There more options for good storytelling that reach far beyond posting your film online and collecting views. Think creatively in repurposing your film post-festival run: helping an organization highlight a multi-faceted issue or submit to digital magazine. Consider reaching out to partners, breaking up your media, or working across-genres with journalists, photographers, or non-profits. Most importantly, step back and consider what will serve the story best.
Moderator
Ru Mahoney's most recent projects are Sea of Shadows, for National Geographic Doc Films and Terra Mater Factual Studios Field Producer which won an Audience Choice Award Sundance 2019 and Humpback Whales: A Detective Story, for BBC Natural World and PBS Nature. These films are both 2019 IWFF selections. Mahoney’s vast cross-industry experience drives meaningful collaborations that take a transdisciplinary approach to creating and assessing impact in all types of media. A commonality across her vast experience is that she works to empower scientists, conservation groups, and thought-leaders to become stakeholders in the storytelling process, and to bring science and conservation narratives into better alignment with evidence-based best practices for science communication.
Stephanie Stone is the co-founder and editorial director of bioGraphic, a digital magazine published by the California Academy of Sciences that features inspiring stories about science, nature, and sustainability from around the globe. Stone leverages her background in anthropology and nearly 20 years as a science communicator to shape bioGraphic’s highly visual approach to science journalism and storytelling. The magazine publishes a variety of feature types, including media-rich immersive articles, photo essays, and short-form documentary films. It digs deeply into complex scientific subject matter and challenging environmental issues, but always with a clear emphasis on creating beautiful, memorable stories that highlight both the scientific process and promising solutions to environmental problems. In addition to overseeing the magazine’s content and editorial strategy, Stone also leads the development of bioGraphic’s growing network of editorial and distribution partners, which now includes more than 60 separate news outlets. Stephanie is a 2019 IWFF Final Judge.
Danielle Steinberg is currently a senior producer running the video teams for Gizmodo and Earther. She is a founding member of PBS Digital Studios where she began her career, and was a producer for National Geographic, also contributing to Nat Geo's first digital series, all with a focus on science, conservation, exploration, wildlife, and the environment.
Matthew Podolsky is a co-founder of the Wild Lens Collective, a non profit focused on providing support for conservation-focused storytellers. He created the podcast series Eyes on Conservation. He has produced and directed numerous short films, is Emmy-nominated and was part of the team to win the audience award in the World Documentary category at Sundance Film Festival for Sea of Shadows.