Working Films

For 25 years, we’ve used documentary film to advance social justice & environmental protection, none of it possible without our amazing community. ❤️

Illuminating Change was a beautiful reminder of the power of story & connection. And a special thank you to our generous sponsors.

At its heart, Rural Cinema harnesses the power of story to drive change. 🌱

This year’s 2025 cohort is using film to spark conversation, bring communities together, & inspire action on local challenges.

🎬 Meet the 2025 cohort & explore their upcoming film series: workingfilms.org/get-to-know-...

The 2026 @haytifilmfest & @workingfilms Works-in-Progress Lab application deadline is approaching!

Co-designed by Working Films, artists get feedback and explore audience engagement through workshops & screenings.

🗓️ Deadline: Nov 3, 2025
🚨 Apply: workingfilms.submittable.com/submit

🎬 Check out our upcoming events and film screenings:

✨10/29: Free screening of Calls From Home

✨10/29: Stephanie is attending Independent Sector Summit

✨11/1: Natalie, Director of DAWG, is attending @dx_fest

Visit workingfilms.org/events for more details on upcoming events. #documentary #film

🥳Our hometown celebration is officially sold out! Thank you for being a supporter, & ally through these 25 years of harnessing storytelling to advance social justice & environmental protection.

The evening will include performances by Carrie Assata of Speak Ya Peace NC, Fuzz Jaxx & DeeJay Suspense.

✨🎞️ Extended deadline! The Hayti Heritage Film Festival Works-in-Progress (WiP) Lab is back & ready to uplift bold social justice documentaries rooted in Black storytelling!

🗓️ Deadline: Mon, Nov 3, 2025 11:59 PM EST.
✨ Apply here: workingfilms.submittable.com/submit.

#documentary #film

✨ For 25 years, Working Films has been at the forefront of using documentary film to ignite social change. We're celebrating this milestone with a hometown fundraiser!

🎉 Illuminating Change
📅 Fri, Oct 24
📍Wilmington, NC

Tickets: bit.ly/WF25thAnnive.... Your support makes our work possible.

🎥🚨🎬 Did you know we now have an events calendar on our website? Explore upcoming film screenings and events with our incredible partners across the country, check it out at workingfilms.org/events.

✨🎬 Organize a film screening with Working Films. Visit workingfilms.org/host/ to learn more.

A farm worker harvesting strawberries in the rain wearing a plastic poncho

"Sara" has worked in Watsonville CAs strawberries for 16 yrs. "I earn piece rate. It's raining which makes the rows slippery and the mud sticks to our shoes. It's dangerous as we still need to work fast to make enough money to pay our bills." #WeFeedYou

3 days. Mentorship. Screenings. Community. ✨

The 2026 #HHFFLab residency mentors filmmakers making social justice documentaries with a focus on Black storytelling. Travel, housing & meals covered! Apply by Oct 19, 2025. workingfilms.submittable.com/submit

#DocumentaryImpact #BlackFilmmakers

Calling doc filmmakers 📣 The #HHFFLab is back! Join us in Durham, NC (Mar 4–7, 2026) for workshops, mentorship & community screenings centering Black storytelling. Apply by Oct 19, 2025!

Learn more & apply: workingfilms.submittable.com/submit


#WorkingFilms #HaytiHeritageFilmFestival #documentary

If there’s ever been a time when unprecedented collective action was needed, it’s now. Join the call: www.May2028.org

Today! 🎥 DAWG Syllabus Office Hours, in collaboration with Multitude Films, from 12–1:15 PM ET!

Register here: us06web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

#DAWGSyllabus #DocumentaryEthics #NonfictionFilm

🎥 Reminder: DAWG Syllabus Office Hours, in collaboration with Multitude Films, start Wednesday, Oct 8, 12–1:15 PM ET!

Register here: us06web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

#DAWGSyllabus #DocumentaryEthics #NonfictionFilm

DONATE - Working Films Support Working Films and help us harness the power of documentaries to advance social justice and environmental protection. Your donation fuels impactful storytelling and community-driven change.

Celebrate our 25th anniversary with us on October 24, 2025, in Wilmington, NC. Visit workingfilms.org for tickets.

We asked Natalie Bullock Brown, Director of @docaccountability, what storytelling means to her, she shared:

Did you catch our Impact Kickstart - Webinar Q&A on September 16? If you weren’t able to tune in, you’re in luck; we’ve just posted the webinar recording on our site. Check it out at workingfilms.org, and while you’re there, apply to Impact Kickstart before the October 3, 2025, deadline!

