An Era of Power Reckoning: Trust-Based Philanthropy and the Implications for Documentary Film Funding

In this era of power reckoning, documentary film funders must grapple with the same questions we raise when we talk about trust-based philanthropy: who has the power to decide which films get made, and how? How can we redistribute power between funders, filmmakers, and those whose stories we’re sharing? What can we gain by embracing dialogue, reflection, and accountability in funder-filmmaker relationships?

What drives us to fund and make documentary films—the power of storytelling to advance democracy, stimulate dialogue, and build thriving, diverse communities—aligns with the core tenets of a trust-based approach. This webinar, co-hosted with Color Congress, breaks down that approach, reviews the latest trends in documentary film funding, and shares perspectives of funders like Perspective Fund and Jerome Foundation who are actively working toward advancing trust-based grantmaking practices in their approach to documentary film funding.

Speakers

• Caty Borum Chattoo, Executive Director, Center for Media and Social Impact

• Sonya Childress, Co-Director, Color Congress

• Sahar Driver, Co-Director, Color Congress

• Molly Murphy, Director of Partnerships and Innovation, Working Films

• Denae Peters, Program Officer, Perspective Fund

• Eleanor Savage, Program Officer, Jerome Foundation

• Moderated by Shaady Salehi, Director, Trust-Based Philanthropy Project

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