The Invisible Heart

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The Invisible Heart

What happens when capitalism and charity intersect? From Wall Street to life on the street, The Invisible Heart tracks the birth of social impact bonds. An unorthodox marriage between government services and private-sector investments, this burgeoning financial model promises to solve society’s most complex problems, from crime to homelessness – but is it delivering? Set in Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom, this is compelling documentary weighs the ethics of putting human rights causes like housing and education i a relationship with capitalist interest. By examining this form of impact investing from the viewpoint of multiple stakeholders, the film raises all the important questions about the role of the state and the role of markets.

AWARDS & FESTIVALS

“

A good documentary enthralls and informs you, even if you went into it without any clue of what it was about. The strength of The Invisible Heart lies within its cast of characters... the faces of real people are what makes the Heart so potent.

Trent Wilkie, The Trent Wilkie
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The Invisible Heart has come to offer both sides of the ongoing SIB debate with sober judgement and a human face.

Sierra Bilton, Vue Weekly
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The name's Bond: Social Impact Bond. The Invisible Heart film questions investors profiting from social services

Lee Mannion, Thomson Reuters Foundation News
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A new documentary shines an important light on a new approach that seeks to radically reshape the way social services are provided.

Tom Baker, The Spinoff
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The Invisible Heart takes a deep look at social impact bonds and raises multiple questions for governments, including the idea of the government paying profits to investors.

Jordan Press, Canadian Press
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Social impact bonds 'problematic' says director of new social finance documentary The Invisible Heart.

Danny Glenwright, The Philanthropist
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The Invisible Heart weights the ethics of putting human rights causes like housing and education in a relationship with capitalist interests.

Pat Mullen, POV Magazine
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This is a very emotional issue for people. There are ideological attachments regarding the role of the state and a mistrust of the motives of the business community.

Audience Member, Toronto Screening
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Invisible Heart tackles social inequality with vigour. I was enthralled for the entire run-time.

Jordan Parker, Parker and Pictures
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Approaching this polarizing issue Pequeneza doesn't insert herself into the film but you can see her own invisible heart as she follows two very human stories about people whose lives have been affected by SIBs.

Alison Gillmore, Winnipeg Free Press
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The first documentary on Social Impact Bonds - A two-part interview with Nadine Pequeneza - Direct/Producer of The Invisible Heart.

Government Outcomes Lab, University of Oxford
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SIBs will require success stories and best practices to get over naysayer's fear and cynicism.

Graeme Edgar, Regina Screening
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The investors appear clueless about the systemic issues they think they can resolve.

Eleanor Lipov, Toronto Screening
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I thought a SIB might be a better place for me to invest some of my money than other stocks and mutual funds. I firmly believe it is NOT.

Louis Natale, Ottawa Screening
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Care is needed to explain how they can be structured terribly, how they can be structured well and that being a new mechanism, a lot of experimentation is to be expected.

Marie Ang, Ottawa Screening
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I will be more vigilant about the funding mechanisms for projects in my community.

Barbara Byers, Vancouver Screening
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An amazing piece of work, The Invisible Heart, makes a strong case for action on the underlying issues that SIBs seek to address, while illuminating the complexity of the questions about whether profit and social good of this kind can go hand in hand. It raises all the important questions about the role of the state and the role of markets.

Danielle Martin, Physician, Educator and Author
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The Invisible Heart offers a provocative and timely account of a critical policy issue that has largely escaped public discussion and debate. Taking the viewer on a fascinating journey from corporate boardrooms to the frontlines of social service delivery, the documentary brings to life the complex story of social impact bonds and is a must see for anyone interested in how markets and finance continue to transform the world in which we live.

James Williams, Professor York University
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An important film that highlights both the intended benefits and potential pitfalls of Social Impact Bonds (SIBs). If SIBs are to become a prevalent as their champions hope, then it is crucial that members of the public are well informed about them. This excellent film serves that purpose very successfully.

Alec Fraser, Policy Innovation Research unit, University of London
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Focusing on the US and Canadian experience with Social impact Bonds (SIBs). The Invisible Heart starkly contrast the ongoing debate between supporters and detractors of SIBs with the real lives of the people delivering and receiving the services on the ground. This raises some difficult questions pertinent to the times we live in, and the lack of simple answers is reflected in the film's portrayal of the polarised nature of the debate. The documentary highlights the clear need for a more nuanced understanding of when SIBs might be useful, and how to make sure they are effective.

