Celebrating visionary filmmakers whose stories illuminate, inspire, and challenge the way we see the world.
From the heart of independent cinema comes a new wave of storytellers determined to enlighten, uplift, and ignite conversation. From the Heart Productions, a top-rated 501(c)(3) non-profit dedicated to supporting films that make a difference, proudly announces the finalists for the Roy W. Dean Grant for Summer 2025.
Including submissions from United States, Turkey, and Canada, the finalists represent a vibrant mix of documentaries, fiction narratives, short films, and feature-length projects — each crafted with originality, courage, and purpose.
“The creativity, courage, and vision we’ve seen are extraordinary,” said Carole Joyce, Vice President and Director of the Roy W. Dean Grants. “Each of these filmmakers brings a unique voice and a deep commitment to telling stories that truly matter. Selecting finalists from such a talented pool was both inspiring and challenging.”
The winner of the Summer 2025 Roy W. Dean Grant will receive $3,500 in cash and thousands more in donated production services to help bring their story to life, including:
🎓 $1,295 Scholarship to Writers Boot Camp
🎬 $500 in gear & expendables from Filmtools
🎵 30% off Music Post Production from AudioKut
✍️ $750 in Grant Writing Services from Karen Everett (New Doc Editing)
✨ And thousands more in donated services from our generous, heartfelt sponsors
Finalists for the Roy W. Dean Film Grant for Summer 2025 are:
| Title | Type | Filmmaker |
| “26 Seconds USA Docuseries: Episode 1, The Border Crisis” | Documentary Feature | Kelly Galindo |
| “Freedom” | Fiction Feature | Anita Waggoner |
| “XENA: No Apologies” | Documentary Feature | Judy Kim |
| “Filthy” | Fiction Short | Lisa Cole |
| “Side Hustle” | Documentary Feature | Bobby Mardis |
| “Ginger Girls: The Secret Lives of Redheads” | Documentary Feature | Alexsiya Flora |
| “Cicatrix: To all the Wounds we had to Finally Heal” | TV, Web, or New Media Series | Michelene Mallard-Billy |
| “Big Rock Burning” | Documentary Short | David Goldblum |
| “The Stars in Their Eyes” | Documentary Feature | Paul Stekler |
| “Pearl Rising” | Fiction Short | Linda Dahlem |
| “Big in Gazi Baba” | Documentary Feature | Pauline Blanchet |
| “Transforming Trauma” | Documentary Feature | Sara Banyan |
| “Cradled by Grace” | Documentary Feature | Vanessa Reiser |
| “FROM A DARKENED ROOM – THE DIARY OF A NOBODY” | Documentary Feature | Lorenzo DeStefano |
| “Kids Got Rights” | Documentary Feature | Julie Rico |
| “Your Eyes and Love in Grain and Shadow” | Documentary Short | S.C. Smith |
| “Hope from the Himalayas” | Documentary Feature | Laine Wulkan |
| “Wind In Their Sails: Death and Resurrection” | Documentary Short | Vince Castalaina |
| “What Departs with Us” | Fiction Feature | Keri Pagetta |
| “Behind the Counter: Secrets at Stash’s Pizza” | Documentary Short | Michael Camal |
| “Fall of the Phoenix” | Documentary Feature | Lauren Lindberg |
| “Higher Calling” | Documentary Feature | Benjamin Forman |
| “Old Bones” | Documentary Short | Bella Racklin |
| “Mis” | Fiction Short | Licheng She |
| “Carry My Voice” | Fiction Feature | Hasan Demirtas |
| “Diwata” | Fiction Short | Shea Formanes |
| “Power Dam Road” | Documentary Feature | Marth Lenoir |
Finalists also have the opportunity to showcase their films on the From the Heart Productions website, allowing them to share project details, including filmmaker bios, images, loglines, and links to their websites or social media platforms.
About the Roy W. Dean Grant
Since its inception in 1992, the Roy W. Dean Grant has provided over $2,000,000 in cash and donated film services to independent filmmakers. The grant is awarded to projects budgeted under $500,000 that demonstrate originality and social impact. With four grants awarded each year, the program serves as a crucial resource for independent filmmakers striving to complete their projects.
Past winners of the grant include winner of the 2025 Truer than Fiction Spirit Award Winner A Photographic Memory, 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 organization committed to helping independent filmmakers secure funding and bring their projects to fruition. In addition to the Roy W. Dean Grant, the organization offers fiscal sponsorship, personal guidance, and free classes on fundraising and filmmaking. Through its fiscal sponsorship program, From the Heart has helped filmmakers raise over $30 million in donations for their films.
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.
