With the entertainment industry in flux and talk everywhere about new models, Level Forward has been plugging away at one as a public benefit corporation — a for-profit company legally required to balance a focus on earnings with positive societal or environmental impact.

It’s worked with more than 100 organizations over the years to build an ecosystem of partners, funders and community members, says CEO Adrienne Becker, to drive projects from The Queen’s Gambit musical to a new feature with Waititi Productions and Janelle Monáe’s Wondaland.

The NYC-based company recently announced The Vagina Monologues for next year in partnership with Roundabout Theater, V (formerly Eve Ensler) and director Noma Dumezweni. It’s a general partner with Barbara Broccoli, Angelica Zollo, Patrick Milling-Smith and Brian Carmody on Girl, Interrupted, coming to New York’s Public Theater in May.

Lady, filmmaker Olive Nwosu’s feature debut about a female taxi driver in Lagos, splashed down at Sundance with the World Cinema Dramatic Special Jury Award for Acting Ensemble.

Becker co-founded Level Forward in 2018 with progressive documentary filmmaker Abigail Disney, great-niece of Walt, and ambitious goals — i.e. “screen and stage creative choices leading to productions that portray what the world could be, while earning accolades and better than industry average financial recoupment; regenerative economic models; community partners who are also owners [Level Forward compensates  key partners with stock options]; and work that positively impacts people.”

The company doesn’t disclose financials but, after finding its footing, has grown revenue consistently over the past five years and narrowed losses. It’s been eyeing bigger budget films in the $5-$15 million range (up from $2-$4 million).

Becker, who has worked at CAA, DailyCandy, Nielsen and Barry Diller’s InterActive Corp., met Disney in an investor group exploring a bid for Weinstein Company assets in 2018. They didn’t pursue it but started Level Forward instead. Disney is on the board but not involved day to day. “She is completely committed,” but does not subsidize the company, says Becker.

A staff of seven includes head of impact Carmelyn P. Malalis, former NYC commissioner on human rights, and playwright Andrea Ambam as director of programming.

Past projects include films The Assistant, Björk: Cornucopia, Mountains and The Year Between, and plays and musicals Good Night, and Good Luck, Suffs, Jagged Little Pill and How To Dance in Ohio.

The company recently shot a pilot for a food travel series Soul Table with former CNN anchor Brooke Baldwin, activist LaTosha Brown and Michelin chef Dominique Crenn (Chef’s Table). It launched a short film series, Mother Justice, after success with Oscar-nominated short Red, White and Blue about a single mother forced to cross state lines for an abortion.

Pressure on social justice, environmental and DEI initiatives has been deeply hard on Level Forward partners. “People lose their jobs. Organizations shut down… I’m shocked that we were able to do everything that we did last year because there’s been so much retrenchment,” Becker says.

But, she believes, “There’s something about this movement — this idea that commercial entertainment should be sustainable and accountable — that’s taking hold.”