Roy W. Dean Grant Fall 2024 Finalists

Our world continues to slide toward catastrophe with threats from climate change and ongoing development in hazardous areas. Planning to Turn the Tide visits communities that have experienced major disasters to learn how they have found a silver lining that will allow them to rebuild stronger, more resilient communities that can thrive in the face of these challenges. Locations include Florida, Iowa, Colorado, and Texas, where we meet local public officials, emergency managers, business leaders, activists, and planners, among others who discuss what they have learned and what they envision for the future. Segments focus on specific areas, but the ultimate intention is an hour-long film.

One juror away from the death penalty at 17, a lost Colville tribal member, known as “Chief”, discovers his culture and identity to make a change that inspires a following of the most incarcerated race in Washington state toward the “Red Road”. The “Red Road” signifies a deep commitment to living life emersed in the culture — with an intrinsic respect for others and oneself, and turning one’s back on addiction to drugs, alcohol, and crime.

Recently laid off from work, Tim Arends weasels his way into the house of the elderly widow Mrs. Phipps, offering to care for her crumbling property for any pay at all. Lonely Mrs. Phipps develops a fondness for the young man, growing as emotionally dependent on him as he is financially dependent on her.

An immigrant photographer, isolated and obsessed with analog photography, begins crafting a collage wall in his home with photos of birds. At its center, a circle remains empty until he starts filling it with black-and-white photos from a vintage store. Sasha, who lost his family in a war, repeatedly visits the store, drawn to both the photos and Kate, the seller. When Kate is fired and the manager stops selling the photos, Sasha’s longing turns dark. In desperation, he murders the manager, steals the remaining images, and completes his collage. As he places the final photo, Sasha sees not just a tribute to his lost family but the illusion of a new one he has created.

Tyra Patterson—a mentor, motivational speaker, and paralegal—is one of countless Black women whose lives
have been shaped by mass incarceration. Wrongfully imprisoned for 23 years for a murder she didn’t commit,
her story reveals a powerful, often unseen, American reality. Through her journey to freedom and justice, we
explore resilience, hope, and redemption for young women confronting a broken legal system.

After being uprooted from their isolated doomsday cult, two best friends are thrust into the modern world and forced to find sanctuary in Los Angeles.

Wander Women flips the buddy action genre upside down, following two unlikely heroines with humor, heart, and grit. Directed by Sundance grantee and Tribeca alum Drew Denny and Executive Produced by legendary Ann-Margret, this pilot features a female-led crew of USC alumni, a diverse LGBTQ+ team, and a cast of influencer comedians with over 20 million followers. It promises to be a fresh, unapologetic action-comedy celebrating resilience, friendship, and self-discovery in a world full of surprises.

A coming-of-age documentary following a filmmaker's journey to expose the roots of sexual harm. In interviews with survivors, perpetrators, & experts- the cultural, educational, & legal gray areas that fuel the cycle of harm are revealed. The film is a love letter from young people and people who are connected to young people and their communities to engage in meaningful change.

THROUGH THE EYES OF A DEATH DOULA is a feature-length documentary that explores the complexities of death and dying in the United States. It focuses on the holistic approach provided by end-of-life doulas to showcase the significance of human connection, the naturalness that is death, and ultimately demonstrates the power of empathy and love during the end-of-life journey.

We follow three death doulas, founders of the Peaceful Presence Project. Each death doula harbors a legacy of lives, and each showcases the significance of human connection during life's final transition. We follow Tari, a terminally ill patient in her final days, and illustrate the power of choice and death literacy.

THROUGH THE EYES OF A DEATH DOULA is a feature-length documentary that explores the complexities of death and dying in the United States. It focuses on the holistic approach provided by end-of-life doulas to showcase the significance of human connection, the naturalness that is death, and ultimately demonstrates the power of empathy and love during the end-of-life journey.

We follow three death doulas, founders of the Peaceful Presence Project. Each death doula harbors a legacy of lives, and each showcases the significance of human connection during life's final transition. We follow Tari, a terminally ill patient in her final days, and illustrate the power of choice and death literacy.

