Storytelling has been around since the dawn of man.  Yes, they have evolved, along with the format, from campfires to scriptures, from books to films and television; but as the stories change, so does their platforms and values.  We are now living in a time of uncertainty, and the need for more socially relevant stories has emerged.  So too has CineCause, a new avenue of exposure for such content and their related issues.  

Audiences around the world are increasingly turning towards socially relevant films that inspire them in their lives and connect them to peoples, cultures and causes. Examples abound of engaging films that have inspired audiences to take action and make a difference.  Yes, this applies to narrative films, whether it’s a studio film (THE BLIND SIDE) or a indie film (THE AGE OF STUPID), these films are largely in the documentary genre.

Clearly, the rise of the documentary has demonstrated a shift in taste, as intelligent audiences are looking for something more than formulaic studio fare.  The documentary has achieved bona fide acceptance as a veritable and profitable motion picture category.

"I really do think we are living in a golden age of documentary film-making”. There is a frustration with traditional media and a hunger for documentaries that have the stamp of integrity. ... people are looking for bigger truths about the way we live now, truths they are not getting from Hollywood or the traditional media, says filmmaker Lucy Walker (WASTE LAND)

High profile docs such as WINGED MIGRATION, FARENHEIT/911 and SUPERSIZE ME have all achieved box office numbers in excess of $10M, something largely unheard of for a documentary during the 1990s.  In fact, box office numbers for docs saw a 4-fold increase between 2000 and 2002 and by 2004, documentary box office revenues surpassed 50 million.  Bolstered by AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH in 2007 (grossing over 50 million worldwide), the numbers continue to grow exponentially. There has been a steady increase of doc releases of 25% from year to year since 2004.

Participant led the charge with AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH and then THE COVE, both taking home Oscars for Best Documentary.  Participant connects the films with the causes, providing opportunities to take action.   And Snagg Films has made a wonderful contribution to the space, with founder Ted Leonsis coining Filmanthropy to formalize this connection.This new methodology is here to stay, and CineCause hopes to support these films and their related causes, helping to generate more awareness for this type of content, and ultimately inspiring audiences to learn more about the issues, share the ideas with their friends and families, and ultimately, take action.