Producing Change: Impact Production in Unscripted TV

This session is part of the Connect & Inspire strand which offers a variety of sessions, from in-person networking and online roundtables to in-depth case studies, designed to promote the sharing of knowledge and the building of relationships across unscripted TV.

Over the past few decades, the UK’s screen industries - especially the independent documentary sector - have become increasingly driven by the desire to create meaningful social impact. Impact production has grown into a recognised craft in the documentary space, helping films shift conversations and spark change. While the professionalisation of the role is well underway within the independent documentary sector, it is still finding its feet within unscripted TV. Many in the sector are confused as to what exactly  “impact production” is, why it matters, how it fits into existing workflows, and how it can productively sit alongside institutional policy restrictions. This session will address these key considerations, while simultaneously unpacking the variety of transferable skills impact producers bring to an unscripted project.

To this end, the panel brings together leading voices to explore what the role of the impact producer could look like for Unscripted TV in 2026. This will include reflection on  the required skillsets and emerging career pathways open to the impact-minded creator. The panellist will further break down how the impact producer could help programmes stand out, reach wider audiences, and spark meaningful conversation.

Hosted by Cherique Pohl, ImpactWild

Who it's for

This session is open to everyone working in unscripted TV.

We are committed to ensuring all our courses are accessible to everyone. This course is designed to be as interactive as possible.

Please email USF@screenskills.com if you have any access requirements and we will be delighted to help, be that clarifying the form such interaction is likely to take or discussing reasonable adjustments.

Host:

Cherique Pohl

Cherique is the Founder of ImpactWild, an impact production CIC working with the screen industry to drive social and environmental change that benefits our living planet. With over fifteen years of experience across independent film and mainstream television, she has worked in production, development and distribution, specialising in natural history and factual storytelling with organisations including National Geographic and the BBC Natural History Unit. Across her work, Cherique has consistently bridged powerful programming with real-world impact. Having completed her first impact production course in 2010 - before the practice even had the name - she has spent her career embedding impact strategy into mainstream screen production, helping to break down barriers between traditional production models and purpose-driven change. She is also a member of Doc Society’s Global Impact Producers Alliance (GIPA).

Panelists:

Charly Conquest 

As Responsible Productions Lead for Sky, Charly supports Sky Original commissions to transition to lower carbon production methods and approach each project with sustainability in mind, as well as creating a culture based around wellbeing, access and inclusion for cast and crew. She took up her current role in 2023, having previously worked for CNBC and in the independent sector across both editorial and commercial production.

Sarah Mosses 

Sarah is the Founder & CEO of Together Films, an impact and sales company serving the international film community. She is passionate about serving filmmakers to increase their social impact, reach, and revenue for multi-award-winning titles like For Sama, Unrest, The Tale & Roll Red Roll. She has acted as the Head of Marketing for leading Film Festivals, including Sheffield DocFest (Sheffield, UK), DOC NYC (NYC, US), Human Rights Watch Film Festival (London, UK & NYC, US), and the Athena Film Festival (NYC, US). Sarah is a graduate of the prestigious Inside Pictures film leadership course and was selected for the Mayor of London's International Growth Programme (including trade visits to New York City & Los Angeles). In 2023, Together Films expanded into international sales representation backed by the BFI's Global Screen Fund. The debut slate includes Life After (Directed by Reid Davenport, premiering at Sundance 2025), and Your Fat Friend (Directed by Jeanie Finlay).

Caz Watson 

Caz Watson is an Impact Producer with extensive experience delivering groundbreaking projects that create change for both people and planet. From launching major impact campaigns for landmark films and series, to collaborating with global decisionmakers, leading organisations and local changemakers, her work to date has helped to reach and engage millions with new stories of our changing world. Fundamentally, her work is rooted in a passion for creative storytelling that can inspire human connection to drive meaningful action. Previous projects have included: Our Planet (Netflix), David Attenborough: A Life On Our Planet (Netflix), TED Countdown, The Letter (YouTube Originals), Open Planet and Ocean with David Attenborough (Disney+/ Nat Geo). Caz currently works as an Impact Producer for Black Sands, a creative impact consultancy, and Black Earth, a podcast sharing new stories of Black female leadership within the environmental movement.

James Lewis 

James is Co-Founder of The Good Side and an award-winning filmmaker with over 20 years of experience producing TV news, branded content, research films and documentaries. With a background ranging from live broadcasts for major news networks to campaigns for the world’s biggest brands and foundations, James specialises in content that shifts conversations. His films have been screened at the US Senate, FCDO, Downing Street, and the United Nations, demonstrating the power of visual storytelling to engage policymakers. James also produced, wrote, and co-directed the forthcoming feature documentary, Out Laws, coming Spring 2026.                                      

How to apply

This session will take place online via Zoom. Click ‘get ticket’ at the top of the page and follow the instructions to apply for your place: you must login or register before you are able to complete your application.

If you are no longer able to attend, we ask you to please use the “decline ticket” function on the right hand side of the page so that we can release your place. Our sessions are often oversubscribed, so we’d like to give other freelancers the opportunity to fill available spots. Thank you for your consideration.

This session is supported by the ScreenSkills Unscripted TV Skills Fund which invests in training for the unscripted workforce thanks to contributions from broadcasters, SVoDs and production companies.

This course would normally cost participants to attend, but thanks to this support, we are able to offer it to you for free. If you fail to attend, we reserve the right to request reimbursement of costs, unless your place can be taken by someone else.