Roy W. Dean Grant Finalists Chosen for 2023 Fall Grant

25 Films Still in Running for Grant Offering Funding and Production Services

From the Heart Productions, a leading 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to empowering independent filmmakers, is thrilled to announce the selection of finalists for its Fall 2023 Roy W. Dean Grant. The prestigious grant, aimed at supporting unique films that make a contribution to society, has identified a group of talented filmmakers poised to make a significant impact. The winning filmmaker will be awarded $3,000 in cash and will also receive invaluable support in the form of donated production services, equipping them with the resources.

Roy W. Dean Grant

Roy W. Dean Grant Finalist: ” Mochitsuki”

Carole Joyce, Director of the Roy W. Dean Grants, remarked, “The submissions we received demonstrate an astonishing level of creativity, commitment, and enthusiasm. The task of choosing a single project as the recipient is daunting yet exhilarating.”

Along with the cash prize awarded by From the Heart Productions are donations from film industry professionals and companies.  These include $15,000.00 in original music written by well-known composer David Raiklen, $6,000.00 in animation from Emmy award winner Charlie Canfield, and $500 in grip, lighting or expendables from Filmtools

The grant is open to documentaries, narrative features, short films, and web series. The winner is expected to be announced in early March 2024.

Finalists for the Roy W. Dean Film Grant for Fall 2023 are:

 

Title Type Filmmaker
“The Peace Piano” Documentary Feature Rupert Clague
“Carousel” Fiction Feature Jason Nancarrow
“Blood Antiquities” Documentary Feature Bella Monticelli
“The History of Women” Documentary Feature Deborah Romare
“From a Darkened Room” Documentary Feature Lorenzo DeStefano
“Losing Eric Garner” Documentary Feature Patricia Wilson
“Walk In the Light” Documentary Short Princella Smith
“Sugar Daddy” Documentary Feature Michael Cooke
“Outcry: Alchemists of Rage” Documentary Short Clare Major
“Balanced” TV, Web, or New Media Series Siddhali Shree Sadhvi
“26 Seconds – ISIS Sex Slaves” Documentary Feature Kelly Galindo
“JFC – Wine Smuggler” Documentary Feature Charles Miller
“Holding Up The Sky” Documentary Short Bob Nesson
“Mad Island” Fiction Short Nick Peet
“Carry My Voice” Fiction Feature Hasan Demirtas
“The Art of Aviation” TV, Web, or New Media Series Jodi  Goren-Rode
“Saba” Fiction Short Liron Topaz
“Alien Numbers” Documentary Short Inna Ivanovskaya
“Untitled Ukrainian Writers Film” Documentary Feature Amanda Bailly
“Fentanyl High” Documentary Feature Kyle Santoro
“Chewed Gum” Documentary Feature Alana Maiello
“Frederick Douglass Boulevard” TV, Web, or New Media Series Washington Kirk
“Forecast: The Last Plundering of the Planet” Documentary Feature Myles Kramer
“Pearl Rising” Fiction Short Linda Dahlem Espinoza

 

Each finalist is given the opportunity to post information on their contending film on the website of From the Heart Productions.  Filmmakers can include an image from the film, filmmaker info, and loglines.  If they have available, filmmakers can include a link to their film’s website, Facebook page, or relevant social media connection.  

Click here to learn more about the projects that have posted their information. 

About the Roy W. Dean Grant

Since its inception in 1992, the Roy W. Dean Grant has awarded over $2,000,000 in cash and donated film services to independent films. The grant is awarded to films budgeted under $500,000 that is unique and that make a contribution to society. 

Offering four grants for filmmakers each year, The Roy W. Dean Grant has been an important lifeline for independent filmmakers helping them to get their projects started or finished.  Without assistance from the grant, many excellent and important films may never have been made. 

Past winners of the grant include 2021 Emmy winners Belly of the Beast and The Love Bugs ,  as well as Sundance Film Festival selection Raise Hell: The Life and Times of Molly Ivins, and acclaimed documentary Kusama-Infinity.

About From the Heart Productions

From The Heart Productions is a 501(c)3 non-profit dedicated to helping filmmakers get their projects funded and made.  Besides providing funding through the grant, they offer film fiscal sponsorship to filmmakers. In addition to personal guidance, free classes on fundraising and filmmaking, the program allows donations made to films to be tax deductible.  From The Heart has helped independent filmmakers raise over $30 million through their fiscal sponsorship program. 

President Carole Dean is the best-selling author of The Art of Film Funding: 2nd Edition, Alternative Financing Concepts and the new online class Learn Producing: The Ultimate Course for Indie Film Production.

“Finding Happy” Wins Britt Penrod Award

Documentary is a powerful story of survival and hope showing the world what is possible when we take the time to stop and simply listen.

 

Awarded to a finalist for one of the Roy W. Dean Grants, the Britt Penrod Award goes to an independent film that makes an exceptional contribution to society.  Grant sponsor, top-rated non-profit From the Heart Productions, has named the documentary “Finding Happy” as the latest winner of the award.  Filmmaker Maria Bertrand will receive $500 to help in this project’s completion.

Britt Penrod Award

“This is heartfelt and inspirational film shows we can learn much about life and the healing power of connection from one of our smallest creatures,” said Carole Joyce, the Director of the Roy W. Dean Grants. “We are thrilled to be able to support this beautiful project.”

About “Finding Happy”

“Finding Happy” is a heartfelt and uplifting feature-length documentary about survival, compassion, connection, hope and love, told through unlikely bonds formed between humans and animals. 

