A Powerful Story of Generational Strength Set Against the Backdrop of the Great Depression and the Fall of Roe v. Wade
From the Heart Productions is excited to announce that the winner of the 2024 Roy W. Dean Short Film Grant is “Ruth”, a compelling short film written and created by actress Rachel Worthington. Selected for its unique storytelling, societal contribution, and powerful generational narrative, “Ruth” will receive a $3,000 cash prize and an array of valuable services donated by heartfelt film industry professionals to help bring the project to life.
Set in the wild terrain of the Kentucky Appalachian Mountains during the Great Depression, “Ruth” tells the story of a young woman who answers the call to become a Pack Horse Librarian, delivering knowledge and hope to isolated communities. Ruth’s courageous journey, filled with self-sacrifice and unbreakable purpose, echoes through the generations.
Her legacy is mirrored decades later when her great-granddaughter, a physician, faces a pivotal decision of her own following the fall of Roe v. Wade in 2022. The film is a deeply personal tribute to generational strength, rooted in historical and contemporary contexts.
Rachel Worthington, the writer and creator of “Ruth”, shares:
“This is a piece of my heart. A love letter to the South, the strong women in my family, and generational strength. It is a narrative hardly anyone knows about, mirrored with the sacrifices of the present, rooted in true historical events and circumstances, and it holds everything I care about in one story. Visually and cinematically, I want it to be an homage to that region, and the women of the Pack Horse Library Project. It is important to me that the story gets told, and I want to be the one to tell it.”
In addition to the $3,000 cash prize, “Ruth” will benefit from a comprehensive package of donated film services and products, including:
- $500 in grip, lighting, or expendables from Filmtools
- $3,000 in music and audio services from renowned composer David Raiklen
- $6,000 in animation services from Emmy award-winning animator Charlie Canfield
- A $1,600 sound mix session from Silver Sound
- And more support from industry companies and individuals who are passionate about helping filmmakers bring impactful stories to the screen.
Carole Dean, President of From the Heart Productions, commented:
“We are honored to award the Roy W. Dean Short Film Grant to ‘Ruth’. It is a story of tremendous power and emotion, capturing the strength and sacrifices of women across generations. Rachel’s passion for this project and the unique historical narrative she brings forward aligns beautifully with the mission of the Roy W. Dean Grant, which is to support films that make a meaningful contribution to society.”
About the Filmmakers
Rachel Worthington – Writer, Creator, Actress – From the east coast of North Carolina, I earned my Bachelor of Arts in Dramatic Art from UNC Chapel Hill, where my career began with PlayMakers Repertory Company. She graduated with my M A in Acting from The New School for Drama in 2019. Over the last few years, she has discovered that writing is one of the great loves of her life, and wants nothing more than to see my work brought to life.
Rachel has acted in and worked on countless sets, with countless crews. So far, she has written a pilot and season of a comedy series, currently being pitched around by her writing partner (star of Tyler Perry’s “A Jazzman’s Blues”). Rachel is also am in pre-production as the sole writer for a fully produced TikTok musical comedy series starring Broadway’s Amber Ardolino.
Lisa Donmall-Reeve – Creative Producer – Lisa, originally from the UK, now resides in Los Angeles after living in London and New York. She trained at The London Studio Centre, Conservatoire de Paris, and with Martha Graham in NYC. Her West End credits include Chicago, The Producers, Sweet Charity, and My Fair Lady, with international credits spanning A Chorus Line, 42nd Street, Cats, and Mary Poppins.
In 2016, Lisa launched IDR Creative LIC to produce impactful work. Her short film Early Mourning won five awards, including the Audience Award at the Soho International Film Festival. Free is distributed on Shorts TV and Amazon Prime, while Double Exposure enjoyed a successful festival run.
Her documentary Uprooted – The Journey of Jazz Dance premiered at Lincoln Center, winning 18 awards and streaming on HBO Max. Lisa’s second documentary, Susan Feniger: FORKED, is currently on the festival circuit, with two narrative features in pre-production. www.ldrcreative.com IMDB
Daryl Gettman – Director – Daryl is a storyteller who uses movement and imagery across stage, film, and photography. Awarded “Fearless Female Filmmaker” at the Coronado Film Festival for directing Double Exposure, a romantic comedy short, her style blends reality with a whimsical, dreamlike quality through choreography and music. Daryl is passionate about telling women’s stories, focusing on content that is thought-provoking, empowering, and universal.
With over a decade as a Broadway performer, she transitioned to collaborating on creative teams for stage productions and film. Highlights include working at Carnegie Hall, ABC, PBS, Disney Theatricals, and with talents like Ariana DeBose, Robert Redford, and Kate Winslet.
Her photography has been featured in Uprooted (HBO Max), The LA Times, NY Times, The New Yorker, and Travel + Leisure.
Matt Simpkins – Cinemtographer – Currently Matt’s Work Can Be Seen On HBO Max With ‘Uprooted: The Journey Of Jazz Dance’ And Several Other Films On Amazon Prime And International Film Festivals.
Originally from Ohio, Matt started his career as a professional theatrical performer. He launched a successful photography business focusing on portraits and landscapes and quickly discovered a love for the collaborative nature of film making. This led to cinematography – where he strives to bring an emotional narrative and physical energy into every frame.
Since then, he has garnered several BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY AWARDS from festivals accross the country. In NYC, Matt co-founded and is the current creative d i r e c t o r of www.Ontherocksfilms.Com, A BOUTIQUE FILM PRODUCTION COMPANY. BEYOND NYC, he has worked on productions all over the country – as Well As Internationally In London, Paris, Milan, Rome, Florence, Canada & Istanbul/Turkey.
About the Roy W. Dean Grant
From its inception in 1992, the Roy W. Dean Grant has awarded over $2,000,000 in cash and donated film services to independent films. 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.
Prior winners of the Roy W. Dean Short Grant include Stairway to the Stars, Hungry Ghosts, and Love Taps. Other winners of the Roy W. Dean Grants include Emmy Winners Belly of the Beast and The Love Bugs, the award winning narrative feature Cadejo Blanco, 2019 Sundance Film Festival selection Raise Hell: The Life and Times of Molly Ivins, the 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. They have been chosen a top non-profit for eight years in a row by greatnonprofits.org. Besides providing funding through the grant, they offer a unique film sponsorship which has helped filmmakers raise over $30 million for their projects. The program offers personal consultations and guidance on finding funding their project.
President Carole Dean, is a published writer, a producer, and instructor for two essential classes for indie filmmakers. She wrote the best-selling The Art of Film Funding: 2nd Edition, Alternative Financing Concepts. Her Intentional Filmmaking Class teaches film funding. Her new course, Learn Producing: The Ultimate Guide to Indie Film Production is a year-round course that provides filmmakers with the essentials they need to produce their projects.
