Independent Storytelling
We back independence. We back storytelling by artists, journalists, filmmakers who have creative and editorial control. Not dictated to by governments, by corporate interests or the algorithm.
Since 2005 Doc Society has proudly supported hundreds of the most inspirational and influential filmmakers in the world, bringing us the stories that were best told on screen. In doing so, creating profound personal and community transformation, strengthening civil society, and shaping public & corporate policy.
From While We Watched (India), CitizenFour (USA), The Square (Egypt), Softie (Kenya), F**K This Job (Russia), Edge of Democracy (Brazil), Knock Down The House (USA), Hooligan Sparrow (China), The Look Of Silence (Indonesia), to Welcome To Chechnya - this is a generation of non-fiction storytellers who have simply changed our view of the world.
The Democracy Story Unit continues this tradition, as we build regional and global funding pools to support non-fiction storytelling in the public interest.
Our role today is to support filmmakers and journalists who critique and interrogate the imperfect and in some cases failing and/or harmful institutions that comprise our democracies and societies. To uplift those that speak truth to power and hold the corrupt to account. To nurture the world makers who explore possible futures and show us communities that are effectively, compassionately, and justly governing themselves. Helping rebuild the possibility of robust civic discourse, of deepening connection and belonging, manifesting better futures for all.
Read about more incredible films that speak to these themes by looking for the tag Better Futures
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Why independent documentary?
Doc Society are advocates of and specialists in independent documentary, which in the spectrum of media has some very specific and interesting properties.
Documentaries play a crucial role in the mainstreaming of new ideas. Both drawing on academics and think tanks and in turn influencing the news agenda, policymakers, education systems and social movements. While not typically a form of mass media, documentaries are still highly influential and are often more trusted by the public than other kinds of media.
At their best, great documentaries can be transformative of individuals and communities - changing understanding about the world but also behaviours. Documentaries can take a long time to make but then they have a very long shelf life - played and replayed over years rather than days or a few weeks which lends itself to very different impact and engagement strategies. Because documentaries are not typically profit centres and of limited market value, they are a consistent source of innovation and creativity in both production and in distribution of media. For all these reasons and more, we’ve remained intrigued by their promise and power.
Where do we find independent documentaries today? As a form, independent documentaries appear all over the information ecosystem. From the stage of the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood on Oscars night to a mobile projector in a village in rural Kenya. From a national broadcast on television in China to a WhatsApp group of activists in Colombia. From a global release on Netflix to a private screening for lawmakers in the European Parliament.
Since 2005 Doc Society has supported 450+ individual non-fiction projects and directly regranted $22M in over 40 countries.
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