On May 6th, 2020, isolation and fear were gripping the world during the worst days of the pandemic. Maria, whose life had just come crashing down around her, was out for a run when she spotted an injured one-day old sparrow laying in the middle of the street. She picked him up intending to help him, not realizing how much he would help her, and many others, around the world. 

“Finding Happy” takes you into the complex and beautiful mind of one tiny sparrow who becomes a beacon of hope for his rescuer and millions around the globe, and who inspires a journey to explore other extraordinary bonds between humans and animals.

About the Filmmaker

Britt Penrod AwardMaria Bertrand (She), Principal/Director/Producer – Since Happy came into Maria’s life she launched Happy Moone Productions, where she has made her commercial directorial debut with four commercials under her belt, and she is in pre-production for her female driven comedy, ‘Got Daddy Issues?’  She has also published her first children’s book now on Amazon, “Finding Happy the Sparrow.”

Maria is an Executive Producer of “Finding 52; The Search for the Loneliest Whale,” alongside Leo DiCaprio and Adrien Grenier.

 

About the Britt Penrod Award

The award will be presented to one or more finalists to one of our four yearly Roy W. Dean Grants whose film is unique and makes an exceptional contribution to society.  The Britt Penrod Award was made possible by a donation from its namesake who is a longtime friend of 501(c)3 non-profit From the Heart Production.  Results of the award have no bearing on the eventual winner of any of the Roy W. Dean Grants.

In 2023, the Britt Penrod Award went to two films.  “Save the Wild Coast (Warship Off the Wild Coast)” from consultant Producer & Director Quinton Fredericks along with Executive Producer Gary Janks and “Desert Angel” which was Produced & Directed by Séverine Tibi.

About Britt Penrod

Britt is president of Giant Entertainment & Management Inc. (G.E.M.) is a Los Angeles based Film & Television Studio design and development company with in depth experience in the United States, Europe and Asia.

G.E.M. delivers knowledgeable business foundations to Studio development projects that include; Market Analysis, Site Planning, Operating Financial Evaluation, Construction, MEP & Value Engineering, Start-up of Operations and ongoing Management Services for stage-based entertainment properties.

About the Roy W. Dean Grant

Now in its 31st year, the Roy W. Dean Grant has awarded over $2,000,000 in cash and donated film services to independent films. The grant is awarded to films budgeted under $500,000 that are unique and that make a contribution to society.  It has been an important lifeline for independent filmmakers that help to get their projects started or finished.  Without assistance from the grant, many excellent and important films may never have been made. 

Past winners of the grant include Emmy Winners Belly of the Beast and The Love Bugs, 2019 Sundance Film Festival selection Raise Hell: The Life and Times of Molly Ivins, as well as acclaimed documentary Kusama-Infinity.

About From the Heart Productions

From The Heart Productions is a 501(c)3 non-profit dedicated to helping filmmakers get their projects funded and made.  Besides providing funding through the grant, they offer fiscal sponsorship to filmmakers.  This allows donations made to films they sponsor to be tax deductible.  From The Heart has helped independent filmmakers raise millions through their fiscal sponsorship program.  The non-profit also offers film funding and production educational programs which include their Intentional Filmmaking Class and Learn Producing: The Ultimate Course in Indie Film Production.

President Carole Dean is the best-selling author of The Art of Film Funding: 2nd Edition, Alternative Financing Concepts and the new online class How to Fund Your Film.

For More Information and interview requests, please contact:

Richard Kaufman

richard@fromtheheartproductions.com

www.fromtheheartproductions.com

Roy W. Dean Grant for Summer 2023 Won by Homele$$, Inc

Documentary Examines the Industry That’s Grown Up Around the Issue of Homelessness

Director Remi Kessler and his producing partner Robert McFalls have won the Roy W. Dean Grant for Summer 2023 with their documentary feature Homele$$, Inc.  Awarded by From the Heart Productions, a top-rated 501(c)3 non-profit grant that sponsors the grant, the grant goes to a unique film that makes a contribution to society.  Remi and his production team will receive $3,500 and thousands more in production goods and services to help complete their film.

 

 

“Director Remi Kessler shines a bright, revealing, and necessary light on the terrible homelessness crisis in our cities, “commented Carole Dean, President of From the Heart Productions. “We know that he and his talented team will turn out an exceptional documentary.”  

In addition to the $3,500 cash prize, the grant winner will receive $500 in grip, lighting or expendables from Filmtools,  $1295.00 Scholarship to Writers Boot Camp, a discount on sound mix from Jeff Alan of  Alan Audio Works,  30% discount by Jerry Deaton for Music Post Production Services at AudioKut, and more from heart-felt film industry companies and individuals.

About the Film

Homele$$, Inc takes a look behind the scenes at the industry that’s grown up around the issue of homelessness, exploring what’s working and what’s not. In the wake of publicly funded ballot initiatives and bond measures, the public has grown concerned about how their tax dollars are being spent.

They see the homeless population continuing to explode and wonder; is money being spent wisely? Meanwhile, entire sectors of homeless industry have evolved, ever increasing the amount of money required to manage the issue. 

The film focuses on two main areas: construction of new affordable housing units and the supportive services industry. Why can’t units get built faster? Why are they so expensive? Painting mass homelessness as an individual failure rather than a housing problem has resulted in billions of dollars being spent on emergency responses, while the underlying problem remains unaddressed. One thing is clear; the answers to solving the epidemic of homelessness require novel outside the box modes of thinking.

