30 films spotlight innovative stories from bold and talented filmmakers
From the Heart Productions, a 501(c)3 top-rated nonprofit organization dedicated to helping filmmakers get their projects funded, is proud to announce the “Hot Films in the Making” for the Fall 2024 Roy W. Dean Grant. These outstanding films represent a diverse range of voices, perspectives, and storytelling styles from filmmakers in the United States and across the globe.
The “Hot Films in the Making” distinction is reserved for projects that, while just missing the finalist list for the Roy W. Dean Grant, stand out for their exceptional promise, compelling narratives, and unique creative visions. This season’s selections include documentary features, fiction features, short films, and web series.
“With each grant, we are amazed by the exceptional quality of the films and the incredible talent of the filmmakers chosen as ‘Hot Films in the Making,’” said Carole Joyce, Director of the Roy W. Dean Grants. “These projects showcase extraordinary creativity, originality, and passion. We are excited to see how these gifted filmmakers bring their visions to life.”
The Roy W. Dean Grant is renowned for championing films that are unique and contribute to society, with winners receiving a combination of cash and donated goods and services from industry professionals.
The “Hot Films in the Making” program provides additional visibility to exceptional projects, showcasing filmmakers whose work has the potential to make a meaningful impact on audiences worldwide.
The Hot Films in the Making for the Roy W. Dean Film Grant for Fall 2024 are:
Title | Type | Filmmaker |
“Drifter” | Documentary Feature | Paula Parrish |
“Sound Memories” | Documentary Feature | Mercedes Kane |
“The Prison Outside” | Documentary Feature | Meg Shutzer |
“Through The Eyes of A Death Doula” | Documentary Feature | Capucine Salvi-Offer |
“Exigence” | Fiction Feature | Joey Pasbrig |
“Homegirls” | TV, Web, or New Media Series | Loren Maxine |
“Hila Kihimi” | Documentary Feature | Talor Stone |
“Transforming Trauma” | TV, Web, or New Media Series | Sara Banyan |
“Fall of the Phoenix” | Documentary Feature | Lauren Lindberg |
“The Encampment” | Documentary Feature | Gaia Caramazza |
“Shattered Innocence” | Fiction Short | William McConnell |
“Walls of Time” | Documentary Feature | Amanda Rowan |
“Sleepwell” | Fiction Feature | Danielle DeMatteo |
“Pure Heart” – Cassimo” | Documentary Feature | Tarryn Buttery |
“Detroit 911” | Fiction Short | Ericka Lionesse Ward |
“The Test” | Fiction Feature | Jasmine Andrews |
“The Waiting Game” | Documentary Feature | Michael Husain |
“Sound and Silence” | TV, Web, or New Media Series | Callan Milani |
“Radicals” | TV, Web, or New Media Series | Nairobi Williams |
“Espiritu” | Documentary Feature | Samuel Tamo |
“Paradigm Shift” | Documentary Feature | Martina Car |
“The Raid at Cabanatuan” | Documentary Feature | Michael Burke |
“Bessemer” | TV, Web, or New Media Series | Chris Sessions |
“Dig We Must” | Documentary Feature | Aaron Levinson |
“Golden Years” | Documentary Feature | Brooke Tansley |
“Dancing Home” | Fiction Short | Pamela Heffler |
“Chinatown Futures” | Documentary Feature | David Yim |
“Swinging For Maternal Health” | Documentary Short | Adonis Williams |
“Station 32” | Fiction Short | Epiphany Ciers |
“Don’t Call Me Baby” | Documentary Feature | Darcy Worsham |
From the Heart Productions encourages film enthusiasts, industry professionals, and supporters of independent cinema to learn more about these remarkable projects and consider lending their support to help bring them to fruition.
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 in it’s fourth decade, 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 winner of the 2025 Truer than Fiction Spirit Award A Photographic Memory, 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 class Learn Producing: The Ultimate Course for Indie Film Production.