42 Films That Will Impress You with Their Creativity and Brilliant Filmmakers
What are Hot Films in the Making? For each of our 4 Roy W. Dean Film Grants each year, there are many projects submitted, with excellent concepts and talented filmmakers, that just miss making our group of finalists. We call them Hot Films in the Making.
The Roy W. Grant for Fall 2021 was no exception with 42 films qualifying for that honor. From the Heart Productions, the sponsor of the grant, feels they deserve a chance for people to take notice of them. We expect these films should be in the finals in the future.
“The creativity and passion behind these projects can’t and shouldn’t be ignored.” said Carole Dean, President of From the Heart Productions. “We are honored to be exposed to all these works-in-progress and know we’ll be seeing great things from these filmmakers in the future.”
From the Heart Productions believes that by highlighting these films, that will not only expand the audience, but find those who will help them on their journey to completion.
The films chosen for Hot Films in the Making include documentary, narrative features, short films and web series. They represent projects from around the world including films from India, Australia, Brazil, Canada, and the U.S.
The Hot Films in the Making for the Roy W. Dean Grant for Fall 2021 are:
| Title | Type | Filmmaker |
| 1946: The Mistranslation That Shifted A Culture | Documentary Feature | Sharon Roggio |
| Rising Son | Fiction Feature | Kevin Osoo |
| Sathu – Year of the Rabbit | Fiction Feature | Joshua Trigg |
| Bleu Dream | Fiction Feature | Jared Bratt |
| Trusted Sources | Documentary Feature | Don Colacino |
| The Maltese Collection | Documentary Feature | Kendrick Simmons |
| Once Upon a Time in Italy | Documentary Feature | Alessandro Pezza |
| Self Care | Fiction Short | Cassidy Civiero |
| Mother of Color | Fiction Feature | Dawn Jones Redstone |
| Our Sins | Fiction Short | Anjini Azhar |
| Las Abogadas | Documentary Feature | Victoria Bruce |
| Bienvenidos a Los Angeles | Fiction Short | Lolia Etomi |
| “Charlie’s Story, Tuskegee and More” | Documentary Short | Molly Smollett |
| Thank You for Thinking of Me | Documentary Feature | Akram Shibly |
| Kinsley Vs. | Web Series | Courtney Romano |
| The Black Man’s Voice | Web Series | Evaugh High |
| The Row | Documentary Feature | Sarah Anthony |
| Untitled Farmer Documentary | Documentary Feature | Jacqueline Romano |
| Marrow of the Mountain | Documentary Feature | Roo Vandegrift |
| Dear Luke, Love, Me | Fiction Feature | Mallie McCown |
| Woman Of God | Fiction Feature | Angel Moreira |
| The Forgotten Angels | Documentary Short | Kevin Knight |
| Prison Park | Documentary Feature | Juliet Belmas |
| Infinity Mission Earth- South | Web Series | Clemens Oestreich |
| YURT (Dormitory) | Fiction Feature | Nehir Tuna |
| The Last Drop | Documentary Short | Adam Joel |
| Who Cares About DC? | Documentary Feature | Stephen Kolb |
| Ellos Gritan Libertad (They Scream Freedom) | Documentary Feature | Melinda Raebyne |
| Desmond’s Not Here Anymore | Fiction Short | Lindiwe Suttle Müller-Westernhagen |
| Just Bake Cookies | Fiction Short | Quinn Early |
| Smoke Eater | Fiction Short | Gloria Mercer |
| Food Synergy | Documentary Feature | Vivian Davidson-Castro |
| The Apocalyptic is the Mother of All Christian Theology | Documentary Feature | Jim Finn |
| Fast | Fiction Short | Rachel Johnson |
| Z Chronicles | Fiction Short | Steven Thompson |
| An Insignia of a Forced Winter | Documentary Feature | Ajimesh Saha |
| Beauty (or the Curious Case of Ugliness) | Fiction Short | Michael Muthee |
| Death Target | Web Series | Daniel Solis |
| American Sons | Documentary Feature | Andrew Gonzales |
| Reduction (working title) | Documentary Feature | Kelley Bruggere |
| Human Shield | Documentary Feature | Erin Persley |
| Weird Fishes | Fiction Short | Zenzele Ojore |
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 30th 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”.
