The Art of Making It Possible Through Purpose with Filmmaker Elliot Kotek

Filmmaker Elliot V. Kotek first came to our attention by being the writer and director of “The Hidden Power of Purpose,” a moving documentary that affirms living with purpose can improve your health and longevity. Since then, we’ve learned about a career that’s stretched from mergers and acquisitions law to tech innovation and storytelling, driven by the idea that purpose, passion and meaning align to bring about real impact. Elliot believe ideas + empathy = impact — tune in to hear why and how from an award-winning filmmaker (Emmy, Cannes, SXSW) and founder of The Nation of Arts, Beyond Cinema and the Not Impossible Foundation. 

About the Guest

Elliot Kotek is an Emmy-winning, Cannes-recognized Australian producer, filmmaker, poet, photographer, nonprofit founder, and editor-in-chief. He is the founder and CEO of The Nation of Artists, the founder of Beyond Cinema, and the co-founder of Not Impossible.

A former mergers and acquisitions lawyer specializing in biotech, Kotek holds a law degree and a BS in pharmacology and toxicology from Monash University. After moving to the U.S. in 2000, he studied at the Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute and completed UCLA's Professional Program in Screenwriting. 

Kotek is passionate about the power of content and campaigns to create meaningful change and takes pride in projects that deliver real impact. As the producer of groundbreaking work, he has created documentaries and virtual reality content for major brands, including Qualcomm, Intel, HP, Sony, LEGO Education, and Participant Media, with global distribution. His work has earned seven Emmy nominations, five South By Southwest Innovation Awards, five Cannes Lions, 50+ Tellys, and numerous other accolades, including a Gold Stevie Award and the Kellogg School of Management’s Innovation Fellowship.

As a leading voice in purposeful content, technology for good, and storytelling for social impact, Elliot has spoken at TEDMED, the United Nations, the US Institute of Peace, and other prominent forums. His strategic “4P” philosophy emphasizes Passion, Purpose, People, and Possibility as keys to creating change.

Links in this Episode

• Watch "The Hidden Power of Purpose" documentary on YouTube, Prime Video, Google Play, Apple TV or at AARP
• Learn more about The Nation of Artists here
• Follow Elliot Kotek online here: 
  • https://www.linkedin.com/in/elliotkotek
  • https://www.instagram.com/nationofartists
  • https://x.com/ElliotKotek
  • https://www.facebook.com/elliotkotek/

Learn more about Off the Rak and watch past episodes at waltrakowich.com/offtherak

Follow @waltrakowich on Linkedin | Instagram | Facebook | X | YouTube | Threads