The Skoll World Forum on Film: Community, Convening, and the Power of Shared Vulnerability

It was 2021 and the world was in lockdown.

The Skoll World Forum thrives on the power of connection. I’d spent the past eight years as a filmmaker documenting the Skoll community, and every year had the pleasure of watching social innovators come together–sparking countless moments of inspiration.

As we prepared to host the 2021 Skoll World Forum back in our meeting place of Oxford, we found ourselves, like so many others, pivoting to an online format.

Activists worldwide were trying to further their critical work–leading movements and tackling injustice–while in quarantine. Were they adapting? How were they coping? What were they seeing on the ground? What did they need?

In the wake of these constraints, we decided to make a film to open the Forum that captured this moment in all its human complexity–isolation, fear, longing, and resilience. We wanted to document what most of us were both grieving and craving: a sense of purpose within a community that transcends borders.

We didn’t want our film to feature talking points, interviews, or voiceover. We wanted to see (and feel) what happens when strangers meet in the one place where most of us could still find some human connection: the dreaded Zoom meeting.

As a filmmaker, the constraints of Zoom presented a fresh challenge. While I love cinematography, lighting, camera movement, focus, and creative composition, with Zoom most of that goes out the window. Could we find a way to elevate the mundane format, transforming simple webcams into portals of empathy?

And even if we could transform the craft of Zoom filmmaking with some movie magic, would the strangers let each other into their own worlds? Could they transmit their experiences through the lens of their webcams? Would they discover commonalities and derive inspiration from each other?

Of course, these were not just any strangers. These were changemakers from the Skoll community tackling the most pressing issues worldwide. We invited local leaders who sometimes can’t make it to international conferences. These everyday heroes (who often don’t get a moment in the spotlight) now had a chance to tell their stories.

Their voices, captured in our film Strangers in Boxes, debuted at the 2021 Skoll World Forum and played at the 2022 Mill Valley Film Festival. Rediscovering this film ahead of the 2024 Skoll World Forum, we’re reminded of the resilience of the human spirit. We invite you to take 5 minutes and discover (or rediscover) the power of connection amidst adversity.

We hope it brings you hope that despite all the troubling news around the world, there are inspiring people doing good things on this planet. And remember, YOU are a part of the good that we need in the world today, so even if you can’t join in Oxford this year, you can join us virtually.

I’d like to extend my deepest gratitude for the people who gave their time and vulnerability in the midst of a difficult year. Strangers in Boxes would not exist without you. Thank you.

• Aaron Slater, MIT Solve, Ohio, USA
• Amasha Lyons-Clark, BAYCAT, NYC, USA
• Amaya Webster, Tech Matters, San Francisco, USA
• Antonio Peluso, Amazon Conservation Team, D.C., USA
• Dr. Taddy Blecher, The Maharishi Institute, Johannesburg, South Africa
• Ellen Bettis, Glimmer, Austin, USA
• Elsa Nirtiana Rajemison, mTOMADY, Germany
• Emily Bancroft, VillageReach, Seattle, USA
• Godfrey Okumu, Tostan International, Dakar, Senegal
• Irteza Syed, Shams Power Pvt. Ltd., Lahore, Pakistan
• Janah Ncube, Crisis Action, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe
• Jim Fruchterman, Tech Matters, Palo Alto, USA
• Kiran Singh, Foundation for Ecological Security, Anand, India
• Leesa Shrader, Mercy Corps, Nairobi, Kenya
• Mahali Hlasa, Riders for Health, Lesotho
• Maria Sofia Franco, Sonidos de la Tierra, Asunción, Paraguay
• Mark Plotkin, Amazon Conservation Team, D.C., USA
• Matthew Patten, Catalyst 2030, Netherlands
• Meagan Fallone, Barefoot College International, New Zealand
• Monica Ricafort, Smarter Good, Manila, Philippines
• Sanjeewa Liyanage, International Bridges to Justice, Geneva, Switzerland
• Sopheap Im, Digital Divide Data, Cambodia
• Sunita Menon, Breakthrough, India