In his celebrated film, “The Advocates,” producer- director Remi Kessler focused on the intimate journeys of advocates helping people off the streets and into supportive housing. Remi, along with long time producing partner Robert McFalls, now turn their wider lens on the business side of homelessness in America, knowing that if we don’t face these problems head on, the human and economic costs will continue to grow.

About the Filmmaker

Remi Kessler – Director –Rémi Kessler directed and produced the feature documentary “The Advocates” which premiered at the 2018 Los Angeles Film Festival before being released theatrically.

Prior to this, Rémi produced “Shadows and Lights,” which opened the classic documentary section of the 2015 Cannes Film Festival.

Over the years, he has produced many television series, independent features, documentaries, and music videos, working with a range of artists including iconic fashion designer Ozwald Boateng and megastar David Guetta.

About the Roy W. Dean Grant

From its inception in 1992, the Roy W. Dean Grant has awarded over $2,000,000 in cash and donated film services to independent films. It has been an important lifeline for independent filmmakers that help to get their projects started or finished.  Without assistance from the grant, many excellent and important films may never have been made.  Four grants are awarded each year including one exclusively for short films

Other winners of the Roy W. Dean Grants include Emmy Winners Belly of the Beast, The Love Bugs, the award winning narrative feature Cadejo Blanco which is now in theaters around the world, the 2019 Sundance Film Festival selection Raise Hell: The Life and Times of Molly Ivins, the acclaimed documentary Kusama-Infinity, Stranger at Home which premiered on PBS this November, and 26 Seconds which is now streaming on Epoch TV.

About From the Heart Productions

From The Heart Productions is a 501(c)3 non-profit dedicated to helping filmmakers get their projects funded and made.  They have been chosen a top non-profit for eight years in a row by greatnonprofits.org. Besides providing funding through the grant, they offer a unique film sponsorship which has helped filmmakers raise over $30 million for their projects.  The program offers personal consultations and guidance on finding funding their project. 

President Carole Dean, is a published writer, a producer, and instructor for two essential classes for indie filmmakers. She wrote the best-selling The Art of Film Funding: 2nd Edition, Alternative Financing Concepts.   Her Intentional Filmmaking Class teaches film funding.  Her new course, Learn Producing: The Ultimate Guide to Indie Film Production is a year-round course that provides filmmakers with the essentials they need to produce their projects.

For More Information and interview requests, please contact:

Richard Kaufman

richard@fromtheheartproductions.com

www.fromtheheartproductions.com

Hot Films in the Making for Roy W. Dean Grant for Summer 2023

Films by Talented Filmmakers That Deserve Your Attention

Out of every Roy W. Dean Grant, we select a special group which we call “Hot Films in the Making. These films, which just missed making our list of finalists, have wonderful stories told by brilliant filmmakers.  From the Heart Productions, the 501(c)3 sponsor of the grant, has selected twenty-seven “Hot Films” for the Roy W. Dean Grant for Summer 2023. 

Hot Films in the Making

“A Banner Year” – Josh Davidsburg

We hope you take notice of the films as well as the filmmakers and give your favorites your support.

“I’m eagerly awaiting the release of these cinematic gems, “said Carole Joyce, Director of the Roy W. Dean Grants for From the Heart Productions. “The filmmakers have showcased incredible talent and vision.”

The films chosen for Hot Films in the Making include documentary features, fiction features, short films and web series.  They represent projects from the United States and around the world. 

The Hot Films in the Making for the Roy W. Dean Film Grant for Summer 2023 are: 

Title Type Filmmaker
“Regina Doyle, Silent Film Starlet: The Untold, Tragic but True Story” Documentary Short David Brown
“Home: Everywhere and Nowhere Journey of a Global Citizen” Documentary Feature Grace Ward
“Recurring Gig” Fiction Feature Adam Hutchinson
“What to Expect” Fiction Short Gabriela Garcia Medina
“Free Play” Documentary Short Alex Astrella
“A Banner Year” Documentary Feature Josh Davidsburg
“Beneficence” Fiction Short Nathan Goldrich
“Tubadu Breaking Through” Documentary Feature Aira Vehaskari
“Unbelizeablue” Documentary Feature Eladio Arvelo
“The Nurse” Fiction Short Joyce Holland-Kostakis
“The Violin Case” Fiction Feature Nashwan Abdullah
“La Casita” Fiction Short Natasha Rivera
“His Biggest Role” Fiction Short Evgeny Vdovin
“Rewriting Romance” TV, Web, or New Media Series Evie Joy
“Revenge of the Time” Fiction Short Mizani Ball
“Deja Vu” Fiction Short Serena Sogules
“August & Ebony” Fiction Short Joyce Liu-Countryman
“Dennis and Sandy Sasso: A Journey of Faith and Love” Documentary Feature Rachael Berggren
“Choose You” Fiction Short Moitri Ghosh
“Saved by Maidl with a Kof K Tattoo” Fiction Short Sofie Somoroff
“Uno Por Uno” Fiction Short Francisco J. Landin Jr
“Finding JaMia’s Spirit” Fiction Short Candace Patrick
“Carry My Voice” Fiction Feature Hasan Demirtas
“Where Shall I Lay This Body” Fiction Short Chi Mai
“Bike Helmet Harry” Fiction Feature Tony Mouleart
“Underdogs” Documentary Short Ashia Lance
“Thazin: Myanmar Winter” Documentary Feature Jeanne Hallacy

 

Each finalist is given the opportunity to post information on their contending film on the From the Heart Productions website.  Filmmakers can include an image from the film, filmmaker info, and loglines.  If they have available, filmmakers can include a link to their film’s website, Facebook page, or relevant social media connection. 

