Pulitzer Center, Financial Times, and One World Media Announce Film Partnership on Climate Change

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The Pulitzer Center, the Financial Times, and One World Media are excited to announce a new film partnership focused on climate change and how work and workers are affected.

We’re looking for an experienced filmmaker who wants to explore, through a short documentary, how climate change is affecting lives and work in the Global South. We want to amplify new perspectives, stories, and voices on our changing climate with particular focus on the economic transition.

“Pulitzer Center is delighted to work with One World Media and the Financial Times on this important area of coverage," said Pulitzer Center Executive Editor Marina Walker Guevara. "We look forward to partnering with a filmmaker in the Global South to explore and explain how workers and work itself are at risk from a fast-heating planet." 

“Supporting journalism and filmmaking that brings important environmental issues to the very forefront of our thinking is needed now more than ever. We are looking forward to this collaboration,” said Vivienne Francis, Director, One World Media.

Through the Center’s Our Work/Environment initiative, journalists have documented some of the risks of rising temperatures for workers, in fields and in factories. In the past two years, reporters have traveled throughout India and across Nigeria, Ghana, Sri Lanka, Kenya, Uruguay, Paraguay and South Africa to document the impact of extreme heat and weather on some of the world’s most vulnerable workers, including women who are often heads of household. We encourage stories that detail the interconnected nature of business, climate, and consumer choices. We want to understand workers. We want to understand companies. We appreciate accountability reporting.

To apply, you'll need to be from the Global South and working in the Global South. We’re particularly keen to hear creative newsworthy proposals that cover an underreported story. We also want to hear from populations seldom covered, with reporting proposals offering unexpected or rare access to working conditions and workplaces. 

Your film will need to be 25 minutes or less and be completed by June 2025.

The successful filmmaker will receive the following:

• Up to £20,000 (USD $25,000) in funding for their film 
• A named executive for their documentary and production support 
• A commission from the Financial Times with their final film made freely available on the FT’s platform. 
• Global promotion of their film from all three partners and associated screenings
• Membership of the OWM global alumni network 
• And an industry mentor

To apply, you’ll need to show:

• 5+ years of evidenced experience as a documentary-maker. We want to see links to recent work, broadcast credits, or festival screenings. 
• References from a previous commissioner/executive 
• A recorded pitch (3 minutes or under)—this can be filmed on your phone or an audio recording—about your idea 
• A written synopsis of your idea with a detailed budget. If your film is reliant on negotiating particular access or following a particular person/subject, we want you to show how far along you are with these discussions. 

The deadline for applications is September 1, 2024. Submit an application here.

We particularly encourage submissions from underrepresented groups (people of color, ethnic groups, women, LGBTQ+, or people with disabilities).