Impact Campaign Open Call

Written By Gary Ricke

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Background

Represent Justice is collaboratively designing and leading impact campaigns for films addressing mass incarceration. We prioritize projects helmed by people who are currently or formerly incarcerated.

Represent Justice turns stories into action to change the legal system, while building the capacity of communities impacted by the carceral system. Together with filmmakers and film participants, we launch impact campaigns that connect award-winning films with movement leaders, and uplift community-led solutions to protect vulnerable communities, rather than reinforcing cycles of violence and harm.

Since 2019, Represent Justice has led campaigns for eight feature films that address issues in the criminal justice system. Our impact campaigns are centered around building capacity and narrative power for currently and formerly incarcerated film participants, who play a leading role on each campaign. We provide services to participants throughout the campaign, from mental health support, to public speaking training, to hands-on support for their creation of campaign material collateral.

In 2023, we were thrilled to launch our first Impact Campaign Open Call, and since then we have been honored to select and launch impact campaigns for Kemba, Songs From The Hole and The Strike. We look forward to launching our next Open Call for films being released in 2026.

 

The Opportunity

In Fall 2025, we will invite film teams with projects releasing in 2026 to apply to our Impact Campaign Open Call.

The Impact Campaign Open Call consists of:

  • An impact campaign carried out by Represent Justice: We will collaborate with filmmakers and film participants to plan and then launch an impact campaign lasting approximately six months.

Our impact activities include:

  • A $20,000 grant to system-impacted filmmakers and film participants 

  • Impact strategy design

  • Mental health support for filmmakers & film participants

  • Media and speaking training for filmmakers & film participants

  • Support for creation of campaign material collateral

  • Advocacy landscaping & analysis

  • Partnership outreach & engagement

  • Implementation of impact screenings & events, including all logistics

  • Negotiation of speaking appearances for filmmakers & film participants

  • Digital storytelling on Represent Justice platforms

  • Impact evaluation

Our impact activities do not include:

  • Support for development, production or post-production

 

Application Process

Our application for the 2026 Impact Campaign Open Call will open in Fall 2025.

We will hold a virtual information session to provide more information and answer any questions. Stay tuned!

We will announce the selected project in January 2026, based on input from Represent Justice staff, Ambassadors, and partners. For projects that are shortlisted, we will schedule a meeting to speak about your goals for the impact of your project.

We want to make our application processes accessible.

You can let us know if you prefer to submit cell phone videos instead of a written application. Email our team at films@representjustice.org.

 

Eligibility & Criteria

Eligibility

By submitting your application, you are confirming your project meets the requirements below. Questions? Check out our FAQs and attend our virtual info session.

1. Project Type: Your project can be scripted or nonfiction, and short, feature-length, or series format.

2. 2026 Release Plans: We are looking for projects that will release to public audiences in 2026, including film festivals; theatrical, broadcast or streaming release. Please note your project is still eligible if your festival premiere is in 2025, but the majority of your distribution is planned for 2026.

3. Public Screenings: Screening events are a central activity within impact campaigns. Please do not apply if your film or series will not be available for public impact screening events.

4. US Focus: We are looking for films that address the system of mass incarceration in the United States. At this time, we’re not looking for projects focused outside of the U.S.

Criteria

Our process of selecting projects will be based on the areas below. 

1. Authorship

Across all of our programs, Represent Justice is committed to building narrative power for currently and formerly-incarcerated communities, who are often excluded from accessing the resources to document and distribute their own stories. Your project should be meaningfully led by currently, or formerly, incarcerated people. Examples are projects that are (co)directed, (co)produced, or (co)written by a person who is currently, or formerly, incarcerated. 

2. The Story

We are looking for films and series that examine the systems driving mass incarceration and shine a light on the harms these systems perpetuate. We are committed to sharing stories that explore the humanity and dignity of people who are currently incarcerated or who have been incarcerated. We also strive to share a vision of a justice system that protects people who are vulnerable, rather than continuing to reinforce cycles of violence.

3. Call to Action

Stories well told shape the narratives we tell about ourselves, change our culture, influence policies, and are focal points for investing in community-based solutions. We are looking for projects where the film team as a whole sees the potential for their project to influence people and lead them to new perspectives.

We are looking for films and series that feature a call-to-action for viewers, which helps us to reach audiences and prompt them to act. 

We are also looking for projects where partner organizations and movement leaders see an opportunity to embed a film within their ongoing work.

4. Values, Ethics & Accountability

Media shapes our society, and a values-based approach to storytelling is critical to building an equitable and just future. In our impact campaigns, Represent Justice strives to meet the standard set in the Documentary Accountability Working Group’s Framework for Values, Ethics, and Accountability in Nonfiction Filmmaking. We are looking for projects that center the needs and experiences of the people and communities who are participating in the film, with transparency and care, throughout filmmaking and distribution. 

5. Geography

To build up a solid ecosystem of system-impacted storytellers and maximize our impact, we prioritize work in key geographic areas, including states we are already working within and states we plan to expand our work. Teams with projects anchored in the following states are strongly encouraged to apply:

States where we are already working: Alabama, Arizona, Texas, Florida, California, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Louisiana, New York, Illinois, Wisconsin, District of Columbia

States where we are working to expand our programming: Michigan, Oklahoma, Indiana, Virginia

6. Issue Area

Represent Justice focused our work on four key issue areas. Projects that focus on one or more of the following key issue areas are strongly encouraged to apply:

  • Gender-inclusive justice

  • Youth justice

  • Alternatives to incarceration

  • Reentry and opportunity 

7. Distribution

We plan our impact campaign to build on films’ public release. We are looking for films with distribution plans in place for 2026 through film festivals, theatrical, broadcast and/or streaming.

 

FAQs

  • This is primarily a grant of in-kind services. For the project selected, Represent Justice will work closely with film teams and film participants to develop an impact strategy, and then Represent Justice will launch and manage the impact campaign.

    As part of the impact campaign, Represent Justice will also provide a $20,000 grant to system-impacted filmmakers or film participants.

  • Yes, you are encouraged to apply! We’d want to know what support you have already received, and what activities or programs the support covers.

  • No, you do not need a fiscal sponsor to apply because this is a grant of in-kind services.

  • Yes, you can still apply even if your project doesn’t meet all of the 7 criteria. We use these criteria to select projects, but we know not all films will perfectly meet each and every criteria area.

    However, please do make sure your film meets all 4 eligibility requirements before applying.

  • Yes, you can still apply. However, as you can see in our criteria section, authorship is one of the 7 criteria we use to select projects. 

  • Systems of inequity reinforce each other, driving cycles of violence and harm. This means films and series that focus on the justice system cover other crucial themes as well. You should apply if your project addresses the justice system as a primary theme, even if your project addresses other primary themes, such as racial equity, disability rights, or the child welfare system. However, you should not apply if the justice system is not a primary theme.

  • If your release plan is not yet confirmed but you are in advanced conversations with distribution partners for a 2026 release, you can still apply. Release plans include key milestones like your project’s festival premiere; theatrical, broadcast or streaming release.

    You should not apply if you do not know if you will be releasing your project next year.

  • Join our future virtual information session! You can also contact us at films@representjustice.org.

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Gary Ricke http://orbisdesign.com