About the Roy W. Dean Grant

Now celebrating its 31st year, the Roy W. Dean Grant has awarded over $2,000,000 in cash and donated film services to independent films. The grant is awarded to films budgeted under $500,000 that are unique and make a contribution to society.  It has been an important lifeline for independent filmmakers that help to get their projects started or finished.  Without assistance from the grant, many excellent and important films may never have been made. 

Past winners of the grant include 2021 Emmy winners Belly of the Beast and The Love Bugs ,  as well as Sundance Film Festival selection Raise Hell: The Life and Times of Molly Ivins, and acclaimed documentary Kusama-Infinity.

About From The Heart Productions

From The Heart Productions is a 501(c)3 non-profit dedicated to helping filmmakers get their projects funded and made.  Besides providing funding through the grant, they offer film fiscal sponsorship to filmmakers. In addition to personal guidance, free classes on fundraising and filmmaking, the program allows donations made to films to be tax deductible.  From The Heart has helped independent filmmakers raise over $30 million through their fiscal sponsorship program. 

President Carole Dean is the best-selling author of The Art of Film Funding: 2nd Edition, Alternative Financing Concepts and the new online class Learn Producing: The Ultimate Course for Indie Film Production.

Finalists Named for Roy W. Dean Grant for Summer 2023

Winner to Receive Cash and Production Services to Help Them Complete Their Project

From the Heart Productions, the 501(c)3 non-profit which sponsors the Roy W. Dean Grants for indie filmmakers, has chosen the finalists for the Roy W. Dean Film Grant for Summer 2023.  Twenty-four filmmakers will vie for the grant which is awarded to a film that is unique and that makes a contribution to society.  The grant recipient will be awarded $3,500 cash and thousands more in donated production goods and services.

Roy W. Dean Grant for Summer 2023 Finalist: “Tuner”

“The submissions we received show an incredible depth of creativity, dedication, and passion,” said Carole Joyce, Director of the Roy W. Dean Grants.  “The prospect of selecting one project as the winner is a formidable but thrilling challenge.”

As the Roy W. Dean Grant is accepts submissions internationally, submissions were received from many filmmakers outside the United States.  Projects were received from Italy, Netherlands, South Africa, Egypt, Argentina, and Congo.

Along with the cash prize awarded by From the Heart Productions are donations from film industry professionals and companies.  These include $500 in grip, lighting or expendables from Filmtools, $1295.00 Scholarship to Writers Boot Camp, Major discount on sound mixing from Jeff Alan from Alan Audio Works,  30% Discount by Jerry Deaton for Music Post Production Services at AudioKut, $600.00 for your Free Closed Captioning by Cineprosmedia, and more from many heartfelt donors.

The grant is open to documentaries, narrative features, short films, and web series. The winner is expected to be announced in November 2023.

Finalists for the Roy W. Dean Film Grant for Summer 2023 are: 

Title Type Filmmaker
“Evidence of Afterlife” Documentary Feature Robert Lyon
“Breakthrough” Documentary Feature Aaron Bear
“36 Seconds: Portrait of a Hate Crime” Documentary Feature Tarek Albaba
“We Swim Among Oceans” Documentary Feature Ruoyun Chen
“Touching the Sky” Documentary Short Tim Hedberg
“Trusted Sources” Documentary Feature Don Colacino
“Homele$$ Inc” Documentary Feature Remi Kessler
“Tuner” Fiction Short Radha Mehta
“The Facade” Documentary Short Tatiana Chekhova
“Overturned” Fiction Short Meredith Vivian
“Aimless” Fiction Feature Cyrus Richardson
“American House Witch” Documentary Feature Coriann Eden Bright
“Guns and Hoses” Documentary Feature Alex Gocke
“Revelations of Divine Love” Fiction Feature Caroline Golum
“First Light” Documentary Feature Nick Girard
“Planning to Turn the Tide” Documentary Feature James Schwab
“Reach Out” Documentary Short Menchie Caliboso
“After She Died” Fiction Feature Shivani Khattar
“With My Own Two Hands’ 2023 Film” Documentary Short Isabella Mudge
“Sweeter than Heaven” TV, Web, or New Media Series Jerod Willis
“Rebranding Peace” Documentary Feature CJ Crim
“Aloha Warriors” Documentary Short Chelsi de Cuba
“The Net Effect” Documentary Feature Myles Kramer
“Finding HAPPY” Documentary Feature Kelly King

 

Each finalist is given the opportunity to post information on their contending film on the From the Heart Productions website.  Filmmakers can include an image from the film, filmmaker info, and loglines.  If they have available, filmmakers can include a link to their film’s website, Facebook page, or relevant social media connection. 

About the Roy W. Dean Grant

Since its inception in 1992, the Roy W. Dean Grant has awarded over $2,000,000 in cash and donated film services to independent films. The grant is awarded to films budgeted under $500,000 that is unique and that make a contribution to society. 

Offering four grants for filmmakers each year, The Roy W. Dean Grant has been an important lifeline for independent filmmakers helping them to get their projects started or finished.  Without assistance from the grant, many excellent and important films may never have been made. 

Past winners of the grant include 2021 Emmy winners Belly of the Beast and The Love Bugs ,  as well as Sundance Film Festival selection Raise Hell: The Life and Times of Molly Ivins, and acclaimed documentary Kusama-Infinity.

