Our Goals for the Great Ape Conservation Film Project

Using the Power of Film to Inspire Primate Conservation

Short-Term Goals: Inspiring Awareness and Connection (1 – 3 Years)

In the first phase of the Great Ape Conservation Film Project, our mission is simple but urgent: build awareness and empathy for great apes among the communities who live closest to them. These communities are on the frontlines of conservation, yet often lack access to information that connects their daily lives to the survival of chimpanzees, gorillas, and other primates.

Through short, visually rich films — created with local communities, in local languages, and using local settings — we bring great ape conservation into schools, villages, and marketplaces across Cameroon. These 5–7 minute films go beyond facts; they tell relatable stories that help audiences understand how their choices affect the forests they share with great apes.

Each film is paired with a specially designed lesson plan that touches on:

• The emotional and physical similarities between humans and apes
• The threats facing great apes today
• How local communities can take part in protecting them
• The opportunities for conservation-based livelihoods

After every screening, guided discussions give community members a safe space to ask questions, share concerns, and reflect on how they can contribute to conservation efforts.

In these early years, we’re focused on:

• Expanding screenings across schools and communities
• Training local educators and leaders to facilitate meaningful discussions
• Gathering data to measure how the films change attitudes and understanding
• Deepening partnerships with local organizations like Ape Action Africa

By meeting people where they are — culturally, emotionally, and geographically — we’re planting the seeds of long-term conservation right at the roots.

Long-Term Goals: Building Lasting Change (4+ Years)

Our long-term vision is to create lasting cultural change that transforms how people view and protect great apes for generations to come.

As we grow, the Great Ape Conservation Film Project will expand into other countries where great apes live, using our tested model to create films that are tailored to each region’s culture, language, and conservation challenges.

But we’re not just making more films — we’re building local capacity. Our long-term goals include:

• Training local filmmakers, educators, and conservation leaders to produce new films that speak directly to their communities
• Bringing films into villages through community movie nights that spark community-wide conversations about primate conservation
• Partnering with schools, NGOs, and governments to integrate film-based primate conservation education into official curricula and public programs
• Launching digital platforms to share these stories globally and inspire international support
• Tracking how knowledge and behaviors change over time, so we can continually improve our approach

At its core, the Great Ape Conservation Film Project isn’t just about protecting wildlife — it’s about empowering people to become stewards of the forests they depend on, and helping communities and great apes thrive together.