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​I work with filmmakers, festivals, and mission-led organisations to turn powerful films into meaningful social and environmental change.

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My practice sits at the intersection of storytelling, community, and place. I design impact campaigns, festivals, and partnerships that serve the audiences and communities most affected by the issues on screen.

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Who I Work With

  • Filmmakers and artists developing impact-led work

  • Film festivals, cinemas, and exhibitors

  • Funders and cultural organisations

  • Community groups, educators, and changemakers​​​​​​​

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What I focus on

  • ​Impact campaign strategy & production, from early planning through delivery and evaluation

  • Purpose-led film programming & curation for festivals, cinemas, and cultural organisations

  • Creative placemaking & community engagement through film

  • Partnerships for people & planet, collaborating with mission-aligned organisations

  • Inclusive, accessible engagement, centred on justice, local voices, and participation

 

I also support the sector through mentoring, training, and international networks focused in impact-led storytelling. 

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Why I do this

​Film can do more than inform or inspire.​ When paired with the right partnerships, audiences, and actions, it can shift conversations, strengthen communities, and support real-world change.

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My work is driven by a simple belief: impact should be purposeful, inclusive, and rooted in place.

Let's Collaborate

Rachel Caplan photo by Lesley Martin.jpeg

Selected Experience & Impact

Across my career, I’ve programmed and supported 800+ environmental films, alongside extensive public engagement through festivals, campaigns, and community-led events in the UK, Europe, and the US.

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  • Festival Director, Montrose LandxSea Film Festival — Scotland’s environmental film festival, combining cinema, creative placemaking, schools engagement, and community action.

  • Impact Producer, The Oil Machine (BBC-funded): led the UK national impact campaign, delivering 170+ events with cinemas, universities, unions, grassroots groups, and climate organisations during a pivotal moment in the North Sea transition.

  • Impact Coordinator, OURS (DocSoc funded): Supporting Platform on the 2026 impact campaign for OURS, helping shape screenings, partnerships, and audience engagement around community and public energy in Scotland.

  • Impact Producer, The Last Musician of Auschwitz (BBC-funded): shaping UK engagement across cinemas, community venues, and educational settings.

  • Festival Producer, Scotland’s Climate Festival @ COP26 (Scottish Govt funded): supporting 37 locally-led festivals and engaging 30,000+ people nationwide.

  • Former Executive Director of San Francisco Green Film Festival and Director of the International Ocean Film Festival.

  • Frequent speaker and trainer for industry organisations, most recently including BFI, ICO, Film Hub Scotland, Julie's Bicycle; host/mentor for the UAL Impact Storytelling Fellowship, supporting projects across film, TV, XR, games, and audio.

  • Member of Global Impact Producers Alliance (GIPA); Green Film Network (25 countries); BECTU, BAFTA

  • LinkedIn

connect on LinkedIn

photo: Lesley Martin Photography/LandxSea

​​​​​​​​Sample Consultancy Packages​​

I work with filmmakers, producers, and organisations to develop strategies for festival positioning, impact campaigns, audience engagement, and distribution pathways.

 

Tailored packages are available for 60 minutes, 2-3 hours, half-day, or full-day day sessions. A sliding scale may be available for independent documentaries, grassroots projects, and NGOs/charities.

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  • ​Intro Strategy Call (60 min) 

An initial conversation the project, positioning, audience strategy, and potential next steps.

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  • Impact Strategy Session (2–3 hours)

A deeper dive into the film's strategy, including festival positioning, outreach pathways, partnerships, and how screenings can support the film’s broader goals.​​

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  • Impact Advisory / Written Feedback (half-day)

Includes advance review of materials (film, deck, campaign outline, or festival strategy) and detailed strategic feedback with practical recommendations.

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  • Impact Strategy Lab (full-day)

An intensive working session designed to help teams clarify their goals and develop a practical roadmaps of their festival's impact and outreach.

