What

We believe free access to information is a human right.

1 billion people are unable to read and write and more than half of the world's population lacks access to the internet. This means that for millions of people across the world free, reliable, information is simply not available.

To combat unequal access to information THE WHY produces & donates documentaries to underserved countries and distributes them on a sliding fee scale to other broadcasters around the world.

Founded in 2004 by documentary visionaries Mette Hoffmann Meyer (former head of documentaries at DR) and Nick Fraser (founder of BBC's documentary strand Storyville), THE WHY encapsulate their vision of making investigative documentaries available to everyone, everywhere. 

Engaging our extensive network of broadcasters, filmmakers and journalists, THE WHY now reaches more than 200 countries and territories with over 70 television broadcasters, local non-profit organizations and schools. By securing access to informative documentary films for everyone, we encourage global critical debate on pressing human rights and environmental issues.

How

Produce

Film camera as a symbol of producing documentaries about human rights.

We produce informative documentaries which focus on human rights issues around the world.

Distribute

Hand with lightbulb distributing documentaries to the world.

We distribute our documentaries to over 70 local broadcasters, nonprofit organizations, schools, museums & galleries across 191 countries. 

Create

Speech bubbles depicting local languages versions of documentaries.

We create local language versions of our documentaries & supplementary educational materials.

Where we are

THE WHY works with partners across the world to extend free access to information for everyone.

World map of media outreach.

OUR IMPACT

Reliable information through documentaries about human rights to the world.

We secure free access to reliable information for 600 million people across 191 countries around the world.

Two debaters symbolizing critical thinking on pressing human rights and environmental issues.

We inspire critical thinking and debate on pressing human rights and environmental issues.

Broadcast tower and public media showing documentaries in developing countries.

We support public media in developing countries by donating films to broadcasters around the world.

To find out more about our impact download the individual impact reports for each project below

Who we are

Felicia Elisabeth Jackson festival director advisory board the why foundation.

Felicia Elisabeth Jackson

Advisory board member | Festival Director for THIS - Future Stories & Engagement

Randi Bach Poulsen chair person of the board the why foundation.

Randi Bach Poulsen

Chair Person of the Executive Board

Nina Möger Bengtsson board member the why foundation.

Nina Möger Bengtsson

Executive Board member

Sigal Yehuda founder and executive director of close-up editorial board the why foundation.

Sigal Yehuda

Editorial board member | Founder & Executive Director of Close-Up | ARABIC films

Geralyn White Dreyfous academy award winning producer editorial board the why foundation.

Geralyn White Dreyfous

Editorial board member | Academy Award winning producer | USA producer

François Zimeray board member the why foundation.

François Zimeray

Executive board member

Chris Hastings executive producer and editorial manager world channel editorial board the why foundation.

Chris Hastings

Editorial board member | Executive Producer and Editorial Manager, World Channel | USA

Mette Walsted Vestergaard board member the why foundation.

Mette Walsted Vestergaard

Executive board member

Kirstine Damkjær

Executive board member

Wagner Moura actor filmmaker and producer editorial board the why foundation.

Wagner Moura

Editorial board member | Actor, filmmaker, producer | BRAZIL

Lars Nørby Johansen business leader advisory board the why foundation.

Lars Nørby Johansen

Advisory board member | Business leader/expert in political science

Camilla Nielsson board member the why foundation.

Camilla Nielsson

Executive board member

Ruby Chen co-founder and ceo Cnes foundation advisory board the why foundation.

Ruby Chen

Advisory board member | Co-founder and CEO, Cnex Foundation | CHINA

Ally Derks co-founder of IDFA and documentary films curator editorial board the why foundation.

Ally Derks

Editorial board member | Co-founder of International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA) and documentary films curator l GERMANY

Klara Grunning-Harris board member the why foundation.

