Filmbuilding

About Filmbuilding

Filmbuilding facilitates collaborative visual storytelling experiences for students worldwide that bring diverse groups together to create, learn, and grow from one another's perspectives. By harnessing the co-creative power of film, their workshops address urgent social challenges while building empathy, understanding, and stronger communities across cultural, educational, and demographic divides. Their innovative approach to storytelling empowers individuals to become agents of positive change while strengthening the social fabric that connects us all.

What They Do

Filmbuilding's guided, co-creative filmmaking workshops equip students and educators with a discovery-based framework for using visual storytelling to explore and address real-world challenges within their own community and beyond. Through a structured process that moves from concept development to filming, editing, and public sharing, participants learn how to collaboratively investigate issues, synthesize diverse perspectives, and craft stories that foster understanding and impact. Unlike traditional industry-driven methods, they support students to develop their projects from their own cinematic rules, responding step by step to the conditions they encounter. Their programs aim to bring together individuals from diverse backgrounds to exchange ideas, outlooks, and more through film, creating a patchwork of perspectives exposed throughout the filmmaking process.

Partnership with EMA

EMA has supported the growth and development of Filmbuilding over the last two years in numerous areas, including funding, communications, outreach, and program design. Together, we have collaborated on several student-centered initiatives with Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School (LSRHS) outside Boston, beginning in spring 2024 with the launch of the "Belonging" project in which LSRHS students came together across diverse lived experiences to co-create short films exploring the essence of ‘belonging.’

EMA's Communications team has provided critical capacity-building support, from website consulting to student recruitment to a complete brand refresh in 2025 to create a new visual identity for Filmbuilding including a logo, branding kit, and social media templates and strategy.

As a funder, EMA has also helped to produce showcase screenings and build organizational infrastructure, including a team expansion in 2026 to increase the organization’s reach and sustainability, with several new paid positions including a Partnerships & Growth Team and a Social Media & Storytelling Coordinator, and several Filmbuilding Mentors to support students in its workshops.

As part of the Purpose Storytelling Collaborative, Filmbuilding also plays a critical role in the design and execution of our hands-on Professional Development programs for teachers, demonstrating how storytelling builds empathy, strengthens belonging, and helps students step into their power.

Their Impact

• 396 Filmbuilders engaged (ages 9-77) across diverse cultural, educational, and professional backgrounds
• 102 collaborative films produced exploring themes such as identity, belonging, resilience, and connection
• 39 screening events hosted, creating spaces for dialogue, reflection, and community exchange
• 35 partner organizations and schools spanning local, national, and international communities
• 21 countries represented (over six continents) fostering cross-cultural collaboration and global perspectives
• Mentorship Program launched in 2025, where alumni Filmbuilders guide and support new participants
• Participants consistently report increased empathy, confidence in self-expression, and a greater willingness to engage across difference
• Workshops are designed to connect individuals who may not otherwise interact, building bridges across cultures, generations, and lived experiences
• Repeat partnerships and continued engagement reflect the lasting value of the Filmbuilding experience