Finalists Named for Roy W. Dean Grant for Fall 2022 Grant

Posted on January 22, 2023 by Richard Kaufman

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 Raikle n, $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: 2^nd Edition, Alternative Financing Concepts and the new online class “How to Fund Your Film”.

“I’m Still Here” Wins Britt Penrod Award

Posted on January 21, 2023 by Richard Kaufman

Documentary Short Inspired by Work of Non-Profit Helping the Homeless by Nurturing Their Artistic Expression

Chosen from the finalists for the Roy W. Dean Grants, the Britt Penrod Award goes to a film that makes an exceptional contribution to society. “I’m Still Here” has been selected as one of the recipients for the award for the Summer 2022 grant. From the Heart Productions, the top-rated non-profit that sponsors the grant, will give $500 to filmmaker Andy Volk to help him complete his project.

“This project provides a beautiful example how through compassion, a positive spirit, and an environment encouraging creativity, the Austin non-profit Arts from the Street is making a profound difference in the lives of the homeless,” commented Carole Dean, President of From the Heart Productions.

About “I’m Still Here”

“I’m Still Here” is a portrait of a formerly-homeless artist, capturing how the non-profit Art from the Streets helped them find community, creative expression, and self-determination while living on the street.

Andy intends that the film will be a portrait of the artist, encapsulating the many ways we view ourselves and each other. It will be the artist’s story. Their words, their feelings, their actions, captured to remind communities around the country that the homeless are still here, even if we see them or not.

About the Filmmaker

Andy Volk – Director/Editor Andy is a versatile filmmaker who grew up in Tucson, AZ and earned his B.A. in Film Studies from Seattle University. He got his start as a Programmer for Seattle International Film Festival before graduation in 2018.

He is fascinated by themes of connection: What drives it? How does it forge? How do we let go? He sought to explore this through the animated documentary, Coffee & Sugar, based on his grandparents’ story. It premiered at the Oscar-qualifying Seattle International Film Festival before playing at dozens more across the country.

A firm believer in the empowering nature of films, Andy produced Yes I Am: The Ric Weiland Story (Dir. Aaron Bear, Nar. Zachary Quinto, feat. Bill Gates) which won awards nationally and across the sea. The feature documentary tells the story of queer Microsoft co-founder, philanthropist, and LGBTQ rights activist, Ric Weiland.

Andy is now the Short Film Programmer at Austin Film Festival and is currently in development on a horror-comedy with producer Michael R. Zumaya of Muted Windows and current AFI Cinematography Student, Zach Morrison.

About the Britt Penrod Award

The award will be presented to one or more finalists to one of our four yearly Roy W. Dean Grants whose film is unique and makes an exceptional contribution to society. The Britt Penrod Award was made possible by a donation from its namesake who is a longtime friend of 501(c)3 non-profit From the Heart Production. Results of the award have no bearing on the eventual winner of any of the Roy W. Dean Grants.

The Britt Penrod award for the 2022 Spring Grant went to Lunchbox from filmmaker Anne Hu. Winners for 2021 include the documentary 26 Seconds for the Roy W. Dean Film Grant for the Spring Grant, The Bridge Ministry which won for the Summer Grant, and Separation which won for the Fall Grant. The Fog Catcher won for the Roy W. Dean Short Film Grant.

About Britt Penrod

Britt is president of Giant Entertainment & Management Inc. (G.E.M.) is a Los Angeles based Film & Television Studio design and development company with in depth experience in the United States, Europe and Asia.

G.E.M. delivers knowledgeable business foundations to Studio development projects that include; Market Analysis, Site Planning, Operating Financial Evaluation, Construction, MEP & Value Engineering, Start-up of Operations and ongoing Management Services for stage-based entertainment properties.

About the Roy W. Dean Grant

Now in 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 that 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 new Emmy Winners Belly of the Beast and The Love Bugs, 2019 Sundance Film Festival selection Raise Hell: The Life and Times of Molly Ivins, as well as 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: 2^nd Edition, Alternative Financing Concepts and the new online class How to Fund Your Film.

