IDL course - Module 4

From Film to Community: How to Organize Impactful Screenings

What you'll learn in this module

  • How to understand where you and your film stand in relation to the communities and movements


  • How to shape your impact campaign in a consultative way, drawing on the experience of those who have been working on the issue long before you


  • How to navigate challenges when the work can feel like a Sisyphean task


  • How to “bake impact goals into the very DNA of a film” — hear firsthand from a producer whose impact campaign has kept the film screening every week for the past year and a half

About the expert

Miki Redelinghuys (South Africa)

Miki is a documentary filmmaker and co-founder of Plexus Films, who is passionate about the power of storytelling for change. She is Climate Story Lab Southern Africa Co-director and Program Director of the University of Cape Town Sunshine Cinema Film Impact course.

You can watch the videos organized by topic, or listen to the full audio recording of the conversation with Miki Redelinghuys from the Alternativa Impact Distribution Lab 2025.
Listen to the Full Lecture

Miki gives a brief overview of her journey as an impact producer and shares some valuable resources.

You can find links to The Impact Field Guide and the STEPS Impact Toolkit, mentioned by Miki, in the list of external resources at the end of the module.

Let’s unpack some of the more challenging aspects of impact work. No matter how huge or overwhelming the context of your film’s issue may seem, it’s essential to recognize what activists and organizers are already doing on the ground and to educate yourself about the ongoing work, existing communities, and available resources. Constantly aligning your priorities with social change can be difficult at times — but it is possible. 

How do you stay inclusive when working with participants? How do you follow the truth all the way through, even when it means listening to perspectives you don’t necessarily agree with? What tools can help you achieve maximum publicity and visibility? Should impact goals be remapped over time? And finally — what alliances are necessary to make that happen? Miki addresses these questions through the case study of Mother City.

Work on your project

If you’re actively building your impact campaign, use the Course Journal to turn ideas from this module into concrete steps.

Download PDF

Explore Further

Climate Story Lab Southern Africa — A residential lab that brings together climate experts, activists and creatives to develop effective stories and engagement strategies to inspire meaningful action


Durban FilmMart — A non-profit company that facilitates local and international trade and investment in African film content


UCT Film Impact Facilitator Course — An online course on using film as a tool for social change, offered by Sunshine Cinema and the University of Cape Town


The Impact Field Guide — A collection of ideas, tools, and examples intended to support filmmakers and their films to contribute to positive change in society


The STEPS Impact Toolkit A practical guide by STEPS: a Southern Africa-based media organization designed for creating social change through film. It features the This Land case study, written by Miki Redelinghuys; the link can be found on page 28.

Presentation Slides

Download the slides from this module to review the key insights anytime.

Download PDF

All images, film clips, posters, and stills are used for non-commercial educational purposes only and are included solely for critical commentary and teaching. All copyrights in the underlying films and promotional materials belong to their respective rights holders.

Visit our Impact Field Guide page