Join us for a two-day workshop on Advancing Impact: Crafting Documentary Impact Campaigns for Social Change, presented by Documentary Australia and supported by Screen NSW on Monday 4 May and Tuesday 5 May.

This workshop is open to experienced screen practitioners and impact producers (emerging, mid-level, or established) interested in understanding how documentary storytelling can create social impact and reach new audiences through carefully crafted impact campaigns.

Key areas of learning include an introduction to documentary impact campaigns; a deep dive into the key elements of impact campaign strategy and how to develop one; an in-depth understanding of impact campaign activities and how they can enhance alternative distribution pathways; the role of partnerships and how to work with partners at different stages of a campaign; budgeting for impact campaigns; and philanthropic fundraising. Using case studies to model different approaches, participants will discover various ways to shape their project’s impact and fundraising strategies.

Participants will also engage directly with Documentary Australia’s leadership team, who bring extensive experience in impact strategy and philanthropic engagement.

Who Should Attend 

Screen practitioners and impact producers with at least one year of experience at the emerging, mid-level, or established stage who are passionate about creating change through documentary storytelling.

Note: This workshop is not for first-time filmmakers or impact producers – we advise you to attend the Documentary Australia 101 workshops if you have no prior experience.

We will be reviewing all participant registrations to assess suitability for this workshop prior to the event.

Workshop Contents 

• Introduction to documentary impact campaigns for social impact
• How to develop an impact campaign strategy, including defining key messages, goals and activities for an impact campaign
• Key impact activities of an impact campaign, including community screening programs, education programs, advocacy campaigns, outreach and communication campaigns
• How to leverage your film’s release and alternative pathways to the audience beyond traditional distribution
• Developing impact partnerships and how to work with partners at different stages of a campaign
• Budgeting for your impact campaign.
• Understanding the philanthropic landscape in Australia, donor stewardship, philanthropic grants and how to fundraise through Documentary Australia

Workshop Details 

Date: Monday 4th May and Tuesday 5th May, 2026

Time: 9:30am – 4:30pm

Venue: The Hub, Hyde Park, 223 Liverpool St, Darlinghurst NSW 2010

Cost: $99 +GST, with lunch provided (workshop cost subsidised from the support provided by Screen NSW)

Four free places are available for First Nations, Culturally and/or Linguistically Diverse people or participants living with a disability. Please email to request. [email protected]

Capacity: Limited to 30 participants

Catering: Lunch will be provided. There is also a café on site.

This workshop is presented by Documentary Australia and supported by Screen NSW.

Speakers 

Dr Mitzi Goldman – Chief Executive Officer 

Mitzi is a documentary director, producer, editor, and educator with over 35 years in the industry. Mitzi co-founded and is the CEO of Documentary Australia, which has developed a new paradigm for funding and outreach of social impact documentary films. Alongside her production career, she has worked in the academy teaching documentary production and screen studies at Murdoch University, WA, before being employed as co-head of the documentary department at the National Film and Television School (AFTRS) for six years. Mitzi holds a PhD in Cultural Studies and has served on juries for film festivals in Australia, Iran, and China.

Stephanie King – Impact Director 

Stephanie is a filmmaker, impact producer and advocate, and Documentary Australia’s Impact Director. Her films and series have screened and been awarded at international festivals, released in cinemas nationally, shown on SBS, NITV, Nine, Al Jazeera, The Guardian, The Australian and others, and influenced public policy. She is a previous recipient of Screen Australia’s Enterprise People and was a 2022 filmmaking fellow with UnionDocs, New York. Stephanie has worked on over 20 productions’ impact campaigns as an impact producer, strategist or advisor, including Delikado, Incarceration Nation, Trailblazers, Climate Changers and Guided By Horses. She joined Documentary Australia as Impact Director in 2022, where she leads impact and filmmaker programs, assesses film applications and supports sector advocacy.

Sharlene Dadd – Head of Partnerships & Communications 

Sharlene Dadd joined Documentary Australia in 2021 after leading WWF-Australia’s Impact Partnerships team and securing significant funding from Philanthropy, Corporate Partnerships, Grants (Government, Private and Corporate Foundations) and Bequests. With previous roles in the disability, agriculture, wine and tourism sectors, her strengths lie in setting and achieving strategic objectives, generating and growing lasting relationships for sustainable financial support, developing high-performing teams and establishing collaborative, transformational partnerships. Sharlene has a Bachelor of Arts from The University of Sydney, speaks French and Indonesian. As Head of Partnerships and Communications, Sharlene believes in the power of sharing our stories to inspire hope, challenge the status quo, drive social change, promote thought leadership, spread empathy, encourage creativity and celebrate life.

Lisa Sherrard – Chief Financial Officer/Chief Operating Officer

Lisa Sherrard is a Production Accountant and Producer who entered the screen industry after a career in banking, bringing a strong background in accounting and finance. To support her transition into film, she undertook a Diploma of Production Accounting at the Australian Film and Television School in 2018. Lisa has worked across production, distribution, and impact on acclaimed documentaries including Gayby Baby, Motorkite Dreaming, In My Blood It Runs, Wash My Soul In the River’s Flow, and The Dreamlife of Georgie Stone. She is currently a Producer on Testimony (in development). Lisa is a founding member of Unquiet Collective and works part-time as Chief Financial Officer / Chief Operating Officer at Documentary Australia.

Lucy Corrigan – Head of Impact & Evaluation

With over six years at Documentary Australia, Lucy brings a lifelong commitment to the arts and contributing to positive social change. She has more than 15 years’ experience in research, evaluation and advocacy across mental health, child protection, early childhood education and broader social justice portfolios within the NGO, government and university sectors. Initially trained in Impact Producing under Jackie Turner, Lucy has since provided strategic and evaluation expertise across a diverse slate of documentary projects, with strengths in participatory approaches, program design, strategy, research and evaluation. A skilled listener and collaborative leader, Lucy is driven by a clear belief in documentary’s ability to elevate diverse experiences and perspectives and contribute to meaningful change.

Lisa Kanani – Impact Director
Lisa joined Documentary Australia in 2016 and has led impact campaigns for award-winning documentaries such as Backtrack Boys, Incarceration Nation, Visible Farmer, Delikado, and Trailblazers. She has mentored over 20 documentaries through the Environmental Incubator and Environmental Accelerator Programs, advising on impact and implementation strategies. For the past three years, Lisa has led the Impact Producer Program, training eight Impact Producers and curating nine Industry Masterclasses. Lisa is now leading the DocAccess initiative to drive new audiences for documentary films and will guide the expansion of the Impact Producer Program through the Advancing Impact Workshop Series to continue helping filmmakers strengthen their projects, extend their reach and achieve deeper impact.

Note: For any cancellations or refunds, please contact [email protected]

Documentary Australia acknowledges the Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples of this nation.  We acknowledge the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation as the traditional custodians of the land on which we work and we pay our respects to ancestors and Elders, past, present and emerging.