Il movies as a tool to narrate one of life's most profound transformations and generate social awareness. On the occasion of the 83rd Venice International Film Festival, "Lights! Camera! Impact!“, the program promoted by The Human Safety Net, the Global Foundation of Generali, to bring the audiovisual and social worlds into dialogue.
La fourth edition The initiative will focus on the transition to parenthood and the consequences this experience has on children's lives, with particular attention to the first six years, considered crucial for development and future opportunities. The public event will be held Saturday, September 5, 2026, from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM, in the House of The Human Safety Net, at the Procuratie of Piazza San Marco in Venice.entry will be free until seats are filled, upon registration.
The film tells the story of the transformation of becoming parents
Made in collaboration with the Van Leer Foundation, an international organization active in early childhood development, the 2026 edition aims to bring to the screen a universal experience that, despite its narrative power, continues to find limited space in cinema. Comedy, wonder, conflict, and change accompany the journey of becoming a parent, creating the conditions for stories capable of crossing different cultures and countries. Lights! Camera! Impact! was born precisely with theobiettivo to bring together creatives, producers, distributors and social organizations, transforming cinematic storytelling into a tool for inclusion and change.
“Lights! Camera! Impact! was born from the belief that the cinema can be a real engine of change, because it contributes to shaping the collective imagination and generating models and new forms of awareness", he states Emma Ursich, CEO of The Human Safety Net. “This initiative increasingly catalyzes dialogue between the social and film sectors, bringing together directors, screenwriters, producers, distributors, and organizations like ours, whose work is to support families every day in the early years of their children's lives.”
The project is part of the program Art for Social Impact, through which The Human Safety Net promotes the transformative power of art. This year's theme is directly linked to the For Families program, which operates in 23 countries with 65 partner non-governmental organizations to support families at risk of social exclusion with children aged 0 to 6.
From workshops to fellowship for four screenwriters
The collaboration with the Van Leer Foundation marks an important step for Lights! Camera! Impact!, destined to evolve from an annual event to a structured platform for supporting cinema with social impact.meeting open to the public It will be preceded, on September 4th and 5th, by two days of workshops for audiovisual experts, nonprofit representatives, and the media. The workshops will explore new trends in storytelling related to parenthood and develop narratives that can speak to audiences from diverse cultural backgrounds.
The main novelty of the 2026 edition is the co-financing of a international fellowship with The Black List, a platform founded in 2005 to discover and promote unproduced screenplays. The project will support four emerging screenwriters working on stories about parenting and early childhood development, offering funding and mentoring. Equimundo and the American Institute for Boys and Men are also participating in the initiative.
"Becoming a parent is one of life's most profound experiences. Yet, despite encompassing all the elements of a powerful narrative—comedy, wonder, conflict, and transformation—the experience remains largely absent from our screens," observes Michael Feigelson, CEO of the Van Leer Foundation. “The next shift in how we understand and support parents could start with a story audiences haven’t even known they’ve been waiting for.”
From The Black List to Sesame Street, international guests
The program will be curated by Anadil Hossain, an award-winning producer known for her commitment to promoting diverse perspectives and crafting stories that challenge cultural conventions. The discussions will be accompanied by screenings of trailers and clips selected by the speakers themselves. "Our event has grown over the years thanks to increasingly strong partnerships and concrete support for our vision: connecting mission-driven organizations, visionary creatives, and collaborations capable of translating into concrete projects," says Hossain.
Among the protagonists of the Venetian event there will be Franklin Leonard, producer and founder of The Black List. Brazilian director and screenwriter will also participate. Estela Renner, co-founder of Maria Farinha Filmes, e Malinda Wink, CEO of Australian philanthropic organization Minderoo.
The debate will also involve Reshma saujani, founder of Moms First and Girls Who Code, who has been committed for years to the economic emancipation of women and mothers, and Scott Cameron, head of content and intellectual property strategy at Sesame Workshop, where she leads the international expansion of Sesame Street content. The panel of guests at the public event is rounded out by Indian director, screenwriter, and producer Kiran Rao, co-founder of the Paani Foundation. The workshops will also feature speakers: Pippa Harris, producer and co-founder of Neal Street Productions, and Uzodinma Iweala, writer, filmmaker and doctor, author of the novel Beasts of No NationThe media partner of the edition will be Ankler Media, an independent company specializing in stories about the Hollywood industry and the increasingly close intersection of entertainment, media, and technology.
The social network born from the Generali Foundation
Founded by Generali in 2017, The Human Safety Net currently operates in 25 countries. through a network of 98 partner social enterprises. Its programs support both vulnerable families with young children and the inclusion of refugees through employment and entrepreneurship, bringing together non-governmental organizations and the private sector in Europe, Asia, and South America. Its Venice headquarters, housed in Procuratie of St. Mark's Square, will thus once again become a meeting place between art and social commitment.