Nigel Ball, Deputy Director, GO Lab

Director’s Statement

Over the past 15 years I have documented the lives of some of society’s most marginalized and disadvantaged individuals, and while each story began with a glimmer of hope, invariably I ended up bearing witness to systems that routinely fail people. Four years ago I began this documentary with the expectation of a different ending.

The Invisible Heart tracks the development of a financial product that introduces a profit incentive to the delivery of social services. By attributing a financial value to positive social outcomes, Social Impact Bonds (SIBs) promise to solve society’s most complex problems. In The Invisible Heart we are truly on a revolutionary journey, but as in all revolutions there is a danger that things will go awry.

SIB proponents believe an outcome-based, profit-driven approach to social services will promote the development of innovative programs by shifting risk onto private investors; ensure only effective programs continue to be funded; and ultimately attract billions of dollars to prevent social problems.

The Invisible Heart explores all sides of this issue, documenting the experiences of those directly involved in two SIBs; one for Toronto’s chronically homeless and the other for Chicago pre-kindergarten students. Over three years I filmed with children and the homeless, teachers and support workers, investors and politicians. In the course of filming, I saw how the pressure to return profits to investors influences negative program decisions; how the need to tie outcomes directly to an intervention drives the over-simplification of complex problems; and how tempting it is for governments to lower program expectations in order to attract investor funding.

From the moment I started thinking about this project I wanted to present you, the viewer, with the very real, human impact of introducing a profit motive to the delivery of social services. I hope that what I and the filmmaking team have created makes you want to improve how we as a society help the most vulnerable among us.

CREATIVE TEAM

Sarah Bachinski

Editor
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Sarah Bachinski

Editor

Sarah Bachinski has been editing documentaries for the past fifteen years. She has worked with Canada's top directors and producers, including Matt Gallagher, Scott Harper, Ann Shin and Steven Silver. in 2002, Sarah received a Gemini nomination (now known as the Canadian Screen Awards) for best editing on a documentary program for The Last Just Man (dir. Steven Silver). Sarah most recently edited undercover Jihadi directed by Barry Stevens for TVO (2017) and Road to Mercy directed and produced by Nadine Pequeneza for CBC Firsthand (2016). Sarah is an alumnus of Concordia University's filmmaking program and the Canadian Film Centre's Director's Lab.
Stan Barua CSC

Director of Photography
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Stan Barua CSC

Director of Photography

Stan Barua CSC is a versatile cinematographer who is as comfortable with lyrical cinema, bold television and crisp commercials as with tough documentaries. His extensive experience as Director of Photography spans over 20 years' diverse work with European, North and Latin American, as well as African directors, producers and crews across five continents. Stan's skill with digital cinematography, film and HDTV camera systems comes with calm and detailed collaboration with all departments of production to realize artistically and technically challenging, award-winning stories - without stylistic limits. Stan has won multiple awards for his dramatic, documentary and commercial work including: Best Photography in Docudrama from Canadian Society Of Cinematographers and 4 Gemini nominations and a Canadian Screen Award nomination for his photography. Stan holds an MA in Cinematography degree from the Lodz Polish Film School, speaks fluent Swahili, is happily married with children and is based in Canada.
Dave Draper

Sound Recordist
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Dave Draper

Sound Recordist

David Draper is a Toronto based Location Sound Recordist. Over the last 25 years 41 countries have been visited and many Production Companies and Networks collaborated with. When not working in Documentary, Feature, Series or Commercial settings David enjoys music production and development in his home studio. His top-level equipment package and sincere dedication to his
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Nadine Pequeneza

Director/Writer
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Nadine Pequeneza

Director/Writer

Nadine Pequeneza is an award-winning Producer/Director/Writer best known for her character-driven films offering unique access to stories about a wide range of topics from criminal justice, to global finance, to the animal conservation. With more than 15 years international experience, she has garnered multiple awards and nominations, including; a Canadian Screen Award for Best Writing in a Documentary Program, nine CSA and Gemini nominations, Gold and Silver Hugos from the Chicago International Film Festival and a Silver Gavel Award honourable mention from the American Bar Association. Her films have screened at festivals around the world from Toronto, to Milan, to Auckland, to Sichuan, China.
Alex Khaskin

Composer
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Alex Khaskin

Composer

Alex Khaskin received his undergraduate education at Glinka's School for The Musically Gifted (piano and conducting), before studying composition and conducting at The St. Petersburg State Conservatory. Alex worked as guest conductor for the Radio and Television Orchestra of St. Petersburg, the Lenfilm Stage Orchestra, and the Orchestra of the St. Petersburg State Conservatory. Inspired to seek a career as a film composer, he attended master classes by the famous Russian film and classical composer Andrei Petrov. From 1985 until his immigration to Canada in 1993, Alex scored 14 theatrical and television films and documentaries in Russia. Since settling in his Toronto studio, Alex has composed music for over 50 hours of documentary and narrative productions.

