In collaboration with Seattle University Film Program, PopUp Justice and Meaningful Movies, fosters social justice filmmaking through youth education, script development, production assistance for works in progress, competitive challenges, and special events. Focuses on progressive topics including tribal rights, environmental justice, Black Lives Matter, surveillance and privacy, LGBTQ issues, restorative justice, workers’ rights, austerity, globalization, prisoner rights, and more.
The Institute is funded exclusively by the local and national social justice community (civil liberties organizations, legal services groups, unions, individual donors, and progressive groups), arts grantors, and foundations; they do not pursue corporate support. This policy frees them to support filmmaking on causes, such as climate change action and the struggle for a living wage, that can be in potential conflict with business interests.