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Record Number of Applications Received
From The Heart Productions, the non-profit dedicated to helping filmmakers get funding, has announced the 20 finalists for the Roy W. Dean Spring Film Grant . The winner of the grant will receive $30,000 in a combination of cash and donated services from film industry professionals and companies which support independent filmmakers.
Last year’s winner “The Brainwashing of My Dad” was recently shown at the Traverse Film Festival
A record 300 documentary, feature, and short films were submitted from the United States and around the world. Filmmakers from Canada, Iran, Mexico, Sweden, England, Australia, and Honduras were among those that applied for the grant. One of the finalists for the grant, “A Flickering Truth” is from a filmmaker in New Zealand.
“The Roy W. Dean Grant supports filmmakers with unique stories that contribute to society” said From the Heart President Carole Dean “that without our help might otherwise never get made. The number of entries speaks to how very many of these incredible stories are out there that need to be told.”
Included in the $30,000 grant awarded to the winner is $3,500 in cash provided by From the Heart Productions and donations of film services and products from film industry professionals and companies. Some of which included a 4TB G-Raid from G-Technology, a 30% discount in equipment rental from AbelCine Tech, Inc. NYC, a 25% discount on Artbeat’s royalty-free stock footage, and much more from those who care about helping independent filmmakers.
The filmmakers and their films chosen as Roy W. Dean Grant Finalists are:
A Flickering Truth – Pietra Brettkelly
Abundant Land: Soil, Seeds, and Swales – Natasha Florentino
Belly of the Beast – Erika Cohn
Bold Mother Hubbard – Karen Everett
Girl From God’s Country – Karen Day
Bloody Harvest-Death on Demand – Xiaomu Qiao
Happy Humans – Christopher Limon
High Fructose Suicide Booth – Alex Lukens
Holden On – Tamlin Hall
Hunting Season – Tomas Leach
Lobster Fra Diavolo – Jane Barbara
Mr. Fish:Cartooning From The Deep End – Pablo Bryant
Nuclear Insecurity – Helen Young
Rachel Flowers-Hearing Is Believing – Lorenzo DeStefano
Stumped – Robin Berghaus
The Mason Jar – James Russell Lingerfelt
The Rukus – Andrew Ackerman
Tuesday Lunch – Diane Stark
Yesterday Last Year – Adam Bradley
Your Mother and I – Anna Maguire
Hot Films in the Making
Also announced is a list of “Hot Films in the Making”. These are projects that impressed the board of From the Heart Productions with the quality of their work and the passion behind the projects. They just missed making the list of finalists, but which the board feels deserve to be supported and noticed.
About the Roy W. Dean Grant
Now in its 23rd year, the Roy W. Dean Grant is awarded 3 times each year. There is a Spring, Summer and Fall Grant. The Fall Grant is now accepting entries and closes September 30th. Films submitted to the grant can be short films, documentaries or features from early stages of pre-production to those needing help in post.
The grant has been integral in helping talented artists with great stories get their films produced. Recent past winners of the grant include the award winning Heist: Who Stole the American Dream, The Winding Stream: An Oral History of the Carter and Cash Family, and Mia: A Dancer’s Journey which just one an Emmy award.
About From The Heart Productions
The 501(c)3 non-profit was founded by Carole Dean when she saw how many filmmakers with important, new, and often controversial stories were having trouble getting financing for their films. From The Heart is a fiscal sponsor for films which allows donors to get a tax deduction for their donations. Their Intentional Filmmaking Class which teaches filmmakers the tactics on how to get funded is now open for enrollment. Classes start September 30th.
