Celebrating student filmmakers creating impactful, innovative, and unique stories
From the Heart Productions, a 501(c)3 top-rated non-profit, is proud to announce the 20 student films selected as Hot Films in the Making for the 2024 prestigious Carole
Dorothy Joyce Grant for Student Filmmakers. This special designation highlights remarkable student-led projects that exhibit originality, creativity, and a commitment to making a meaningful contribution to society.
Each grant cycle, Hot Films in the Making recognizes outstanding projects that just missed finalist status but stand out for their storytelling, vision, and potential impact. The selected films represent a diverse group of talented student filmmakers from the United States and around the world.
“These student filmmakers have crafted extraordinary stories that deserve attention and support,” said Carole Joyce, Director of the Grants for From the Heart Productions and the grant’s sponsor. “We created Hot Films in the Making to shine a light on projects with compelling narratives and innovative visions. These are the next generation of filmmakers, and we encourage audiences and industry professionals alike to take notice.”
The Hot Films in the Making for the Carole Dorothy Joyce Grant for 2024 are:
| Title | Filmmaker |
| “Temperance” | Samuel Jang-Milsten |
| “New Vibrations – A Short Film Musical” | Julian Hennech |
| “See Me” | Cormac Fingeret |
| “Facing Scars” | Dana Chisholm |
| “Me: JFK, You: ICN” | Jiyeon Kim |
| “No Small Roles” | Kyra Geruldsen |
| “The Harvest” | Macdaleine St.Remy |
| “Bad for Me” | Grace Koziol |
| “The Piano” | Avery Kroll |
| “A Heart That Forgives” | Joanne Durant |
| “Walking Shadow” | Jasper Gabay |
| “Soeur Celeste” | Michaela Bidon |
| “We Live at Night” | Aidan Pierre |
| “Mareas a la Deriva”; (“Drifting Tides,” in English) | Alexandra Ruiz |
| “The Singer” | Brandon Jackson |
| “The Lion of Teranga” | Marcus Quinn |
| “Elegy” | Maiya Jannah |
| “Ottertail” | Elizabeth Paige Christensen |
| “RATS” | Javion Lee |
| “It Feels Like Home” | Carmen Pedrero |
About the Carole Dorothy Joyce Grant for Student Filmmakers
Now in its third year, the Carole Dorothy Joyce Grant seeks to support student filmmakers who need financial assistance to start or complete their films. The grant is open to students enrolled in university, college, community college, extension courses, or high school, and welcomes applicants from any country.
Eligible films must be unique and make a contribution to society. Projects can be short or feature-length narratives or documentaries but must have a budget of $50,000 or less.
Grant Winner to Receive $3,000 and Donated Services
The recipient of the Carole Dorothy Joyce Grant will receive a $3,000 cash award along with donated services and products from industry professionals who support student films.
The Hot Films in the Making initiative serves as an additional opportunity to spotlight promising filmmakers and their projects, helping them gain recognition and potential industry support.
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.
