What FilmAid does

FilmAid is a 501(c)(3) humanitarian nonprofit organization founded in 1999 by Caroline Baron to use film and media as a tool for supporting refugees, displaced persons, and marginalized communities. The organization runs mobile cinema screenings in refugee camps and off-grid settlements, filmmaker training camps that teach youth creative and technical skills, an annual film festival in Kenya, and the FilmAid Network (FAN) — an online membership platform offering courses (FilmAid U), mentorship, and small grants. Its physical technology is built around solar-powered mobile cinema units that can reach communities without electricity, while distribution combines direct field operations, partnerships with UNHCR, WFP, the US State Department (PRM), the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and local civil society organizations across roughly 30 countries on four continents.

In 2020–2021, FilmAid International, Inc. transferred its name and logo to Internews and dissolved; FilmAid now operates as a project of Internews, giving it access to Internews' infrastructure in 100 countries. The organization is led by Director Gita Saedi Kiely (appointed 2021), headquartered in Arcata, California, with approximately 91 employees and operational support in Nairobi, Kenya. Revenue is generated entirely from donations, charitable contributions, and grants — primarily from government agencies (US State Department PRM), UN agencies (UNHCR, WFP), foundations, and entertainment industry donors (Academy, Hollywood Foreign Press Association, Disney, Warner Bros., HBO). All programs are delivered free of charge to beneficiaries, and donations are tax-deductible under Internews' 501(c)(3) status (Tax ID 94-3027961).

Name

FilmAid

Legal name

FilmAid, A Project of Internews

Website

https://filmaid.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

FilmAid is a 501(c)(3) humanitarian nonprofit, operating as a project of Internews since 2021, that uses mobile cinema, filmmaker training, and film festivals to empower refugees and marginalized communities across roughly 30 countries on four continents.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Humanitarian Film Programs

NAICS

Motion Picture and Video Production (512110), Motion Picture Theaters (except Drive-Ins) (512131), Motion Picture and Video Distribution (51212)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812), Services-Motion Picture Theaters (7830), Services-Allied To Motion Picture Distribution (7829)

akta.pro primary industry

Social Issue & Advocacy Documentaries (MPADADAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Screening Rooms & Cinematheques (Nonprofit/Institutional) (MPADAKAF), Branded Documentary / Nonfiction (Corporate & NGO) (MPADADAK)

Keywords

• Humanitarian film programs
• Refugee community outreach
• Filmmaker training programs
• Mobile cinema screenings
• Nonprofit media education

Headquarters

HQ city

New York, NY

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: FilmAid generates revenue primarily through donations from individuals, corporations, and private foundations. Donations are made through the website, mail, and during fundraising events such as the annual benefit.
2. Grants and Institutional Funding: FilmAid receives grants from government agencies (U.S. Department of State's PRM), UN agencies (UNHCR, WFP), and international organizations to fund humanitarian film programs.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

FilmAid runs humanitarian film programs that empower refugee and marginalized communities through participatory filmmaking, mobile cinema screenings, and filmmaker training. The organization deploys solar-powered mobile cinema units to deliver life-saving information and entertainment to refugee camps, runs hands-on film camps that train youth in documentary filmmaking, and hosts the annual FilmAid Film Festival in Kenya. Since 2021, FilmAid operates as a project of Internews, reaching beneficiaries across four continents including Kenya, Colombia, Myanmar, Lebanon, Moldova, and Indonesia.

Product overview

FilmAid is a humanitarian nonprofit organization that operates as a single, unified program rather than a platform-plus-modules architecture. The organization's core offerings consist of community film screenings, filmmaker training programs, and film festivals, all designed to empower vulnerable communities through the transformative power of storytelling. FilmAid Network (FAN) serves as the overarching membership community that connects filmmakers globally to online courses, mentorship opportunities, and grants. Mobile cinema units and short-term film camps provide the hands-on training and screening infrastructure, while the annual FilmAid Film Festival showcases the completed works of young refugee filmmakers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• FilmAid Network (FAN): A network supporting emerging and established filmmakers to connect with each other, their audiences, and greater impact opportunities for their films. FAN provides guidance through FilmAid U online courses in filmmaking and distribution, mentorship opportunities, and small grants.

Products and services

• Mobile Cinema Units Solar-powered portable cinema screening units that deliver life-saving information through uplifting movies, cartoons, and public service announcements to refugee camps and marginalized communities without electricity.
• FilmAid Filmmaker Training Program Hands-on training program teaching youth creative and technical filmmaking skills to explore concerns of their own communities and tell their own stories in their own voices.
• FilmAid Film Festival Annual multi-day event celebrating the work of young refugee and host community filmmakers through film screening sessions and community dialogues, held in Kenya's Kakuma and Dadaab camps.
• Film Camps Short-term intensive filmmaking workshops ranging from one to three weeks that provide hands-on training and mentorship, culminating in completed documentary or short films.
• FilmAid Network (FAN) Global online network connecting emerging and established filmmakers with each other and audiences, providing FilmAid U online courses in filmmaking and distribution, mentorship opportunities, and small grants.
• Community Film Screenings Outdoor film screenings designed to provide entertainment, psychological relief, and deliver life-saving educational messages to displaced and vulnerable populations in refugee camps and marginalized communities.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 1,638 people attend average evening screening sessions in Kenya
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

25 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and supporting.

• UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUNHCR has partnered with FilmAid since 1999, inviting the organization to extend and expand activities globally. UNHCR provides access to refugee camps and supports FilmAid programs that deliver life-saving information to refugees.
• World Food Program (WFP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWFP partners with FilmAid to deliver informational content alongside food assistance programs in refugee camps.
• Academy of Motion Picture Arts and SciencesmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor funder and supporter of FilmAid, providing funding and industry connections for refugee filmmaker programs.
• International Rescue Committee (IRC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIRC partnered with FilmAid in the early days to expand activities globally and continues to collaborate on humanitarian programming.
• OxfamsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerOxfam has partnered with FilmAid on humanitarian programming in various locations.
• Malala FundsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerMalala Fund has collaborated with FilmAid on education initiatives, including screenings of 'He Named Me Malala' in refugee camps.
• ImageNation Abu DhabisupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerImageNation Abu Dhabi partnered with FilmAid to launch screenings of 'He Named Me Malala' in Syrian refugee camps in Jordan.
• Participant MediamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerParticipant Media partnered with FilmAid and Silk Road Ensemble to create workshops and screenings with young refugees in Jordan using the film 'The Music of Strangers'.
• Silk Road EnsemblemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounded by Yo-Yo Ma, Silk Road partnered with FilmAid and Participant Media for workshops inspiring refugee youth through film.
• Sunshine CinemasupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerAfrica's first solar powered cinema network, partnering with FilmAid in Zimbabwe for mobile cinema distribution and film education.
• Internews NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIn 2021, FilmAid International transferred its name and logo to Internews. FilmAid now operates as a project of Internews, leveraging their global infrastructure across 100 countries.
• DisneysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerDisney has partnered with FilmAid to screen family movies in Haiti and other locations.
• DiscoverysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerDiscovery has supported FilmAid through industry partnerships and donations.
• New Feet ProductionssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNew Feet Productions, led by Jessica Bauman, created 'Arden/Everywhere' - a reimagining of Shakespeare's 'As You Like It' as a refugee story. Jessica taught theater workshops for FilmAid in Kakuma.
• Internews TanzaniasupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerFilmAid partnered with Internews Tanzania to work with citizen journalists on social media content creation.
• Democratic Voice of BurmasupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerFilmAid collaborates with Democratic Voice of Burma to empower citizen journalists to tell compelling stories during Myanmar's civil war.
• Minikino (Indonesia)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerFilmAid collaborated with Minikino for a 'vertical film' workshop and competition for high school students in Indonesia.
• Grupo Tabano and Sache Cine (Peru)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerFilmAid partnered with Grupo Tabano and Sache Cine for the ICARO project creating films in native Peruvian languages with the Maijuna people.
• Puerto Creativo and Red de Comunicaciones Wayuu (Colombia)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerFilmAid co-hosts the Coast-to-Coast Festival and training program with these Colombian partners for Afro-descendant and Indigenous filmmakers.
• La Red de Comunicaciones del Pueblo Wayuu (Colombia)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerFilmAid collaborates with the Wayuu People's Communications Network to share culturally appropriate COVID-19 information.
• Talking Drum Studios (Liberia)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerFilmAid collaborated with Talking Drum Studios for filmmaker training workshops as part of USAID Media Activity project.
• Earth Journalism NetworksupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerFilmAid and Earth Journalism Network supported the Our Mekong, Our Say Step-Up Video Storytelling Fellowship.
• The Listening Post (Mexico)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerFilmAid partnered with The Listening Post to teach migrating families video skills and help investigate misinformation.
• Sunflower Film Organization (Cambodia)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerFilmAid partnered with Sunflower Film Organization for DocuFilm camps with Indigenous Cambodian filmmakers.
• UNAOC and United Nations Youth FestivalsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerFilmAid collaborates with UNAOC to present Plural+ Youth Film & Video Festival awards to young documentary filmmakers globally.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Cinema for Peace: Uses film to raise awareness of humanitarian and ecological issues; comparable as a curated initiative linking the film industry to humanitarian causes.
• Movies that Matter: Dutch foundation using film to inspire action on human rights and social justice; supports film festivals and screening programs in conflict zones. Listed as a FilmAid supporter and operates a similar humanitarian cinema model.
• Witness: International nonprofit that equips people to use video to document and expose human rights abuses. Directly comparable mission of using film/video for marginalized voices and social impact.
• Sunshine Cinema: Africa's first solar-powered cinema network — a direct FilmAid partner in Zimbabwe — operating mobile cinema units and film education using similar off-grid solar distribution technology.
• Doc Society: Global documentary impact organization supporting films that drive social change. Highly comparable in using nonfiction storytelling for impact and operating impact screening/distribution infrastructure.
• One World Media: UK-based nonprofit connecting media professionals with stories from the Global South, including a fellowship program. Comparably focused on amplifying underrepresented voices through film and journalism.

Broad incumbents

• UNICEF: Large UN humanitarian agency with media and storytelling programs for vulnerable children, including refugee populations. Comparable as a major institutional partner and complementary humanitarian communicator.
• Internews: FilmAid's parent organization since 2021; supports independent media in 100 countries and reaches millions with quality local information. Directly comparable as a humanitarian media nonprofit with global infrastructure.
• International Documentary Association: Major US-based nonprofit supporting documentary filmmakers and the documentary ecosystem. Comparable as a nonprofit serving the documentary production community, though broader in scope.
• Sundance Institute Documentary Fund: Funds independent documentary storytelling globally; comparable in supporting international documentary production and filmmaker development, with overlapping grantee communities.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/FilmAidKenya
• YouTubeyoutube.com/playlist?list=PLZ8Mc8Ch4WyFQ7_QFARgg4sYsBbNOAC7x
• Facebookfacebook.com/FilmAid
• Instagraminstagram.com/filmaid
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/filmaid-international

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about FilmAid