ally, centering voices that are often sidelined and bringing them to the forefront. Documentary film campaigns that are led by the impacted people build community, empower others impacted across geographies and offer paths forward from challenging the status quo to creating a more just society. This is what I have learned in my internship with Working Films. Filmmakers make film; community organizers rally people in every corner of America; and organizations like Working Films act as a catalyst, ensuring that the people who most need to be heard actually are. As I wrap up my MSW internship with Working Films, I leave with a feeling of gratitude and purpose. This work matters.

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For 25 years, Working Films has harnessed the power of documentary to ignite action. Help us continue this work by donating to our Courage Has a Cost campaign. Every dollar raised through this campaign helps ensure that courageous filmmakers, workers, organizers, and communities can keep telling the stories that too many systems try to silence. Join us: workingfilms.org/donate.

Cucalorus Film Foundation, Working Films and DAWG are excited to announce the 2026 Works-in-Progress Lab Cohort! The WiP Lab is an immersive laboratory supporting social justice documentaries with a focus on Black storytelling. The program fosters a tight-knit community of peer support, where facilitators and mentors guide…

Cucalorus Film Foundation, Working Films and DAWG are excited to announce the 2026 Works-in-Progress Lab Cohort! The WiP Lab is an immersive laboratory supporting social justice documentaries with a focus on Black storytelling. The program fosters a tight-knit community of peer support, where facilitators and mentors guide filmmakers in providing constructive feedback on each other’s works-in-progress. This year's mentors are filmmakers and WiP Lab alumni: Natalie Bullock Brown and Byron Hurt. The 2026 WiP Lab cohort will come together next week at the Cucalorus Campus in Wilmington, NC. Congratulations to the filmmakers!   Alex J. Bledsoe OAKLEAD OAKLEAD, her debut feature documentary, follows Oakland community members as they fight to protect one another from lead poisoning in their own homes and schools -- and uncover over a century of environmental racism.   Alex J. Bledsoe is a film director, producer and multidisciplinary artist whose work is grounded in healing justice and dismantling exploitative systems, especially related to medical and environmental racism.     Cristián Martin Cristián Cristián follows a year-long journey of coming out socially while navigating legal and medical transition. The film traces a nonlinear path from struggle to personal becoming.   Cristián is a documentary storyteller whose work focuses on identity and resilience. His films includes Boricua No Te Quites and post-production support on the NY Emmy-winning series Puerto Rican Voices.     Sekiya Dorsett 20 Years of Longing 20 Years of Longing spans two decades of a Black lesbian couple from Haiti and the Bahamas who must confront migration, religious silence, medical injustice, and their mothers' legacy to build the family they were never meant to have.   Sekiya Dorsett is a GLAAD Award-winning filmmaker and founder of Seabreeze Media Inc., whose nonfiction and hybrid films center Black queer life with emotional rigor, political clarity, and deep care for community memory.     Elodie Edjang Queer Christians Queer Christians is a feature-length documentary exploring the intersections and boundaries between faith, race, and love. The film follows a group of queer women of color as they embark on intimate journeys of self-discovery.   Elodie Edjang is a Chicago-based creative focused on making people feel seen, heard, and understood. A third‑culture kid with roots in Cameroon, France, and the American South, she explores community and belonging.  

With mounting attacks on our most vulnerable communities, resources pulled away from the frontlines, and major cuts to public media, organizers and activists are stretched thin.  In this climate, grassroots organizers’ need to build relationships and mobilize their communities for…