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Typical areas explored in the Lab include:

  • Defining the film’s core story, themes, and intended impact

  • Identifying priority audiences and partners

  • Mapping the festival landscape and positioning strategy

  • Exploring outreach, community engagement, and screening opportunities

  • Developing an initial impact campaign framework and next steps

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The Lab can be run in person or online and is tailored to the needs of each project. It typically includes advance review of the film and materials, a structured workshop session, and a summary of key recommendations.

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How I Work​​​​

My approach is:

  • Purpose-driven — guided by clear environmental and social goals

  • Partnership-led — collaborating with mission-aligned organisations

  • Inclusive by design — centred on justice, access, and local voices

  • Strategic and measurable — focused on outcomes, not just outputs

  • Audience-centred — making it easier for people to engage and take meaningful action

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Let's Work Together

If you’re developing a film, festival, or programme and want it to connect more deeply, travel further, and matter more, from strategy to delivery, I’d love to talk.

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Talk to me about your impact goals at rachel.caplan [at] gmail.com​​​​​​​

Impact Services​​​​

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​1. Impact-Driven Film Strategy & Consultancy

For films seeking reach, relevance, and real-world outcomes

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  • Impact strategy design and delivery

  • Audience and stakeholder mapping

  • Partnerships with community, cultural, and advocacy organisations

  • Event-based and hybrid engagement models

  • Learning, dialogue, and action pathways

  • Impact evaluation and reporting

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Selected work:

  • Led the UK national impact campaign for The Oil Machine (BBC-funded), delivering 170+ events and working with grassroots groups, cinemas, universities, unions, and climate organisations during a pivotal moment in the North Sea transition.

  • Impact Producer for The Last Musician of Auschwitz (BBC-funded), shaping UK engagement across cinemas, community venues, and educational settings.​​

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​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​2. Purpose-Led Festival Direction & Programming

For festivals, cinemas, and cultural organisations

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  • Audience-centred programme design and facilitated conversation

  • Curation with social, environmental, and place-based context

  • Thematic strands and audience journeys

  • Speaker-led screenings, assemblies, and participatory events

  • International and community-facing programming

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Selected work:

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​​​​​​​​​​​​​3. Creative Placemaking & Community Engagement through Film

Using film to strengthen local culture and civic life

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  • Place-based programme design

  • Community partnerships and co-creation

  • Accessibility-led and inclusive event design​​​​​​​​

  • Touring and regional engagement models

  • Youth, schools, and intergenerational work

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Selected work:

  • Producer of Scotland’s Climate Festival (COP26), supporting 37 locally-led festivals and engaging over 30,000 people nationwide.

  • Year-round screening and engagement programmes rooted in community cinemas and non-traditional venues.

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​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​4. Training, Mentoring & Sector Support

Supporting the next generation of impact-led storytellers and practitioners

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  • Mentoring filmmakers and producers

  • Fellowship and lab facilitation

  • Guest lecturing and workshops

  • Festival Jury service and advisory roles

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Selected work:

  • Host and mentor for the UAL Impact Storytelling Fellowship, supporting projects across film, TV, XR, games, and audio.

  • Frequent speaker and moderator for festivals, film hubs, and cultural organisations in the UK and internationally, most recently including BFI, ICO, Film Hub Scotland, Julie's Bicycle.​

  • Member of Global Impact Producers Alliance (GIPA); Green Film Network (25 countries); UK Green Film Network; MA in Cinema, British Film Institute (BFI); BECTU member, BAFTA awards voting member.

Photo Credits: ​Graham Black/Montrose LandxSea Film Fest, Lesley Martin/LandxSea, Tommy Lau/SF Green Film Fest, Pamela Gentile/SF Green Film Fest, Regent's Place/London Green Film Fest, Ben Kempas/The Oil Machine, EkoFilm Czechia, Culture for Climate Scotland/Springboard, AKO Storytelling Institute at UAL, Emma Jamieson/Montrose LandxSea Film Fest, Rachel Caplan.

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