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Moving Image Fund Grantee News
| | Independent Film Festival Boston (IFFB) | Image description: Independent Film Festival Boston graphic with rounded purple bands, stars, two pink side profiles, flowering vines, and a red triangular beam emerging from an eye shape. | |
Independent Film Festival Boston (IFFB) returns in two weeks, running from April 23–30 at the Somerville Theatre, Brattle Theatre, and Coolidge Corner Theatre. Included in this year's program are:
• NIGHT FIGHT (dir. Khary Saeed Jones; prods. Jones, Kendra T. Field), a LEF-supported project that attempts to capture a feeling of being hunted and to document the ongoing, wrenching conversations Black people in America have with their individual selves, as well as the impossible task of sharing these experiences with the filmmaker's young son. NIGHT FIGHT premiered at SXSW last month. Tickets here.
• COSMIC CODA, (dir. Mary Jane Doherty), a LEF-supported project charting the course of gravitational wave research at MIT beginning in 1985 and evolving through new generations of astrophysicists. Tickets here.
• THE RETURN, a short by prior LEF grantee Jeremy S. Levine (NINE). Tickets here.
• WILD GIRL OF BRUSHVALLEY TOWNSHIP, a short by prior LEF grantee Heather Cassano (THE FATE OF HUMAN BEINGS). Tickets here.
• ZOO, a repertory feature by prior LEF grantee Frederick Wiseman (CITY HALL). The screening is part of the retrospective of Wiseman's work, which will continue in the Boston area until May 20. Tickets here.
• THE DELLS, a film by former LEF Program Assistant Nellie Kluz which observes the clash between fantasy and reality faced by international student workers newly arrived in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin – the self-described “Waterpark Capital of the World.” Tickets here.
| LEF/DPA Filmmaker Reception | |
LEF and the Documentary Producers Alliance will be co-hosting a filmmaker reception. Meet others attending the festival from New England and beyond, and enjoy free appetizers with drinks available for purchase at the bar.
Saturday, April 26
5:30pm to 7:30pm
Crystal Ballroom
55 Davis Square
Somerville, MA 02144
| About the Venue: The Crystal Ballroom has a designated street entrance in the Hobbs Building to the left of the Somerville Theatre. The venue is on the second floor and is accessible by elevator. |
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LEF-supported project RECOVERY CITY (dir. Lisa Olivieri; prods. Angela Brisk, Marga Varea), is screening at the West Newton cinema on April 25, and will be followed by a Q&A with Olivieri and film participants.
In January, the Ford Foundation's JustFilms program announced its 2024 grantees for documentaries championing social justice, and the list includes LEF-supported projects NINE (dirs. Rachael DeCruz, Jeremy S. Levine) and THE RIDE AHEAD (dirs. Dan Habib, Samuel Habib), as well as SURVIVAL FLOATING by prior LEF grantee Tracy Heather Strain (JOHN HENRY)
Last month, Mass Cultural Council Grant for Creative Individuals awardees included Kathryn Ramey (SILVER & EARTH), Heather Cassano (THE FATE OF HUMAN BEINGS), and Amber Bemak (COSMIC MOOSE AND GRIZZLY BEARS VILLE).
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Are you a LEF grantee or fellow with news to share about your film? | | | |
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Image Description: A low-rise office complex with bubble-like windows. Photo credit: Modulus Studios.
Two offices available for rent in a creative workspace along Brighton's Western Avenue Corridor, an emerging neighborhood of modern residential, retail and commercial developments. The offices at 1300 Soldiers Field Road—sometimes called the “Bubble Building”—is where a number of independent filmmakers have set up shop over the years and Modulus Studio is located. Part of a suite occupied by other filmmakers, the two offices—offered individually or together—include ample space (300 square feet and 175 square feet, respectively).
Contact Daniel Lovering at dlovering@bagamormedia.com or 412-953-2794 for more details.
| | | | Image description: CMSI graphic with the logo, Center of Media & Social Impact, against a blue gradient background with an illustrated silhouette of protesters holding signs, fists, and megaphones. | | |
The Center for Media & Social Impact has launched its biennial State of the Documentary Field Survey, the only longitudinal look at field trends in revenue, funding, distribution and lived experiences for nonfiction film professionals. This study helps us all better understand what is changing, what is not, and what challenges and opportunities we are facing as an industry. It's the largest global study of documentary storytellers, and an essential tool to map and advocate for the future of our industry.
This year CMSI has added new questions to the survey, seeking data around issues of artificial intelligence and experiences of censorship by filmmakers.
The data CMSI presents from this study will inform and support critical advocacy.
The confidential and anonymous survey is open to global film professionals and is available in English, Spanish, French and Portuguese. The survey takes ~20 minutes to complete.
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The Archival Producers Alliance has announced the launch of APA’s GenAI Best Practices Tool Kit. This is a practical, hands-on companion to the “Best Practices for Use of Generative AI in Documentaries.”
The Tool Kit offers tips, guidance, and resources for non-fiction media makers who are considering using GenAI in their productions. This free resource aims to help filmmakers clarify their thinking about if and how to engage with GenAI technology and offer them concrete means to do so with intention and care.
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Upcoming Film Opportunities
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Image Description: CIFF Logo.
The LEF/CIFF Fellowship is an opportunity for 5 New England-based filmmaking teams with feature-length nonfiction films in production or post-production to attend the 2025 Camden International Film Festival and connect with other filmmakers and industry leaders through a series of mentor-led project development workshops, networking events, and curated 1:1 meetings taking place both in-person during the festival and virtually in the weeks following.
Deadline: Monday, April 21
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Image description: Mass Production Coalition logo.
Filmmaking By The Numbers: Budgeting for Independent Films
Saturday, April 19th. 9:00 am - 3:30 pm.
