The Mask You Live In

Type: Feature Documentary
Directed by: Jennifer Siebel Newsom
Produced by: The Representation Project
Theme: Redefining masculinity and emotional expression in boys and men

Overview:

This documentary explores how traditional norms of masculinity in American culture are emotionally repressive and contribute to a range of societal issues—violence, depression, and disconnectedness. It follows boys and young men across different backgrounds and highlights educational programs that teach emotional intelligence and empathy.

Impact Highlights:

• Screened in over 1,000 schools and community centers globally
• Integrated into curricula for health education and gender studies
• Inspired the launch of related media campaigns and workshops promoting healthy emotional development for boys

Social Impact:

The film helped shift conversations from —toxic masculinity— as a blame-oriented label to a nuanced dialogue around emotional suppression, male vulnerability, and healing.

Period. End of Sentence.

Type: Short Documentary (Oscar-winning)
Directed by: Rayka Zehtabchi
Theme: Menstrual stigma and women's empowerment in rural India

Overview:

A group of women in a rural Indian village confront long-standing taboos around menstruation by learning to manufacture low-cost sanitary pads. The film blends personal storytelling with grassroots organizing, showing how economic empowerment and education intersect.

Impact Highlights:

• Won the 2019 Academy Award for Best Documentary Short
• Helped raise over $400,000 for the nonprofit —The Pad Project—
• Sparked conversations in global classrooms about period poverty and gender equity
• Inspired policy-level attention to menstrual health in multiple countries

Social Impact:

This short film helped demystify a stigmatized subject while celebrating local action, ultimately leading to tangible health and economic changes in viewers— communities.

#1619 Project (New York Times / Hulu)

Type: Multimedia Series (audio, visual, text, and video)
Led by: Nikole Hannah-Jones
Theme: Reframing U.S. history through the legacy of slavery

Overview:

Launched first as a long-form essay and podcast, the project evolved into a Hulu docuseries and classroom resource. It explores how slavery has shaped nearly every aspect of American life—from healthcare to capitalism—and centers Black voices in reinterpreting historical narratives.

Impact Highlights:

• Transformed into a curriculum adopted by thousands of educators across the U.S.
• Led to local policy discussions on reparations and racial equity
• Won Pulitzer Prize for Commentary
• Sparked national debate on race, history, and education, inspiring counter-narratives and new legislative attention

Social Impact:

By challenging dominant historical narratives, this series advanced public discourse on racial justice and provided tools for institutional and educational reform.

Common Threads in Impact

Each of these multimedia projects shares several strategic elements:

• Clear social mission rooted in personal narratives
• High emotional resonance, enabling cross-cultural empathy
• Community or policy-facing distribution strategies
• Tangible educational components for long-term impact