Just practicing... for now.

Starbucks workers across the country are ready to strike if necessary. Let's get those contracts finalized, Starbucks!

🎬✨ AI is transforming documentary filmmaking.

The question isn’t IF you’ll use it—it’s HOW to do it responsibly.

Join the Film Impact & AI Summit on Oct 9—a live virtual event for small doc teams!

➡️ Save your spot: www.LookyLookyPictures.com #DocumentaryFilmmaking #FilmImpact #AIForFilmmakers

The Hayti Heritage Film Festival Works-in-Progress Lab supports social justice documentaries centering Black storytelling, March 4–7, 2026, in Durham, NC.

Apply here: workingfilms.submittable.com/submit

We will be accepting apps from Aug 29 through Oct 19, 2025! #workingfilms #durham #documentary

Join DAWG Syllabus Office Hours with Multitude Films! A 4-week series on ethics, care & accountability in documentary filmmaking. Session 1: October 8, 12:00–1:15 p.m.

✅ Register: linktr.ee/WorkingFilms
#FilmmakingEthics #DAWGFramework #EthicalFilmmaking #MultitudeFilms #StoryLeadstoAction

🎬✨ AI is transforming documentary filmmaking.

The question isn’t IF you’ll use it—it’s HOW to do it responsibly.

Join the Film Impact & AI Summit on Oct 9—a live virtual event for small doc teams!

➡️ Save your spot: www.LookyLookyPictures.com #DocumentaryFilmmaking #FilmImpact #AIForFilmmakers

Report launch graphic for MediaJustice's newest report, "The People Say No: Resisting Data Centers in the South." The graphic is divided in two sides: on the left we have a sort of environmental utopia with wide canyons and folks in a canoe going by a stream. On the right we have the alternative, rows of data center equipment with endless wiring.

TODAY, we're launching The People Say No: Resisting Data Centers in the South, our report dedicated to exposing data center harms in the South and how our people are fighting back.

Read the full report, including case studies from 5 southern states:
bit.ly/nodatacenters

Join DAWG Syllabus Office Hours with Multitude Films! A 4-week series on ethics, care & accountability in documentary filmmaking. Session 1: October 8, 12:00–1:15 p.m.

✅ Register: linktr.ee/WorkingFilms
#FilmmakingEthics #DAWGFramework #EthicalFilmmaking #MultitudeFilms #StoryLeadstoAction

🎬 Applications Open: Impact Kickstart 2026! Now in its 8th year, the program funds and equips filmmakers with strategy & partnerships to turn films into tools for social justice.

👉 APPLY: workingfilms.org/impactkickst...

Deadline: Fri, Oct 3, 2025. #documentary #workingfilms #communityorganizing

✨We are honored to have Working Films' Director of Campaigns & Strategy, Andy Myers, featured as part of The 2025 Grist 50! The 2025 #Grist50 list features 50 climate leaders bringing change to their communities and innovating for a better future. Explore the full list: grist.org/fix/grist-50...

✨ For 25 years, Working Films has been at the forefront of using documentary film to ignite social change. We're celebrating this milestone with a hometown fundraiser!

🎉 Illuminating Change
📅 Fri, Oct 24
📍Wilmington, NC

Tickets: bit.ly/WF25thAnnive.... Your support makes our work possible.

Don’t miss these powerful upcoming screenings from our community partners & grantees:

🎬 American Coup: Wilmington 1898
🎬 Calls From Home
🎬 Yintah
🎬 Tending the Soul
🎬 Standing Above the Clouds
🎬 Farming While Black
🎬 Farming is Medicine

Learn more about these events at workingfilms.org/events.

“Starbucks Is on the Ropes,” Says SBWU President Lynne Fox, Who Is Eyeing a Strike "Investors should know that if Starbucks continues to stonewall and fight with union baristas, they aren’t afraid to do what it takes to win the fair contract that they’ve earned," Fox writes. "This i...

“Investors should know that if Starbucks continues to stonewall and fight with union baristas, they aren’t afraid to do what it takes to win the fair contract that they’ve earned.

This includes going on strike if they must.”

✨🎬 Join us for the IK 2026 webinar Q&A.

The purpose of the webinar is to share our approach to Impact Kickstart and the application decision-making process.

👉 Register: bit.ly/4g4N8UM
👉Apply to Impact Kickstart 2026: workingfilms.org/impactkickst.... Deadline: Friday, Oct 3, 2025, at 11:59 PM ET.