With mounting attacks on our most vulnerable communities, resources pulled away from the frontlines, and major cuts to public media, organizers and activists are stretched thin.  In this climate, grassroots organizers’ need to build relationships and mobilize their communities for change. At a time of digital overload, unplugging and coming together IRL has become one of the most important tools in an organizer’s toolkit. This is where local film screenings become invaluable—not only do they educate, they build community and inspire collective action to confront social and environmental threats. Whether it’s the passing of a dangerous bill, or the construction of a new data center or pipeline, when there’s an immediate need to educate and mobilize communities, film has the ability to bring people in and move them to action. Over Working Films’ 26 years doing this work, we’ve seen how film screenings can be crucial for sparking dialogue, disseminating new information, and rallying support to address urgent injustices. However, financial obstacles and capacity constraints can be obstacles for cultural organizing work. That’s where we come in! Through Screenings That Work, Working Films is now offering mini grants to organizers across the United States who are seeking to host film screenings as part of their environmental justice efforts. By harnessing the power of film, we’ll help you amplify critical issues and bring your community together for collective action. Use this simple application form to apply for up to $500 to cover hard costs associated with your event. Examples include funding for venue rentals, screening rights, screening equipment, marketing materials, and guest speakers. But you’ll get more than money to make it happen! Working Films’ expert team will guide you through the steps of creating an event that will be a transformative experience for attendees and connect them with opportunities for sustained action. ELIGIBILITY We invite organizers and activists based in the US and territories, who need that final support to bring a screening to life, to fill out the form. Requests exceeding $500 cannot be considered at this time. SELECTION CRITERIA Please note that we have limited resources and cannot accommodate all requests. Decisions will be made on a rolling basis while funds are available using the following set of criteria:

1. Alignment with values of social and environmental justice.
2. Intended audience. What is the potential to go beyond the choir? Is this audience directly impacted by these issues?
3. Meaningful ways for the audience to take action and/or become involved.
4. Commitment to completing an event debrief call with Working Films staff.

If you have any questions or need additional information, please email Mara Henderson, Impact Coordinator, at [email protected].   APPLY FOR THE SCREENINGS THAT WORK MINI GRANT

Our friends at We Count!, along with Dēmos, and Partners for Dignity and Rights, just released a report that exposes the exploitation underpinning the $50 billion US houseplant industry, The Human Cost of House Plants: Labor Conditions of Florida’s Plant…

Our friends at We Count!, along with Dēmos, and Partners for Dignity and Rights, just released a report that exposes the exploitation underpinning the $50 billion US houseplant industry, The Human Cost of House Plants: Labor Conditions of Florida’s Plant Nursery Workers The report details the pervasiveness of poverty wages, dangerous working conditions, widespread sexual harassment, and retaliation against workers who speak out.  To turn insights from the report into action, you can host a screening of the newly released film Without Shade, Without Rest. Funded through Working Films’ Docs in Action program, the film follows outdoor workers and organizers on the frontlines as they fight for heat protections after the hottest year on record.  Your screening will support the bold, new Planting Justice campaign from our partners at WeCount!. They are demanding that major nurseries and retailers sign legally binding agreements to guarantee fair pay, safe conditions, and freedom from harassment and retaliation. Because the houseplants Americans buy come from these nurseries, consumers and communities everywhere have a stake in this fight. By hosting a screening of Without Shade, Without Rest, you can help build the public pressure needed to hold giant nurseries accountable. Ready to host a screening? Fill out the screening request form below, and our team will follow up with everything you need, including promotional materials, a discussion guide, ways to plug into the Planting Justice campaign, and even some support for hard costs to help ensure your event leads to real impact in your community!  

Now in its eighth year, Working Films’ Impact Kickstart resources underrepresented documentary filmmakers to develop and implement impact campaigns that meaningfully engage audiences, partners, and supporters. This year, three incredible film teams have been selected to receive $20,000 each in…

