Watch our 30th Anniversary Video! 

Roy W. Dean Grants and Carole Dorothy Joyce Grant

Now entering its fourth decade, the Roy W. Dean Grants fund independent feature films, documentaries, web series, and short films with budgets of $500,000 or less that are unique and make a contribution to society that, without its help, might otherwise never get made. 

Roy W. Dean Film Grants

Director/Producer Heather Lenz Won The Roy W. Dean Grant for “Kusama-Infinity” 

There are four Roy W. Dean Film Grants available each year. Three are for documentaries, narrative features, web series, and short films.  One for Spring, Summer, and Fall. 

In addition, the Roy W. Dean Short Film Grant is exclusively for short films (does not include short non-fiction documentaries or web series).

The new Carole Dorothy Joyce Grant for Student Filmmakers is now accepting submissions.  

Films should be budgeted at under $50,000 and need to be unique and make a contribution to society.  Deadline for submissions is November 30th, 2024.

For more info on Carole Dorothy Joyce Grant, go to https://fromtheheartproductions.com/carole-dorothy-joyce-grant-for-student-filmmakers/

Grant Submission Deadlines:

Submissions for grants close at 11:59 PM PT on dates below:

Roy W. Dean Film Grant – Spring – March 31st

Roy W. Dean Short Film Grant – April 29th

Roy W. Dean Film Grant – Summer – June 30th

Roy W. Dean Film Grant – Fall – October 31st

Carole Dorothy Joyce Grant – November 30th

The awards for each grant are listed below.

Winners of the Roy W. Dean Film Grants and Carole Dorothy Joyce Grant receive a cash award as well as goods and discounted services offered by film industry companies and professionals who care about getting good films produced.  

See each grant below for specific information on awards for individual grants.

All grant applicants are entitled to a free 15 minute consultation  

Conducted by Carole Joyce, Director of the Roy W. Dean Grants, filmmakers can discuss their application, improving your project, or how to improve chances for funding.

“Carole Joyce’s advice on how to improve and represent our project was very important and constructive. Also she recommended very useful books and documentaries connected with film industry and my film specifically. She also gave us contacts of consultants and distributors, who may stand next to our project. The consultation was very motivational and hope we will have chance to work with From The Heart Production one day.”   Inna Sahakyan – Filmmaker 

“In an industry where it can be hard to find supportive encouragement, our experience with From The Heart Productions has proved it can indeed exist. From the application process to our consultation we received clear and concrete suggestions to further our film. A very inspiring experience.”  Stacey Stone – Filmmaker

After the grant you’ve applied for has closed and your materials have been reviewed by the judges, you will receive an email with instructions on how you can schedule an appointment.  

Grant Application Button Transparent

Carole Dean on

“What You Need to Win the Roy W. Dean Grant”

2025 Roy W. Dean Spring Grant Awards – Closed for Submissions – Applications Open on December 15, 2024

Deadline for Submissions is March 31st, 2025 at 11:59 PM PT

  • $3,500.00 from From the Heart Productions. Sponsored by Sonny Fassoulis.
  • $1,199.99 OWC Mercury Pro U.2 SSD Drive
  • L’ORAGE sUAS Drone Imagery, a female run FAA part 107 commercial drone company, features experienced filmmakers at the helm and 4K to 6K top of the line equipment that will increase your production value and bring your vision to life. L’ORAGE sUAS Drone offers 15% off their services.   https://www.lorage.com/suas-drone-imagery
  • $500 Britt Penrod Award to a film that is unique and that makes an exceptional contribution to society. 
  • $500 in grip, lighting or expendables from Filmtools
  • 40% deduction on color, editing, and sound & all production services… including our lighting truck. See complete list of equipment www.promedia.nyc
  • Tom Malloy of Glass House Distribution donates an hour of consultation on distribution of your film
  • $1,200.00 for one consultation a month with Carole Dean on financing your film
  • 30% discount in equipment rental from AbelCine Tech, Inc. NYC
  • 15% off legal services from Robert Seigel
  • 25% off on online/color correction and deliverables creation/duplication rates from GlueEdit.com
  • 30% discount on Clearance from BZ Rights & Permissions, Inc. for copyrighted materials
  • $1,600 value / sound mix session from Silver Sound
  • Voice over services from Claire Papin
  • $600.00 for your Free Closed Captioning by Cineprosmedia (elliot@netcaptioning.com)
  • $120 value proofreading and copy editing consultation from Cinda Jackson
  • 30% discount on digitizing services from dijifi.com for S8, photos, videos, etc
  • 10% discount on DCP conversion service and use facility for no charge. Chris@simpledcp.com.
  • $117.00 TriLens holder from Frii Designs
  • $110.00 Session for free from Breianne Pryse to clear and strengthen energy, get clarity and dissolve blocks
  • Contact our insurance agent Debbie West at MovieInsure for excellent prices on all film insurance needs.

2025 Roy W. Dean Short Film Grant Awards – Closed for Submissions – Applications Open on Jan 1st, 2025 

For narrative fiction shorts, live action or animated, that are 40 minutes or less in length.  

Deadline for submissions is April 29th, 2025 at 11:59 PM PT

From the Heart Productions requests a rolling “Thank You” credit to all of the donors on the grant.  Your application, if chosen as a winner, may be published or used to educate other filmmakers by FTHP.

2025 Summer Grant Awards – Closed for Submissions

Deadline for submissions is June 30th, 2025 at 11:59 PM PT

From the Heart Productions requests a rolling “Thank You” credit to all of the donors on the grant.  Your application, if chosen as a winner, may be published or used to educate other filmmakers by FTHP.

