Honoring Outstanding Contributions to Society through Unique and Impactful Filmmaking
From the Heart Productions proudly announces the winner of the prestigious Britt Penrod Award for the Roy W. Dean Grant Spring 2024. This year’s award recognizes The Killing Game, a gripping documentary that delves into the dark and complex world of serial killings of federally protected wild horses in Arizona.
The $500 Britt Penrod Award celebrates films that make an exceptional contribution to society and exhibit unique storytelling. The Killing Game, directed and produced by Cristina Malavenda, Sean-Michael Smith, and Peter King, epitomizes these values through its bold exploration of critical issues affecting wildlife and local communities.
About the Film
In the haunting Arizona ponderosa pine forest, retired Army officer Betty Nixon leads an investigation into the tragic killing of protected wild horses. As she uncovers a tangled web of accusations involving generational ranching families, rogue activists, a secretive Forest Service, and a reclusive Apache tribe, the documentary provides a riveting and eye-opening perspective on these ongoing conflicts.
Britt Penrod, the award’s namesake and whose generosity made the award possible, remarked, “I was riveted and on the edge of my seat wanting to see the outcome. The storytelling, photography, and editing were really well done.”
About the Filmmakers
Cristina Malavenda – Producer/Co-Director
Cristina Malavenda brings a wealth of experience in documentary filmmaking to The Killing Game. Her notable work includes steering the creative direction of the Oscar-shortlisted documentary The Other Side of Home and serving as showrunner for the Emmy-winning series Wonder Women. Cristina’s diverse portfolio includes critical animal-related documentaries and has further honed her skills at Hallmark’s instant streaming company and the Sundance Documentary Fund. As an alumna of Vanderbilt University and the University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts, Cristina’s dedication to empowering women and creating impactful narratives is evident in her role as Producer and Co-Director.
Sean-Michael Smith – Producer/Co-Director
Sean-Michael Smith is an acclaimed Emmy-winning producer, director, and director of photography. Renowned for his work on the Emmy-awarded series Wonder Women, Sean-Michael has also contributed to impactful Netflix documentaries such as Web of Make Believe and The Trials of Gabriel Fernandez. With a robust academic background from San Francisco State University and the University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts, Sean-Michael’s visual storytelling and ability to create compelling narratives have captivated and educated audiences globally.
Peter King – Producer/Co-Director
Peter King is an investigative filmmaker with nearly two decades of experience in developing and producing acclaimed documentaries. His recent work includes The Big Conn for Apple TV+ and the Emmy-nominated series McMillions. With a career that started as a researcher and led to executive producing Wonder Women, Peter’s knack for uncovering vital information and securing necessary access has been pivotal in his work. An alumnus of The University of Texas at El Paso, Peter’s contributions to investigative documentaries are profound and impactful.
About the Britt Penrod Award
The award will be presented to one or more finalists to one of our four yearly Roy W. Dean Grants whose film is unique and makes an exceptional contribution to society. The Britt Penrod Award was made possible by a donation from its namesake who is a longtime friend of 501(c)3 non-profit From the Heart Production. Results of the award have no bearing on the eventual winner of any of the Roy W. Dean Grants.
Britt is president of Giant Entertainment & Management Inc. (G.E.M.) is a Los Angeles based Film & Television Studio design and development company with in depth experience in the United States, Europe and Asia.
G.E.M. delivers knowledgeable business foundations to Studio development projects that include; Market Analysis, Site Planning, Operating Financial Evaluation, Construction, MEP & Value Engineering, Start-up of Operations and ongoing Management Services for stage-based entertainment properties.
About the Roy W. Dean Grant
Now in its 33rd 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 that 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 Emmy Winners Belly of the Beast and The Love Bugs, 2019 Sundance Film Festival selection Raise Hell: The Life and Times of Molly Ivins, as well as 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 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 their Intentional Filmmaking Class and Learn Producing: The Ultimate Course in Indie Film Production.
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.
For More Information and interview requests, please contact:
Richard Kaufman