Now in its eighth year, Working Films’ Impact Kickstart resources underrepresented documentary filmmakers to develop and implement impact campaigns that meaningfully engage audiences, partners, and supporters. This year, three incredible film teams have been selected to receive $20,000 each in impact campaign funding, along with in-kind partnership and strategy development from Working Films, and participation in a year-long cohort experience where filmmakers can learn from and support one another. Hannah Hearn, Impact Coordinator and Fellowships Lead at Working Films, reflected on the ways Impact Kickstart has evolved to respond at a time when our field is facing so many challenges, “We always strive to make Impact Kickstart a program that meets the needs of our filmmakers, and as we face this current moment head on, it is clear that leaning on each other is what will get us through. So this year, I’m excited to announce that we are introducing a cohort opportunity as part of Impact Kickstart. This will be a year-long supportive, collaborative space for the filmmakers to strategize together and support one another throughout the planning and implementation of their impact campaigns. in love, in memory; What Will I Become?; and Wood Street are the embodiment of community-led collaboration, care, and safety and will provide powerful opportunities for community members to connect, heal, and make change together.” Shalon Buskirk, Director, Producer, and Protagonist of in love, in memory shared “Impact Kickstart is the bridge between our documentary and the audiences who need it most. This essential program amplifies my son's story and believes in our film's potential as a catalyst for healing, solidarity, and transformation.”   in love, in memory www.inloveinmemory.com After losing her firstborn son to gun violence, a mother gathers cherished memories and erased histories to connect his death to her city’s haunting legacy of racism. An impressionistic counter-narrative that refuses to follow the expectations of true crime, IN LOVE, IN MEMORY refracts quiet scenes of artistic intervention, collective storytelling, and tender remembrance through a prism of passing time. Co-Director, Producer, Co-Editor, and Protagonist: Shalon Buskirk; Co-Director, Producer, Co-Editor, Cinematographer: Drew Swedberg; Producer: Nandini Sikand; Consulting Producer: Tiffany E. Barber; Executive Producer: Jessica Beshir; Co-Editor: Haley Hnatuk     What Will I Become?  www.wwibdoc.com In “What Will I Become?,” Directors Lexie Bean and Logan Rozos explore the vulnerability of their transmasculine community. They delve into their own personal experiences, intertwining the stories of two young trans men who died by suicide. Directors: Lexie Bean and Logan Rozos; Producers: Drew Dickler, Geoff Pingree, David Sherwin, Ricki Stern; Editor: Miles Hill; Director of Photography: Fletcher Wolfe; Stop-Motion Animation: Daniel Lobb; Original Score: Perigee Vitz-Wong       Wood Street  www.woodstmovie.com Two unhoused men turned community leaders— John and LaMonté —organize their neighbors in the face of displacement, addiction, and a failing social system. Director, Producer, and Editor: Caron Creighton; Producer: Estevan Padilla; Consulting Producer: Tiffany Fisher-Love           Congratulations to the film teams selected! We are excited and honored to be working alongside these incredible projects. Thank you to everyone who applied, and thank you to our panel of reviewers. This would not be possible without you! -- ABOUT IMPACT KICKSTART Impact Kickstart is underpinned by an understanding that a solid strategy for audience engagement and strong partnerships are critical for a documentary film to make a difference. Filmmakers often lack time to do this work themselves or the expertise and the funds to pay for it. Emerging artists, creators of color, and other underrepresented filmmakers can face the biggest hurdles, despite the potential of their projects. To respond to this challenge, Working Films offers free impact campaign development services to underrepresented artists whose films hold great promise to shift understanding and catalyze action that addresses some of the most critical issues of our time. Impact Kickstart is made possible by generous support from the Ford Foundation, John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, Kendeda Fund, Perspective Fund, and individual donors.

In case you haven’t heard, the "Red Cup" season looked a little different this holiday season. Starbucks workers across the country are on strike. Starbucks Workers United (SBWU), the union representing workers at over 600 stores nationwide, has walked off…

We are living through a time defined by intensifying threats to basic rights, safety, and democracy itself. Yet even as political violence rises and divisions deepen, people everywhere are organizing, supporting each other, and imagining a different future.  Amplifying stories…

