Amanda Banks
Founder of Common Ground Films.
Amanda Banks founded Common Ground Films because she believes storytelling is one of the most powerful ways to inspire and encourage change. At its heart, this is advocacy work — connecting stories that matter with the audiences and communities who need to see them, from cinema tours to grassroots screenings.
Amanda holds a Bachelor's degree in Health Science and has a background working in women's health, bringing a deep, informed understanding of the issues at the heart of the films she distributes. That grounding shapes how she approaches every film Common Ground Films brings to audiences: with care for the story, and a conviction that the right film, in front of the right audience, can genuinely shift how people think and what they do next.
Amanda produced and co-created Born at Home (2024), distributed with the help of Demand Film — the film toured nationally and screened internationally, including a strong run in the UK. She worked as distribution coordinator on Seen, in partnership with ParentTV. She now leads distribution for Allowed to Birth: The Journey of a Global Midwife, touring Australian cinemas in partnership with US filmmaker Jacinta Lagos.
Beyond film
Amanda is a mother of two, both born at home, and a registered acupuncturist by training. She's also a rock climber and a DIY enthusiast — two hobbies that have taught her patience, consistency, and a fair bit of creative problem-solving along the way. It's a lesson that shows up in how carefully she chooses and champions every film Common Ground Films brings to audiences.