New Fund Seeks to Support Socially Conscious Docs

LONDON: A new film fund has launched in the U.K. to support the production of socially conscious documentaries using donations from social networks and film fans.

Tipping Point Film Fund (TPFF) is a not-for-profit fund that aims to reach out to campaigning networks, independent film goers and online social networks to create a rolling, sustainable fund that can support a number of films at any time. The initiative is supported by British retail chain The Co-operative, which is already working with film distributor Dogwoof to finance the marketing and distribution costs associated with films on important issues, beginning with Burma VJ and The Vanishing of the Bees.

TPFF has identified a number of projects it aims to support, including Road to Bethlehem, by Palestinian filmmaker Leila Sansour; and Here Comes the Sun, an exploration of solar power. The fund is also working with the makers of the award-winning Black Gold, Nick and Marc Francis, on a film about the shadow banking system.

“As feature documentaries about social and environmental issues find a growing global audience, the struggle for production funding remains constant—despite the recognition that such films can and do contribute to significant social change," said TPFF co-founder Deborah Burton. "We want to create a new funding stream for accessible and cinematically strong social issue feature documentaries. To be able to support such filmmakers, we want to build a donor base of regular givers—people who are excited by and see value in directly supporting films for change. People of all ages, all walks of life, who want to come with us on the journey from development, through to distribution to campaigning."

Paul Monaghan, the head of social goals and sustainability at The Co-operative, a consumer-owned supermarket business with some 3 million members, added: "Using a democratic co-operative model, we believe that Tipping Point Film Fund can play a unique role in bringing important untold stories to people’s attention, and hope that these films will help mobilize our members and the general public."

Danny Glover, who executive produced Bamako, has lent his support to the fund, noting: "To use the medium of film to move and inspire people to get involved in important social justice issues is critical. In the U.S., we have an opportunity right now—with an administration that is hopefully listening—to exert an influence on how policy is shaped and implemented. We must make use of that opportunity and momentum and ensure our voices are heard.”