Fundraising Campaign Launched to Secure Future of Raising Films, New Ambassador and Australian Chapter Announced

February 12, 2018

Copy Editing and Posting by Jessica Gibbons

A NEW fundraising campaign, to advance their work addressing the issues faced by parents and carers in the screen industries, has been launched by pioneering campaigners Raising Films. Raising Films, founded in 2015, is launching this new drive to aid their ground-breaking community, campaigning, and consultancy work.

We are #RaisingRaisingFilms on Crowdfunder! from Raising Films on Vimeo.

The organization, now an integral part of the efforts to highlight issues of diversity in the film and TV industries, is aiming to raise £50,000. This will cover the costs of the organization for two years and £36,000 of the total has already been secured from industry donors and supporters. The remainder is now being raised by a crowdfunding campaign launched today at www.crowdfunder.co.uk/raisingfilms.

Raising Films published the first industry survey, Making It Possible, into how parenting and caring acts as a barrier to career progression in TV and Film. It also generated the first industry report how inclusive practices can be introduced within the industry – Raising our Game.

Nicky Bentham, co-founder of Raising Films, said: “Conversations about inclusivity have never been more alive than they are right now, and Raising Films are committed to generating solutions.

“Thanks to our community and our research, we have set out a blueprint for change: we’ve offered training, mentoring, network-building and, in partnership with the Cinema and Television Benevolent Fund, financial support to help hundreds of individuals – and we’ve developed a free set of practical checklists to address discrimination. We know there is both a creative and commercial rationale for the industry to act.”

Raising Films is a volunteer-led organization and most of the founding team are parent-filmmakers donating their time.

While projects have been realized thanks to funding partners including Creative Scotland, BFI, Creative Skillset, Creative England, Directors UK, WGGB, PACT, and the CTBF, core financial support is needed to sustain and develop the organization to the next level.

Hope Dickson Leach, co-founder and writer-director said: “All of the money we raise will go directly into creating fairly-paid, part-time, flexible positions that uphold our values.

“We’re so grateful of the support we’ve had from industry organisations and individuals so far and know the support for our activities is out there.

“The rewards we are offering are the knowledge that our work will continue and thrive, and a little dose of inspiration for everyone, whether they can donate or not, through unique, inspirational messages from A-list talent including Amma Asante and Sally Potter when we hit certain milestones, recorded exclusively for Raising Films.”

To support the next phase of its development, the Raising Films Ambassador team is also expanding, with Alice Lowe joining Charlotte Riley to champion the organizations’ work. Alice will be hosting a fundraising closing event on March 9th, with complimentary room hire of 195 Piccadilly provided courtesy of BAFTA’s Gift of the Academy scheme. Ticket sales and a raffle on the night will also contribute to the fundraising target.

International chapters are also emerging, with the first launching in Australia this week driven by Women in Film & TV New South Wales who plan to work nationally on their own research and industry report through a survey and stakeholder conference. More information about the strategy can be found on the WIFTNSW website at www.wiftnsw.org.au/raisingfilmsaus and via Facebook @raisingfilmsaus or Twitter #raisingfilmsau. There are also the reward videos posted on the Crowdfunder page that will be updated throughout the campaign!

Raising Films Advisory Board Member Yaw Basoah said: “What the team have achieved on limited resources is incredible, but there’s still so much more to do and it’s a global challenge. Now is the time for the industry to show that it values what Raising Films stands for by securing their future.”

If you’d like to learn more about Raising Films, take a look at this article about the organization and this interview with Raising Films Co-Founder Hope Dickson-Leach and Project Manager Laura Giles. Please donate at www.crowdfunder.co.uk/raisingfilms and share on social media to support this amazing organization!