Db x Looking Sideways Fund: Emily Cooney
Defining your own success, enjoying the process and lessons learned through mentorship with one of our 2025 Db Fund winners.
One of my favourite things about this whole Looking Sideways gig? Being able to pass on what I’ve learned in the three decades I’ve been making a living as a writer, podcaster, co-owner of my agency All Conditions Media, and freelancer.
That’s one reason I started Insights, the Looking Sideways section exclusively for my paid subscribing community, in which I share blogs, pods, guest posts and videos on this theme.
Here are some samples to get you started:
That same impetus to share the creative wealth was the inspiration behind the Looking Sideways x Db Fund, through which we offered creatives and storytellers a practical way to bring their dream projects to life with funding (a none-too-shabby €5000 for each winning entry); and mentoring from me and Db ambassadors such as Chris Burkard, Pacha Light, and Cuban Lu.
In spring 2025, we whittled our initial 300 entries down to a shortlist of six. Then, in June 2025, we chose our two winners:
And now there’s even more good news: one of our winners Emily Cooney has finished her project!
To celebrate, and to find out how Emily found the experience of finishing the film and working with Db mentors Chris Burkard and Timothy Myers, I caught up with her for a quick chat.
Watch the finished film below, and read on to find out more.
Your film is out! How are you feeling about the whole process?
That it’s taken a while! This has been one of the projects I’ve had in the works the longest. I had the idea about two years ago, and I would say from there it took about a year to mature into production.
Because I am so personally connected to the storyline, I would say my favourite part of the whole process has been getting to know all of the participants and reflecting on diabetes. It feels so nice to have it released and receive words of inspiration from others with T1
Some of the feedback from viewers has been really brilliant. It seems like there’s a real appetite for this type of take on action and adventure sports. Has this surprised you?
I wouldn’t say I’m surprised. I think nuance is really important when it comes to film-making, and I don’t think this topic hasn’t really been touched upon in the same way before.
That said, I hope the film is accessible enough for people without T1D to enjoy it as much as those who already have an understanding of the condition.
Hopefully, social media will help spread it far and wide, too.
How did winning the Db x Looking Sideways Fund help you bring this project to fruition?
Originally, I thought the film was going to be completely self-funded, so the €5000 prize has gone a really long way. It allowed me to employ an animator and a sound mixer (both of whom also have T1), and also reimburse the participants for the time (and money) they put in.
Five thousand euros goes a long way in a project you originally thought was going to be unfunded. It not only allowed me to employ an animator and a sound mixer (who also have T1, by the way) but also reimburse the participants for the time and money they all committed when agreeing to take part in the film.
How was it putting this film through the mentorship process that came as part of winning the Fund?
Financially speaking the Fund was great, but I would say the mentorship was even more valuable. Having people to bounce ideas off, whether around logistics, the edit, or the storytelling, was a really important part of the process.
Was any of the feedback or insight you received surprising or particularly challenging?
The main feedback I received about the film was around the story structure, and how the film needed a central element to bind all the other stories together. They recommend that should be me as filmmaker! This made me uncomfortable, to say the least.
It was super valuable to learn what it’s like to be in front of the camera, but I wouldn’t say I enjoyed it. Editing yourself is so hard. Respect to all of the influencers out there.
Your film wasn’t selected for Kendal. How do you handle setbacks like this?
Initially I had two aims for the film: to break down the barriers perceived by for those with type 1 diabetes who are curious about outdoor sports but believe that it is not accessible to them, and to raise awareness among those active within outdoor sports communities who don’t know much about T1D.
Not being selected for Kendal did feel like a setback, but as in every art form, films are subjective. I think believing that the value of your work is determined by others is a bit of a slippery slope. I feel I’ve met my original aims, and that everybody in the film has been reflected truthfully. So in my eyes, it’s a success.
What did you learn from the whole process?
I have learned to look at storytelling in different ways. During the interview stage of production, I learned to stay quiet after somebody had spoken, so they could reflect upon what they’d said, and say it more concisely without prompting.
I also experienced the joy of seeing a vision in my head animated in such a fantastic way.
What’s next for this project?
I am planning on a screening in North Wales at the end of January. I’m looking forward to experiencing peoples’ reaction to the film as they watch! In the edit it’s difficult to imagine watching the film for the first time, so this is always a really cool part of the process for me.
Beyond that, I just want as many people to see it as possible, whether that’s online, at film festivals, or through screenings.
So happy we could get this one out in the world and so stoked for Emily seeing her project come to life. Heres to many more of these.