Imagine making a film that actually changes laws. Or saves lives. Sounds far-fetched? Not necessarily.

That's exactly what Leonard Cortana showed us – international documentary producer and our latest guest speaker at mdh berlin. In an interactive workshop on impact producing, he introduced us to a field where storytelling and activism go hand in hand.

What is impact producing?

An impact producer doesn't just think about how a film looks or sounds. They think about who it reaches, what it sets in motion, and how it can become part of a larger campaign for social justice. That process starts before the first day of shooting and doesn't end long after the premiere.

To make that tangible, we looked at three case studies: Welcome to Chechnya, Murder in Paris, and Seeds: Black Women in Power. Three very different documentaries – but all driven by the same ambition: creating an impact that extends far beyond the screen. Along the way, some real questions came up: What does ethical collaboration look like when the people in front of the camera might be at risk? And when do you start weaving social justice into a film – already in development, or only at distribution?

We didn't discuss these questions in the abstract, but with someone who deals with them in practice every day. Because impact producing makes one thing clear above all else: creative work never happens in a vacuum. Your stories can make a difference – and once you learn to think about them strategically, doors open into areas of the creative industries that are only just beginning to take shape.

At mdh, we believe the best learning moments happen exactly where theory meets real practice. That's why we bring people like Leonard Cortana into the classroom, so you don't just learn about the industry, but with it.