Lesley University, College of Art & Design
This one-day workshop is designed to equip filmmakers and emerging media professionals with a strong foundation and practical insights for budgeting independently produced feature films.
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Image Description: National Endowment for the Arts Logo.
The Film & Media Arts team is recruiting panelists for the upcoming summer 2025 Grants for Arts Projects grant review panels. The process, for which there is an honorarium, involves reading and scoring approximately 40 applications and participating in a two-hour video call to discuss them. Most panelists are arts professionals who are qualified by their activities, training, skills, and/or experience in one or more art forms.
If you’re interested (or know someone who is!), please reach out to Bridget Zangueneh at zanguenehb@arts.gov.
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Image Description: New England Foundation for the Arts logo.
Every month, the New England Foundation for the Arts posts a list of professional development opportunities, calls to artists, and cultural events.
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| | | Image Description: Rough Cut Retreat Logo | |
Rough Cut Retreat (Deadline: April 11; Late Deadline: April 18)
Launched in 2016 by Catapult Film Fund & the True/False Film Fest, Rough Cut Retreat unites nonfiction filmmakers and mentors in a creative, supportive, and engaged atmosphere. Rough Cut Retreat seeks work that displays ambitious, idiosyncratic approaches to nonfiction storytelling – and prioritizes filmmakers who lack strong feedback networks. RCR will take place July 20-24 at Hilltown Commons in Rensselaerville, New York.
Learn more
| | Image Description: Working Films Logo | |
Docs in Action (Deadline: April 21)
Working Films and partners at Democracy 2076, Political Research Associates, and Southern Vision Alliance are looking for story-driven short films (under 30 mins) that will illuminate the growing dangers of fascism and authoritarianism, fostering a shared understanding of the challenges we face and how to push back. The 2025 Docs in Action program has two tracks for filmmakers: apply for up to $30,000 in funding for short, work-in-progress documentary films; or, submit a completed documentary or narrative film to be included in a compilation that will be used to support organizing.
Learn more
| | Image Description: Chicken & Egg Films Logo | |
2026 (Egg)celerator Lab (Deadline: April 29)
This program supports nonfiction filmmakers or filmmaking teams working on their first or second feature-length documentary. Filmmakers receive $40,000 USD in grant funding for the production of their feature-length film, mentorship, retreats, tailored industry meetings, and peer support.
Learn more
| | Image Description: Library of Congress Lavine/Ken Burns Prize for Film Logo | |
Library of Congress Lavine/Ken Burns Prize (Deadline: May 1)
The Library of Congress Lavine/Ken Burns Prize for Film accepts films that focus on an American historical subject, issue, or person within a time frame occurring at least twenty years prior to submission that present a variety of perspectives grounded in extensive and thorough research. A cash prize of $200,000 is awarded to one winner, a secondary prize of $50,000 to one runner-up, and $25,000 to each of four finalists.
Learn more
| | Image Description: Assets for Artists Logo | | |
Studios at MASS MoCA Residency (Deadline: May 1)
MASS MoCA’s Assets for Artists program and the Studios at MASS MoCA artist residency give artists, writers, and performers of any discipline a range of support services, including residencies on the MASS MoCA campus, financial and business workshops, one-on-one coaching, and other professional development tools to help them achieve greater career success and financial independence.
Learn more
Free professional development workshops through May are available to artists of all disciplines in Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island, Vermont, and Maine.
| | Image Description: Lightpress Logo | |
Lightpress Grant (Deadline: May 31)
Every six months, in January and July, the Interbay Cinema Society gives grants to 10 filmmakers working in 8mm, Super 8mm, 16mm or 35mm film to have 2 and 4K high resolution scans of their work made through Lightpress, a transfer house in Seattle.
Learn more
| | Image Description: Center for Independent Documentary Logo | |
Kopkind/CID Film Seminar + Retreat (Deadline: June 1)
Eight filmmakers will be chosen to spend the week of July 20th through July 27th at Treefrog Farm in Guilford, VT, where they will have the opportunity to share their work and support one another.
Learn more
| | Image Description: Collective Futures Fund Logo | |
Collective Futures Fund (Deadline: June 1)
The Collective Futures Fund is an initiative directly supporting visual artists and artist-run activity in the Greater Boston area through grants of $2,500 and $7,500. We help incubate artists’ visions for their own independent platforms and research to support the futures of our vibrant local artist communities.
Learn more
| | Image Description: Perspective Fund Logo | |
Perspective Fund (Deadline: Rolling)
The Perspective Fund supports filmmakers and strategists for whom entrenched forces and systems are most apparent in their lives and communities, who can most acutely construct films and campaigns to respond. Areas of funding include production, impact planning and campaigns, and participant compensation.
Learn more
| | Image Description: Artist Communities Alliance Logo | |
Artist Residency Open Calls (Deadline: Rolling)
Artist Communities Alliance (ACA) provides two types of lists to help with the residency search process.
Learn more
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Thanks for reading,
The LEF New England team
Lyda, Gen, & Matthew
LEF Foundation
PO Box 382066
Cambridge, MA 02238
617.492.5333
lef-foundation.org
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A private family foundation dedicated to the support of contemporary arts, LEF was established in 1985 with offices in Massachusetts and California. The Moving Image Fund was launched in 2001 through the LEF office in Cambridge, MA to support independent film and video artists. Since its inception, the Moving Image Fund has awarded nearly 500 grants to New England-based independent filmmakers with over $5 million in funding. The goal of LEF New England is to fund the work of independent documentary film and video artists in the region and to broaden recognition and support for their work locally and nationally. It also supports programs that highlight the rich history and ongoing legacy of innovation within New England's independent film community. The overarching goal of LEF New England's philanthropic investment is to help build a sustainable and strong community of support for artists and their work.
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