SUPPORT THE DOCUMENTARY FILM FUND
- Eduardo Montes-Bradley
- 14 hours ago
- 4 min read
Help Us Take AMERICAN STORIES to the World at MIPCOM 2025. Your Contribution Can Change Global Perceptions
At a time when America's image abroad is increasingly defined by headlines of division and discord, we have an unprecedented opportunity to share a different story—one that showcases the rich tapestry of American creativity, resilience, and cultural contribution. With the support of the Documentary Film Fund, the Heritage Film Project is preparing to take this story to the world stage at MIPCOM 2025, the premier international television and entertainment content market in Cannes this October.
The Challenge We Face
While other nations have long understood the power of cultural diplomacy—Germany through the Goethe Institute, Italy via the Dante Alighieri Society, France through the Alliance Française, and Spain with the Instituto Cervantes—America has largely left this crucial work to Hollywood.
While Hollywood's entertainment machine has undeniable global reach, it operates primarily on market-driven principles rather than cultural representation. Film serves as "a strong tool in American soft power" with the ability to influence through "attraction rather than through coercion," yet our current media landscape often emphasizes spectacle over substance.
For twenty years, the Heritage Film Project has been documenting the extraordinary voices of American artists—voices that remain largely unknown not just internationally, but often within our own borders. We've captured the stories of composer Alice Parker, whose work on choral arrangements has touched millions; poet laureate Rita Dove, whose verse speaks to the African American experience with unprecedented eloquence; Cuban-American artist Humberto Calzada, whose paintings bridge cultures; and the remarkable legacy of the Piccirilli brothers, whose sculptural works grace monuments across America.
The Global Marketplace Awaits
MIPCOM 2025 will bring together international television and streaming media executives and creators from over 100 countries at the Palais des Festivals in Cannes from October 13-16, 2025. This represents one of the most significant opportunities to reach global audiences with authentic American narratives.
Soft power diplomacy refers to the ability to influence other nations through persuasion and attraction rather than through coercion or force. Our documentaries embody this principle perfectly—they don't lecture or propagandize, but instead invite viewers into intimate conversations with remarkable Americans whose stories transcend borders.
Imagine the Impact
Picture a family in Baghdad discovering Alice Parker's insights into the transcendent power of community singing, offering a profound alternative to the uniformed Americans they typically see on their screens. Envision teenagers in a community center outside Lagos, Nigeria, learning from Rita Dove about the complex beauty of the African diaspora experience in America. Consider educators in rural schools across Southeast Asia using our documentary on Daniel Chester French to teach about American artistic heritage and the sculptural traditions that shaped our national monuments.
These are not far-fetched dreams—they represent the very real potential of cultural exchange through documentary storytelling. Our recent film on Joy Brown demonstrates how individual American stories can contribute to global healing and understanding in ways that transcend traditional diplomatic channels.
Why Now, Why MIPCOM
The timing is critical. MIPCOM serves as a marketplace where representatives of television studios and broadcasters buy and sell programmes for international distribution, making it the ideal venue to introduce our authentic American voices to global audiences. We're not just hoping to sell content—we're working to reshape international perceptions of American culture through the power of documentary storytelling.
The world is hungry for content that enlightens as well as entertains. Educational television buyers from Europe, Asia, Africa, South America, and the Middle East are actively seeking programming that offers depth, cultural insight, and authentic human stories. Our documentaries provide exactly what these markets need: compelling narratives that reveal the complexity and beauty of American creativity.
The Mission Continues
This is more than a business venture—it's a cultural mission with profound implications for how America is perceived and understood globally. We have the content, the expertise, and the relationships necessary to succeed. What we need now is the financial support to make this vision a reality.
How You Can Help
The Documentary Film Fund enables us to cover the essential costs of attending MIPCOM 2025: travel, accommodation, market registration, screening fees, and promotional materials. Every dollar contributed directly supports our mission to bring authentic American voices to international audiences.
Your support will help us:
Secure prime screening opportunities at MIPCOM
Produce high-quality promotional materials for international buyers
Cover essential travel and accommodation costs
Fund follow-up distribution efforts with interested broadcasters
Develop new partnerships with global educational networks
SUPPORT THE DOCUMENTARY FILM FUND
Your Contribution Can Change Global Perceptions
The opportunity to reshape global perceptions of American culture is within our grasp. We invite you to join us in this crucial mission by supporting the Documentary Film Fund.
Take Action Today
To contribute by mail, please send your check to:
Documentary Film Fund 118 Oakhurst Circle Charlottesville, Virginia 22903
For digital payment options, please follow the LINK or click on the red button above
Together, we can ensure that the world sees America not just through the lens of entertainment spectacle or news headlines, but through the authentic voices of our most creative and inspiring citizens. The time to act is now. The global stage awaits.
With gratitude and determination,
Eduardo Montes-Bradley
Documentary Film Fund