Collective Lens: An Impact Roadmap

After a decade of running film impact campaigns, Peace is Loud is excited to redistribute our knowledge and resources, so filmmakers are empowered to utilize the full power of storytelling to advance social justice.

Our film team developed and piloted Collective Lens, a curriculum to train filmmakers in impact producing through an intersectional feminist lens. Collective Lens is comprised of four modules—three trainings (Impact Foundations, Impact Distribution, Impact Fundraising) with interactive elements integrated throughout, and one workshop. Filmmakers can choose to attend any or all modules depending on their individual needs, and receive free toolkits and resources for the entire program.

Curriculum Components:

• Impact Foundations – Our Impact 101. We offer Guiding Principles to define what impact is (and isn’t); explore ways to integrate the pillars of Equity, Safety, and Representation into every aspect of the process, from pre-production to campaign wrap; and bring filmmakers through our Impact Strategy Roadmap and step-by-step plan to build their own strategy.
• Impact Distribution – We offer an overview of impact distribution methods, in this ever-changing landscape, as well as strategies to maximize distribution to achieve impact goals and questions to ask distributors before signing a deal (a filmmaker favorite!).
• Impact Fundraising – We review challenges and opportunities in impact fundraising, including ways it diverges from traditional film fundraising, and provide tips and best practices to actually secure funding;
• Workshop – Filmmakers have the opportunity to present an overview of their film and impact campaign plans to the group, and we workshop their films in real time, building strategy on the spot and providing guidance on their most pressing challenges.
• Learning and Operationalizing – We provide a robust suite of templates, guides, and toolkits that are vital to planning and implementing impact work, especially when on limited budgets. We also share a curated resource library full of inspiration from the philosophical to the practical.

A special thank you to the thought leaders who consulted on our curriculum development: 

• Vanessa Cuervo Forero, Impact Strategist 
• Wanja Emily, Impact Strategist 
• Tracie Holder, Filmmaker & Film Funding Specialist
• Luna X. Moya

Spanish translation of our materials by Chelo Alvarez-Stehle and Susa Oñate.

*When approaching Spanish translation work, we acknowledge the limitations of the language. In consultation with our translators, we tried to be inclusive as possible, using X and a/o, while remaining mindful of any barriers in readability, pronunciation and/or speaking the text out loud. Our team remains committed to gender justice and inclusivity, and open to evolving best practices in language translation.

Please be in touch with any questions and/or if you wish to bring this program to your community!