Launched at our 2025 Tribeca Film Festival, "Celebrate Independent Producers" soiree, the Thank A Producer Initiative ("TAP Initiative") is a mission-driven advocacy campaign that amplifies the visibility, value, and wellbeing of independent producers. It honors the often-invisible labor and leadership they provide in creative development, project sustainability, and the push for a more equitable industry. At its core, the TAP Initiative is about repositioning independent producers—not just as behind-the-scenes facilitators, but as vital cultural architects who shape storytelling, champion equity, and uphold artistic integrity.

 

By elevating independent producers’ presence in industry conversations, festivals, and press—spaces where directors and actors are typically centered—TAP Initiative works to correct long-standing imbalances in recognition and representation.Through advocacy, strategic partnerships, and celebratory programming, WIP activates TAP Initiative with a series of community-based events that are informative, joyful, and impactful—leveraging the reach of high-profile individuals and organizations to drive systemic change and build lasting support networks for producers.

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With an initial focus on film festivals, where the life force is powered by independent films, it's time to address a long-standing gap in our industry: while directors are often centered and celebrated, producers frequently struggle for parity, often overlooked for not being the "Filmmaker". The TAP Initiative seeks to shift that narrative by advocating for tangible improvements in how producers are recognized and supported across the festival landscape, and we need your input to make it meaningful and data-driven.

 

The TAP Initiative will roll out in three key stages:

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• Stage 1: Independent Producer Survey & Research
  Launching with a brief, mostly multiple-choice survey to collect data on producer access and treatment at festivals.
   

• Stage 2: Festival Engagement
  Narrowing a focused list of target festivals to approach as potential allies in championing producer parity.
   

• Stage 3: Amplification & Activation
  Spotlighting independent producers through press, public events, festival panels, and storytelling to center the role and value of independent producers.

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WHY THIS MATTERS

The role of the independent producer has never been more essential—or more under-recognized. In the wake of industry-wide upheaval due to the pandemic, labor strikes, investor hesitance, government cuts, and diminishing tax incentives, producers bear an increasing burden with minimal support. Their ability to lead, fundraise, innovate, and manage teams under pressure directly impacts the vitality of independent storytelling and the wellness of entire creative ecosystems.

TAP Initiative seeks to restore dignity and balance to this essential role.

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JOIN US

This initiative is a timely opportunity to co-create a cultural moment that affirms the vital role independent producers play in shaping the stories that shape the world. With your support, we can uplift those who hold the vision—and the weight—of independent production.

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Let’s build a better industry by thanking the ones who work tirelessly to build it.

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Onwards and Upwards!!​​​​