named programs · 4 · from sources
What they call their work
Digital Distribution
Makes curated films available through online platforms including PBS, YouTube, Criterion Channel, and Metrograph-at-Home.
Exhibitions and Screenings
Organizes public film exhibitions and special screenings at cultural institutions such as MoMA, BAM, and international festivals.
Film Restoration Initiative
Preserves and restores historically significant films by filmmakers of color and women, including titles like "A Litany for Survival" and "Water Ritual #1".
Retrospective Programming
Curates thematic retrospectives such as the Christine Choy Retrospective and Newsreel (1968–1972) series.
activities · 5 groups
What they do
-
Film Production Funding and Fiscal Sponsorship 2 activities
- Awarding grants to filmmakersProvides financial grants to support independent filmmakers producing work aligned with social justice and cultural equity goals.
- Fiscal sponsorship for independent filmmakersProvides fiscal sponsorship services to mission-aligned independent media producers, including financial administration, fundraising consultations, grant compliance support, and access to nonprofit status benefits. Manages financial reporting and offers advisory support and shared resources such as film resource lists and calendars.
-
-
Film Festival and Screening Programming 2 activities
- Curating and screening film exhibitionsCurates and presents film exhibitions and retrospectives at cultural institutions such as MoMA, BAM, Anthology Film Archives, and international venues. Screens archival and restored films—including “A Litany for Survival,” “Mississippi Triangle,” and Christine Choy’s work—to foster dialogue around social justice issues.
- Support for film screening eventsProvides comprehensive support for public film screenings, including film selection assistance, event planning and execution guidance, technical setup resources, and promotional materials such as posters, flyers, and digital assets.
-
-
Film Distribution and Screening Programs 1 activity
- Distribution of social justice mediaDistributes over 700 film titles focused on social justice, including works by L.A. Rebellion filmmakers and stories on LGBTQ history, immigration, and Indigenous sovereignty. Distributes curated collections and retrospectives—such as the Camille Billops & James Hatch Retrospective and Christine Choy Collection—to theaters, festivals, broadcast platforms (e.g., PBS), and streaming services (e.g., Criterion Channel, YouTube).
-
-
Archival Digitization and Preservation 1 activity
- Production and preservation of activist and social justice filmsProduces original films and digitally preserves historical activist media, including 60 Newsreel collective films from 1968–1972 covering movements such as Black Panthers, anti-war, and civil rights activism. Maintains a physical archive of over 1,500 items from 1967 to present, including film originals, prints, and master tapes.
-
-
Youth & Emerging Filmmaker Training 1 activity
- Training in social justice media productionOffers hands-on training programs including Evening Seminars, six-month Production Workshops, and Community Media Workshops to build storytelling and media production skills among aspiring filmmakers from historically underrepresented and marginalized communities. Programs include instruction in research, scripting, filming, editing, and alternative cinematic practices, culminating in the creation of short films by participants.
-
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$1.24M
Contributions & grants$1.01M82%
Program service revenue$226K18%
Investment income$710%
Other revenue$2K
expenses
Total expenses$1.23M
Program expenses91%
Admin / overhead9%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$112K
Grants paid out$113K
Largest expense lineProfessional Fees
balance sheet
Total assets$2.30M
Cash$2.02M
Investments$0
Liabilities$1.20M
Net assets$1.10M
Liquid reserves19.7 mo
6 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue -22.8%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ORINNE JT TAKAGI | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 30 | $16K |
board members · 5
- AFUA KAFI AKUA — BOARD MEMBER
- BETTY YU — BOARD MEMBER
- DOROTHY THIGPEN — CO-CHAIR
- JOEL KATZ — BOARD MEMBER
- SEYMOUR BURGESS — CO-CHAIR
relationships · 52
Who they work with
- African Diaspora International Film Festival Partner — Screened the restored film "A Litany for Survival".
