January 2014
Dear Friends,
Happy 2014! This is my first(!) blog post under my new STORY MATTERS banner, which works at the intersection of documentary storytelling and social change. From my office in New York––or wherever I happen to be––I develop strategy, raising funds, create programs and curate partnerships that maximize the efficacy of film as a tool to advance positive social change.
Since I officially departed Sundance in late 2012, I have stayed closely involved with Sundance via its partnership with BRITDOC Foundation on The Good Pitch which expanded from London and New York to Chicago, Buenos Aires and Taipei, and next month Mumbai.
Following the successful US launch and tour of The Revolutionary Optimists by Nicole Newnham and Maren Grainger-Monsen, we are set to launch MAP YOUR WORLD Map Your World. This transmedia platform for youth to track, map and create change in their communities that was inspired by and co-developed with the film's subjects. We're working with the Global Peace Film Festival to roll it out in 2014. (Nicole and I, along with creative strategist Wendy Levy will be at Sundance in various capacities.)
It has become clear that an increased focus on the power of story to advance social change means we need better tools to evaluate the impact of our work. I've been consulting with the Harmony Institute on Impact Space - a terrific new platform that provides data visualization of media impact.
Early in 2013, I was privileged to work on the outreach campaign for How To Survive A Plague , which is now being distributed free to hundreds of NGO's and schools, along with Viewers Guide exploring the power of creative activism which I co-edited.
And finally, a shout out to the Impact Producers Group, especially Jennifer MacArthur and Brenda Coughlin for organizing this passionate group of storytellers and change-makers on the vanguard of making the media that matters make an impact that matters.
Warm regards,
Tricia
Patricia Finneran
Principal
STORY MATTERS