Klara Grunning-Harris

Advisory board member | Producer and Consultant

Nick Fraser senior executive, editorial board and founding member of the why foundation·

Nick Fraser

Advisory board member | Senior Executive & Founding Member | UK and World

Mette Hoffmann Meyer CEO of the why foundation.

Mette Hoffmann Meyer

CEO / Executive Producer

Mariza Matshaya producer and founder of queen of film editorial board the why foundation.

Mariza Matshaya

Editorial board member | Producer and Founder of Queen of Film | SOUTH AFRICA

Alex Gibney film director and producer advisory board the why foundation.

Alex Gibney

Advisory board member | Film Director and Producer

Nagieb Khaja director and journalist advisory board the why foundation.

Nagieb Khaja

Advisory board member | Director and Journalist

Olafur Eliasson

Advisory board member | Artist

Jan Rofekamp president and ceo of films transit int. editorial board the why foundation.

Jan Rofekamp

Editorial board member | President & CEO of Films Transit International | CANADA

Claire Aguilar curator of documentaries editorial board the why foundation.

Claire Aguilar

Editorial board member | Curator of Documentaries | USA and WORLD

Connie Hedegaard

Advisory board member | Former European Commissioner for Climate Action

Mette Hoffmann Meyer

CEO / Executive Producer

Merete Monberg

ASK WHY? Docs Project Manager

Jan Laursen

Office Manager

Cecilie Fernández

Project Officer

Siri Johnsen

Outreach Coordinator

Jonatan Jerichow

Why Freedom Producer

Stig Bilde

WHY STORIES Editor

Rachel Sheary

Communications Coordinator

Mathilde Kirstein

WHY STORIES Producer

Martin Lange

Video Editor and Media Manager

Felicia Elisabeth Jackson

Advisory board member | Festival Director for THIS - Future Stories & Engagement

Ruby Chen

Advisory board member | Co-founder and CEO, Cnex Foundation | CHINA

Klara Grunning-Harris

Advisory board member | Producer and Consultant

Alex Gibney

Advisory board member | Film Director and Producer

Nagieb Khaja

Advisory board member | Director and Journalist

Olafur Eliasson

Advisory board member | Artist

Connie Hedegaard

Advisory board member | Former European Commissioner for Climate Action

Sigal Yehuda

Editorial board member | Founder & Executive Director of Close-Up | ARABIC films

Geralyn White Dreyfous

Editorial board member | Academy Award winning producer | USA producer

Chris Hastings

Editorial board member | Executive Producer and Editorial Manager, World Channel | USA

Wagner Moura

Editorial board member | Actor, filmmaker, producer | BRAZIL

Ally Derks

Editorial board member | Co-founder of International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA) and documentary films curator l GERMANY

Nick Fraser

Advisory board member | Senior Executive & Founding Member | UK and World

Mariza Matshaya

Editorial board member | Producer and Founder of Queen of Film | SOUTH AFRICA

Jan Rofekamp

Editorial board member | President & CEO of Films Transit International | CANADA

Claire Aguilar

Editorial board member | Curator of Documentaries | USA and WORLD

Henrik Beha Pederson

Founder & CEO; Plastic Change | WHY PLASTIC? Advisor

Kristian Syberg

Associate Professor Roskilde University, MarinePlastic | WHY PLASTIC? Advisor

Sine Plambech

Researcher, Anthropologist and Film Director | WHY SLAVERY? Advisor

PRESS

POLICIES & ORGANIZATION

JOB OPPORTUNITIES

Broadcasters

Funders and Donors

Program Partners

Pro Bono Partners

ProJect Advisors

With our Bronze Angel package you can support our organization with an annual donation and can expect reduced rates for the services of our consultants.

Silver Business Angels make a more modest contribution and receive our assistence with simple business issues in exchange.

Golden Business Angels make the biggest contribution. Either financially, in kind or sometimes both. In exchange for their support, they are rewarded with assistence on business issues, such as a footprint scan or a Trash hunt event for their customers.