The Sundance Institute | Stars Collective Granting Fund is a cross-programmatic fund supporting Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) and women filmmakers working on fiction and nonfiction projects that are currently being supported by the Sundance Institute through our labs and granting programs. Grants ranging from $1,500 to $10,000 aim to provide critical support to advance projects at various stages of their life cycles, from advanced development to pre-production through launch.

Apply by July 16th.

During the winter grant fund cycle, which will be open through July 26, Sundance will provide small stipends to artists who self-identify as deaf, hard of hearing, having a disability, or living with a mental illness to help offset additional costs associated with disability-related barriers.

To request support, applicants must reach out to Documentary Fund staff via email at dfp@sundance.org as soon as possible so that they can accommodate the request in advance of the July 26 deadline. They have a limited amount of funds available, and applications will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis until all the funds are exhausted.

Apply by July 26th.

International Documentary Association’s (IDA) newest global fund is now accepting

applications. The Incubator supports character-driven vérité shorts. Apply by August 2, 2021 to

receive $25,000 towards production and post-production expenses and editorial guidance from

Oscar and Emmy-nominated mentors.

Apply by August 2nd.

Calling all NYC artists! Through the City Artists Corps Grant, you can receive 5k for a project engaging the public this summer and fall! DCLA, NYFA and 16 other cultural organizations have united to expand their reach and resources ensuring that no artist is left behind. Register for an upcoming information session with New York Women In Film & Television OR watch Black Public Media and Firelight Media's previously recorded info session. Learn more and apply!

ASCENSION, directed by Jessica Kingdon and produced by Jessica Kingdon, Kira Simon-Kennedy, and Nathan Truesdell, took home Best Documentary Feature at the 2021 Tribeca Film Festival! Jessica also received the 2021 Albert Maysles Award for Best New Documentary Director.

The absorbingly cinematic Ascension explores the pursuit of the “Chinese Dream.” Driven by mesmerizing—and sometimes humorous—imagery, this observational documentary presents a contemporary vision of China that prioritizes productivity and innovation above all. In Chinese with English subtitles.

CRIP CAMP, directed by Nicole Newnham and Jim LeBrecht and produced by Nicole Newnham, Jim LeBrecht and Sara Bolder, has received a Peabody Award! The film is one of thirty winners that were announced in June. The annual Peabody winners are a collection of stories that powerfully reflect the pressing social issues and the vibrant emerging voices of our day. When presenting the award, actress Selma Blair said of the film, "There is an unapologetic spirit in the title of this documentary that immediately grabs you and tells you everything you need to know about this inspiring history of the disability rights movement. 'Crip Camp' is both a personal story and an urgent historical record."

Crip Camp is currently available to stream on Netflix.

The Sundance Institute has announced $590,000 in unrestricted grant support to 18 projects at various stages of production, almost three quarters of which have women directors. Amongst the grantees is BLACK MOTHERS, directed by Débora Souza Silva and produced by Débora Souza Silva and David Felix Sutcliffe.

Black Mothers is the first feature-length documentary to examine the “Mothers of the Movement”, a growing, nationwide network of mothers whose children have been victims of racial violence.

CURED, a new documentary by Patrick Sammon and Bennett Singer, has been selected as the opening film for the upcoming season of Independent Lens, PBS’ acclaimed documentary showcase. Cured will be broadcast nationally on Monday, October 11 — National Coming Out Day. First celebrated in 1988, National Coming Out Day is grounded in the belief that coming out represents a powerful form of activism and that people are less likely to maintain homophobic or oppressive views once they understand that they have family members, friends, and coworkers who are members of the LGBTQ community.

LOS HERMANOS/THE BROTHERS, PatchWorks Films' latest by Marcia Jarmel & Ken Schneider, is continuing beyond virtual life. On July 15th in screens at the Kennedy Center's outdoor Millenium Stage and on July 14th at the Cameo Theater as a fundraiser for the affordable housing organization Our Town St. Helena, California. It also continues its theatrical run. Details here.

