PUBLISHED21 Aug 2025
CSLA: Storytelling and Impact: Collaborating with the cultural sector for change
Introducing the speakers for one of the Climate Story Lab Australia presentations.
Storytelling and Impact: Collaborating with the cultural sector for change
Date: Wednesday 27 August
Time: 9.05-9.15am
Venue: Artspace, Gadigal Lands, Sydney
What do we mean by documentary impact? How can independent films, series and podcasts be harnessed for social change?
A recent study found that more people pay attention to documentaries than to major news organisations for information about climate change, and that documentaries were twice as influential as celebrities on social media.
In this presentation by Documentary Australia’s Stephanie King and Doc Society’s Hollie Fifer, we will explore the unique role that independent storytelling, and specifically documentary, can play as part of broader communications ecosystems, strategies and social movements.
Gain insights into the ways that the social, environmental and cultural sectors can partner to leverage documentary and distribution to advance climate action and justice.
This presentation will be followed by case studies and a panel discussion, The Changemakers: Documentary impact from the field.
Note: this lab is by invitation only.
Speaker: Stephanie King – Impact Director, Documentary Australia and Climate Story Lab Australia lead
Stephanie (she/her) is a documentary filmmaker, impact strategist and Impact Director at Documentary Australia working on unceded Gadigal, Gooniyandi and Bunuba lands. Her films have screened and been awarded at international film festivals, released in cinemas nationally, and shown on SBS, NITV, Nine, Al Jazeera, The Guardian, The Australian and The West, and in museums and galleries such as Sydney’s Museum of Contemporary Art. Stephanie’s impact series Voices of the River achieved a record 43,000 submissions to a WA Government inquiry, and she has worked as an impact producer or strategist on Delikado, Incarceration Nation, Undermined, Voices of the River, Climate Change & Other Small Talk, Climate Changers and others. She was a 2021 recipient of Screen Australia’s Enterprise People, and a 2022 fellow with UnionDocs Center for Documentary Art, New York.
Stephanie has also worked in the social and university sectors, and has been awarded for her social welfare and environmental sustainability campaigns. She has worked as a researcher on Indigenous housing, climate change, social equity and policy with the University of Sydney, and with Documentary Australia, she leads the Environmental Accelerator impact program, Climate Story Lab Australia and supports sector advocacy.
During the 2023 Martuwarra Fitzroy River floods, Stephanie led digital emergency communications efforts for Wangki Yupurnanupurru Radio in collaboration with local community organisations and the Department of Fire and Emergency Services. She also presented the daily Flood Report radio show, probing government representatives on their disaster response.
Speaker: Hollie Fifer – Director of Special Projects, Doc Society and Climate Story Lab Australia project lead
Hollie is the Director of Special Projects at Doc Society based on Dja Dja Wurrung Country in ‘Australia’ – land that has never been ceded. As a cultural strategist, nothing brings her more joy than working alongside and for documentary filmmakers to unlock the potential of their stories for change. At Doc Society, Hollie develops funds, convenings, networks and initiatives to strengthen our field and is one of the cheekiest members of our team.
Hollie has worked as a documentary director and impact producer and her films have screened in over 35 countries including at IDFA, CPH:Dox, Hot Docs, the UN Human Rights Council and the National Portrait Gallery of Australia.
Hollie currently serves on the Board of the Australian International Documentary Conference (AIDC) and the Castlemaine Documentary Festival (CDoc).
The 3-day lab aims to strengthen climate storytelling and impact campaigns, spur partnerships to mobilise strategic audiences and funding opportunities, and grow confidence in the power of social impact storytelling.