The research group “Film as a Catalyst for Social Transformation” investigates the societal power of contemporary cinema in Germany. Which fiction and documentary films on topics such as human rights, environmental protection, or democracy are being produced and distributed? What opportunities and obstacles do they encounter within the film system? What forms do they take, what impulses do they convey, and what pathways of impact do they follow? Our project addresses these questions and is funded from 2025 to 2029 by the VolkswagenStiftung (an independent non-profit organization, not affiliated with the carmaker). Three subprojects at the Film University Babelsberg KONRAD WOLF are developing new insights into the availability, modes of impact, and framework conditions of socially relevant cinema. In doing so, they cooperate closely with film practitioners (AG DOK, AG Verleih, Jetzt & Morgen) and NGOs (Planet Narratives, Mission Value) to jointly develop informational resources and recommendations for action. The goal: to enable films to fully realize their potential for society.