An International Group of Filmmakers Vie for Grant That Includes Cash and Production Services
For the final Roy W. Dean Grant in the 2022 cycle, the 501(c)3 non-profit grant sponsor From the Heart Productions has named the twenty-two finalists for the Roy W. Dean Film Grant for Fall 2022. Awarded to a film that is unique and that make a contribution to society, the winner will receive $3,000 cash and thousands more in donated production goods and services to help them complete their project.
Roy W. Dean Grant Finalist: “Red Bus in Baghdad”
“We are thrilled at seeing so much amazing work from filmmakers all around the world.” said Carole Dean, President of From the Heart Productions. “Included in our finalists are film projects from England, Zambia, France, Sweden as well as the United States.”
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, $500 in grip, lighting or expendables from Filmtools, an OWC Gemini Raid Hard Drive from Other World Computing, 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 February 2023.
Finalists for the Roy W. Dean Film Grant for Fall 2022 are:
| Title | Type | Filmmaker |
| “On the Brink – Miscalculation: Kennedy and Khrushchev” | Documentary Feature | Darin Nellis |
| Why did we plant roses? | Documentary Feature | Mohanad Salahat |
| Jebus | Fiction Feature | Cole Thomas |
| Trusted Sources | Documentary Feature | Don Colacino |
| Mixed Legacy – Operation Katima Mulilo | Fiction Feature | Abdon Yezi |
| Against the Tide | Documentary Feature | Katie Moore |
| Red Bus in Baghdad | Documentary Feature | Ingrid Nordstrom |
| The Cassandra Project | Fiction Feature | Debbie Chesebro |
| Escape From Death Valley | Documentary Feature | Kit Tyler |
| Turning Tides | Documentary Feature | Eloise Curran |
| The Rwenzori Rainmakers | Documentary Feature | Jacqui Doughty |
| Daly City | Fiction Short | Nick Hartanto |
| Wrestling with Iran | Documentary Feature | Jahangir Golestan Parast |
| Freedom Is Our Religion | Documentary Feature | Xackery Irving |
| Shell Shock | Fiction Short | Patricia Garza |
| Piece of Mind | Documentary Feature | Sheila Ganz |
| King Luck | Documentary Feature | Emily Graham-Handle |
| Minnie Evans: Visionary Artist | Documentary Feature | Linda Royal |
| Lico Jiménez, the Ebony Liszt | Documentary Feature | Julie Carmen |
| Salsa, A Caribbean Swing (Salsa, un tumbao’ caribeño) | Documentary Feature | Beni Marquez |
| Dear Lara | Fiction Short | Patrick Hamm |
| On The Line | Fiction Short | Brianna Devons |
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 “How to Fund Your Film”.
