Diversity, Equity, Inclusion

SFFILM seeks to foster a rich, diverse and inclusive Bay Area film community that is at its core anti-racist. We are committed to actively working internally and externally to: confront and dismantle systems of inequity both within our organization and our industry; utilize our platform and resources to invest in the creative power of diverse films and filmmakers; and bring together a wide audience to experience stories that foster empathy, encourage dialogue, and provoke nuanced understandings of humanity and our world. We believe that diversity, equity and inclusion is not an initiative but an ongoing and long-term practice that is central to our organization, our programs, and our art form.

 

We are driven by the passionate belief that film has a powerful role in shifting culture and catalyzing anti-racist work. Film is an art form for the masses that inspires change by introducing us to different worlds and perspectives. And yet, we are part of a film industry that has historically left BIPOC, women, and queer voices out. If we are successful, SFFILM can be a part of a driving force that dismantles inequities in film and puts power into the hands of artists with diverse identities and perspectives so that othering is diminished, representation is normalized, and social responsibility can take shape because these stories were made, shared, and loved.

 

SFFILM invests staff time and resources to this ongoing work within the organization across recruitment and hiring, work culture, leadership, and governance practices; and in external programming across our exhibition, education, and filmmaker programs. SFFILM’s current focus areas for advancing diversity, equity and inclusion are: increasing board and staff representation; tailoring services for filmmakers of color and filmmakers with disabilities; deepening engagement with schools serving communities of color; building holistic community partnership relationships with organizations serving diverse populations; celebrating and amplifying BIPOC films and filmmaker issues; and broadening the diversity of our vendors and donor partners.

 

We would like to give a special thanks to the SFFILM Inclusion Advisory Board members who have been active partners in shaping SFFILM’s DEI initiatives since 2018.