Concerned for American democracy, filmmaker Emily Arndt uncovers whether the political divide is based on reality or a self-fulfilling prophecy.
In a time when division dominates headlines, first-time filmmaker Emily Arndt has captured something rare—hope. Her feature-length documentary, The Space Between, reveals that beneath America’s political discord lies a powerful truth: we are far more connected than we’ve been led to believe.
For her extraordinary work, Arndt has been honored with the Carole Joyce Award for Excellence in Documentary Storytelling
Filmed over four years along the East Coast, The Space Between explores the unseen forces and “conflict profiteers” driving the nation’s polarization. Through intimate stories and revealing insights, Arndt’s film offers a deeply human look at how shared values can bridge seemingly impossible divides.
“Emily’s storytelling reminds us that truth and empathy are the cornerstones of healing,” said Carole Joyce, VP of From the Heart Productions. “Her work captures the fragile beauty of understanding—how the stories we tell can mend what’s been broken and inspire unity in divided times.”
About the Film
Arndt’s quest began with a simple but powerful question: Is America’s political divide based on reality—or a self-fulfilling prophecy? In pursuing the answer, The Space Between illuminates not only how our democracy became fractured but also how it can be restored.
With artistic depth and journalistic precision, the documentary exposes one of America’s most urgent and unspoken truths: we are far more connected than we realize. Filmed over four years across East Coast communities, the film examines the powerful forces fueling the nation’s political division—revealing how “conflict profiteers” profit from polarization while our shared humanity fades into the background.
Through intimate interviews with experts and everyday Americans, Arndt’s documentary offers both a diagnosis and a path forward, inviting audiences to reflect, reconnect, and reimagine what’s possible—together.
About the Filmmaker: Emily Arndt
Emily Arndt, Director and Producer of The Space Between, is a first-time filmmaker originally from the Philadelphia area. She earned her B.A. in Political Science with a minor in Photography from York College of Pennsylvania and later her Master’s in Political Communication from American University.
Her experiences as an AmeriCorps and Peace Corps volunteer shaped her passion for understanding people beyond borders and beliefs. After working in government and on political campaigns, Emily turned to filmmaking to explore how storytelling could heal division.
The Space Between began as her master’s thesis and grew into a nationwide exploration of empathy, democracy, and connection. Emily created the film not for personal gain, but to offer hope—that Americans can see one another again, and come together as a nation.
About the Carole Dorothy Joyce Award for Excellence in Documentary Storytelling
The Carole Dorothy Joyce Award for Excellence in Documentary Storytelling honors a filmmaker in the Roy W. Dean Grant competition whose work demonstrates exceptional artistry, vision, and impact. Created to celebrate films that awaken empathy and spark change, the award recognizes documentaries that amplify underrepresented voices, reveal untold truths, and move audiences through powerful cinematic storytelling.
Previous recipients include:
- Baristas vs. Billionaires, by Academy Award nominee and Emmy winner Mark Mori, chronicling a generational uprising as Starbucks workers fight for their right to unionize.
- Women of Wonder, directed by Gina Roda and Stephen Laurence Harvey, a global celebration of the feminine spirit—wisdom, compassion, and resilience—across generations.
- Pianoman, by Sunny Liu, a moving verité-style portrait of an undocumented family’s fight for dignity, justice, and hope through the transformative power of music.
- Hang Town, directed by Stuart Harmon and produced by Lyntoria Newton, an unflinching exploration of lynching and land theft in Northern California as three women confront their town’s past and reclaim its future.
This award continues to spotlight visionary filmmakers whose documentaries inform, inspire, and help shape a more compassionate world.
About From the Heart Productions
From The Heart Productions is a top-rated 501(c)3 non-profit that for over 30 years has been 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 millions through their fiscal sponsorship program. The non-profit also offers film funding and production educational programs which include theirIntentional Filmmaking Class and Learn Producing: The Ultimate Course in Indie Film Production.