About From the Heart Productions

From The Heart Productions is a 501(c)3 non-profit dedicated to helping filmmakers get their projects funded and made.  Besides providing funding through the grant, they offer film fiscal sponsorship to filmmakers. In addition to personal guidance, free classes on fundraising and filmmaking, the program allows donations made to films to be tax deductible.  From The Heart has helped independent filmmakers raise over $30 million through their fiscal sponsorship program. 

President Carole Dean is the best-selling author of The Art of Film Funding: 2nd Edition, Alternative Financing Concepts and the new online class Learn Producing: The Ultimate Course for Indie Film Production.

“Hungry Ghosts” Wins 2023 Roy W. Dean Short Film Grant

Winning filmmaker receives prize of $3,000 and thousands more in production services  

Celebrating it’s 3rd year, the Roy W. Dean Short Film Grant is awarded to a short narrative fiction film that is unique and that makes a contribution to society. From the Heart Productions, a top-rated 501(c)3 non-profit grant that sponsored the grant, has selected Hungry Ghosts from filmmaker Nathan Carreon Lim as the recipient of the 2023 Roy W. Dean Short Film Grant.  Nathan will use the award to produce and complete his project.

2023 Roy W. Dean Short Film Grant

Writer/Director Nathan Carreon Lim on Location for Short Film “Did it Hurt”

Set in early 90’s Chinatown, Hungry Ghosts explores a young gangster’s changing perception of past and present events after his deceased friend reappears on rival gang territory.

“Nathan’s talent is evident from his fantastic prior work,” said Carole Dean, President of From the Heart Productions. “We are excited to be able to nurture and support him in creating this new film.”  

In addition to the $3,000 cash prize, the grant winner will receive  $500 in grip, lighting or expendables from Filmtools, $3,000 in music and audio services from well-known composer David Raiklen, $6,000 in animation from Emmy award winner Charlie Canfield, $1,600 value / sound mix session from Silver Sound,  and more from heart-felt film industry companies and individuals.

About the Film

“Many filmmakers have spoken at length about the inherent connection between memory and cinema,” explains Hungry Ghosts filmmaker Nathan Carreon Lim. “Through these films, we are given the equivalent of modern-day myths – stories that harmonize our personal experience, cultural identities and collective histories with spiritual tenets.

“This short film is my own attempt at expressing the relationship between these different planes of reality. That is, to articulate how our internal and external worlds interact with one another; how we each participate in a collective experience within the amorphous framework of a subjective paradigm.”

About the Filmmaker

2023 Roy W. Dean Short Film GrantNathan Carreon Lim – Director – Nathan is a Filipino-American film director and music producer of Chinese ethnicity.  

Perhaps due, in part to his mixed ethnic and cultural background, Nathan’s films often explore the nature of the self In both a mundane and spiritual sense.

His first short film, Did it Hurt? premiered at the San Diego Asian Film Festival, alongside films by masters Edward Yang, Tsai Ming Liang, and Jafar Panahi. 

Most recently, the film won Best Fiction at Tampere Film Festival, one of Europe’s oldest and most important short film festivals.

About the Roy W. Dean Grant

From its inception in 1992, the Roy W. Dean Grant has awarded over $2,000,000 in cash and donated film services to independent films. It has been an important lifeline for independent filmmakers that help to get their projects started or finished.  Without assistance from the grant, many excellent and important films may never have been made. 

Prior winners of the Roy W. Dean Short Grant include Stairway to the Stars and Love Taps.  Other winners of the Roy W. Dean Grants include Emmy Winners Belly of the Beast and The Love Bugs, the award winning narrative feature Cadejo Blanco which is now in theaters around the world,  2019 Sundance Film Festival selection Raise Hell: The Life and Times of Molly Ivins, the acclaimed documentary Kusama-Infinity.

About From the Heart Productions

From The Heart Productions is a 501(c)3 non-profit dedicated to helping filmmakers get their projects funded and made.  They have been chosen a top non-profit for eight years in a row by greatnonprofits.org. Besides providing funding through the grant, they offer a unique film sponsorship which has helped filmmakers raise over $30 million for their projects.  The program offers personal consultations and guidance on finding funding their project. 

President Carole Dean, is a published writer, a producer, and instructor for two essential classes for indie filmmakers. She wrote the best-selling The Art of Film Funding: 2nd Edition, Alternative Financing Concepts.   Her Intentional Filmmaking Class teaches film funding.  Her new course, Learn Producing: The Ultimate Guide to Indie Film Production is a year-round course that provides filmmakers with the essentials they need to produce their projects.

Finalists Named for 2023 Roy. W. Dean Short Film Grant

Twenty One Films Still in Running for Grant Valued at $15K

Now in its third year, the 2023 Roy W. Dean Short Film Grant is awarded to a short film that is unique and that makes a contribution to society. From the Heart Productions, the 501(c)3 non-profit sponsoring the grant, has named twenty finalists for the grant. The winner will receive $3,000 cash and thousands more in donated production services to help them complete their film.

2023 Roy W. Dean Short Film Grant

“The talent and inventiveness of these filmmakers working in short films is very impressive.” said Carole Dean, President of From the Heart Productions. “The judges will definitely be challenged to pick a winner out of this wonderful group of films.”

Films submitted to the 2023 Roy W. Dean Short Film Grant came from filmmakers not just in the U.S., but around the world.  Entries included projects from England, Pakistan, Canda, and Turkey.   The Roy W. Dean Short Film Grant is open to narrative fiction shorts, live action or animated, that are 40 minutes or less in length. 

