Twenty-One Filmmakers in Running for Grant Offering Cash and Production Services
Now entering its 31st year, the Roy W. Dean Grant is awarded to a film that is unique and that makes a contribution to society. Awarded four times each year, From the Heart Productions, the 501(c)3 non-profit sponsoring the grant, has named finalists for Roy W. Dean Film Grant for Spring 2023. The winner will receive $3,500 cash and thousands more in donated production goods and services to help them complete their project.
Roy W. Dean Grant for Spring 2023 Finalist – “Barbara Hammer Project”
“Every year, the projects and the filmmakers who submit them to us impress us with their originality and talent.” said Carole Joyce, Director of the Roy W. Dean Grants at From the Heart Productions. “This year is no exception. Choosing a winner among these exceptional projects will be challenging.”
The Roy W. Dean Grant is open to filmmakers in the U.S. and around the world. Submissions for this grant included entries from Canada, Italy, Portugal, Israel, the United Kingdom, and India.
Along with the cash prize awarded by From the Heart Productions are donations from film industry professionals and companies $500 in grip, lighting or expendables from Filmtools, 40% deduction on color, editing, and sound & all production services from ProMedia in NYC, $1,600 value / sound mix session from Silver Sound, 30% discount in equipment rental from AbelCine Tech, Inc. NYC 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 June 2023.
Finalists for the Roy W. Dean Film Grant for Spring 2023 are:
| Title | Type | Filmmaker |
| “Untitled Dancehall Documentary” | Documentary Feature | Amy DiGiacomo |
| “Barbara Hammer Project” | Documentary Feature | Brydie O’Connor |
| “Dick Bunny” | TV, Web, or New Media Series | Susie Mendoza |
| “Flip My Life” | TV, Web, or New Media Series | Marybeth Conley |
| “Trial by Media: The Michael Jackson Story” | Documentary Feature | Jin Chohan |
| “The Peace Piano” | Documentary Feature | Rupert Clague |
| “Goodbye Baby” | Documentary Feature | Katya Berger |
| “Minding Shadows” | Documentary Feature | Jenn Lindsay |
| “26 Seconds-ISIS Sex Slaves” | Documentary Feature | Kelly Galindo |
| “Theory of Light” | Documentary Feature | Illac Diaz |
| “Singing for Justice” | Documentary Feature | Christie Herring |
| “Nomads” | Documentary Feature | Vanessa Carr |
| “The Black Brain Film” | Documentary Feature | Lauren Lindberg |
| “Eternity One” | Documentary Feature | Emma Hannaway |
| “Big Boys” | Fiction Feature | Corin Sherman |
| “The Green Flash” | Documentary Feature | Jodi Cash |
| “7 Daily Sins” | TV, Web, or New Media Series | Cami Olses |
| “Jane Doe” | Fiction Feature | Bonnie Black |
| “Pianoman” | Documentary Feature | Sunny Liu |
| “The Gods of Puerto Rico” | TV, Web, or New Media Series | Michael Torres |
| “Unlocking Desire” | Fiction Feature | Barbara Neri |
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.
“This list is our way of honoring those filmmakers and their projects.” said Carole Joyce, Director of the Roy W. Dean Grants for From the Heart Productions. “We hope that they find those who follow and support them as their productions progresses.”
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 Spring 2023 are:
| Title | Type | Filmmaker |
| “Cuando No Hay Palabras (When There Are No Words)” | Documentary Short | Gabriella Canal |
| “Tarantula” | Fiction Feature | Juan Patricio Riveroll |
| “Mustangs: The Native American Way” | Documentary Feature | Kremena Doust |
| “#BoysToo” | Documentary Feature | Melinda Baum |
| “The Experiencer Project” | Documentary Feature | Daniel Cardone |
| “Where Did The Adults Go?” | Fiction Feature | Courtney Marsh |
| “Who In Da Mornin” | Documentary Feature | Jonathan Issac Jackson |
| “#Likes4Lucas” | TV, Web, or New Media Series | Dylan Dempsey |
| “Calamity & Mercy” | Documentary Feature | Daniel W. Smith |
| “Still Perfect” | Fiction Feature | Michael Fitzer |
| “The S.U.R.F. Story” | Documentary Feature | Riley Thelen |
| “Finding Ma” | Documentary Feature | Phoenix Woodall |
| “Leila” | Fiction Feature | Armon Mahdavi |
| “Eastbound Traffic” | Fiction Feature | Charles Johnson |
| “The Cubas Plan” | Documentary Feature | Sergio Vizuete |
| “Trash Baby” | Fiction Feature | Jacy Mairs |
| “Deepest Blue” | Fiction Feature | Gregory Collins |
| “Eden” | Fiction Feature | Andrew Doyle |
| “Mere Water” | Fiction Short | Debbie Peiser |
| “Our Guys” | Documentary Feature | Jennifer Johnson |
| “Where Do We Go From Here” | Documentary Feature | Geetanjali Gurlhosur |
| “Lost In Love” | TV, Web, or New Media Series | Tiffani Matthews |
| “Nubovni” | Fiction Feature | Elk Salvera |
| “A Holiday I Do” | Fiction Feature | Paul Schneider |
| “Trusted Sources” | Documentary Feature | Don Colacino |
| “What’s in a Name” | Documentary Feature | Rose Bladh |
| “The Bomb With No Name” | Documentary Feature | Adebowale Ajibulu |
| “Planning to Turn the Tide” | Documentary Feature | James Schwab |
| “The Faucet” | Fiction Short | Dava Whisenant |
| “The Breath of a Mountain” | Documentary Feature | Eshika Fyzee |
| “The Game” | Documentary Feature | Justin Tolliver |
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”
