Documentary film is a tool for change

IMS operates with the fundamental belief that documentary film is a tool for change. We recognise the unique power of documentaries to raise awareness, propose solutions and inspire action. We believe that documentaries have become one of the most influential ways of telling stories in a time of unprecedented disruption in the media and in the world.

Building partnerships with independent filmmakers and film institutions in some of the world’s most challenged regions is our primary methodology. We strive to influence audiences and power holders to react and contribute to meaningful and positive change.

Our current focus extends to supporting film projects originating from the Arab world and Eastern Europe (including Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, Georgia, Azerbaijan and Armenia).

Our approach

At IMS, our efforts are guided by three strategic approaches:

• Support for film productions: We give financial support to documentary films and offer comprehensive assistance throughout the filmmaking process, from concept development to post-production. While our support typically begins at the development stage, we also engage with films in production or post-production phases.
• Empowering film institutions: We support independent film institutions and acknowledge the importance of establishing an infrastructure underneath the production layer. This is the key to building a strong film industry.
• Outreach and impact: We work closely with filmmakers to amplify the reach and influence of their documentaries, facilitating distribution on local, regional and international platforms.

Our focus areas

We prioritise film projects that address pressing issues such as:

• Gender equality
• Climate change
• Social justice
• Groups and minorities in marginalisation
• Diversity
• Human rights

We seek films that explore these topics in a professional and ethical manner with a commitment to public interest. See our selection criteria.

Join us in exploring the transformative power of documentary filmmaking to further positive change in the world.

Telling stories through different voices and views

While trust in the media is challenged globally, the independent documentary film industry and its audiences are growing. Documentary filmmaking has become one of the most influential ways of telling stories, even as the broader media experiences unprecedented disruptions.

As a genre, documentary film speaks in a language of its own – it is neither journalism nor fiction but rather a genre where social, political and cultural criticism finds a space. This is the case even in countries where media and freedom of expression are highly restricted. Documentary film creates a space to promote new voices and views.

In repressive societies, documentary filmmaking often escapes censorship imposed on news media and plays an important role in providing a diverse media landscape. An increase in professionally produced documentaries from ambitious filmmakers looking to tell stories can raise awareness and bring about change. The stories they tell are about personal lives, political change and social dynamics that are rarely found elsewhere in the media stream. As an audio-visual medium, documentary film has the ability to include all – also those that are illiterate, underserved or reliant on one-sided and state-controlled news and information.

Looking ahead, IMS envisages that the genre will remain a top priority for global distribution platforms and their audiences, which will provide unprecedented potential in reaching new audiences with vital stories from around the world. Supporting local documentary film environments in challenged countries is an effective tool to broaden the content of the media and thus to generate alternative voices and give audiences access to more sources of information. Furthermore, it will ensure that filmmakers can operate under the most challenging of circumstances. Empowering local documentary film environments will have an immediately noticeable effect for broad audiences, for the media industry, for journalism and for a lively society.

Our areas of work

Since 2005, IMS has worked in close partnership with local filmmakers, production companies, film schools and labs, film festivals, distribution companies and TV stations. Three cross-cutting principles are the driving forces in our work: inclusion, integrity, and diversity. With these principles in mind, we seek to enable and strengthen the infrastructures and outputs of domestic film environments through the following approaches: