The most important films are often the hardest to make.
We're here to change that.
The films challenging systems of consumption, climate breakdown, standing up for human and animal justice, and exposing the uncomfortable truths about how we live… these are the films that face the steepest climb. They’re the hardest to fund, the hardest to distribute, and the hardest to get in front of the audiences who need to see them.
We built Who Let The Docs Out with structured support in mind - with grants, mentorship, strategy, resources and a passionate community. We're helping to build the infrastructure that impact documentary has always deserved.
Who Let The Docs Out was founded by filmmakers who've navigated the funding gaps, the distribution dead ends, and the isolation of making films that most of the industry doesn't quite know what to do with.
Meet The Team
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Max Hellier
Managing Director
Max Hellier is a storyteller and filmmaker on a mission to reclaim entertainment from becoming pure escapism. He believes film should be a glimpse into a different life, a way of living, an act that resonates so deeply it has the power to change the world in the most significant ways.
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Joanna Hellier
Executive Director
Joanna Hellier is a filmmaker, strategist, and community architect on a mission to transform how the world sees food, culture, and climate. As Co-Founder and Executive Director of Who Let The Docs Out, Joanna’s building the infrastructure that impact documentaries have always needed but never had - turning isolated filmmakers into a global movement.
Advisory Board
Our advisory board represents films that have earned multiple Academy Awards and reached millions of viewers globally. These are industry veterans; directors, producers, distributors, and strategists - committed to supporting the next generation of systems-focused documentary storytelling.
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Ellen Windemuth
Founder & CEO, WaterBear Network
Ellen is the founder and CEO of WaterBear Network, the world's first free streaming platform dedicated to the planet, and executive produced the Oscar and BAFTA-winning documentary ‘My Octopus Teacher’. She is a visionary leader in impact storytelling, mobilizing global audiences to address the climate crisis.
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Jim Amos
Co-Founder, Scout 22 / Former President, Sony Pictures
Jim spent nearly 30 years at Sony Pictures, rising to President of Domestic Distribution before co-founding Scout 22, a marketing and PR agency for social impact brands. His expertise helps mission-driven companies and documentaries maximize reach and revenue.
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Sebastian Joy
Serial Social Entrepreneur, ProVeg, K4G
Sebastian is a globally respected change-maker dedicated to transforming the global food system. As Founding President of ProVeg International Sebastian has spent over two decades launching nonprofits, coalitions, social enterprises, event series, and campaigns around the world.
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Rebecca Aguilar
Impact Director, Oceanic Preservation Society (OPS)
Rebecca leads the strategic vision for impact at Oceanic Preservation Society, shaping outreach, storytelling, and partnerships behind award-winning films like ‘Racing Extinction’. With over a decade in the environmental NGO space, she mobilizes audiences through brand development, narrative strategy, and digital campaigns.
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Joanna Zelman
Former Executive Producer, The Dodo & Huffpost Editor
Joanna spent a decade as Executive Producer at The Dodo, growing its video division to 30 producers and 4 billion monthly views. She executive produced seriesor Discovery+, Disney+, and Animal Planet, and is a former HuffPost Green Editor passionate about using storytelling for social change.
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Dr. Melanie Joy
Author, Director Beyond Carnism
Melanie Joy is a Harvard-educated psychologist and author. Joy taught at UMass Boston for eleven years. She founded the global nonprofit organization Beyond Carnism. Her work explores trauma, oppression, and social transformation. She received the Ahimsa Award for global nonviolence. She promotes relational literacy and animal rights activism.
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Rebecca Loviconi
Director & Producer (Slay, Let Us Be Heroes)
Rebecca is an award-winning documentary filmmaker and founder of FortheAnimals.film, known for directing SLAY and Let Us Be Heroes. Her investigative work explores fashion, animal rights, and environmental justice, earning recognition from The VII Foundation and screening at festivals worldwide.
Grant Review Committee
Grant applications are reviewed by industry experts who know what makes documentaries break through to mainstream audiences. They assess story potential, audience appeal, topic originality, and impact strategy.
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Oli Harbottle
Chief Content Officer, Dogwoof
Oli has been at Dogwoof since 2006 and was part of the team that specialized the company in documentaries. As CCO, he oversees acquisitions and distribution for one of the world's leading documentary brands, with a slate including 37 Oscar-nominated films (seven winners) and five BAFTA winners, from Navalny and 20 Days in Mariupol to Free Solo and Blackfish.
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Emre Izat
Founder, Bluegrey Films / Former Netflix Creative Executive
Emre is a creative executive, producer, and director whose work has earned multiple Emmy (9 wins, 26 nominations), BAFTA, and Royal Television Society awards. As a former Creative Executive at Netflix, he developed acclaimed documentary series including Connected, Chimp Empire, Human: The World Within, and the Explained franchise, and has produced for National Geographic, Discovery, Amazon, and PBS.
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Val Dowd
Film Sales Manager, Submarine Entertainment
Val is a film sales manager at Submarine Entertainment, one of the most successful documentary sales companies in the world, involved with six of the last twelve Oscar-winning documentaries including American Factory and Citizenfour. She specializes in highlighting underrepresented voices and has brokered distribution deals with Netflix, Amazon, Disney+, and major platforms.
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Luke Moody
Head of BFI Doc Society
Luke oversees the UK’s primary source of National Lottery funding for documentary features and shorts. A former Director of Film Programming at Sheffield DocFest and Head of Film at BRITDOC, he is a specialist in creative risk and international co-productions. As an experienced producer and programmer, he brings a holistic understanding of how independent non-fiction can navigate global distribution while maintaining artistic integrity.
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Ash Hoyle
Film Programmer & Curator
Ash has spent almost a decade as a features Programmer at the Sundance Film Festival, working across fiction and nonfiction. Ash is currently serving on the Advisory Board of the LA Festival of Movies. Ash has worked as a Senior Programmer at Outfest LA, Palm Springs Shorts Fest and in various curatorial capacities at NewFest NY, Sun Valley Film Festival, Overlook Film Festival, and AFI Fest.
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Susan Vitka
Film Producer & Strategist
Susan is a veteran producer and strategist known for her work on high-impact documentaries, including the global phenomenon The Game Changers. With a background in venture philanthropy, she specialises in the intersection of media, sustainability, and social justice. Her expertise lies in scaling narrative projects that challenge systemic norms and mobilise audiences toward ethical and environmental action.
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Jim Amos
Co-Founder, Scout 22 / Former President, Sony Pictures
Jim spent nearly 30 years at Sony Pictures, rising to President of Domestic Distribution before co-founding Scout 22, a marketing and PR agency for social impact brands. His expertise helps mission-driven companies and documentaries maximise reach and revenue.
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Rachel Pronger
Curator, Writer & Programme Advisor
Rachel is a curator, writer, and script editor specializing in documentary, experimental film, and archive-based work. She serves as programme advisor for Sheffield Doc/Fest, BFI London Film Festival, and Aesthetica Short Film Festival, and has written for The Guardian, Sight & Sound, MUBI Notebook, and IndieWire, bringing deep expertise in story development and festival strategy.
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Ellen Windemuth
Founder & CEO, WaterBear Network
Ellen is the founder and CEO of WaterBear Network, the world's first free streaming platform dedicated to the planet, and executive produced the Oscar and BAFTA-winning documentary ‘My Octopus Teacher’. She is a visionary leader in impact storytelling, mobilising global audiences to address the climate crisis.
Our Values
Documentaries Drive Real Change
We're here for films that are watchable, undeniable, and actionable. The kind that shifts how people see the world and what they do about it.
Community Makes Everyone Stronger
We're here for films that are watchable, undeniable, and actionable. The kind that shifts how people see the world and what they do about it.
Story and Strategy Go Hand-in-Hand
A powerful story without distribution strategy goes nowhere. Distribution strategy without a compelling story falls flat. We help filmmakers master both.
Impact Is Measurable
A powerful story without distribution strategy goes nowhere. Distribution strategy without a compelling story falls flat. We help filmmakers master both.
Mainstream Audiences Are the Goal
Movement insiders already understand the issues. We help filmmakers craft stories that break through to audiences who don't, yet.
Transparency and Accountability
Movement insiders already understand the issues. We help filmmakers craft stories that break through to audiences who don't, yet.
For Filmmakers:
Get the funding, mentorship, and strategic support to make your film reach audiences and drive change.
For Supporters:
Fund the infrastructure that helps impact documentaries create real change.
For Industry Partners:
Discover compelling, well-developed projects ready for distribution.
Stay Connected
Get filmmaker opportunities, industry insights, and stories from the films we're supporting.