As with the other three Roy W. Dean Film Grants, the 2023 Roy W. Dean Short Film Grant offers all applicants a free consultation on their project. They can discuss their proposals, search for funding, distribution, or whatever they feel is needed to move their film forward.  

Winner of the grant is expected to be announced in September.

The 2023 Roy W. Dean Short Film Grant finalists are:

Title Submitting Filmmaker 
Cougar Mel Zhao
To the Moon Michael Dukakis
Whitecaps Jade Roper
Jules Jenny Ward
Sweet Dream Gary Alvarez
Hungry Ghosts Nathan Lim
La Petite Mort Frederica Avagliano
When Creation Fables Meet Robert Pound
Old Haunts Kelsey Fordham
Two for One Spencer Tuggle
I Never Learned Emma Sheldrick
Earth Day Andrew Howell
F*ck That Guy Hanna Gray Organschi
Beauty Night Dalila Droege
Chinatown Tian Xu
Dump Dana White
And Now I Lay Me Down Rani DeMuth
Breath Hangcheng Xu
The Good Girl Elizabeth Conway
And You Are? Alicia Coppola
Mightyclaw Gary Fierro

Each finalist is given the opportunity to post information on their contending film on the From the Heart Productions website.  Filmmakers can include an image from the film, filmmaker info, and loglines.  If they have available, filmmakers can include a link to their film’s website, Facebook page, or relevant social media connection. 

In addition to the  $3,000 in cash provided by From the Heart Productions the winner will also receive $3,000.00 in music and audio services from well-known composer David Raiklen , $6,000.00 in animation from Emmy award winner Charlie Canfield , $1,400 value (4 hours of sound mix session) from Silver Sound, $600.00 for your Free Closed Captioning by NetCaptioning, and more from film industry companies and individuals.

About the Roy W. Dean Grants

Over its 30-year history, the Roy W. Dean Grant has awarded over $2,000,000 in cash and donated film services to independent films. Outside the short film grant, there are three other grants in Spring, Summer, and Fall.  Each of those grants is open to documentary films, narrative fiction films, short films, and web series.

The grant is awarded to films budgeted under $500,000 that are unique and make a contribution to society.  It has been an important lifeline for independent filmmakers that help to get their projects started or finished.  Without assistance from the grant, many excellent and important films may never have been made. 

The winner of the inaugural Roy W. Dean Short Film Grant was Stairway to the Stars.  Past winners of the other Roy W. Dean Grants include recent Emmy winners Belly of the Beast and The Love Bugs ,  2019 Sundance Film Festival selection Raise Hell: The Life and Times of Molly Ivins, and acclaimed documentary Kusama-Infinity.

About From the Heart Productions

From The Heart Productions is a 501(c)3 non-profit dedicated to helping filmmakers get their projects funded and made.  Besides providing funding through the grant, they offer film fiscal sponsorship to filmmakers.  This allows donations made to films they sponsor to be tax deductible. 

From The Heart has helped independent filmmakers raise over $30 million through their fiscal sponsorship program.  President Carole Dean is the best-selling author of The Art of Film Funding: 2nd Edition, Alternative Financing Concepts and the Intentional Filmmaking Class, and Learn Producing: The Ultimate Course for Indie Film Production.

Roy W. Dean Short Film Grant 2023 “Hot Films in the Making”

Films with great concepts and talented filmmakers that deserve your attention

Out of each Roy W. Dean Grant, we select films that we call “Hot Films in the Making.” While just missing making our list of finalists, these films have wonderful stories told by brilliant filmmakers.

From the Heart Productions, the 501(c)3 sponsor of the grant, has selected twenty-five “Hot Films” for the Roy W. Dean Short Film Grant.  We hope you take notice of the films as well as the filmmakers and give your favorites your support.

 

“Mmanwu”

 

“I’m really looking forward to seeing these films soon.” said Carole Joyce, Director of the Roy W. Dean Grants for From the Heart Productions. “The talent and imagination shown by these filmmakers is impressive.”

The films chosen for Hot Films in the Making for the Roy W. Dean Short Film Grant include narrative fiction short films of forty minutes or less.  Films must be unique and make a contribution to society. 

The Hot Films in the Making for the Roy W. Dean Short Film Grant for 2023 are: 

Title Filmmaker
“The Wild Ones” Ben Meredith
“Micro-Short” Beth Fletcher
“Slip” Lara Hill
“Alpha, Bravo, Charlie” Mirabel Miscala
“Out of Body” Aimee Hawkins
“Where the Fuck are Your Teeth?” Tony Rivas
“Maya & Lydia” Roya Alidjani
“The D3v1ce” Kimberly Tanksley
“Here and Then” Daniel W. Smith
“Francine’s Moon Landing” Katherine Clark
“Deuce Purgatory” Shelby Slauer
“Grief: A Comedy” Madeline Johnson
“Mmanwu” Uzo Ngwu
“Helper” Justin Hankinson
“I Just Can’t” Lisa Rideout
“Flight 182” Rippin  Sindher
“In Service” Jonathan Otto-Bernstein
“We Are Seeds” Caitlyn Durkin
“Runaway to Paradise” Ke Liu
“The Interview” Ksenia Naughton
“Daughters of Evil” Natasha Pascetta
“Outside the Lines” Darren Lee Campbell
“Agape” Takai Ginwright
“#Likes4Lucas” Dylan Kai Dempsey
“The Bad Guy” Morgan Hammen

 

Each finalist is given the opportunity to post information on their contending film on the From the Heart Productions website.  Filmmakers can include an image from the film, filmmaker info, and loglines.  If they have available, filmmakers can include a link to their film’s website, Facebook page, or relevant social media connection. 

