Stories shape the way we understand ourselves, our communities, and our future. They preserve culture, challenge injustice, inspire empathy, and connect us across generations. Yet for many communities navigating conflict, displacement, inequality, or rapid social change, storytelling has too often centered on what has been lost rather than what remains possible.

Written by Valentino Scotto

In May 1979, David Bowie opened Lodger, the closing chapter of the trilogy he began in Berlin with Low and “Heroes”. “Fantastic Voyage” drifts in on piano and a small orchestra of mandolins, played by producer Tony Visconti. It preserves a gentle vibration in its tone, an almost quaint sensation. It is one of the most quietly political songs Bowie has ever recorded.

One group of storytellers remains unrepresented on the star-studded red carpet: policymakers. At first glance, bespeckled policy wonks and civil servants seem like the worst candidates for an Oscar. After all, how many award-winning scripts contain detailed diplomatic stratagems for a multipolar world or multivariable regressions assessing the impact of trade exposure on wages in the automotive industry?

Written by Laaiba Mahmood

Every person you cross paths with has their stories–what defines, inspires and shapes their realities. And when nonprofits take the time to share stories from their organization, magic happens.

Written by Laaiba Mahmood | Contributions by Rajaiah Jones & Jonah Cramer

The next generation of filmmakers is here—and they’re making their voices heard.