For More Information and interview requests, please contact:

Richard Kaufman

richard@fromtheheartproductions.com

www.fromtheheartproductions.com

“Desert Angel” Wins Britt Penrod Award

Posted on January 21, 2023 by Richard Kaufman

Documentary on Man Dedicating His Life to Rescuing Immigrants Making Treacherous Desert Crossing from Mexico to the United States

Awarded to a finalist for the Roy W. Dean Grant that makes an exceptional contribution to society, “Desert Angel” has captured a Britt Penrod Award for the Summer 2022 grant. From the Heart Productions, the top-rated non-profit that sponsors the grant, will give $500 producer Séverine Tibi and to help her bring the film to a wide audience.

“It’s the story of how one person can, and takes it upon themself, to change the world around them in the face of great adversity,” commented Britt Penrod in selecting this film, “I’m left asking, if he can do that, what can I do?”

About “Desert Angel”

For 25 years, Rafael Larraenza has risked his life along the US-Mexico border to rescue immigrants lost in the desert. But as the years catch up with him, he worries his next search-and-rescue mission could be his last.

Intimate and poetic, it’s a character study of a man driven to save others and willing to risk anything to do so.

While traversing the no man’s land during filming, there were times that Vincent felt a presence. Not a haunting but a connectedness, as if he was where he belonged.

About the Filmmakers

Séverine Tibi – Producer Séverine is a LA-based producer whose mission is to find, nurture and promote emerging and unique filmmakers with distinctive voices. In 2017, she co-founded the production company Sevana Films, with Anaïs Calmels in Cannes. Since then, they have produced documentary and fiction films on four continents and with international teams, which have screened at festivals across the globe. Their feature documentary, ‘Fenua Aihere: The Heart of Tahiti’, was broadcast on France Télévisions and is currently available to watch on all Air Tahiti Nui flights.

Sevana Films is now at different stage of production on several projects, including Lara Zeidan’s debut feature in Lebanon, which won the French Film Institute’s Development Award at the Desert Angel by Vincent DeLuca Crossroads Co-Production Forum, the Rotterdam Lab Award at Beirut Cinema Platform and the Special Mention Award at the Red Sea Souk.

Séverine regularly attends events and festivals as a consultant, through talent development programs and to discover the next generation of storytellers. Most recently, she was a film mentor at SXSW, a Zurich Film Festival Academy participant and a jury member at the Annapolis Film Festival.

She has also been invited to join the Sundance Institute’s Producers Summit in July 2022.

Vincent DeLuca – Director Vincent is an award-winning filmmaker who, over the past 15 years, has made documentaries on a variety of human rights topics. Having grown up in a Mexican-American neighborhood in Southern California, DeLuca witnessed what it’s like to live without papers and was moved by the constant uncertainty and anxiety immigrants live with to provide for their families.

In 1999, DeLuca moved to Guerrero, Mexico to better understand the immigrant experience. His time in rural Mexico inspired him to study law and Latin American politics at Duke University. DeLuca also worked with migrant farm workers through the Farm Labor Organizing Committee, practiced law at the Legal Aid Society of San Diego and was the Director of International and Comparative Law at Columbia Law School.

DeLuca completed his PhD at the University of Amsterdam’s School for Cultural Analysis focusing on the history and philosophy of human rights filmmaking, examining Latin American Third Cinema, the African American filmmakers of the LA Rebellion and, modern works by filmmakers like Merawi Gerima and Mati Diop. In addition to his filmmaking, DeLuca is committed to educating new filmmakers and is a professor of Film Production at Loyola Marymount University.

About the Britt Penrod Award

About Britt Penrod

Britt is president of Giant Entertainment & Management Inc. (G.E.M.) is a Los Angeles based Film & Television Studio design and development company with in depth experience in the United States, Europe and Asia.

About the Roy W. Dean Grant

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: 2^nd Edition, Alternative Financing Concepts and the new online class How to Fund Your Film.

For More Information and interview requests, please contact:

Richard Kaufman

richard@fromtheheartproductions.com

www.fromtheheartproductions.com

For More Information and interview requests, please contact:

Richard Kaufman

richard@fromtheheartproductions.com

www.fromtheheartproductions.com

“Save the Wild Coast (Warship Off the Wild Coast)” Wins Britt Penrod Award

Posted on January 21, 2023 by Richard Kaufman

Documentary Brings Attention to Indigenous People Fighting a Multinational Corporation to Preserve Their Environment

From the Heart Productions, the top-rated non-profit dedicated to helping indie filmmakers get their films funded, has selected “Save the Wild Coast (Warship Off the Wild Coast)” as a winner of the Britt Penrod Award. This award goes to a project that was submitted to the Summer 2022 Roy W. Dean Film Grant, was named a finalist, and that makes an exceptional contribution to society. Director & Consultant Producer Quinton Fredericks and Executive Producer Gary Janks will receive a $500 cash prize that will help them continue their work on this project.

Britt Penrod Award

The battle to save the planet are being fought on many fronts,” said Carole Dean, President of From the Heart Productions. “We thank Quinton and Gary for working to bring this amazing story to the public.”

About “Save the Wild Coast (Warship Off the Wild Coast)”

For centuries, the amaMpondo have bravely resisted invaders, protecting their natural world along the South African Wild Coast, to maintain a culture of conservation, where nature is sacred.

This fight culminated in a David vs Goliath court case against oil giant Shell, where the indigenous community is succeeding in preserving their ocean connection and marine life from invasive deep-sea blasting by Shell, while seizing the world’s attention.

About the Filmmakers

Gary Janks – Executive Producer Gary is a retired teacher, with a career spanning 35 years. For the last 7 years, he has worked as a producer/director. Credits include “Chasing Mandelaʼs Rainbow” (2019) which was honored with 37 international film festival selections, 7 awards/nominations, including Best Documentary, Cinema At The Edge, L.A. USA, & TV broadcasts, UR (Sweden), Deutsche Welle – international single run in 4 languages (Germany),ShortsTV (USA) and e.tv (South Africa)

Quinton Fredericks – Director/Consulting Producer Quinton is an award-winning documentary filmmaker, writer, director, producer and writer. In 2007, he won a SAFTA for the best Educational Documentary Series covering 58 episodes of 24 minutes each for SABC. With a career in the film and television production industry spanning more than 20 years, he was extensively understanding of the policy and legislative environment as it pertains to the film and television sector having chaired the Working Group on Black economic Empowerment and Transformation under the auspices of then Cape Film Commission.

As a registered skills development facilitator, he pioneered some of the most comprehensive and innovative skills development programs for emerging and underprivileged filmmakers and producers.

About the Britt Penrod Award

About Britt Penrod

About the Roy W. Dean Grant

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: 2^nd Edition, Alternative Financing Concepts and the new online class How to Fund Your Film.

For More Information and interview requests, please contact:

Richard Kaufman

richard@fromtheheartproductions.com

www.fromtheheartproductions.com

For More Information and interview requests, please contact:

Richard Kaufman

richard@fromtheheartproductions.com

www.fromtheheartproductions.com

Documentary “Lord of Nature” Wins Roy W. Dean Grant for Summer 2022

Posted on December 4, 2022 by Richard Kaufman

Roy W. Dean Grant Winner Focuses on Irish Lord’s Efforts to Re-wild Family Estate to Fight Climate Change

From the Heart Productions, the top-rated 501(c)3 non-profit supporter of indie filmmakers, has awarded its 2^nd Roy W. Dean Film Grant of 2022 to the documentary Lord of Nature. Awarded four times each year, the Roy W. Dean Film Grant, the grant goes to a film that is unique and that makes a contribution to society. The cash and donated production services included in the grant will help Producer/Director Kat Green continue her work to bring this amazing project to completion.

“We are very proud to be able to support Kat and this amazing story of a private Roy W. Dean Grant Winner individual taking control of their environment, changing it to help our planet, and setting an example for others.” commented Carole Dean, President of From the Heart Productions.

As the grant winner, the filmmaker will receive $3,500 in cash provided by From the Heart Productions as well as a $1,295.00 Scholarship to Writers Boot Camp, a discount from Jeff Alan from Alan Audio Works for a sound mix, $600.00 for your Free Closed Captioning by Cineprosmedia, 35% discount for lighting services from Paskal Lighting Hollywood, and more from heart-felt film industry companies and individuals.

About the Film

Roy W. Dean Grant Winner Lord of Nature tells the story of how Lord Randal Plunkett (39), the 21st Baron of Dunsany Castle Ireland, changed his life and is working to re-wild his 1700-acre estate to fight climate change. But the Transportation Authority threatens to build a railroad through his property which will destroy his forest and the wildlife that call it home. Martin Sheen has signed on to provide narration.

The 21st in a long line of Irish Barons. Lord Randal is like a real-life prince – complete with a huge medieval castle – but he’s far from any Disney character. Randal is a rock music fan, former steak-eating bodybuilder-turned-committed vegan, and a dramatic film director.

This unexpected eco-warrior has spent nearly a decade working to re-wild almost a thousand acres of his Irish estate, persevering through myriad challenges including death threats from unruly hunters who have been hunting in these forests for centuries, and risking total financial ruin in the process. All in the name of the planet.

About the Filmmaker

Kat Green is a creative renaissance woman as an accomplished singer, songwriter, music producer as well as a filmmaker. She has produced films for the Hallmark Channel starring Naomi Judd, Danielle Panabaker, and Fiona Gubelmann shooting in Canada as well as in castles in Ireland. In addition to producing, Kat directed the festival award winning short film The Big Swim which included underwater scenes with live sharks.

Kat directs all of her own music videos where she tells personal stories as well as inspiring others such as a cover of the Foo Fighters “Times Like These” honoring the front-line healthcare workers during the COVID pandemic. She documented the empty streets of Los Angeles during the Pandemic for another video, created and directed the documentary “This is Me” for the Angel City Chorale when they were on America’s Got Talent as well as has experience shooting with unique angles including the use of drones and special FX.

About the Roy W. Dean Grant

From 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 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.

Winners of the grant include recent Emmy Winners Belly of the Beast and The Love Bugs, the award winning narrative feature Cadejo Blanco, 2019 Sundance Film Festival selection Raise Hell: The Life and Times of Molly Ivins, the 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. They have been chosen a top non-profit for seven years in a row by greatnonprofits.org. Besides providing funding through the grant, they offer a unique film fiscal sponsorship program for filmmakers.

This program offers personal consultations and guidance on funding their project. 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: 2^nd Edition, Alternative Financing Concepts and the new online class “How to Fund Your Film”.

For More Information and interview requests, please contact:

Richard Kaufman

richard@fromtheheartproductions.com

www.fromtheheartproductions.com

Hot Films in the Making: Roy W. Dean Film Grant for Summer 2022

Posted on October 22, 2022 by Richard Kaufman

Promising Projects That We Predict Will Be Future Grant Finalists

Hot Films in the Making honors those films submitted to a Roy W. Dean Film Grant that have excellent concepts, talented filmmakers, and deserve to be noticed despite just missing making the list of finalists. From the Heart Productions, the sponsor of the grant, bestowed the Hot Films in the Making honor on 42 films from the Roy W. Dean Film Grant for Summer 2022. We can expect to see many of these fantastic films in the future.

“We were not just being generous by including so many in our Hot Films in the Making for this grant.” said Carole Dean, President of From the Heart Productions. “These all have the potential to be wonderful films and are harbingers of great careers for these brilliant filmmakers.”

From the Heart Productions showcases these films in the hope that they will find supporters to see them through to completion as well as an audience.

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 Summer 2022 are:

Title	Type	Filmmaker
The Dolphin Dilemma	Documentary Short	Olivia Andrus
The Destruction of Our Lives	Fiction Feature	John Blythe
Him, Tool	Documentary Short	Elahe Esmaili
The Last Laibon	Fiction Feature	Wairimer Kanyeria
Undaunted	Documentary Feature	Janet Roberts
Valley of Exile	Fiction Feature	Anna Fahr
Mask4Masc	TV, Web or New Series	Anthony Williams
My Piece	Documentary Short	Bervick J Deculus
Black Water	Documentary Feature	Jokin Pascual
Funny How	TV, Web or New Series	David DiBona
Like Heaven Without God	Documentary Feature	Luca Capponi
Science Fiction	Documentary Feature	Gilles Francous
One Thousand Hills Between Us	Documentary Short	Ornella Mutoni
The Blooming Lotus	Fiction Short	Safiya Parker
What’s In A Name	Documentary Feature	Cary Cronenweltt
I Carry You In Me	Fiction Short	Carman Ho
Mission MediArts	Documentary Feature	Debra Koffler
LaConcierge de Azule	Documentary Feature	Samuel Diaz Fernandez
Here to Make Friends	Fiction Short	Meghan Ross
Imillas	Documentary Feature	Ruth Mariela Morales
Flesh	Fiction Short	Jose Manuel Velez
Amendment	Fiction Short	Belinda Gosbee
Swinging For Maternal	Documentary Feature	Adonis Williams
Unpaid Work in Europe	Documentary Feature	Marilen Martin
Blues For 475 Kent	Documentary Feature	Tyler A Chase
The Last Drop	Fiction Short	Adam Joel
Sweeps	TV, Web or New Series	Nino Tandilashvili
Sticker Movie	Documentary Feature	Sha-Risse Smith
The Runs	TV, Web or New Series	Quanny Carr
Rope From Heaven	Fiction Short	Grace (Hyejin) Park
Arcade Dreams	Documentary Feature	Zach Weddington
A Life in Tandem	Documentary Feature	Mia Grimes
Whale	Fiction Feature	Ziyao Liu
Saving the Wild Coast	Documentary Feature	Gary Janks
Arthur Brown – Everything is Now	Documentary Feature	Ashley James
The Heart of Long Beach	Fiction Feature	Damian Apunte
That’s the Spirit	TV, Web or New Series	Shamel Fadloun
Moon	Fiction Short	Toy Lei
Man Freed	Fiction Feature	Will Rittweger
Lullaby	Fiction Feature	Veronika Graves
Planning to Turn the Tide	Documentary Feature	James Schwab
The Anti-College Documentary	Documentary Feature	Mason Aksamit

About the Roy W. Dean Grant

Now celebrating its 31^st 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 to help them 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 , the feature film Cadejo Blanco which is now beginning an international theatrical run, 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 sponsorship organization dedicated to helping filmmakers get their projects funded and made. Besides providing funding through the grant, they offer 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: 2^nd Edition, Alternative Financing Concepts, the new online class How to Fund Your Film, and Perfecting Your Pitch and Proposal.

Roy W. Dean Film Grant Finalists Chosen for Summer 2022 Grant

Posted on October 22, 2022 by Richard Kaufman

Eighteen Films Still in Running for Grant That Includes Cash and Production Services

From the Heart Productions, the 501(c)3 non-profit dedicated to helping independent filmmakers get their films funded and grant sponsor, has named the eighteen films as finalists for its Roy W. Dean Film Grant for Summer. Awarded to a film that is unique and that make a contribution to society, the winner will receive $3,500 cash and thousands more in donated production goods and services.

“Janis Ian: The Art of Song”

“We are truly honored to have glimpses of this wonderful projects before they are finished.” said Carole Dean, President of From the Heart Productions. “It will be an honor as well to award our grant to one and know that we helped it move to completion.”

The cash prized awarded by From the Heart Productions is accompanied donations from film industry professionals and companies. These include $1295.00 Scholarship to Writers Boot Camp, 30% Discount by Jerry Deaton for Music Post Production Services at AudioKut, $750 in Grant Writing Services from Karen Everett of New Doc Editing, and more from many heartfelt donors.

The grant is open to documentaries, narrative features, short films, and web series. Grant is open to filmmakers around the world. Winner is expected to be announced in November 2022.

Finalists for the Roy W. Dean Film Grant for Spring 2022 are:

Title	Type	Filmmaker
Going Fine Since 1889	Short Film	Jennifer Stoy
Sanctuary of Butterflies	TV, Web or New Series	Daniel Sznajderman
Trial by Media: The Michael Jackson Story	Documentary Feature	Daljinder Chohan
Blooming of Time – Dance with Gao Yanznzi	Documentary Feature	Siyuan Xu
When Creation Fables Meet	Fiction Short	Robert Pound
Better Than They Found	Documentary Feature	Tarana Harris Mayes
Thank You Sister, The Movie	Documentary Feature	Ingrid Nordstrom
Holding Back the Tide	Documentary Feature	Emily Packer
Outside the Lines	Fiction Short	Darren Lee Campbell
Desert Angel	Documentary Feature	Severine Tibi
WZZQ The Rock of Jackson	Documentary Feature	Ann Ford
Janis Ian & The Art of Song	Documentary Feature	Varda Bar-Kar
Lord of Nature: Born to Re-Wild	Documentary Feature	Kat Green
I’m Still Here	Documentary Short	Andy Volk
Mom & Me	Documentary Short	Indira Somani
Squires	Documentary Short	Alec Goldberg
Positive	Fiction Short	Abby Tozer

About the Roy W. Dean Grant

Since 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 are unique and make a contribution to society.

Having recently expanded to four grants each year, 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.

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: 2^nd Edition, Alternative Financing Concepts and the new online class “How to Fund Your Film”

“Hart of the Wild Bunch” Wins Carole Joyce Award for Excellence in Storytelling

Posted on September 24, 2022 by Richard Kaufman

Filmmakers Will Receive $2,000 to Use for Post-Production to Complete Their Film

From the Heart Productions, a top-rated non-profit dedicated to helping independent filmmakers fund their projects, has announced “Hart of the Wild Bunch” has won the Carole Joyce Award for Excellence in Storytelling for the Roy W. Dean Short Film Grant.

Prize is awarded to a film submitted to a Roy W. Dean Film Grant and selected as a finalist.

The short film is co-directed by Sophia Arguelles and Grace Caroline Currey. The project will use the $2,000 award to help wrap production and begin submitting to festivals.

“What a fun and fresh take on the classic western,” commented Carole Dean, president of From the Heart Productions. “They’ve done an outstanding job of creating a compelling story in this genre from the female perspective.”

About the Film

“In “Hart of the Wild Bunch”, a wild west gang of runaway women find themselves destitute after a chain of unsuccessful heists. Benevolent leader Cassidy Hart must leverage her authority when one of her rebel followers rallies the group around a very dangerous scheme.

About the Co-Directors

Sophia Arguelles – Sophia has been an actress and ballet dancer her whole life, but she can now additionally say she is a filmmaker and screenwriter. In the process of making her first short, HART OF THE WILD BUNCH, she has won herself a literary agent, theatrical manager, and soon will be working with a new literary manager for her two new screenplays that she has written during the post production of HOTWB.

Sophia always had a strong desire to write screenplays and direct films, but due to financial instability throughout her life, she knew college or film school would be out of the question. It was only in December 2020, when a professional screenwriter saw her potential and drive after reading her first written screenplay (with absolutely no structure she will soon learn), was her dream of becoming a screenwriter a truly possible reality.

Sophia has been under private education and mentorship under this professional screenwriter and has four production companies already looking out for her written and directorial debut work in HOTWB. Sophia hopes after the short comes out to start directing and writing music videos and commercials while her features work in pre production. Her dream is to tell the stories that dance in her head daily, knowing that the stories she dreams of can help others and leave an impact on people for the better.

Grace Fulton – Grace is known for her starring roles in the DC Comics movies Shazam!, as a child Grace trained as a ballerina, including a summer training at the Royal Ballet School in London. Before focusing full time on acting, she pursued both ballet and acting, including a session in the Summer Intensive program at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in 2014.

Credits include: Shazam! 2: Fury of the Gods, Shazam!, Annabelle: Creation, Jag, Bones, Ghost Whisperer, Revenge, and coming to theaters this summer: Fall.

As Grace continues her love for dancing and acting, she is adding on the additional exploration of the art of directing. With HART OF THE WILD BUNCH as the frontier, Grace will further her directorial feat by co-directing a feature film with her father, Damian Fulton, late this summer. Though she is a superhero in big blockbuster films, at her core she is truly a detail oriented artist who strives to capture beautiful visual storytelling.

About the Roy W. Dean Grant

Since its inception in 1992, the Roy W. Dean Grants have awarded over $2,000,000 in cash and donated film services to independent films. The Roy W. Dean Short Film Grant is now in its 2^nd year and is awarded to fiction films under forty minutes in length.

There are four Roy W. Dean Grants awarded each year. They have 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 the Emmy winning Mia: A Dancer’s Journey, 2019 Sundance Film Festival selection Raise Hell: The Life and Times of Molly Ivins, Emmy winner and Peabody Award nominee Belly of the Beast, as well as the 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 its fiscal sponsorship program. President Carole Dean is the best-selling author of The Art of Film Funding: 2^nd Edition, Alternative Financing Concepts and the new online class “How to Fund Your Film”.

2022 Roy W. Dean Short Film Grant Awarded to “Love Taps”

Posted on September 24, 2022 by Richard Kaufman

Dramatic Short Fiction Film from MFA candidate at NYU Tisch School of the Arts Wins $3,000 Cash and Thousands More in Donated Production Services

From the Heart Productions, the 30-year-old non-profit dedicated to helping indie filmmakers fund their films, is proud to announce that the 2022 Roy W. Dean Short Film Grant goes to “Love Taps” from director Derrick Woodyard. The grant is awarded to a live action or animated short fiction film. It must unique and that makes a contribution to society.

An NYU Tisch School of the Arts MFA candidate, Derrick will receive $3,000 and thousands more in production services to continue help him continue his work on the project.

“We are very thrilled to have Derrick be our first student filmmaker to win a Roy W. Dean Grant,” remarked Carole Dean, President of From the Heart Productions. “The quality of his work we’ve seen is exceptional. We expect to see many great films from him in the future.”

In addition to the $3,000 cash prize, the winner will receive $3,000.00 in music and audio services from well-known composer David Raiklen, $6,000.00 in animation from Emmy award winner Charlie Canfield, $1,400 value (4 hours of sound mix session) from Silver Sound, and more from many heartfelt donors that love and support indie filmmakers.

About “Love Taps”

Love Taps is a dramatic short film that follows the experience of a young boy who decides to conceal his father’s affair with another man in order to get his family back together.

This is Derrick Woodyard’s film project in the NYU Graduate Film Program and continues his exploration of family themed narratives from a child’s perspective. The project is the recipient of Spike Lee’s 2021 Thesis Production fund and will also be executive produced by Lee.

About the Filmmaker

Roy W. Dean Short Film Grant Writer/Director/Cinematographer Derrick Woodyard currently is an MFA candidate at NYU Tisch School of the Arts with a focus in Directing and Writing. His commitment to finding truth in his narratives leads him to explore the nuances of his characters through their desires, inner conflicts, and personal relationships. This search for truth is influenced by his lived experiences from which he takes inspiration. His films have investigated stories of internal moral struggles, trials of multiracial familial bonds, and the traumas of parental absence all from the lens of Black characters.

His latest project, “Love Taps” will be executive produced by veteran Director and Academy Award winner Spike Lee for which Lee has granted funding towards. This follows his last short film, “Wali & Zuri” which played at a number of film festivals around the country, for which he also received close advisement from Lee during pre- and post-production.

Derrick is a selected participant in the Facebook SEEN Black Filmmakers Program in partnership with the Blackhouse organization. He is also a recipient of the Peter D. Gould Scholarship, the Tisch School of the Arts Graduate Scholarship, and is the 2020 recipient of the Martin Scorsese Young Filmmakers Scholarship and is the 2020 BAFTA NY HBO Scholar.

About the Roy W. Dean Grant

The Roy W. Dean Grant for Short Films is the most recent addition to the Roy W. Dean Grants for independent filmmakers. The first Roy W. Dean Short Film Grant was awarded in 2021 to Lorenzo DeStefano and his film “Stairway to the Stars.

The grants are awarded to unique films that make a contribution to society. From it’s inception in 1992, the Roy W. Dean Grants have awarded over $2,000,000 in cash and donated film services. Three other Roy W. Dean Grants are awarded times each year to films budgeted under $500,000.

The grants have been an important lifeline for independent filmmakers that need 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 the Emmy winning Mia: A Dancer’s Journey, 2019 Sundance Film Festival selection Raise Hell: The Life and Times of Molly Ivins, Peabody Award nominee Belly of the Beast, 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 it’s fiscal sponsorship program. President Carole Dean is the best-selling author of The Art of Film Funding: 2^nd Edition, Alternative Financing Concepts and the new online class “How to Fund Your Film”.

For More Information and interview requests, please contact:

Richard Kaufman

richard@fromtheheartproductions.com

www.fromtheheartproductions.com

Fiction Short “Lunchbox” Wins First Britt Penrod Award of 2022

Posted on August 27, 2022 by Richard Kaufman

Timely Story That Examines Anti-Asian Racism Receives Award for a Film That is Unique and That Makes an Exceptional Contribution to Society

From the Heart Productions , the top-rated non-profit dedicated to helping indie filmmakers get their films funded, has named Director/Writer/Editor and Actor Anne Hu as winner of the Britt Penrod Award for her short film “Lunchbox”. This award goes to a project that was submitted to the Roy W. Dean Film Grant for Spring and selected as a finalist. Anne will receive a $500 prize that will help support her effort in completing this film.

Still from the Making of “Lunchbox”

“Anne has done a brilliant job handling multiple jobs to bring this very personal and touching film to completion,” said Carole Dean, President of From the Heart Productions.

Currently in post-production, “Lunchbox” is a dramatic, three-part, coming-of-age short film about regret, healing, and honoring the people we love. When a Taiwanese American woman prepares lunches from her childhood, she struggles to forgive herself for pushing away her immigrant mother.

Based on a true story, this retelling examines the personal cost of fitting in as well as the recovery from cultural and familial loss.

About the Filmmaker

Anne Hu – Director, Writer, Editor, Lead Actor (Adult Shirley & Teen Shirley) Anne is a Taiwanese American, award-winning director, writer, editor, and actress. Her directing focus is in narrative film, TV, and commercials.

As seen in The Hollywood Reporter, Hu made the 2020 Alice List for Emerging Female Filmmakers Who Have Not Yet Directed a Feature. She was selected to participate in Netflix’s Original Series Directors Development Program from 2020 to 2022. She shadowed director Marc Webb (500 Days of Summer) on Netflix’s The Society. Hu is also a fellow of the 2019 Space on Ryder Farm FilmLab.

She has directed, written, and starred in award-winning short films. Her short CAKE was accepted into 38 festivals, earned 9 awards, and was featured in The Washington Post. As an actor, she has trained at T. Schreiber Studio, The Barrow Group, and The Freeman Studio. In CAKE, she and the cast were nominated for Best Ensemble.

Hu hopes to provide catharsis for audiences and inspire them to regard marginalized voices with their whole humanity.

About the Britt Penrod Award

The award will be presented to a finalist for Roy W. Dean Grant whose film is unique and makes an exceptional contribution to society. The Britt Penrod Award was made possible by a donation from longtime friend of 501(c)3 non-profit From the Heart Productions and the Roy W. Dean Grants, Britt Penrod. Results of the award have no bearing on the eventual winner of any of the Roy W. Dean Grants.

Winners for 2021 include the documentary 26 Seconds for the Roy W. Dean Film Grant for the Spring Grant, The Bridge Ministry which won for the Summer Grant, and Separation which won for the Fall Grant. The Fog Catcher won for the Roy W. Dean Short Film Grant.

About the Roy W. Dean Grant

Now in its 30^th 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 that 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 new Emmy Winners Belly of the Beast and The Love Bugs, 2019 Sundance Film Festival selection Raise Hell: The Life and Times of Molly Ivins, as well as 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 it’s fiscal sponsorship program. President Carole Dean is the best-selling author of The Art of Film Funding: 2^nd Edition, Alternative Financing Concepts and the new online class “How to Fund Your Film”.

For More Information and interview requests, please contact:

Richard Kaufman

richard@fromtheheartproductions.com