- Anthology Film Archives Partner — Hosts screenings of the Newsreel Retrospective
- Anthology Film Archives Partner — Screened archival film programs at Anthology Film Archives
- Apple TV+ Partner — Uses TWN archival footage in productions
- Asia Society Partner — Hosted a screening and conversation for "Fei Tien" as part of a tribute to Christine Choy.
- BAM Partner — Hosts screenings of the Newsreel Retrospective
- BAM (Brooklyn Academy of Music) Partner — Screened archival film programs at BAM
- BBC Partner — Uses TWN archival footage in productions
- Black Panther Party Partner — Collaborated with Third World Newsreel through unique access for film production and distribution during social movements of the 1960s and 1970s.
- BlackStar Film Festival Partner — Presented premieres of restored films including "True North" and "Scene Not Heard".
- Brooklyn Academy of Music Partner — Screened restored films including "Water Ritual #1" and "Black Panther".
- Christine Choy Partner — Co-Founder of Third World Newsreel and Production Workshop graduate, contributing to the program's leadership and legacy.
- Christine Choy Partner — Co-founder of Third World Newsreel and Oscar-nominated director involved in workshop instruction and organizational leadership.
- Chrystian Rodriguez Partner — Facilitator in the Production Workshop who supports participants in developing proposals and technical skills.
- Criterion Channel Partner — Partnered to stream "Sweet Sugar Rage".
- DOK Leipzig Partner — Hosts screenings of the Newsreel Retrospective
- DOK Leipzig Partner — Screened archival film programs at DOK Leipzig in Germany
- Danny Kim Partner — Facilitator in the Production Workshop who supports participants in developing proposals and technical skills.
- George Washington University Partner — Hosted a screening of "A Litany for Survival" at the African Diaspora International Film Festival.
- Grace Lee Partner — Director and TWN workshop alumna who highlights the program’s role in launching careers in filmmaking.
- HBO Partner — Uses TWN archival footage in productions
- Independent Lens Series Partner — Collaborated to present "True North" on PBS and YouTube.
- JT Takagi Partner — Instructor and facilitator in the Production Workshop, providing technical training and mentorship.
- La Clef Partner — Screened archival film programs at La Clef in France
- Maysles Documentary Center Partner — Hosts screenings of the Newsreel Retrospective
- Maysles Documentary Center Partner — Screened archival film programs at Maysles Documentary Center
- Metrograph-at-Home Partner — Partnered to stream "Finding Christa".
- Museum of Modern Art Partner — Presented preserved and restored films including "Mississippi Triangle", "From Spikes to Spindles", and "Bittersweet Survival".
- NHK Partner — Uses TWN archival footage in productions
- NYC Department of Cultural Affairs Government — Supports the Su-Casa Senior Media Workshop through funding and programmatic support.
+ 22 more
strategies · 4
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Community-Centered Collaborative Storytellingmethodology: community-centered_collaborative_storytellingBy centering media production on lived experience and collaborative storytelling within marginalized communities, we produce more authentic and impactful social justice media because community knowledge and shared narratives generate deeper resonance and trust than technically polished but externally produced content.
- Fiscal Sponsorship as Structural Support for Marginalized Creatorsmethodology: fiscal_sponsorship_umbrella_modelBy offering fiscal sponsorship and administrative support to independent media producers, we increase the sustainability and reach of socially transformative media because it removes financial and bureaucratic barriers that disproportionately hinder creators from under-resourced and marginalized communities.
- Mission-Aligned Distribution and Exhibitionmethodology: mission-aligned_distributionBy curating and distributing media through contextually aligned screenings and custom programming, we amplify social justice impact because thematically resonant venues and intentional curation deepen audience engagement and foster cross-community dialogue around critical issues.
- Participatory Media Training as Empowermentmethodology: participatory_media_trainingBy providing hands-on media training and skill-building within communities of color and among activist groups, we produce empowered storytellers and systemic change because equipping individuals with technical and narrative tools enables them to document their own movements and challenge dominant media frames.