A diverse group of women and men work through trauma, addiction and anger issues on a 90 day group therapy program in stunning scenery. Into The Wilderness is a coming of age story featuring people of all ages where patients and therapists go on an epic physical and emotional journey of discovery.

Every 26 seconds, a child is trafficked globally. 26 Seconds is an unapologetic feature documentary that uncovers horrors of sex trafficking worldwide. In raw intimate interviews, the audience gets a shocking glimpse into the lives of children and women from Iraq; which include vivid details of how each victim was captured or lured into the sex trade, the horrors of their captivity, and the commitment of each individual and non-profit organization in the fight to eradicate global sex trafficking.

Twenty-five years after the execution of James Beathard, two human rights activists and a filmmaker impacted by death row band together to expose the truth behind a wrongful conviction. Armed with previously ignored exculpatory evidence, they embark on a gripping international mission to clear his name and reveal the dark secrets of a justice system that failed him.

Scattered and Drifting is a thesis-level short film directed and written by Yupeng He, a 4th year directing student in the Film MFA program at Columbia University in the city of New York. Yupeng's works were selected for the 76th Cannes Film Festival and the 74th Berlin Film Festival. Recently, the short film written by Yupeng won the Academy Awards (OSCARS) Qualifying Beirut Shorts Film Festival 2024, and will now be eligible for 2026 OSCARS consideration.

Scattered and Drifting is a short film about a man who has worked as a cleaner in a big city for many years and confronts his memories when he returns to his hometown.

See the remarkable, untold story of the potato snack industry as entrepreneurial cousins Leslie Grigg and Steve Grigg reveal the groundbreaking story of the "Holey Board", which formed the world's first Tater Tots® - and where it has been for the last 65 years!

In pursuit of their musical dreams, a struggling singer (Marta) and an anxious producer (Fidel) must overcome personal barriers and trust each other to create a transformative song.

'Body Stories: Marta & Fidel' explores identity, hope and the power of music to heal and connect. This movie is unique and benefits society because it amplifies latino voices and celebrates resilience. Through healing cinema, our vision is to inspire emotional connections and foster cultural understanding, offering authenticity and hope to the screen.

"White Gold in Lithium Valley: A Battle for Our Future's Fuel"

A timely and urgent documentary exploring the modern-day gold rush for lithium in California's Lithium Valley. 8,000 feet below the surface near the Salton Sea in Imperial County lies a vast reserve of this critical resource for clean energy. The race for extraction between the different companies, the existing inherent problems of the Salton Sea, and nonprofits who want a piece of the action have ignited a fierce battle, shaping the future of that region and the nation's energy landscape.

Ladylike is a Black List Recommended buddy comedy set in 1911 about two young society women who disguise themselves as men to sneak into a gentlemen-only club in NYC for a chance to meet their heroine, the great Sarah Bernhardt. Simply put, it's Booksmart meets Bridgerton! Inspired by a true event.

The links between fires and fascism are not well known. This documentary explores these links in six European countries, including Greece, Italy, Spain, Portugal and the UK.

In Greece, the EU's largest fire in 2023 was started unintentionally by migrants cooking in dense forest near the Turkish border. The media blamed immigration and extended the border wall.

In Italy, green subsidies for wind farms are leading to fires to clear land for mafia groups to make billions of Euros.

In Portugal, highly flammable eucalyptus plantations are expanding into the biofuel business supported by the far right.

This documentary shows how people are taking action to suppress the fires and the far right.

Fifty-nine women fight their way through bootcamp, shattering societal expectations as they transform from teenage civilians into the first women Marines trained on the west coast.

Once dismissed as 'chokora,' scavengers on society's margins, orphaned children journey across Kenya to feed orphaned baby elephants and plant trees, claiming their place as heroes of their own story and shaping a future for these gentle giants.

Kenya, reflecting some of Africa’s critical challenges, faces two intertwined crises: social marginalization and ecological destruction. Orphaned children, surviving amidst poverty and neglect, and baby elephants, orphaned by poaching and habitat loss, share a bond rooted in loss and resilience. Against the backdrop of Kenya’s landscapes and cultural traditions, their struggles form the foundation of this story.