Roy W. Dean Short Film Grant Finalists – 2024

Congratulations to the films selected to be Roy W. Dean Short Film Grant Finalists.

On this page, we give each filmmaker the opportunity to tell the world about their film. 

Since 1992, From the Heart Productions has supported filmmakers with cash and substantial professional discounts from our film industry partners, averaging an estimated $30,000 per filmmaker.  The Roy W. Dean grants program, with several annual deadlines, has grown into one of the most sought after competitions in the world.

The Roy W. Dean Grant funds unique films that make a contribution to society.  It gives filmmakers with great stories told with passion the funding to get their projects started or completed.

Bubbling Over

Narrative Fiction

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After noticing neglect from her son's school, a young filmmaker hunts for academic resources for non-verbal autistic children before entertaining the idea of moving to Georgia. In the midst of the chaos, she comes across a friendly imaginary race car driver along the way.

Sport Star

Narrative Fiction

sport-star-film.com

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An aging black high school football star reminisces over a long-lost lover – a man he once shared the football field with.

Future Cosmos Flow

Narrative Fiction

futurecosmosflow.com

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Logline: A precocious girl's mysterious grandfather spins a fantasy tale that comes to life about a ruling matriarchy thrown into chaos by a dangerous rival, placing the balance of nature at stake. 
Description:
A Taiwanese grandfather visits his granddaughter who is supposed to be resting recovering from stitches. He reads her a magical fairy tale about the epic struggle of water and fire personified; featuring dance, otherworldly couture costumes and nature. Future Cosmos Flow is a mythical origin story during a futuristic past of climate crisis that brings hope and inspiration.

The Ballad of Loretta Ray

Narrative Fiction

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The Ballad of Loretta Ray is a playful reimagining of the classic western genre, injecting humor and heart into its exploration of femininity in the Wild West. Through the lens of Loretta Ray, a spirited woman navigating life on the frontier, the film celebrates the strength and humor of women often overshadowed in traditional cowboy narratives. Loretta's childhood fantasy of a fairytale family unravels into chaos as she’s left with a pregnant belly and a runaway cowboy. Loretta must reckon with the dreams she held as a girl and finds her way as a woman in the harsh and rugged Wild West.

Witness to Breath

Narrative Fiction

witnesstobreath.com

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A young woman living a dangerous life working on the streets takes in an elderly dog left behind when his owner is killed in a robbery. Though not a dog person, their brief relationship changes her in ways she could never have expected.

Based on the moving short story by NYT bestselling author Catherine Ryan Hyde (Pay It Forward), our film shines a light on the harsh realities faced by marginalized young women trapped in prostitution and explores the profound healing power of a dog's companionship. “Dog” offers “Girl” what she's never had before: unconditional love, emotional support, and a sense of purpose. Together, they'll experience the most profound revelations of their lives.

Mildred for a Million

Narrative Fiction

canva.com

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Mildred, a gregarious nonagenarian who desperately wants to connect with her tablet-obsessed great-granddaughter, sets out to get a million followers on TikTok.

Witch, Please!

Narrative Fiction

instagram.com

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An Atlanta woman and her friends race against time to fulfill a magical prophecy before a celestial event erases their chance at redemption.

Degree of Certainty

Narrative Fiction

degreeofcertainty.xyz

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1979. A new junior analyst in Risk Management at APEX, the biggest oil company in the US, learns about internal warnings from the company’s science team about the long-term effects of climate change, and must decide between looking the other way or confronting the higher-ups' lack of urgency about the crisis.

Sage Hen

Narrative Fiction

ravenscenestudios.com

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In the late 1890s Wild West, Abigail and her mother are on the brink of losing their home after the death of her brother, Willie. On her way to sell some of her brother's belongings, Abigail encounters Enola, a reclusive cowgirl and old friend of Willie's. After witnessing Enola fend off the outlaw Claude, Abigail sees a chance to earn money to save her home by asking Enola to teach her the ways of the Wild West. Enola agrees, but only if Abigail compensates her with drawings, recognizing Abigail’s talent as an artist. As Abigail learns to be more independent, she and Enola develop a deep friendship. Despite Claude’s constant harassment and pursuit, Abigail has never felt more free.

RUTH

Narrative Fiction

ruth-film.com

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A young woman answers the call to become a Pack Horse Librarian during the Great Depression. Set amongst the wild terrain of the Kentucky Appalachian Mountains, we follow Ruth's sacrifice of self and love to aid those most in need. Her courage and grit is passed down through her bloodline, and reflected back when her great-granddaughter faces a similar choice as a physician during the fall of Roe v Wade in 2022. Their ilife altering choices and unbreakable sense of purpose will reverberate through generations.

Heart of a woman

Narrative Fiction

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New York, 1895. Ann Bennett, first licensed female lawyer, is unable to find work and on the verge of eviction. Her life changes when a letter from Susan B.Anthony asks her to defend an Italian immigrant woman, Maria Cortese, sentenced to death for murdering her violent husband. Navigating Maria's deep distrust and trauma, Ann is able to help her unpack the events, ultimately discovering that both Maria and her key witness, Rita Mancuso, are hiding information and afraid to speak up, and that a ruthless mob organization lurks behind this case. Overwhelmed and hopeless, Ann will have to decide wether to continue fighting for Maria's life and her own dream to be a working lawyer, or give up.

Simple Men

Narrative Fiction

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Every sheriff had been chased out of this small mining fort on the outskirts of Colorado until a brazen buffalo soldier walked in with a flyer that read "Sheriff Wanted". Based on a true story.

Found

Narrative Fiction

foundtheshortfilm.com

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Eric, an 11-year old boy who recently lost his father, confronts a homeless veteran named Max in a park. Despite his formidable appearance, Max is quite friendly and they quickly form a unique bond. Max, a former college instructor, teaches Eric valuable life lessons through ancient Greek philosophy. But Max’s mental health issues soon put their friendship in jeopardy.

FOOLS GOLD

Narrative Fiction

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Would-be gold thieves are foiled by a Cherokee Curse.

"Junior" PJ Sosko
"Flaco" Alan Barnes Netherton
"Medicine Man" Michael Loman
AI SFX Producer: Dan Potter

Written, Produced & Directed by: TJ Morehouse, PGA
Enrolled Member: Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma
Member in Good Standing: Producers Guild of America

Chosin Valor

Animation

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In 1951, a Marine writes the hardest letter of his life, a letter to the parents of his fallen comrade to tell the story of their friendship and his last heroic minutes in the most brutal battle of the Korean War.

It’s basically an animated montage of this letter word for word.

In the Wake of Shadows

Narrative Fiction

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Governor George Hart has grown desensitized to repeated mass shootings within his state, phoning in his routine "thoughts and prayers" press conferences to his increasingly resentful community. While maintaining steadfast loyalty to his party and their favorable stance on firearms, his young daughter becomes a victim in the latest, sudden and tragic school shooting, sparking a tormenting tug of war between his two core identities: politician and father.

FOOLS GOLD

Narrative Fiction

instagram.com

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Would be gold thieves are foiled by a Cherokee curse.

Heart To See

Narrative Fiction

instagram.com

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On his 30th birthday, a loving son who is on the verge of going blind wishes to meet his father, and the only thing in his way is his dying mother.

DOUBLE HAPPINESS

Narrative Fiction

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After the death of her husband of 50 years, a life- affirming Jewish widow and the tightly-wound Chinese-American restauranteur who serves her family every Christmas, find themselves drawn into an unexpected late-in-life romance.