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Storyteller Support

The Common Pictures Impact Media Fellowship supports storytellers and projects that popularize mutual flourishing in our three focus areas: Eco-Restoration, Race in America and Israel/Palestine. 

We address injustice by motivating audiences with hope and offering clear pathways to action. Through our Impact Media Fellowship, Common Pictures supports storytellers and champions restorative storytelling. The Fellowship equips creators with the resources and relationships needed to develop, implement and measure impact strategies and audience engagement. We are honored to collaborate with and support the exceptional film teams participating as Impact Media Fellows.

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Impact Media Fellowship

The Common Pictures Impact Media Fellowship provides opportunities for storytellers, filmmakers and impact media creators to hone their craft in the arena of restorative storytelling. In order to augment restorative storytelling projects, and to achieve our philanthropic mission, Common Pictures provides professional services to develop impact campaigns and audience engagement.

The Fellowship provides participating storytellers with wrap-around support including mentorship, financial assistance for obtaining key resources and/or professional services and access to industry networks.

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A mand holds up a photo of Hind Rajab

The Fellowship’s support suite is custom fit for each participating storyteller in order to maximize the power of restorative storytelling, to harness community engagement and to honor diverse perspectives.

The Impact Media Fellowship also benefits the public at-large by providing educational and culturally significant content that develops empathy and advocates for restorative relationships, civility, mutual respect, the betterment of our communities and responsible stewardship of the world in which we live.

The Impact Media Fellowship is designed to leverage positive cultural change by developing meaningful content, healthy relationships and hope for the future.

Support + Amplification

Storytellers and their projects participating in the Impact Media Fellowship receive wrap around support via Common Pictures directly paying for a variety of industry leaders and specialists to amplify their work, these include:

  • Audience & Community Engagement

  • Impact Strategy & Campaign Execution

  • Distribution & Viewership Strategy

  • Storytelling Ethics & Feedback

  • Events, Experiences & Partnerships

  • Marketing, PR & Fundraising

FAQs

  • We are medium agnostic. To date we have been involved in short and feature documentaries, short and feature narratives, photography books, podcasts and a documentary series. We remain open to other forms of storytelling when they align with our focus areas, values and impact priorities.

  • We primarily advance impact, education, and audience engagement by directly paying those professional service providers who help move the needle in our three focus areas through impact media projects.

  • We do not provide support for political candidates or specific legislation. 

  • We typically do not make grants or program related investments. Please see above for more information on how we do support our Fellows and their projects.

  • Support levels vary widely, typically ranging from $10,000 to $150,000.

  • Credit levels vary based on the level of resources we contribute to each project. In addition to the support outlined above, we often serve as working Executive Producers, helping to strengthen and guide projects in as many ways as possible.

  • We invite 3-5 storytellers/projects into the Fellowship each year.

  • We currently accept projects at any stage and encourage those in the early research phase to take advantage of early impact support and the benefits of joining our Fellowship throughout their storytelling journey. Our aim is to support this important work from the very beginning of development, enabling projects to integrate audience mapping, impact strategy, and coalition-building from the outset and carry these practices through the entire process.

  • We invite storytellers and projects to apply on a rolling basis. Our team reviews applications twice each year—once in the spring and once in the fall. We will confirm receipt of your application and follow up with questions or updates.

  • Our review team includes Common Pictures staff and family foundation leaders. We evaluate each project based on its connection to our focus areas and restorative storytelling ethos. Please become familiar with our focus areas and restorative storytelling ethos on our website and read the “How to Apply” section below to confirm your project is a good fit before applying. 

  • At this time, the Fellowship is not timebound. Fellows join the Common Pictures community and are encouraged to participate in as many learning and connection opportunities as they wish throughout their tenure as creators committed to restorative storytelling.

  • Because we receive a high volume of applications, we do not offer individualized feedback.

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How to Apply

Step 1:

Please review our Mission and Restorative Storytelling Ethos on the About Page.

Step 2:

Please review our Focus Areas. If your project fits one of these, please continue.

Step 3:

Please read the Impact Media Fellowship description to see if you are interested in participating.

Step 4:

Please complete the form below to submit your project.

Application Form