Impact Producer | Climate Film Distribution & Exhibition Strategist
I help urgent documentaries travel further, reach the right audiences and create meaningful social and environmental change.
With 25+ years across film, festivals and environmental storytelling, I design and deliver audience-centred impact campaigns, distribution strategies, partnerships and event-led releases, connecting films with communities, organisations and opportunities for action.
What I Do
Impact Strategy & Production
From early campaign thinking through hands-on delivery: impact goals, audience and stakeholder mapping, partnerships, outreach, screening strategies, campaign systems, evaluation and reporting.
Distribution & Exhibition
Helping documentaries reach audiences through cinemas, festivals, community screenings, universities, schools and cultural organisations, with particular expertise in UK-wide and place-based environmental film distribution.
Festivals, Programmes & Partnerships
Curating films and conversations that bring global issues into local contexts, building partnerships and participatory programmes around environment, community and place.
Selected Work & Impact
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800+ environmental films programmed or supported
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170+ events delivered for THE OIL MACHINE
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37 locally led COP26 climate festivals engaging 30,000+ people across Scotland
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20+ years connecting issue-led films with audiences, communities and action
Current and recent projects include Climate Flock with Doc Society, supporting 12 UK climate documentaries with impact and distribution strategy; SMOKING SHORES, developed through Dok.Incubator and the FIFDH Impact Lab; OURS with Platform; and Montrose LandxSea Film Festival, Scotland’s environmental film festival.
Previous work includes leading the UK-wide impact campaign for THE OIL MACHINE, producing Scotland’s Climate Festival @ COP26, founding and directing the San Francisco Green Film Festival, and directing the International Ocean Film Festival.
I also work as a trainer, mentor and speaker, including the UAL Impact Storytelling Fellowship, BFI, Independent Cinema Office, Film Hub Scotland and Julie’s Bicycle.
Work With Me
I work with filmmakers, producers, funders and mission-led organisations to help films reach the right audiences and create meaningful impact, from early strategy through to hands-on campaign delivery.
Support can include:
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Impact and distribution strategy
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Audience and stakeholder mapping
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Partnership development and outreach
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Theatrical, community and educational exhibition
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Festival positioning and event-led releases
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Campaign planning, systems and workflows
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Evaluation, tracking and funder reporting
Consultancy & Strategy Sessions
Need focused support rather than ongoing campaign delivery? I also offer tailored consultancy, from a one-hour strategy call to half- or full-day working sessions.
Sessions can include advance review of a film, deck or campaign plan, followed by practical recommendations on positioning, audiences, partnerships, distribution and next steps.
A sliding scale may be available for independent documentaries, grassroots projects and charities.
Let’s Talk
If you’re developing a film or campaign and want it to connect more deeply, travel further and matter more, I’d love to hear about it.
rachel.caplan [at] gmail.com
Photos: festival audience at top: Graham Black; Rachel on beach by Lesley Martin Photography; Photo galleries: EkoFilm, Czechia; London Green Film Festival at Regent's Place; Culture for Climate Scotland; Graham Black; Tommy Lau; Pamela Gentile; UAL; Emma Jamieson; Paul Reid; Ben Kempas.