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10 short films visualize the power of impact investing

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An audience of 100 advisers and others attended the film festival, held at the Helen Mills Theater

The premiere InvestmentNews ESG & Impact Forum began with a film festival on Dec. 4 in New York, showcasing 10 short documentaries that visualized the impact investors can make when they align their values and their financial interests.

[More: View the films of the 2019 Impact Forum Film Festival]

The films, which were narrowed to 10 from more than 500 films submitted from six continents, featured individuals who have been moved to act in their communities to find solutions for issues such as unsafe drinking water, gang violence and the decimation of species.

About 100 financial advisers and others interested in funding projects that support their environmental, social and governance priorities attended the film festival, held at the Helen Mills Theater.

Nina O’Neal, partner Archer Investment Management, said the film festival was not just about sitting together to watch movies.

“ESG is not something the whole world understands, and putting a story and an actual visual representation to anything brings it to life,” she said. “Being able to talk to clients about real stories and seeing it ourself makes it an easier sell.

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Max Mintz, a partner at Common Interests Financial and a member of the InvestmentNews advisory board that helped put the two-day event together, agreed.

“We need tools to show people the impact of their investments … showing films and sharing the stories of what our money has done, we can dramatically increase the reach of impact investing.”

Two films were awarded accolades. “The Bee Rescuer,” directed by Bidit Roy, won top honors from a panel of judges who analyzed the impact of the project and how well the story was told.

“The Story of TRU Colors,” a film directed by Meagen Verdi and Akeem Grady about bringing rival gang members together to create a commercial brewery in Wilmington, N.C., won the audience choice award.

Its directors joined Matt Ackermann, InvestmentNews multimedia director, on stage for a discussion about the power of impact investing.

Ms. Verdi described one man who joined the Tru Colors organization after spending 10 years incarcerated, raised his credit score from 300 to 700, was able to buy a car, and now is looking to buy a home.