We create documentary films and campaigns to nurture optimism in the world.
We create documentary films and campaigns to nurture optimism in the world.
Optimist is a non-profit production studio in Los Angeles. They are best known for the feature documentaries Living On One Dollar (Netflix 2015), Salam Neighbor (Netflix 2016), Five Years North (PBS 2020), and This Is Not Financial Advice (Fuse 2024). Its founders and film directors were honored by HBO as 40 under 40 filmmakers to watch and were finalists for the 2021 duPont-Columbia award for outstanding journalism. In 2025, they are releasing Champions of The Golden Valley (Tribeca) and are in production on several new documentaries, including a feature about the life and historic win of the first transgender member of the U.S. Congress, Sarah McBride.
All of our films nurture Optimism and inspire action. To date our films and campaigns have helped raise $114M for social issue causes including refugee education, financial empowerment, and food access.
Optimist is a non-profit production studio in Los Angeles. They are best known for the feature documentaries Living On One Dollar (Netflix 2015), Salam Neighbor (Netflix 2016), Five Years North (PBS 2020), and This Is Not Financial Advice (Fuse 2024). Its founders and film directors were honored by HBO as 40 under 40 filmmakers to watch and were finalists for the 2021 duPont-Columbia award for outstanding journalism. In 2025, they are releasing Champions of The Golden Valley (Tribeca) and are in production on several new documentaries, including a feature about the life and historic win of the first transgender member of the U.S. Congress, Sarah McBride.
All of our films nurture Optimism and inspire action. To date our films and campaigns have helped raise $114M for social issue causes including refugee education, financial empowerment, and food access.