CASE STUDY | NON-PROFIT | SHORT DOCUMENTARY
How do you tell the story of refugee support in a credible and moving way, without resorting to pathos?
OGDM Foundation needed a short documentary that would present its goals, activities and achievements and support conversations with potential donors. Rek House took responsibility for the entire process and delivered the project on a non-profit basis.
ABOUT THE CLIENT
Support explained through people, action and real experience.
OGDM Foundation supports refugees from Ukraine. Its daily work involves people, aid initiatives, difficult decisions and experiences that cannot be explained credibly through numbers or slogans alone.
The film needed to organise this story and show the purpose of the foundation's work in a form that could support conversations with donors and partners.
THE CHALLENGE
Connect emotion with facts while protecting the dignity of the contributors.
The film needed to build the organisation's credibility and explain clearly why continued support matters. Emotion had to come from facts, actions and experience, rather than replace them with pathos.
The film needed to:
- present the foundation's goals, activities and achievements;
- show contributors' experiences with care and respect;
- base the narrative on research and specific information;
- create a useful tool for conversations with donors and partners.
SOLUTION AND APPROACH
Research gave emotion a credible foundation.
Our project notes covered the foundation's beginnings, goals, recipients of support, completed initiatives, stories from aid trips, achievements and difficulties. This became the basis for a short documentary combining interviews and observation with animation that reinforces the message.
Research and interview questions
Understanding the foundation's history, goals, activities, achievements and experience from aid trips.
Concept and narrative
Building the story around real experience and the purpose of conversations with donors.
Filming and interviews
Preparing and recording interviews and observational footage with the contributors.
Editing and animation
Shaping the short documentary and designing animation that clarifies key information.
HOW WE WORKED
From the objective to a film ready to use.
Purpose of the film
We defined what viewers should understand about the foundation and how the film should support donor conversations.
Research and questions
We gathered information about the foundation's beginnings, activities, recipients, achievements and challenges.
Filming and conversations
We recorded interviews and observational footage while maintaining a calm documentary tone.
Editing and animation
We combined facts, experience and emotion into a short film ready for communication with partners.
THE FILM
Watch the project in full.
OGDM Foundation | Short documentary
A documentary about OGDM Foundation's work supporting refugees from Ukraine, created as a communication tool for donors and partners.
Open the film ↗THE RESULT
A credible story ready for conversations with donors and partners.
The foundation's story in one film
The documentary organises the organisation's goals, activities and experience without reducing them to slogans.
Emotion grounded in facts
Contributor interviews and research create a credible picture of the support and why it matters.
A communication tool
The film can help introduce the organisation to potential donors and partners.
WHO THIS MODEL IS FOR
This approach works when video has a specific job to do.
Foundations and social organisations
When an organisation needs to explain the purpose, people and outcomes of its work in an honest, engaging form.
Public institutions
When a socially important subject requires clear narrative, research and a responsible tone.
Aid programmes and partnerships
When a film should support conversations with donors, partners or other stakeholders.
HAVE A SIMILAR CHALLENGE?
Do you need a film about an important project that avoids empty pathos?
We will begin with research and the purpose of the conversation. Let us talk about your documentary.BACKSTAGE | OGDM FOUNDATION
A calm set for a story in which people and facts matter.
See the interview preparation, camera work and contributor recordings behind the short documentary for OGDM Foundation.
FAQ | FILM FOR FOUNDATIONS AND SOCIAL ORGANISATIONS
Documentaries for NGOs. Frequently asked questions.
Clear answers about films for foundations, donor communication, research and responsible storytelling about socially important subjects.
What type of film works best for a foundation or social organisation?+
The format should follow the communication goal. A short documentary works well when a foundation wants to present its work through people, facts and experience. It can combine contributor interviews, observation, archive material and animation that explains the context.
What did Rek House produce for OGDM Foundation?+
Rek House produced a short documentary about OGDM Foundation's work supporting refugees from Ukraine. The scope included research, creative concept, production preparation, filming, editing, and the design and production of animation. The project was delivered on a non-profit basis.
How can a film talk about social support without resorting to pathos?+
Start with specific actions, verified facts and the perspective of people directly connected to the subject. Emotion then comes from real experience. A calm tone, respect for contributors and avoiding simplistic symbols of aid help the story remain credible.
Why is research important in a film for an NGO?+
Research establishes what the organisation actually does, who it supports, and what its goals, achievements and challenges are. This grounds the script in verified information and helps interview questions lead to a coherent and credible story.
How can video support donor communication?+
One film can organise the organisation's purpose, show its work and give a voice to people involved in the project. A foundation can use it in conversations, presentations, partner meetings, events, on its website and across social channels.
How do you protect the dignity and agency of contributors in a social documentary?+
The context of participation, consent and intended use of each contribution should be clear. Questions should leave room for each person's own perspective, and the edit must preserve the meaning of their words. People in vulnerable situations and sensitive information require particular care.
What role can animation play in a documentary for a foundation?+
Animation can organise data, explain context and reinforce information that cannot be shown clearly through live footage alone. It should support interviews and observation while maintaining the documentary's calm tone instead of distracting from its contributors.
What does the production process for a foundation film look like?+
The process begins with the objective, audience and research. The next steps are the concept, interview questions, script and filming plan. After recording interviews and observational footage, production moves into editing, animation, sound, captions and agreed versions for selected publication channels.