What an incredible experience it was to finally attend When East Meets West (WEMW) in Trieste! A heartfelt thank you goes to the wonderful Heidi Gronauer and Thomas Righetti (ESoDoc and ZeLIG) for inviting me to lead their Impact Zone Lab this year.
Trieste had been on my wishlist for years—ever since I met Alessandro Gropplero at Verzio in Budapest back in 2019. Our first collaboration in 2021, held entirely online due to the pandemic, gave me a glimpse of what was to come. But being there in person this week was something else entirely!
The Impact Zone Lab took place over two dynamic days with eight incredible filmmakers bringing their unique and powerful stories to the table. It was a diverse group, ranging from seasoned filmmakers to ambitious first-timers, coming from Italy’s Aosta Valley to as far away as Vancouver, Canada.
Outreach & Impact Inspirational Lab @ WEMW
The Outreach & Impact Inspirational Lab, in partnership with ESoDoc, empowers filmmakers to harness storytelling for social change. Hosted by The Good Media Networ this lab offers a hands-on space for creative collaboration.
Selected film projects will develop clear impact strategies and initial campaign approaches—integrating impact from concept to distribution.
I had the honour of being by their side while they were starting to think about a possible impact strategy for their projects. Together, we delved deep into their films, identifying key messages and shaping the first tangible impact goals for their stories. Watching the group take their first steps into impact producing was deeply rewarding. A huge well-done to everyone who participated—it was an absolute pleasure to help shed light on what impact campaigns are and how they can amplify meaningful storytelling.
Beyond the lab, I had the chance to immerse myself in the vibrant WEMW program, which lived up to everything my colleagues and filmmakers had told me beforehand. The event is impeccably organized and refreshingly intimate, making it easy to connect with others as most activities take place in and around the picturesque Savoia Hotel, perched right by the shores of the Mediterranean.
Some of the highlights of my trip were the conversations I had with inspiring creatives like Mafalda Duarte from the Berlin-based SpielFabrique and Mathi Rajendran from Goa, India. Mathi is one the visionaries behind EarthBound.life and the Museum of Imagined Futures, which explores the intersections of responsible tech and creative storytelling. I’m already looking forward to reconnecting with them and exploring exciting collaboration opportunities and maybe bringing them for D’Hub – who knows.
Of course, no reflection on WEMW would be complete without acknowledging the incredible atmosphere created by the entire community. From insightful panels to impromptu conversations over coffee, everything about this festival fosters creativity and connection. And let’s not forget the evening entertainment! Seeing Alessandro and his band perform was the perfect way to close out the experience—singing and dancing along with the crowd made it a night to remember.
Thank you again to Heidi, Thomas, WEMW, and everyone who made this such a fantastic experience. Needless to say, I’d love to return and continue this inspiring journey in Trieste!