About the Roy W. Dean Grant

Now celebrating its 31st year, the Roy W. Dean Grant has awarded over $2,000,000 in cash and donated film services to independent films. The grant is awarded to films budgeted under $500,000 that are unique and make a contribution to society.  It has been an important lifeline for independent filmmakers that help to get their projects started or finished.  Without assistance from the grant, many excellent and important films may never have been made. 

Past winners of the grant include 2021 Emmy winners Belly of the Beast and The Love Bugs ,  as well as Sundance Film Festival selection Raise Hell: The Life and Times of Molly Ivins, and acclaimed documentary Kusama-Infinity.

About From The Heart Productions

From The Heart Productions is a 501(c)3 non-profit dedicated to helping filmmakers get their projects funded and made.  Besides providing funding through the grant, they offer film fiscal sponsorship to filmmakers.  This allows donations made to films they sponsor to be tax deductible.  From The Heart has helped independent filmmakers raise over $30 million through their fiscal sponsorship program. 

President Carole Dean is the best-selling author of The Art of Film Funding: 2nd Edition, Alternative Financing Concepts and the new online class “How to Fund Your Film”.

“Pianoman” Wins Carole Joyce Award for Excellence in Documentary Storytelling

Feature length film about a piano factory owner who faces the loss of his factory and potential family separation.

 

From the Heart Productions, a top-rated non-profit that supports independent“Pianoman” Wins Carole Joyce Award filmmakers creating unique films that make a contribution to society, has awarded its Carole Joyce Award for Excellence in Documentary Storytelling to “Pianoman.” 

The $2,500 award goes to a documentary film selected as a finalist to the Roy W. Dean Film Grant.  “Pianoman” was an entry to the Roy W. Dean Grant for Spring 2023.  Producer/Director/Editor/ Sound Mixer and Cinematographer Sunny Liu will use the additional funding to continue to work on her project and make her film available to the public.

“Sunny is a brilliant filmmaker,” said Carole Dean, President of From the Heart Productions. “She has shown exceptional talent as storyteller as well as a filmmaker in accomplishing with such skill so many roles in this production.”

About the Film

“Pianoman” weaves a captivating and deeply personal tale of an undocumented family navigating a path filled with hardships that resonate on both an individual and universal level. The film illuminates social issues through its sensitive cinema verité style, exploring themes of justice and resilience beyond mere trauma. Viewers are taken on an emotional journey, experiencing raw pain intertwined with poignant tenderness.

This heartfelt portrayal strikes a chord, prompting an examination of the human experience and fostering empathy for marginalized communities. “Pianoman” invites contemplation on social justice, inequality, and the indomitable spirit of resilience, inspiring a call to action for a more inclusive world.

The dedicated team behind the film passionately believes that the story of David Avendaño will deeply resonate with audiences, encouraging them to find reflections of their own lives within the narrative. The film appeals to those interested in civil rights, social justice, immigration issues, the power of music, or the artistry of piano making.

Crafting “Pianoman” proved transformative for the team, clarifying their beliefs and values. They feel fortunate to have documented David’s family, as his story mirrors their own experiences, evoking a profound sense of unity and shared strength. Through this film, they aspire to forge connections and inspire individuals on similar journeys.

Click here to watch a trailer.

About the Filmmaker

“Pianoman” Wins Carole Joyce AwardSunny Liu – Director / Producer / Cinematographer / Editor and Sound Mixer – Sunny is a highly accomplished and acclaimed creative force, recognized as an award-winning filmmaker, pianist/composer, and animator. Her work amplifies the voices of the underrepresented through intimate storytelling. Based in New York, Sunny excels as a producer, director, cinematographer, editor, and production sound mixer.

With a prestigious educational background, Sunny holds a Bachelor’s degree from Emerson College in Boston, a Master’s in Music from The New School in New York City, and a second Master’s in Documentary Filmmaking from the School of Visual Arts, also located in New York City. Her diverse skill set pushes the boundaries of her craft.

Sunny’s talent has garnered widespread recognition, with her animated film, “Calling,” making a lasting impression at the Doc NYC Film Festival. Her debut feature film, “Pianoman,” was selected for The China Academy Awards of Documentary Film and won Best Feature Documentary Film at Nepal American International Film Festival. Sunny Liu’s fearless dedication continues to inspire and touch the hearts of audiences worldwide.

Contact info:

Email: Sunnyliusunny@yahoo.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pianomanfilm

About the Roy W. Dean Grant

Since its inception in 1992, the Roy W. Dean Grants have awarded over $2,000,000 in cash and donated film services to independent films.  

There are four Roy W. Dean Grants awarded each year.  They have been an important lifeline for independent filmmakers that need help getting their projects started or finished.  Without assistance from the grant, many excellent and important films may never have been made. 

Past winners of the grant include the Emmy winning Mia: A Dancer’s Journey,  2019 Sundance Film Festival selection Raise Hell: The Life and Times of Molly Ivins, Emmy winner and Peabody Award nominee Belly of the Beast, as well as the acclaimed documentary Kusama-Infinity.

About From the Heart Productions

From The Heart Productions is a 501(c)3 non-profit dedicated to helping filmmakers get their projects funded and made.  They have been chosen a top non-profit for eight years in a row by greatnonprofits.org. Besides providing funding through the grant, they offer a unique film sponsorship program which has helped filmmakers raise over $30 million for their projects.  The program offers personal consultations and guidance on finding funding their project. 

