Broaden announces three film projects in production and development
New York (24 June, 2024):
Broaden, a media company born out of the World Policy Institute, is delighted to announce three documentary film projects currently in development. Bolstered by a successful round of fundraising, Broaden looks forward to supporting these films to production and continuing its mission of making beautiful films that expand the boundaries of storytelling.
Each of the three films on Broaden’s slate demonstrate the company's commitment to creative, cross-cultural filmmaking. Broaden makes films that innovate on conventional storytelling modes by playing with diverse genres, incorporating myth, and experimenting with novel film styles. Broaden is committed to developing films that emerge from community – and works with filmmakers who are part of the communities they feature in their films.
The Futurists, currently in production, is a sci-fi documentary that tells the story of visionaries who are trying to invent the future. Quemuel “Q” Arroyo, the Chief Accessibility Officer of NYC’s transit authority, is grafting an accessible system onto a 120-year old transportation network. Franklin Chang Díaz, a former astronaut, is building rockets that might one day take us to Mars. The Futurists follows these two men as they take on projects that will outlive them personally but will determine what mankind’s future looks like.
The Futurists has won additional support from the Ford Foundation and Catapult Film Fund, enabling the film to enter production.
Broaden is also in the early stages of development of two other projects: first, a community-driven film that explores the history, present, and future of Tulsa, second, a limited series about tropical cooking based on a new book by celebrated food writer Von Diaz.
“We see other forms of media, particularly the music industry, becoming increasingly cross-cultural, with global audiences consuming highly specific and local content from other parts of the world,” explained David Stevens, CEO of Broaden. “We want to do the same thing with film: introduce viewing audiences to different forms of storytelling, inspired by various cultures and narrative forms.”
These kinds of cross-cultural stories are aimed at a heterogeneous audience that rarely sees its narratives and narrative-styles represented: but these stories will appeal to any viewing audience that is curious, craves original art forms, and is compelled by character-driven stories.
By finding universal resonance within local expressions, Broaden seeks to continue the legacy of the World Policy Institute (WPI), an organization that assumed a globally-focused, locally-restorative approach to international politics.
“The WPI had a long history of fostering global and inclusive discussion, and spotlighting diverse cultures around the world,” commented Oliver Niedermaier, co-founder of Broaden. “Broaden seeks to bring WPI’s history to the present, tapping into an audience’s sense of wonder and curiosity in order to tell overlooked yet universally relatable stories.”
As Broaden continues to build out its slate, it will remain committed to telling culturally fluid, awe-inspiring stories.
About Broaden
Born out of the World Policy Institute (WPI) – an organization with over 70 years of experience fostering global dialogue, education, and media – Broaden develops films that expand the boundaries of storytelling, working directly with writers and directors at the initial stages of creation. If you have any inquiries, please contact broaden@pentagroup.co.