Sponsorship Opportunity · Filmed in Burkina Faso

Still Smiling

A journey to reconnect with my roots in the Sahel.

A documentary series following Opa Favél Marsha Hope Day, "Lady O," as she reclaims her ancestral identity, beginning in Burkina Faso and reaching across the African diaspora.

Format
Feature Documentary + Series
Filming
Q4 2027
Location
Johannesburg, South Africa
Target Release
Q1 2029
Based In
Toronto, ON
Contact
Lady O · WhatsApp +1 (416) 293-2835
The Story

More Than a Trip, a Deeply Personal Journey

Still Smiling is more than a trip, it's a deeply personal journey of heritage, identity, and discovery.

Logline: Through authentic storytelling and meaningful connections, Lady O shares the beauty, resilience, and spirit of Burkina Faso and the Sahel with the world.
Cultural Connection Inspiration Education Community Authentic Storytelling
Lady O
Meet Opa Favél Marsha Hope Day (Lady O)
  • Choosing Passion Over Comfort
  • Reconnecting With Her African Roots
  • Sharing Authentic Stories From the Sahel
"It's never too late to follow your heart and rediscover who you are."
Our Audience

Who a Partnership Puts You In Front Of

Sponsorship isn't just visibility, it's access to a specific, engaged audience. Still Smiling reaches:

Women 40+
Travelers & Adventure Seekers
African Diaspora
Documentary Lovers
Anthropology & History Enthusiasts
Cultural Enthusiasts

The demand for Lady O is organic, consistent, and growing. We reach engaged audiences through digital platforms, film festivals, community events, and media partnerships worldwide.

The Opportunity

A Multi-Platform Storytelling Project

A partnership isn't limited to the film itself. Your brand can appear across the full campaign:

🎬
Feature Documentary
▶
YouTube Series
P
Patreon Community
♡
Social Media
◎
Photography
✎
Blog
◐
Podcast
◆
Speaking Engagements
The Journey

Confirmed Production Itinerary

This isn't a concept in development, it's a fully scheduled production.

Q4 2027
Departure — Toronto, Canada
Q4 2027
Arrival — Johannesburg, South Africa
Q1 2028
Arrival — Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
Date TBD
Arrival — Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso
Q2 2028
Arrival — City TBD, Nigeria
Project Timeline

From Planning to Streaming

Production & Travel
Q4 2027 – Q2 2028
Post-Production
Q3 2028 – Q1 2029
FESPACO
Burkina Faso Film Festival, Q1 2029
DIFF
South Africa Film Festival, Q3 2029
AFRIFF
Nigeria Film Festival, Q4 2029
Partner With Us

Sponsorship Packages

Custom partnerships available to meet your brand's goals.

BRONZE
$1,500
  • Logo on Website
  • Social Media Shoutouts
  • Documentary Credits
SILVER
$5,000
  • Logo on Website
  • Social Media Shoutouts
  • Documentary Credits
  • Product Placement
GOLD
$10,000
  • Logo on Website
  • Social Media Shoutouts
  • Documentary Credits
  • Product Placement
  • Event Recognition
DIAMOND
$25,000+
  • Logo on Website
  • Social Media Shoutouts
  • Documentary Credits
  • Product Placement
  • Event Recognition
  • Custom Content Feature

Individual and in-kind sponsorship options are also available. See full details at stillsmiling.ca/sponsors

Why Partner With Us

What Sponsors Receive

A partnership here isn't a donation, it's a visibility and brand-alignment investment with tangible return:

Brand Exposure Across the Campaign
Logo Placement on Website & Materials
Social Media Features & Shoutouts
Product Placement
Documentary Credits
Event & Premiere Recognition
Website Recognition
Behind-the-Scenes Access
Storytelling Partnership
Executive / Associate Producer Credit (select tiers)
Invitations to Premiere Screenings & Festival Events
Co-Branded Social & PR Campaign Features
Post-Campaign Impact & Reach Report
Custom Video Message from Lady O for Internal Use
Alignment with CSR & Cultural Storytelling Initiatives
First Association with Future Series Installments

The items above reflect benefits typical of documentary sponsorship and executive producer partnerships in this range. Exact deliverables are confirmed per tier and can be tailored to a partner's specific goals.

Brand Alignment

We Collaborate With Brands That Share Our Values

Airlines
Camera Companies
Travel Insurance
Tourism Organizations
Hotels & Lodging
African Businesses
Financial Services
Telecommunications
Film & Music Companies
Cultural Institutions
Outdoor & Adventure Brands
Lifestyle & Wellness Brands
Our Impact

Creating Meaningful Stories, Inspiring Real Change

Year 1 goals as the campaign builds toward release.

100K+
Social Media Reach
50K+
YouTube Views
10K+
Monthly Website Visitors
500K+
Target Documentary Audience

Positioned alongside successful Canadian documentary originals in audience reach and engagement strategy.

Beyond the Documentary

The Initiative Catalogue

Alongside the four corporate tiers, Still Smiling maintains a growing collection of smaller, standalone initiatives, each one a real, defined need tied directly to the production or the communities it visits. Sponsors can fund a specific initiative directly, in addition to or instead of a corporate package.

Burkina Faso Youth Initiative

Burkina Faso Youth Initiative

Supports local youth with clothing and essential supplies encountered along the journey.

Active Now
Assistance for Displaced Burkinabes

Assistance for Displaced Burkinabes

Supporting displaced families and individuals with essential aid and resources.

Active Now
Faso Mebo

Faso Mêbo

Supporting local rebuilding and community renewal efforts in Burkina Faso.

Active Now
Awakening the Tribes of Africa Fund

Awakening the Tribes of Africa Fund

Supporting cultural preservation and traditional heritage across African communities.

Active Now
This list grows as production continues. New initiatives are added as real, specific needs are identified on the ground, from equipment and translation support to community partnerships. Sponsors following the project will see this catalogue expand throughout filming and post-production.
The Road Ahead

Beyond Burkina Faso

Still Smiling begins in Burkina Faso, but it is planned as an ongoing series. Future chapters will follow Lady O to additional African nations, continuing the same journey of reconnection, identity, and storytelling across the continent and the diaspora.

Partners who come on board now are aligning with the series at its founding chapter, with the opportunity to grow alongside it as it expands.

Burkina Faso — In Production
Future Chapters — Additional African Nations
An Ongoing Documentary Series
Team & Partners

Who's Behind Still Smiling

LO

Host / Creator: Lady O

Lady O is the creator and host of Still Smiling, a documentary and storytelling project inspired by her journey to reconnect with her African roots. Her mission is to inspire others to travel with purpose, reconnect and embrace the truths of their roots, new beginnings, and discover that it is never too late to pursue their passion.

OAK

OAK Network

OAK Network showcases woolly-haired Black people worldwide through documentaries, interviews, feature films, and live events to connect, celebrate, and unite our global community.

Pilot footage, sizzle reel, and full unscripted treatment available upon request through Lady O.

Let's Talk

Let's Tell This Story Together

"Your partnership helps us amplify authentic voices, bridge cultures, and inspire audiences around the world. Together, we can make an impact." — Lady O

Check Out Our Website
Based InToronto, ON
Websitestillsmiling.ca
WhatsAppLady O · +1 (416) 293-2835
Emailsponsor@stillsmiling.ca