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Moving Image Fund Grantee News
| | Image description: In this still image from Angelo Madsen's A BODY TO LIVE IN, two figures with light skin and ear piercings, one with a bald head and silver goatee and the second with short dark hair and an arm draped over the other, press their foreheads together, smiling tenderly. | | |
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LEF-supported project A BODY TO LIVE IN (dir. Angelo Madsen; prods. Madsen, Lyle Ravi Kash) had its world premiere at True/False in February. The film, which is about the luminary and controversial artist Fakir Musafar and the body modification movement that mobilized a subculture, will screen later this month at BFI Flare, as well as at the Ann Arbor Film Festival on March 28. You can read more about the film in interviews published by Documentary Magazine and Filmmaker Magazine with director/Producer/Editor Angelo Madsen, who was also recently the recipient of a Chicken & Egg Award.
LEF-supported project THE RIVER (dir. Caitlyn Greene; prods.Sara Archambault, Claire Haley) was named a 2024 Doc Society Climate Story Fund grantee.
Prior LEF grantee and former LEF/CIFF Fellow Amber Bemak (COSMIC MOOSE AND GRIZZLY BEARS VILLE) received a Mass Cultural Council Grant for Creative Individuals.
Prior LEF grantees Lamia Lazrak (DAR MARJANA) and Carolina González Valencia (HOW TO CLEAN A HOUSE IN 10 EASY STEPS) were two 2025 Kindling Fund grantees.
Prior LEF grantees Lisa Marie Malloy, J.P. Sniadecki, Ray Whitaker (CAIRO, IL PROJECT) of the Little Egypt Collective had a short film, ON THE BATTLEGROUND, as part of MoMA's 2025 Doc Fortnight.
A retrospective of work by Frederick Wiseman (CITY HALL), a prior LEF grantee, continues through May at theaters in the Boston area. The program, which began earlier this month, includes 33 recently restored films.
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Image Description: Salem Film Fest 2025 logo
Salem Film Fest kicks off this Thursday, February 27 and runs through the weekend. On Sunday, February 30 is Docs-In-Progress, a new event showcasing three nonfiction works-in-progress created by New England filmmakers including prior LEF grantees Myles David Jewell and Lauren-Glenn Davitian (BURLINGTON, THIS IS YOU!) and Tim O'Donnell (LIFE WITHOUT BASKETBALL). This event is free and open to the public!
LEF is also excited to be sponsoring this event by supporting each of the participating teams with a $500 travel stipend and a complimentary membership at the International Documentary Association.
The festival lineup includes many great films, and one of the shorts programs, "Lost and Found", includes a film, THE RETURN, by prior LEF grantee Jeremy S. Levine (NINE).
Save $2 on tickets with discount code:
lef$2
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Are you a LEF grantee or fellow with news to share about your film? | | | | Image Descriptions: LEFT: Three figures with light skin sit in black chairs with microphones. RIGHT: A red cinema with the three seated figures at the front under a screen that says NEW ENGLAND LEGACY SCREENINGS. An audience member toward the back of the theater raises a hand. | | |
Last week was the second program of the New England Legacy Screenings at the Coolidge Corner Theatre. The series highlights the variety of documentary styles developed in 1960's–80's Boston amidst an ever-evolving cinematic legacy in New England.
The series will return on Thursday, May 15, with a program to be announced.
| | Image Description: A purple radial design with face profiles emerging from a floral octagonal shape at the center, surrounded by stars, with text announcing the Independent Film Festival Boston, April 23–30, 2025. | | |
IFFBoston will return April 23–30, with a lineup to be announced in early April.
Stay tuned for more about the festival and the annual filmmaker reception hosted by LEF.
| | Image description: A blue-tinged grainy-textured image of hard-edged light and shadow features text: Future Film Coalition. | | |
In the wake of many sweeping and swaggering statements from the White House, the fate of independent media is only one of the uncertainties we've been left to contend with. For years, working toward a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive landscape has been a priority for many nonprofits operating in the industry, and the recent announcement by the National Endowment for the Arts about changes to its application criteria opens up questions as to how funding will be affected.
A heartening development in the last few months has been the announcement of the Future Film Coalition, an organization dedicated to research and advocacy, coalition-building, and a strong future for art house and independent media in the US. As its all-volunteer team seeks to identify and create pathways forward for the sector, the FFC will be a powerful resource for staying up-to-date as well as for getting involved, connected, and organized. You can read a recap of a recent virtual town hall, attended by over 700 film industry professionals, which also includes more information about how to get involved with two active working groups.
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The use of generative AI in media is another emergent topic in the media landscape. The Archival Producers Alliance recently penned and Op-Ed in the Los Angeles Times about the dangers of unregulated AI use (for which the publication's own AI tool provided "insights").
You can be part of these conversations by responding to the Archival Producers Alliance call for case studies of documentary projects for its Generative AI Initiative, and by responding to an International Documentary Association filmmaker survey that will inform an AI addendum to the recently announced Nonfiction Core App 3.0.
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Upcoming Film Opportunities
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LEF - Flaherty Fellowship | Image Description: A black-and-white photo of many people seated on a sunny lawn while Agnes Varda leads a discussion. A graphic blue line loops over the photo, extending beyond the borders. | |
Three LEF New England Fellows will be selected to attend the 70th Flaherty Film Seminar, Onward!, in New York City from Wednesday, June 25, through Sunday, June 29. While no academic background is required, applicants should demonstrate a deep interest in community engagement within their field, and be active in the field through research, filmmaking, or related organizational or project-based work.
Deadline: Sunday, April 6
| Image Description: 2024 LEF/CIFF Fellows and LEF staff smile from their seats on a sailboat in Camden Harbor. | |
The LEF/CIFF Fellowship is an opportunity for 5 New England-based filmmaking teams with feature-length nonficition 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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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.
Learn more
| | Image Description: Rhode Island State Council on the Arts Logo | |
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.
Learn more
| | Image Description: Creative Capital Logo | |
Creative Capital Award (Deadline: April 3)
The Creative Capital Award provides individual artists with unrestricted project grants for the creation of bold, innovative, original, and imaginative new artistic works. In addition to unrestricted project grants from $15,000 up to $50,000, the Award offers transformative professional development support including strategic advising, peer mentorship, industry connections, and community-building opportunities. The 2026 Open Call seeks proposals for new artistic works in the Visual Arts, Performing Arts, Film, and Literature.
Learn more
| | Image Description: Vermont Arts Council Logo | |
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.
Learn more
| | 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: 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.
An informational webinar will take place on April 3.
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: 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: Assets for Artists Logo and Maine Arts Commission logo | | |
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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