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- From Yamagata With Impact. ShareDoc’s Asia Debut
ShareDoc has crossed continents! We are on the ground in Asia for the first time, debuting at the Yamagata International Documentary Film Festival (YIDFF) in Yamagata City. The 2025 edition of YIDFF, the festival’s 19th installment, was held from October 9 to 16, 2025 in Yamagata City. Founded in 1989 to mark the city’s centennial, YIDFF was Asia’s first international documentary festival and remains proudly citizen-led. Held every two years, it premieres bold work across the International Competition and New Asian Currents sections, hosts lively post-screening discussions, attracts industry decision-makers, and is Academy Awards qualifying in the documentary category.
Impact in conversation
During the festival, the ShareDoc ambassador Daria Podsiadlo had the opportunity to meet Gordon Quinn, a veteran impact producer and co-founder of the renowned documentary collective Kartemquin Films. Quinn has spent over five decades using documentary cinema as a catalyst for social change. He co-founded Kartemquin in the activist milieu of the 1960s, aiming to make films that “investigate and critique society” through the real lives of everyday people. Quinn’s landmark productions such as Hoop Dreams and The Interrupters, along with his leadership on fair-use and access for independent voices, have helped define how documentaries spark real-world change. The takeaway is simple: when strong storytelling meets a clear pathway for action, impact accelerates. We’re excited to keep talking with Gordon about co-creating pathways that move audiences from empathy to action.
A win to celebrate: ‘Writing Hawa’
One of the standout achievements at YIDFF 2025 was the recognition of Writing Hawa, a film we are proud to have on the ShareDoc platform. This documentary by Afghan directors Najiba Noori and Rasul (Ali) Noori won the festival’s Citizens’ Prize, an audience award determined by viewer votes during the festival, further reinforcing the film’s strong resonance with festival audiences.
On-site impact consults
Tokyo International Film Festival and the Tokyo Docs pitching forum.
Throughout the week we hosted one-to-one impact consultations, helping filmmakers clarify goals and design simple audience actions that fit any budget. We also walked teams through how ShareDoc’s end-credits QR code makes it easy for audiences to donate, volunteer, and stay involved the moment the lights come up. ShareDoc will continue meeting filmmakers across Japan throughout the Tokyo International Film Festival and the Tokyo Docs pitching forum.
Filmmakers: want a 20-minute impact consult at Tokyo Docs? Get in touch and schedule your meeting today : daria@share-doc.org
