World news and discussion on TalkFuse.
Impact Fund for Global South Creators Launches at Toronto With Focus on Distribution and Audiences (EXCLUSIVE)
The Culture Fund, a new impact fund for creators from the Global South, launched at the Toronto Film Festival market, established by Product of Culture, a New York and Los Angeles-based media and distribution company. Rather than limiting support to production finance, the fund addresses a critical gap in the industry by investing at key stages of a project's life—securing distribution, growing audiences and raising profiles across film, media and cultural projects. This represents a significant shift in how emerging filmmakers are supported, prioritising the complete journey from creation to audience discovery.
Product of Culture brings over ten years of expertise in audience research, cultural strategy, marketing and distribution, having worked on more than 100 films and projects from storytellers across 18-plus countries in collaboration with major studios including Netflix, Amazon, Universal, Sony Pictures, HBO, Lionsgate, Magnolia Pictures and Neon. The fund launches in early 2027 with a programme of short films of cultural significance distributed digitally through FilmFreeway submissions. The initiative was co-hosted with Women in Film International, which launched its international programmes in 2024, reflecting a broader industry commitment to supporting Global South and diaspora filmmakers.
In short
- Impact fund launches to connect Global South filmmakers with distribution and audiences
- Product of Culture has 10+ years' experience across 100+ films from 18+ countries
- Focus shifts from production funding alone to support entire filmmaker-to-audience journey
Explained simply
Films and other cultural projects need more than money to be made: they also need ways to reach viewers and build an audience. Creators from the Global South, a broad term for countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America and parts of the Middle East, can face barriers to getting their work distributed and noticed.
Product of Culture is a media and distribution company that works on audience research, marketing and bringing projects to viewers. It has worked with filmmakers from more than 18 countries, as well as major studios and streaming services.
Women in Film International supports women working in film and began its international programmes in 2024. The fund’s approach matters because it directs support towards the stages between making a project and helping people discover it.
Americas Business Companies Entertainment Film World