Sarah Bachinski

Editor

Click for Bio »

X

Sarah Bachinski

Editor

Sarah Bachinski has been editing documentaries for the past fifteen years. She has worked with Canada's top directors and producers, including Matt Gallagher, Scott Harper, Ann Shin and Steven Silver. in 2002, Sarah received a Gemini nomination (now known as the Canadian Screen Awards) for best editing on a documentary program for The Last Just Man (dir. Steven Silver). Sarah most recently edited undercover Jihadi directed by Barry Stevens for TVO (2017) and Road to Mercy directed and produced by Nadine Pequeneza for CBC Firsthand (2016). Sarah is an alumnus of Concordia University's filmmaking program and the Canadian Film Centre's Director's Lab.

Stan Barua CSC

Director of Photography

Click for Bio »

X

Stan Barua CSC

Director of Photography

Stan Barua CSC is a versatile cinematographer who is as comfortable with lyrical cinema, bold television and crisp commercials as with tough documentaries. His extensive experience as Director of Photography spans over 20 years' diverse work with European, North and Latin American, as well as African directors, producers and crews across five continents. Stan's skill with digital cinematography, film and HDTV camera systems comes with calm and detailed collaboration with all departments of production to realize artistically and technically challenging, award-winning stories - without stylistic limits. Stan has won multiple awards for his dramatic, documentary and commercial work including: Best Photography in Docudrama from Canadian Society Of Cinematographers and 4 Gemini nominations and a Canadian Screen Award nomination for his photography. Stan holds an MA in Cinematography degree from the Lodz Polish Film School, speaks fluent Swahili, is happily married with children and is based in Canada.

Dave Draper

Sound Recordist

Click for Bio »

X

Dave Draper

Sound Recordist

David Draper is a Toronto based Location Sound Recordist. Over the last 25 years 41 countries have been visited and many Production Companies and Networks collaborated with. When not working in Documentary, Feature, Series or Commercial settings David enjoys music production and development in his home studio. His top-level equipment package and sincere dedication to his

Click for Bio »

X

Nadine Pequeneza

Director/Writer

Click for Bio »

X

Nadine Pequeneza

Director/Writer

Nadine Pequeneza is an award-winning Producer/Director/Writer best known for her character-driven films offering unique access to stories about a wide range of topics from criminal justice, to global finance, to the animal conservation. With more than 15 years international experience, she has garnered multiple awards and nominations, including; a Canadian Screen Award for Best Writing in a Documentary Program, nine CSA and Gemini nominations, Gold and Silver Hugos from the Chicago International Film Festival and a Silver Gavel Award honourable mention from the American Bar Association. Her films have screened at festivals around the world from Toronto, to Milan, to Auckland, to Sichuan, China.

Alex Khaskin

Composer

Click for Bio »

X

Alex Khaskin

Composer

Alex Khaskin received his undergraduate education at Glinka's School for The Musically Gifted (piano and conducting), before studying composition and conducting at The St. Petersburg State Conservatory. Alex worked as guest conductor for the Radio and Television Orchestra of St. Petersburg, the Lenfilm Stage Orchestra, and the Orchestra of the St. Petersburg State Conservatory. Inspired to seek a career as a film composer, he attended master classes by the famous Russian film and classical composer Andrei Petrov. From 1985 until his immigration to Canada in 1993, Alex scored 14 theatrical and television films and documentaries in Russia. Since settling in his Toronto studio, Alex has composed music for over 50 hours of documentary and narrative productions.

The Invisible Heart

AWARDS & FESTIVALS

“

A good documentary enthralls and informs you, even if you went into it without any clue of what it was about. The strength of The Invisible Heart lies within its cast of characters... the faces of real people are what makes the Heart so potent.

Trent Wilkie, The Trent Wilkie

“