“Pianoman” Wins Carole Joyce Award for Excellence in Documentary Storytelling

Feature length film about a piano factory owner who faces the loss of his factory and potential family separation.

 

From the Heart Productions, a top-rated non-profit that supports independent“Pianoman” Wins Carole Joyce Award filmmakers creating unique films that make a contribution to society, has awarded its Carole Joyce Award for Excellence in Documentary Storytelling to “Pianoman.” 

The $2,500 award goes to a documentary film selected as a finalist to the Roy W. Dean Film Grant.  “Pianoman” was an entry to the Roy W. Dean Grant for Spring 2023.  Producer/Director/Editor/ Sound Mixer and Cinematographer Sunny Liu will use the additional funding to continue to work on her project and make her film available to the public.

“Sunny is a brilliant filmmaker,” said Carole Dean, President of From the Heart Productions. “She has shown exceptional talent as storyteller as well as a filmmaker in accomplishing with such skill so many roles in this production.”

About the Film

“Pianoman” weaves a captivating and deeply personal tale of an undocumented family navigating a path filled with hardships that resonate on both an individual and universal level. The film illuminates social issues through its sensitive cinema verité style, exploring themes of justice and resilience beyond mere trauma. Viewers are taken on an emotional journey, experiencing raw pain intertwined with poignant tenderness.

This heartfelt portrayal strikes a chord, prompting an examination of the human experience and fostering empathy for marginalized communities. “Pianoman” invites contemplation on social justice, inequality, and the indomitable spirit of resilience, inspiring a call to action for a more inclusive world.

The dedicated team behind the film passionately believes that the story of David Avendaño will deeply resonate with audiences, encouraging them to find reflections of their own lives within the narrative. The film appeals to those interested in civil rights, social justice, immigration issues, the power of music, or the artistry of piano making.

Crafting “Pianoman” proved transformative for the team, clarifying their beliefs and values. They feel fortunate to have documented David’s family, as his story mirrors their own experiences, evoking a profound sense of unity and shared strength. Through this film, they aspire to forge connections and inspire individuals on similar journeys.

Click here to watch a trailer.

About the Filmmaker

“Pianoman” Wins Carole Joyce AwardSunny Liu – Director / Producer / Cinematographer / Editor and Sound Mixer – Sunny is a highly accomplished and acclaimed creative force, recognized as an award-winning filmmaker, pianist/composer, and animator. Her work amplifies the voices of the underrepresented through intimate storytelling. Based in New York, Sunny excels as a producer, director, cinematographer, editor, and production sound mixer.

With a prestigious educational background, Sunny holds a Bachelor’s degree from Emerson College in Boston, a Master’s in Music from The New School in New York City, and a second Master’s in Documentary Filmmaking from the School of Visual Arts, also located in New York City. Her diverse skill set pushes the boundaries of her craft.

Sunny’s talent has garnered widespread recognition, with her animated film, “Calling,” making a lasting impression at the Doc NYC Film Festival. Her debut feature film, “Pianoman,” was selected for The China Academy Awards of Documentary Film and won Best Feature Documentary Film at Nepal American International Film Festival. Sunny Liu’s fearless dedication continues to inspire and touch the hearts of audiences worldwide.

Contact info:

Email: Sunnyliusunny@yahoo.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pianomanfilm

About the Roy W. Dean Grant

Since its inception in 1992, the Roy W. Dean Grants have awarded over $2,000,000 in cash and donated film services to independent films.  

There are four Roy W. Dean Grants awarded each year.  They have been an important lifeline for independent filmmakers that need help getting 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 the Emmy winning Mia: A Dancer’s Journey,  2019 Sundance Film Festival selection Raise Hell: The Life and Times of Molly Ivins, Emmy winner and Peabody Award nominee Belly of the Beast, as well as 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 program 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 and her new class, Learn Producing, teaches filmmakers the fundamentals needed to get their productions completed.

 

For More Information, please contact:

Richard Kaufman

richard@fromtheheartproductions.com

www.fromtheheartproductions.com

 

Stuart Harmon Wins Carole Joyce Award for Excellence in Documentary Storytelling

Documentary “Hangtown” Examines the Problematic History of California Gold Rush Through the Eyes of Three Women Fighting for Their Identities and Communities

Carole Joyce Award

Still from “Hangtown”

From the Heart Productions, a top-rated non-profit dedicated to helping independent filmmakers fund their projects, is pleased to announce that Director Stuart Harmon has won the second Carole Joyce Award for Excellence in Documentary Storytelling for his documentary “Hangtown”. 

The Carole Joyce Award for Excellence in Documentary Storytelling is awarded to a film submitted to the Roy W. Dean Film Grant and selected as a finalist.  The filmmaker will receive $2,500 to help him continue work on this film.

“Stuart’s film is timely and powerful,” commented Carole Dean, president of From the Heart Productions. “He has done a fabulous job of weaving these stories together from a divided community.”

About the Film

“Hangtown,” a documentary film in production, asks some of the most pressing questions around white supremacy in America today, revealing the challenges small towns must face when grappling with a contentious past.

For generations, the noose scrawled on the city seal and swaying effigy in Placerville, CA was a symbol of pride by locals and a kitschy tourist landmark for those headed to Lake Tahoe. Legend has it that the mostly white, former gold mining town’s moniker “Hangtown” came after three outlaws were hung during the Gold Rush for robbing a saloon in 1849 – the first “official” execution in California’s history – and the community’s ethos has been wrapped around the notion of frontier justice ever since.

Drive down main street and you’ll find scores of businesses named “Hangtown.” Hanging contests used to be a favored pastime at summer festivals and nooses adorned the school basketball gym. The area has staked its entire identity on the noose.

But that’s all changed in the wake of George Floyd’s murder. Lizzie Dubose, a 26 year-old struggling college student and one of the few Black residents of the town, has mobilized a team of activists to target the iconography in the fight for racial justice. To her the noose represents more than mining lore – it’s a symbol of white supremacy and perpetuates a false narrative about “law and order” in the American west.

The activists liken their battle to the removal of Confederate monuments across the South and have led weekly protests, the likes of which have never happened in the bucolic town. Their efforts also spark a deeper look into the problematic history of African Americans during the Gold Rush by descendants of the original pioneers.

About the Filmmaker

Carole Joyce AwardStuart Harmon is an award-winning director and producer. He’s produced a wide range of documentary and television projects for PBS, A&E, VICE, New York Times, Fusion, CNN, MTV, and several other networks and outlets. His short film for the NY Times titled “Guns to Gloves” is one of their top viewed documentaries, garnering over 10 million views across several platforms.

He also shot a harrowing TV documentary about the female FARC guerillas of Columbia for the Emmy-nominated VICELAND series “Woman.” His first feature documentary film THE MONEY STONE won the Roy W. Dean Film Grant.  It premiered on BBC Africa, won Best Documentary at the Black Star International Film Festival and was given glowing reviews by the BBC and The Boston Globe. Most recently he was nominated for a Deadline Club award for his work with The Intercept and received a fellowship with the Logan Nonfiction Program.

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 the Emmy winning Mia: A Dancer’s Journey,  2019 Sundance Film Festival selection Raise Hell: The Life and Times of Molly Ivins, Emmy winner and Peabody Award nominee Belly of the Beast, as well as the acclaimed documentary Kusama-Infinity.

Previous winner of the Carole Joyce Award for Excellence in Documentary Storytelling was Alexandra Hildago for A Family of Stories.

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 its 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”.