Film3 DAO began as a foundation—a home for a festival and the beginning of a gathering place for filmmakers experimenting at the edge of storytelling and decentralization. The original goal was simple: to create space. Space for independent creators to screen work, build community, and explore what it means to make film in a Web3 world. That space took shape through the Film3 Festival, a hybrid event taking place on the last day of the Onchain Summit in San Fransisco, with panels and talks made by industry professionals knit in between short films, documentary and animated works.

But what started as celebration soon turned into defense.

In the spring of 2025, the founding team discovered a series of trademark filings attempting to privatize the industry terms film3 and $film3—terms born through years of open collaboration across the Web3 creative community. These filings weren’t just symbolic grabs. They were designed to shut down collective use, to claim ownership over the very language creators were using to describe their work, host events, teach workshops, and build the future.

That threat became a spark.

The small team behind the foundation quickly galvanized, realizing that protecting the movement required something stronger, more agile, and decentralized. And so, Film3 DAO was born—a new structure built to defend creative freedom, support collective infrastructure, and welcome a broader public into the evolving culture of onchain storytelling.

Unlike the top-down institutions many filmmakers are forced to navigate, Film3 DAO operates on shared values: the belief that film3 is for everyone. The founding team blends a rich mix of backgrounds—from Emmy-winning animators and Web3 pioneers to neuroscientists, bioinformaticians, and grassroots media organizers. But titles matter less here than purpose. Each member brings tools and vision to ensure that creators—not platforms—own their narratives.

Now, the DAO is focused on three urgent goals.

First, welcoming people in. This isn’t a gated community for blockchain insiders. You don't have to buy in or keep others out. It's not about being first or the best. It’s an open invitation to filmmakers, educators, curators, and cultural workers—anyone tired of extractive systems and ready to build something better.

Second, breaking the blockchain bubble. Too much of Web3 has stayed inside its own echo chamber. Film3 DAO is taking its message offline, into festivals, classrooms, and film sets—anywhere the language of decentralization can meet the needs of real people making real art.

And third, fighting to protect the culture. The DAO is actively opposing the trademark claims on film3 and $film3, standing firm in the belief that no single entity should control a term that represents thousands of creators' collective labor and imagination. This isn't just about intellectual property—it's about safeguarding the ability to gather, share, and build without fear of legal intimidation.

This year, the DAO will grow its treasury, expand its member base, and continue developing tools for decentralized production, funding, and distribution. But at its heart, this is not a technical project. It’s a cultural one.

Film3 DAO exists because artists stood up—not just for their own work, but for each other. It’s a reminder that in the age of onchain everything, connection through storytelling remains the most powerful force we have.

Founding Team of Film3 DAO

• Kristen Kingsbury – Ecosystem Lead
  Filmmaker and onchain animator building cross-platform creative infrastructure and leading festival development.

• Rob Shaw – Creative Director
  Emmy-winning stop-motion director defining the DAO’s creative vision and storytelling ethos.

• Sherry McCracken – Strategy & Partnerships
  Independent filmmaker and tech strategist shaping strategic alliances and decentralized funding pipelines.

• Rachel Brissenden – Community Manager
  Media founder and cultural organizer stewarding community growth and public education.

• Jawna Standish – Head of Operations
  Neuroscientist and blockchain governance expert overseeing structure, systems, and organizational health.

• Pippin Beard – Treasury Manager
  Financial steward managing the DAO's treasury with transparency and strategic allocation.

• Chris Hackett – Creative Technologist
  Builder at the intersection of art and code, enabling technical pathways for creator-led experimentation.

• Marcie Jastrow – Strategic Advisor
  Industry veteran and Emmy-winner advising on growth, partnerships, and media innovation.

• Joshua Badshah – Innovation & Product
  Scientist, filmmaker, and platform designer bridging ethics, technology, and decentralized media experiences.

To find out more and join us, please visit: https://film3dao.xyz/