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Moving Image Fund Grantee News
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LEF-supported project NIGHT FIGHT (dir. Khary Saeed Jones; prods. Jones, Kendra T. Field) will have its world premiere at South by Southwest (SXSW) in March. Through nonfiction and fiction, the film 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 will play in the Visions section of the festival, which is devoted to "audacious, risk-taking artists who demonstrate innovation and creativity." The festival runs from March 7–15.
LEF-supported project EL SIGNO VACÍO (the empty sign) (dir. Kathryn Ramey), a film about the ongoing U.S. occupation of Puerto Rico, had its Puerto Rican premiere at El Festival de Cine y Derechos
Humanos de Vieques (the Vieques Human Rights Film Festival). It will be the festival's closing night film on February 1.
Among 2025's Creative Capital Awardees are prior LEF grantee Angelo Madsen (A BODY TO LIVE IN) and prior LEF grantee Amber Bemak (COSMIC MOOSE AND GRIZZLY BEARS VILLE). This year Creative Capital awarded $2.45 million in unrestricted project grants to 55 artists to create 49 new works in Visual Arts, Technology, Performing Arts, Film/Moving Image, and Literature, as well as multidisciplinary and socially engaged forms in all disciplines.
On Tuesday, February 4 at the Carpenter Center for the Visual Arts is a screening, Unclaimed Experience: a night of film and video, curated by prior LEF grantee Sara Jordeno (LIFE DOESN'T FRIGHTEN ME). The program includes works by prior LEF grantees Bryan Parcival (AMERICAN RUINS) and Kathryn Ramey (EL SIGNO VACÍO), and others, and will be followed by a panel discussion. The screening is free and open to the public.
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Upcoming Film Opportunities
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Harvard FSC-LEF Fellowship (Deadline: February 6)
One filmmaker per academic year receives a $15,000 grant (jointly funded by the Film Study Center at Harvard University and the LEF Foundation), access to FSC’s pool of production and post-production equipment, and the opportunity to participate in the Harvard FSC community through work-in-progress screenings, workshops, and other activities.
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Diane Weyermann Fellowship (Deadline: February 3)
Up to three original, feature-length documentaries in mid to late production from global filmmaking teams will be selected to participate in a 18 month collaborative Fellowship program, which includes includes $100,000 in unrestricted grants for each project, tailored mentorship from veteran filmmakers and industry leaders, two creative retreats at CIFF, and ongoing professional development—all designed to support the completion of Fellows’ films and the advancement of their careers as artists.
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Chicken & Egg Research & Development Grant (Deadline: February 4)
The Chicken & Egg Films Research & Development Grant provides financial support to directors during research and development, filmmaking phases that are too often unpaid and unsupported. A total of $450,000 USD is awarded in the following grant amounts: $10,000 for Research; $20,000 for Development.
An informational webinar will be held on January 9, 2025 at 11am.
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MacDowell Fellowship (Deadline: February 10)
About 300 artists in seven disciplines are awarded Fellowships each year and the sole criterion for acceptance is artistic excellence. There are no residency fees, and need-based stipends and travel reimbursement grants are available to open the residency to the broadest possible community of artists.
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Catapult Development Grant (Deadline: February 12)
Launched in 2010, the Catapult Development Fund provides early-stage support to documentary filmmakers when funding is hardest to find. Fifteen (15) grants of up to $25,000 USD will be offered to filmmakers in development with a documentary feature or short.
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Sundance Documentary Producers Track (Deadline: February 12)
The Documentary Film Program is seeking their next class of fellows for the 2025 Producers Track. The program supports emerging independent nonfiction producers with works-in-progress features to be considered for the Producers Lab and Fellowship.
Opportunities for the Sundance Ignite x Adobe Fellowship and the Native Lab Fellowship are also open.
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New Voices Filmmaker Grant (Deadline: February 13)
An ongoing initiative in partnership with Netflix to support four emerging LGBTQ+ directors with $25,000 in funding to create new work – in addition to mentorship, networking, and professional development opportunities. Submissions are accepted from emerging LGBTQ+ directors who make documentary/nonfiction, narrative, and/or animated film/episodic projects for and about the LGBTQ+ community.
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Princess Grace Awards (Deadline: February 15)
The Princess Grace Award is an unrestricted cash grant of $15,000 paid directly to the artist. The Princess Grace Awards recognize both creative generators and performance-based creatives. All applicants must be nominated by a non-profit university, organization, media arts center or previous Princess Grace Award winner.
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JFI Completion Grants (Deadline: February 21)
**Early deadline TODAY, January 31!**
The Grants are open to any filmmaker at the rough cut stage. Projects of interest are fresh, nuanced, and thought-provoking explorations of Jewish themes, selected for their potential to entertain and engage us, turn conversation into action, and expand understanding of Jewish cultures and identities. Projects in any form, length, or genre are eligible for consideration.
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Summer Documentary Labs (Deadline: March 16)
UnionDocs offers a five-week Early Production Lab (June 30 — August 1), or a three-week Research & Development Lab (August 11 — 29). Each lab will invite a cohort of 12 filmmakers committed to working through a rigorous but deeply rewarding program of seminars, screenings, feedback sessions, and conversations with some of your favorite filmmakers, funders, and festival programmers.
ONLINE INFO SESSION on 3/6 at 11AM EST. Applications are free to submit until 3/16, then $15 until the Final Deadline on 4/6.
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Roy W. Dean Grant (Deadline: March 31)
Now entering its fourth decade, the Roy W. Dean Grants fund independent feature films, documentaries, web series, and short films with budgets of $500,000 or less that are unique and make a contribution to society that, without its help, might otherwise never get made.
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Make Art Grant (Deadline: April 1)
Make Art Grants (MAG) support artists with grants up to $5,000 to create or continue specific artwork in any discipline. Projects must have specific goals, though completion and public showing of the art is not required. Projects must be artist instigated and organized, outside of institutional support and structures. Open to projects of all arts disciplines, from artists of all levels, funds can be used to support experimentation, materials, space rental, paying collaborators, documentation, and artist stipends.
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Creation Grants (Deadline: April 8)
Creation Grants support Vermont artists or artist groups in creating new work. Grant funds may be used to compensate the artists for time spent creating new work, to purchase materials, or to rent equipment or space for the process. This highly competitive program is reviewed by an independent panel of practicing artists and arts professionals. Both established and emerging artists are encouraged to apply.
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Indigo Arts Alliance Mentorship Residency Program (Deadline: Rolling)
The Indigo Arts Alliance studio located in Portland, Maine. The Mentorship Residency Program is a pioneering residency concept that serves as an arts incubator with generous workspace and modern facilities enabling the creative work of visual artists across disciplines. We foster mentorship by pairing two artists from diverse backgrounds of the African Diaspora together during a residency period to cultivate rich conversation, collaboration, and exchange experiences, knowledge, art industry information and technical skills.
IAA is currently accepting rolling applications from the North Eastern region (Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island).
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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.
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Assets for Artists FREE Professional Development Workshops (Through May 2025)
Upcoming Assets for Artists Winter/Spring 2025 workshops include online and in-person sessions covering various topics. These workshops aim to address the unique challenges and needs of artists, helping them thrive in their careers.
(Workshops are available to artists of all disciplines in Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island, and now also available to artists in Vermont and Maine.)
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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