We are living through a time defined by intensifying threats to basic rights, safety, and democracy itself. Yet even as political violence rises and divisions deepen, people everywhere are organizing, supporting each other, and imagining a different future.  Amplifying stories of resistance matters now more than ever, as these threats have been steadily growing and will continue to worsen without deliberate and collective action. We need to demonstrate how solidarity and collective care and action can counter the growing dangers we face. More than just a call to defense, these films will inspire audiences to envision a future rooted in hope and equip them with the tools to help build a world where we all can thrive. With this in mind, we are excited to announce the recipients of the 2025 Docs in Action Film Fund. $60,000 was awarded to two film teams to complete short films that embody these narratives. They include: Any Way You Can (working title) by Jennifer Maytorena Taylor (Director, Producer & DP), Sally Jo Fifer (Executive Producer & Producer) and Ruth Anne Beutler (Field Producer & Additional DP) and Theory of Change by Matt Durning (Director & DP), Carey Kirk (Producer) and Molly Brock (Editor & Cinematographer).  Working Films launched the Docs In Action Film Fund in 2018 to support the production of short documentaries that address critical issues of social and environmental justice. Because we believe that grassroots leaders and those directly impacted by injustice should hold the power to determine what stories are told and what films are funded to serve their movements, we cede our role on the grant panel. The funded films were selected by our partners at Democracy 2076, Political Research Associates, and Southern Vision Alliance. Together, we will use these films to support grassroots organizing, block authoritarianism, and reimagine democracy. “In the face of rising supremacy and authoritarianism, the idea that we can win safety for ourselves by treating others as expendable is both morally bankrupt and — for most of us — also delusional. In times like these, we need stories that remind us that we increase our safety as well as our potential for resistance and advancement by choosing each other." - Cloee Cooper, Research Director at Political Research Associates   Meet the 2025 Docs In Action Film Fund recipients:   Any Way You Can (working title) by Jennifer Maytorena Taylor, Sally Jo Fifer and Ruth Anne Beutler Intercutting the stories of diverse Montanans from a range of lived experiences and perspectives, Any Way You Can explores the intensifying battles over bodily autonomy and state-imposed limits on reproductive freedom and LGBTQI+ health care. With a verite approach, the film follows inter-generational coalitions and organizers fighting to protect individual freedoms and hard-won constitutional rights.  Jennifer Maytorena Taylor’s award-winning feature and short documentary films frequently feature bilingual Spanish/English stories and often explore the nuances and complexities of life in rural and small communities. She is a Professor of Film and Digital Media at the University of California, Santa Cruz and the founding faculty director of the UCSC Social Documentation Lab. Sally Jo Fifer led Independent Television Service as President and CEO for 22 years. While at ITVS, Sally launched the award-winning PBS Independent Lens series and oversaw the creation of more than 1,000 films and docuseries. Her credit appears on 16 Oscar nominees, 37 Primetime Emmy winners, and 35 Peabody Award recipients. Ruth Anne Beutler’s film practice is informed by her ongoing work as a registered nurse and extensive experience in emergency and community health settings around the globe. She has worked closely with Bay Area Indigenous communities and other scholars to document land restoration efforts and foreground Indigenous perspectives on the California missions.   Theory of Change by Matt Durning, Carey Kirk, and Molly Brock  Three working-class women from rural North Carolina become unlikely changemakers in the divided battleground state they call home. Through an intimate, character-centered lens, the film explores the organization's ambitious Theory of Change: a long-term strategy to shift power back into the hands of everyday people by bridging deep racial, economic, and cultural divides. It’s a story of ordinary folks demonstrating extraordinary agency to catalyze action where they live.  Matt Durning has spent the past 20 years telling stories that amplify human connection. He came to documentary filmmaking through progressive political campaigns (MoveOn.org, ACLU, etc), and his passion for social justice continues to drive his work as a storyteller. Matt is the co-director of the award-winning feature documentary Stay Prayed Up, which premiered at the 2021 Telluride Film Festival. He has created provocative music videos for social justice anthems by artist-activists Che Apalache and Joe Troop. He was the producer of Rissi Palmer: Still Here. His short environmental justice film, Perry County, won numerous festival accolades. Matt has produced lauded non-fiction work for outlets including PBS, HBO, ESPN, Wired, Al Jazeera America, Ovation, Smithsonian Channel, and YouTube. He is the founder and executive producer of Interlocking Pictures, a full-service documentary production company based in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Carey Kirk is the child of a rural, working-class family with military roots and conservative, right-wing influences, raised between Tennessee and North Carolina. Growing up in communities often marked by division, despite shared struggles, she has long questioned why those divisions persist. That personal history fuels her commitment to amplifying voices fighting for a more just and inclusive future in the South. She has worked on Family Tree and Charlotte Seven, both of which explore movements for social justice in the region. In addition to production, she has led social media and impact campaigns for films such as Stay Prayed Up, Rissi Palmer: Still Here, and Moonchild: The Story of Brother Yusuf Salim. Molly Brock is a queer Southern woman with a deep understanding of the region’s complexities, Molly brings a unique perspective to the visual and editorial process. With her background in vérité-style filmmaking, she focuses on capturing authenticity, drawing out the raw emotion that drives the story. Molly’s recent work includes Charlotte Seven, a short documentary premiering at Justice Film Festival and the feature-length documentary How to Save a Milestone.  

The Docs in Action Film Fund is made possible with support from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation