In 2023, Documentary Australia launched the Impact Producer Program – a new 10-month professional development program.
The program is built on over a decade of experience and aims to train the next generation of impact producers. The first of its kind in Australia; the program was developed in response to the increasingly unmet demand for experienced professionals to undertake this role.
Placements for 2023 were awarded to four participants Andrea Foxworthy, Mel Harwin, Natasha Akib and Rowena Potts. Read more about the 2023 participants below.
The second year commenced in March 2024 and is focused on training two participants, AJ Linke and Aprille Asfoura for 8 months. Read more about the 2024 participants here.
WATCH IMPACT
MASTERCLASS EVENTS
2024
2023
Funding for Impact
Impact and Distribution
Campaigning and Communications
Program Content
In 2024, the professional development program at Documentary Australia will offer 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.
MODULES AND ACTIVITIES
Participants will complete eight learning modules, activities and readings encompassing impact strategy, evaluation, implementation, fundraising, budgeting, communication, campaigning, and evaluation.
HANDS-ON PRACTICE
Participants will then put their learning into practice, embedded in the Impact and Evaluation Department. They will develop their skills and experience in a hands-on setting and work on impact campaigns for social impact documentary films under the guidance of the Documentary Australia team.
MENTORSHIPS
Participants will be mentored by Documentary Australia’s impact, evaluation, and fundraising teams to develop knowledge, skills and practical experience of campaigns.
ACHIEVEMENTS IN 2023
- Recruited and mentored 4 x program participants
- Developed 8 professional learning modules
- Participants supported six social-impact campaigns
- 17 formal learning and capacity building sessions
- 5 capacity building sessions and mini masterclasses with industry experts
- 3 public facing masterclasses with over 640 attendee
- 4 x Participants Supported
Meet the team
Lisa Kanani
Dr Mitzi Goldman
Lucy Corrigan
Sharlene Dadd
Stephanie King
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 2023 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 2023 with panel of Jonathan Page – CEO of Bonsai Films, and Anna Kaplan – Impact Producer and Co-Founder of Regen Studios.
- CAMPAIGNING & COMMUNICATIONS 2023 with panel of campaigners Tony Mohr and Emily Reeves.
- Impact & Education 2024 with panel of Shark Island Institute Education Director, Alex Shain, filmmaker and business affairs expert, Chris Kamen, and education specialist and resource writer, Dr Anne Chesher.
- Fundraising for Impact 2024 with panel of filmmaker, Ivan O’Mahoney, Board Director of the Ferris Family Foundation, Ben Ferris, and Head of Partnerships & Communications at Documentary Australia, Sharlene Dadd.
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.
2024 Impact Producer Program Participants
AJ Linke
AJ is a change-maker at heart, determined to shape the narrative around our changing climate with stories that inspire action in people from all backgrounds. AJ founded an environmental non-profit at the age of 21, whose programs were responsible for educating over 10,000 people about the reality of the plastic and textiles industries, and the potential for an alternative. Having broadened her focus into food production systems, AJ is inspired to bring a holistic lens to capture stories of sustainability and community transformation.
Aprille Asfoura
Aprille is a Palestinian-Australian woman and mother with a background in the arts and screen industry in Australia and overseas. She studied documentary production at AFTRS, inspired by her time in New York collaborating with acclaimed documentary filmmakers on their award-winning documentaries (Cameraperson (Kirsten Johnson); and Life, Animated (Julie Goldman). Her diverse roles span story development, directing, creative writing, and project management across festivals, scripted shorts, VR, and documentary features. She worked for two years with Screen Australia supporting the Gender Matters Task Force headed by Fiona Cameron. Aprille would like to continue to develop her own documentary practice and is dedicated to using documentary storytelling as a tool for political-structural change and advocating for human rights and social justice.
2023 Impact Producer Program Participants
Andrea Foxworthy
Mel Harwin
Natasha Akib
Rowena Potts
The Impact Producer Program is kindly supported by:
Venue Partner:
We use stories to incite action and create impact on vital social issues
Annual Impact Report 2022-2023
In FY22-23, Documentary Australia continued its commitment to empowering filmmakers to create and share compelling narratives to drive meaningful social impact.
The financial year saw a growth in the demand for documentary and the presence of Documentary Australia-supported films across various release options. Our commitment also extends beyond the lens, encompassing partner and industry engagement that elevates the collective impact of our endeavours.
Our dedicated community of donors play a pivotal role in our success. Your generous support enables us to bring powerful stories to life and to create real impact on the issues that matter most.