President Carole Dean, is a published writer, a producer, and instructor for two essential classes for indie filmmakers. She wrote the best-selling The Art of Film Funding: 2nd Edition, Alternative Financing Concepts.   Her Intentional Filmmaking Class teaches film funding and her new class, Learn Producing, teaches filmmakers the fundamentals needed to get their productions completed.

 

For More Information, please contact:

Richard Kaufman

richard@fromtheheartproductions.com

www.fromtheheartproductions.com

 

“Minding Shadows” Captures First 2023 Roy W. Dean Grant

Winner to receive $3,500 and thousands more in production services to help complete their film

The Roy W. Dean Grant, now in its 31st year, is awarded to an independent film that isRoy W. Dean Grant Winner Spring 2023 unique and that makes a contribution to society. Grant sponsor  From the Heart Productions, a top-rated 501(c)3 non-profit grant, has awarded the Spring 2023 Roy W. Dean Grant to the documentary Minding Shadows.  Producer/Director Jenn Lindsay will use the grant to get her final interviews so she can now move into post-production

The documentary tells an incredible story of beauty and power.  In it, a 13-year-old teen boy who survives the 1994 Rwandan genocide, prepares to take revenge by learning the deadliest karate forms. Instead, he has a profound experience of peace and discipline which changes him forever.

“This is one of the best films that I’ve have seen on forgiveness,” commented Carole Dean, President of From the Heart Productions. “We believe that the information in this film can heal millions of people. The story of this traumatized boy becoming a monk is a lesson to all of us.”  

In addition to the $3,500 cash prize, the grant winner will receive  $500 in grip, lighting or expendables from Filmtools, a 40% deduction on color, editing, and sound & all production services from ProMedia, 30% discount in equipment rental from AbelCine Tech, Inc. NYC, $1,600 value / sound mix session from Silver Sound and more from heart-felt film industry companies and individuals.

About the Film

Olivier Biraro was born in 1981 in Rwanda, a tiny country in the heart of Africa. In the 1994 genocide over eight hundred thousand people were killed in less than three months. Olivier was one of the many kids who were torn from their families. Afterward, he begins to practice martial arts in order to take revenge. But karate brings him something he did not expect: peace.

The long hours of practice stop him from sinking into thoughts of revenge and self-destruction. Olivier founds a meditation circle, but his activities are condemned by local authorities. After surviving a violent imprisonment, he leaves his native land and takes refuge in Buddhist vows. 

He becomes The Venerable Sangharakkhita and embarking upon a search for a new home that leads him through Uganda, Sri Lanka, Kenya and Austria, ultimately settling as an asylum seeker in Germany. There he struggles to stay on his path of mindfulness and teach the methods of Shadow Work to others who hope to forge forgiveness from the inside out.

In the final scene, he reunites with the Rwandan community of Berlin and they tell their stories together.

Minding Shadows is produced by So Fare Films, an American film production company and internship program with its operational headquarters in Rome, Italy. The production is supported by and International Co-Production with Afropäa, a Hanover-based German nonprofit association dedicated to supporting and strengthening the Afro and Afrodiasporic community.

About the Filmmaker

Roy W. Dean Grant Winner Spring 2023Jenn Lindsay – Producer/Director – Jenn is an award-winning documentary filmmaker, social scientist and Ted Talk speaker. Since 2005, she worked in post-production as a film editor, story assistant, and independent producer with MTV, the Sundance Channel, Atmosphere Pictures, and Swete Films.

Her 2020 documentary short Quarantined Faith won multiple awards at film festivals. She has screened her ethnographic documentaries in festivals, conferences, and classrooms around the world, winning awards from the International Society for Religion and Science and the Society for Psychological Anthropology. Jenn earned her Ph.D. in the social science of religion at Boston University and is an adjunct professor of sociology and communications at John Cabot University in Rome.

Jenn is one of the founders of So Fare Films. It is an award-winning, women-led film production company and internship program.  Founded in Rome, Italy in January 2020, their mission is to leverage the power of visual storytelling to invite people into new worlds and new ways of thinking. They celebrate and educate about diversity, with both their media content and their team.

About the Roy W. Dean Grant

From its inception in 1992, the Roy W. Dean Grant has awarded over $2,000,000 in cash and donated film services to independent films. It has been an important lifeline for independent filmmakers that help to get their projects started or finished.  Without assistance from the grant, many excellent and important films may never have been made. 

Winners of the grant include recent Emmy Winners Belly of the Beast and The Love Bugs, the award winning narrative feature Cadejo Blanco which is now in theaters around the world,  2019 Sundance Film Festival selection Raise Hell: The Life and Times of Molly Ivins, the acclaimed documentary Kusama-Infinity.

About From the Heart Productions

From The Heart Productions is a 501(c)3 non-profit dedicated to helping filmmakers get their projects funded and made.  They have been chosen a top non-profit for eight years in a row by greatnonprofits.org. Besides providing funding through the grant, they offer a unique film sponsorship which has helped filmmakers raise over $30 million for their projects.  The program offers personal consultations and guidance on finding funding their project. 

President Carole Dean, is a published writer, a producer, and instructor for two essential classes for indie filmmakers. She wrote the best-selling The Art of Film Funding: 2nd Edition, Alternative Financing Concepts.   Her Intentional Filmmaking Class teaches film funding.  Her new course, Learn Producing: The Ultimate Guide to Indie Film Production is a year-round course that provides filmmakers with the essentials they need to produce their projects.

For More Information and interview requests, please contact:

Richard Kaufman

richard@fromtheheartproductions.com

www.fromtheheartproductions.com