2025 Fall Grant Awards – Closed for Submissions

Deadline for Submissions is October 31st, 2025 at 11:59 PM PT

  • $3,500 cash from From The Heart Productions
  • $500 Britt Penrod Award to a film that is unique and that makes an exceptional contribution to society. 
  • $15,000.00 in original music written by well-known composer David Raiklen. (Exclusive of recording costs)
  • $6,000.00 in animation from Emmy award winner Charlie Canfield. This is 1/3 off normal price for 6 weeks of animation
  • $500 in grip, lighting or expendables from Filmtools
  • Karen Everett of New Doc Editing will match any amount you spend on story consulting services with free services (i.e. pay for 3 hours, get 3 hours free!) Karen@newdocediting.com
  • $1,620.00 for one consultation a month with Carole Dean on financing your film
  • Tom Malloy of Glass House Distribution donates an hour of consultation on distribution of your film
  • $700 one week DSLR camera package rental from Birns & Sawyer which includes Canon 5D Mark III camera body, a 24-70mm Canon EOS lens, 2 batteries, charger, carrying case, and two 32G Compact Flash media cards.
  • Free consultation, marketing material creation and design and marketing/strategizing for producer-writer-director team for solicitation of distribution from Smart Girls Productions
  • 20% discount on the design of your marketing sheet by professional Dan Chapman
  • 35% Discount from 1st Imprint for all your printing needs
  • $600.00 for your Free Closed Captioning by Cineprosmedia (elliot@netcaptioning.com)
  • $500 Value in still shots by Carole Joyce, Authentic Visions Consulting
  • $500 Access to Norman Berns‘ courses; Script Breakdown $100, Righting Rotten Resumes $50, Creating effective business plans $150, How to make a Budget $100; program budgeting $100
  • 25% Discount on legal work from Mark Litwak
  • 40% discount on printed materials ( Postcards, Posters, Press kits, Business cards, etc.) from Copymat, Hollywood.
  • 25% off a dialogue list and 10% off of transcription services from Alpha Dog Transcriptions
  • 10% discount on DCP conversion service and use facility for no charge. Chris@simpledcp.com.
  • $117.00 TriLens holder from Frii Designs
  • $110.00 Session for free from Breianne Pryse to clear and strengthen energy, get clarity and dissolve blocks 
  • Contact our insurance agent Debbie West at MovieInsure for excellent prices on all film insurance needs.
  • 50% off the cost of 8 sessions over four month training in the Intentional Filmmaking class. https://fromtheheartproductions.com/intentional-filmmaking/

2024 Carole Dorothy Joyce Grant Awards – Open for Submissions

Deadline for Submissions is November 30th, 2024

From the Heart Productions is excited to announce the return of the Carole Dorothy Joyce Grant for Student Filmmakers.

The grant seeks films from student filmmakers enrolled in university, college, community college, extension courses, or high school that need help starting or finishing their film. 

Films must be unique and make a contribution to society.  Films can be short or feature length narratives or documentaries, but must be budgeted at $50,000 or less. Student Filmmakers from any country are welcome to apply. 

The recipient of the Carole Dorothy Joyce Grant will receive $3,000 cash. Winner will also receive donated services and products from those who support student films.

  • 3 Free 1-Hour Consultations for your Film from Carole Joyce
  • 50% off the cost of 8 sessions of the Intentional Filmmaking Class
  • 20% discount of Crowdfunding Campaign Setup, Management and Consulting from Jenny Waldo
  • 10% discount on Broker Fee with Debbie West from Movie Insure
  • 15% off of expendables from Filmtools
  • 35% discount for lighting services from PASKAL LIGHTING, HOLLYWOOD
  • 40% discount on printed materials ( Postcards, Posters, Press kits, Business cards, etc.) from Copymat, Hollywood.
  • 10% discount on DCP conversion service and use facility for no charge. Chris@simpledcp.com
  • $110.00 Session for free from Breianne Pryse to clear and strengthen energy, get clarity and dissolve blocks
  • 20% Discount on Design Services for your Pitch Deck, Website, and/or Poster from Adam Heyes
  • Free consultation, marketing material creation and design and marketing/strategizing for producer-writer-director team for solicitation of distribution from Smart Girls Productions
  • Contact our insurance agent Debbie West at MovieInsure for excellent prices on all film insurance needs.

All applicants will also receive:

  • A copy of Carole Dean’s eBook Perfecting Your Pitch and Proposal.  The nearly 80 page eBook offers Proven Approaches for Designing and Delivering  Successful Pitches and Proposals that Win Investors and Donors (copy to be sent at grant close)
  • An offer a of 15 minute consultation on their project.   Applicants can discuss how to fund their films, marketing them, or how best to advance their career. 

Finalists for the grant will be announced in March of 2025.  Winner will be announced in April of 2025. 

Why We Created the Carole Dorothy Joyce Grant for Student Filmmakers

Grant for Student Filmmakers

Carole Joyce

Since its founding in 1993, From the Heart Productions has offered grants supporting independent filmmakers that are also available to students.   

Carole Joyce, as Director of our Roy W. Dean Grants, consults with many of those who applied for those grants.  She was touched by how many student applicants told her of the lack of grants for student filmmakers.

As a graduate of Brooks Institute and an award winning student filmmaker herself for the documentary “Survivors,” Carole knows how difficult a task students have in creating and funding their work. 

Carole, who is the granddaughter of Roy W. Dean, and From the Heart Productions want to support student filmmakers and encourage them to make films with stories told with passion that enlighten us about our lives and the world we live in. 

 

For all grants, From the Heart Productions requests a rolling “Thank You” credit to all of the donors on the grant.  Your application, if chosen as a winner, may be published or used to educate other filmmakers by FTHP.

Grant Application Button Transparent