Director Emily Allen and producers Shannon Fitzpatrick and Elise McCave, are new CID recruits with their film CISCO KID, which follows Eileen, a young queer dreamer, as she moves to a desert ghost town in Southern Utah, determined to build an independent life.

They've launched a campaign on Kickstarter this week, and it's been thrilling to see the community rally around the project, making it more tangible with each pledge of support. Of course, they'd love for you to come on board as well! There are some lovely rewards on offer: a bandana hand-drawn by Eileen, prints produced from the photographs Emily shot on film while in Cisco, some great tunes, a nifty little pin to pop on your lapel. And of course, an opportunity to see the film.

Upstander Project invites you to a special free online screening of DAWNLAND and DEAR GEORGINA on Wednesday July 14th at 7pm ET/4pm PT. RSVP here.

In Dawnland, the first truth commission for Native Americans examines the impact of foster care on generations of children and families. In Dear Georgina, a Passamquoddy elder seeks reconnection with her culture and heritage after being taken from her family and tribe by the state. Educators especially are encouraged to stick around to learn with the excellent panel of educators as they explore how to teach this history of genocide from scalp proclamations to boarding schools to foster care.

THE FATE OF HUMAN BEINGS is beginning production this summer! Director Heather Cassano is traveling the country to film institution cemeteries and meet with people researching and restoring cemeteries. Follow along on the film's Instagram to learn more about each cemetery as they are filmed.

FROM BAGHDAD TO THE BAY is now streaming and available on DVD!

This award-winning feature length documentary shares the epic journey of Ghazwan Alsharif, an Iraqi refugee and former translator for the US military. Wrongfully accused of being a double agent, imprisoned and tortured by those he risked his life to protect, and ostracized from family and country, we follow Ghazwan as he struggles to rebuild his life in the United States while coming out as an openly gay activist.

On June 17th, THE BLUES TRAIL REVISITED was screened to a sold out crowd at the Historic Balboa Theatre in San Francisco. This amazing event kicked off earlier in the day with renowned American talk radio host Angie Coiro interviewing filmmaker Ted Reed and Tim Treadway on Open Air (KALW, San Francisco). After viewing the film Angie gleefully stated "it says a lot about the nature of the blues… there's a respect for history and a respect for the elders, it's fabulous to watch… the movie is so worthy."

After returning home to Boston, Ted said based on such positive feedback, he plans to expand the screening of The Blues Trail Revisited at several other theaters throughout the US.

The Blues Trail Revisited is available to rent here.

Check out The Blues Trail Revisited Podcast, available on most podcast apps 

The Clowder Group is nearing completion of their film on loneliness and isolation, ALL THE LONELY PEOPLE. Although delayed by COVID, they have actually already been creating on the ground, grassroots impact! Working with state AARP offices and other organizations that fall into their core audiences they have been presenting virtual events featuring clips from the film along with filmmaker Q&A’s. These have been extremely well received and proved to be a great way to tease the film’s release for organizations they hope to build long term partnerships with. First full cut of the film should be out in September!

BELLY OF THE BEAST's Liz Oliva Fernandez has won a Gracie Award for best Online Video Host for her work on The War On Cuba. Liz has been invited to receive her award in Los Angeles alongside other award winners such as Kerry Washington, Lena Waithe and Kelly Clarkson. Last week, Belly of the Beast won a One World Media Award, besting the other two finalists - BBC World Service and Al Jazeera English - in the category of Popular Features for The War on Cuba. In addition, Liz was one of three finalists for the New Voice Award, which recognizes a young filmmaker or journalist who has made a substantial contribution to international journalism.

SOMETHING IN THE WATER producers Jeri Wachter and Joseph C. Stillman announced that that their documentary project about America has received a challenge grant from an anonymous donor who has promised to award $25,000 when the project raises an equal sum. 

Learn more and contribute to the film here.

Read/download the pack here.