Documentary Australia

APPLICATIONS FOR the 2024 impact producer program are now closed
Previous
Next

Built on more than a decade of experience, the Impact Producer Program aims to train the next generation of impact producers. This program is the first of its kind in Australia, developed in response to the increasingly unmet demand for experienced professionals to undertake this role.

In 2023, Documentary Australia launched the Impact Producer Program – a new ten-month professional development program that commenced in February.

Through this new program, our goal is to share the knowledge we have gained to support people in applying their professional experience to strategise, fundraise and use documentaries as a tool to create change on pressing social issues.

This unique program provides opportunities for professionals to move into this new and rewarding profession and develop their skills within a creative and supportive environment.

 

WATCH IMPACT
 MASTERCLASS EVENTS

Funding for Impact 
– Part One
– Part Two

Impact and Distribution
– Part One
– Part Two

Campaigning and Communications
– Part One
– Part Two

2023 Impact Producer Program Participants

Andrea Foxworthy

Andrea is the Impact Producer of AACTA and Walkley Award nominated feature documentary Franklin (2022). She co-produced (with Philippa Campey of Film Camp) the feature and TV documentary Brazen Hussies (2020), which was nominated for Best Feature Documentary at the AACTA (2020) and AIDC Awards (2021), and was nominated for AACTA Best Factual Program (2021).

Mel Harwin

Mel has more than fifteen years of experience working across international development, social and community sectors within Asia, Africa, and Oceania. She holds a BA in Community Development with published academic research and non-academic impact-focused works and is a social change writer, facilitator, and strategic consultant.

Natasha Akib

Natasha specialises in film production, capacity building, facilitation and campaigning and has over a decade of experience working in the social enterprise and non-profit sectors.   Natasha is a Co-creator and Director at Digital Storytellers – a B-Corp and social enterprise creating a better future through the power of story.

Rowena Potts

Rowena is a filmmaker, writer and visual anthropologist. Her short films explore a wide range of subjects and have screened at international festivals and museums in the United States, Australia, and Europe. Rowena holds a PhD in Cultural Anthropology from New York University and a Graduate Diploma in Documentary from AFTRS.


IMPACT PRODUCER PROGRAM SO FAR

 2023 pilot program currently taking place until December 2023

4 x Participants Supported 

6 x Impact Campaigns Supported

6 x Documentary Australia Team Mentors

3 x Industry Masterclasses

 

Impact Producer position FAQs
What is an ImPact Producer?


Want to get in touch?
info@documentaryaustralia.com.au


Support the
Impact Producer Program 

 

Program Content

The inaugural professional development program at Documentary Australia offers formal learning through specialist designed modules, one-on-one structured mentorship with individual members of the Documentary Australia team and a program of masterclasses from highly respected industry leaders.

Participants will apply their learning to documentaries within our broad slate of films seeking support and will practise impact producing under the guidance of the Documentary Australia team.

MODULES AND ACTIVITIES

Participants will complete eight learning modules, activities and readings that encompass impact strategy, implementation, budgeting and fundraising, partnerships, communication, and evaluation.

Read more about the modules.

 

HANDS-ON PRACTICE

Participants will then put their learning into practice for several months, embedded in the Impact and Evaluation Department. They will develop their skills and experience in a hands-on setting and work on impact campaigns, fundraising, partnerships, and events for social impact documentary films.

MENTORSHIPS

Participants will embedded within the Documentary Australia Impact and Evaluation Department and receive mentorship from team members.

Meet the Team

MASTERCLASSES

In this masterclass series, we will meet panels of impact producers, industry experts and award-winning filmmakers to discover the key to successful impact campaigns. The masterclass series illustrates how to create impact, build movements, maximise distribution models, attract donors, build partnerships, and engage audiences.

Recent Masterclasses to watch below:

  • FUNDING FOR IMPACT with panel of Andrew Myer AM – Chair of Documentary
    Australia and Chair of Sidney Myer Fund, Belinda Morrissey – CEO of the English
    Family Foundation, and Duy Huynh and Andrew Kelly – Director/Producers of
    documentary How to Thrive. 
  • IMPACT & DISTRIBUTION with panel of Jonathan Page – CEO of Bonsai Films, and Anna Kaplan – Impact Producer and Co-Founder of Regen Studios.

  • CAMPAIGNING & COMMUNICATIONS with panel of campaigners Tony Mohr and Emily Reeves.

What is an impact producer?

An impact producer is responsible for designing and implementing strategic impact and education strategies around social impact documentaries. An impact producer will place a documentary film as a central tool in a campaign by building collaboration with a broad range of partners across civil society.

There is an increasing demand for impact producers in the Australian documentary sector as films forge new pathways to audiences beyond broadcast, festival, and theatrical release.

The Impact Producer Program is kindly supported by:

Venue Partner: