Films by Talented Filmmakers That Deserve Your Attention
Out of every Roy W. Dean Grant, we select a special group which we call “Hot Films in the Making. These films, which just missed making our list of finalists, have wonderful stories told by brilliant filmmakers. From the Heart Productions, the 501(c)3 sponsor of the grant, has selected twenty-seven “Hot Films” for the Roy W. Dean Grant for Summer 2023.
“A Banner Year” – Josh Davidsburg
We hope you take notice of the films as well as the filmmakers and give your favorites your support.
“I’m eagerly awaiting the release of these cinematic gems, “said Carole Joyce, Director of the Roy W. Dean Grants for From the Heart Productions. “The filmmakers have showcased incredible talent and vision.”
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 2023 are:
| Title | Type | Filmmaker |
| “Regina Doyle, Silent Film Starlet: The Untold, Tragic but True Story” | Documentary Short | David Brown |
| “Home: Everywhere and Nowhere Journey of a Global Citizen” | Documentary Feature | Grace Ward |
| “Recurring Gig” | Fiction Feature | Adam Hutchinson |
| “What to Expect” | Fiction Short | Gabriela Garcia Medina |
| “Free Play” | Documentary Short | Alex Astrella |
| “A Banner Year” | Documentary Feature | Josh Davidsburg |
| “Beneficence” | Fiction Short | Nathan Goldrich |
| “Tubadu Breaking Through” | Documentary Feature | Aira Vehaskari |
| “Unbelizeablue” | Documentary Feature | Eladio Arvelo |
| “The Nurse” | Fiction Short | Joyce Holland-Kostakis |
| “The Violin Case” | Fiction Feature | Nashwan Abdullah |
| “La Casita” | Fiction Short | Natasha Rivera |
| “His Biggest Role” | Fiction Short | Evgeny Vdovin |
| “Rewriting Romance” | TV, Web, or New Media Series | Evie Joy |
| “Revenge of the Time” | Fiction Short | Mizani Ball |
| “Deja Vu” | Fiction Short | Serena Sogules |
| “August & Ebony” | Fiction Short | Joyce Liu-Countryman |
| “Dennis and Sandy Sasso: A Journey of Faith and Love” | Documentary Feature | Rachael Berggren |
| “Choose You” | Fiction Short | Moitri Ghosh |
| “Saved by Maidl with a Kof K Tattoo” | Fiction Short | Sofie Somoroff |
| “Uno Por Uno” | Fiction Short | Francisco J. Landin Jr |
| “Finding JaMia’s Spirit” | Fiction Short | Candace Patrick |
| “Carry My Voice” | Fiction Feature | Hasan Demirtas |
| “Where Shall I Lay This Body” | Fiction Short | Chi Mai |
| “Bike Helmet Harry” | Fiction Feature | Tony Mouleart |
| “Underdogs” | Documentary Short | Ashia Lance |
| “Thazin: Myanmar Winter” | Documentary Feature | Jeanne Hallacy |
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. 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 Learn Producing: The Ultimate Course for Indie Film Production.
