Reel Impact

Systemic racism in the UK film and TV industries has been evidenced through several academic studies and the under-representation of people from Black and Global Majority backgrounds in key stakeholder positions.

The murder of George Floyd in 2020 gave the Film and TV Charity new impetus to address issues around racism in the UK film and TV sector, resulting in the creation of the Reel Impact programme, among other policy shifts at the Charity.

The need to act on racism in the industry is not only clear, it is also urgent

We see Reel Impact awards as one way that we can support greater equity in the industry going forwards by investing in the expertise of Black and Global Majority professionals working in it.

Reel Impact aims to support mid to senior level executives and organisations who need the resources to operate on a more equal footing with their White counterparts or who want to drive change in the industry. It is important that Reel Impact creates a legacy that builds on the efforts of those who have been at the forefront and struggle for change.

Reel Impact was created to enhance the lives of Black and Global Majority people in the screen industries in an eco-system that is not equitable. It is specifically aimed at experienced mid to senior level professionals as opposed to those starting out in the industry because we recognise that these people are already skilled at their craft, but disadvantaged by the industry. 

The Film and TV Charity is committed to improving diversity, equity, and inclusion and representation in the film, TV, and cinema industry – making the industry a happier and fairer place for all. 

We believe that it is important to harness the expertise, insights, and lived experiences of Black and Global Majority professionals to ensure equity in the industry and that the industry has a duty to be proactive. This is why we are committed to working in partnership with the industry, with anti-racism advocates and organisations representing Black and Global Majority industry professionals to find the most effective ways to drive sustainable change. 

In creating Reel Impact, we recruited a co-design panel of 16 people, across a diverse mix of roles, levels, skills and backgrounds who utilised their lived experiences from the industry to help us determine how best to allocate £1m to the Reel Impact Programme.