September 2025 Newsletter | | |
Moving Image Fund Grantee News
| | Image Descriptions: In this still from BACKSIDE, a man with a mustache and a cowboy hat adjusts a racehorse's bridle on a dirt track, with the a large, bright, and cloudy sky above them. | | |
LEF-supported project BACKSIDE (dir. Raúl O. Paz-Pastrana; prods. Gabriella García-Pardo, Patricia Alvarez Astacio) will play at CineFest Latino Boston on September 27 at 5pm. BACKSIDE offers an intimate and tender glimpse into the lives of immigrant workers who begin their days at 2 a.m., seven days a week, year-round, caring for some of the world’s most prized racehorses at Churchill Downs' "backside". The screening will be followed by a Q&A with producer Patricia Alvarez Astacio.
CineFest Latino Boston runs from September 24–28. Prior LEF grantee Cristina Kotz Cornejo (3 AMERICAS) has a short film, WOMAN WHO LIVES AT THE END OF TIME, at the festival on September 27. Prior LEF grantee Jared Katsiane (WHERE IS ESTEL?) had a short film, WHERE IS SAMUEL?, at CineFest Latino Boston's kickoff last week, and the film will screen in competition at Docs MX Film Festival in Mexico City.
LEF-supported project A PLACE IN THE WORLD: GARTH EVANS (dir. David Shayne; prods. Leila Philip, Jeanne Jordan, Steven Ascher) will have its world premiere at Chapter Arts in Cardiff on October 18, followed by screenings on October 20 at the University of New South Wales in London and November 5 at the Studio School in New York.
After making its world premiere at Camden International Film Festival, LEF-supported project UNLESS SOMETHING GOES TERRIBLY WRONG (dirs. Kaitlyn Schwalje, Alex Wolf Lewis; prods. Rebecca Stern, Justin Levy) won the inaugural Fowlie Award, formerly the Audience Award. The award includes a cash award of $10,000. The film will play at Newburyport Documentary Film Festival on September 28.
Also at NBPT Docu Fest is LEF-supported project NIGHT FIGHT (dir. Khary Saeed Jones; prods. Jones, Kendra T. Field) on September 27.
LEF-supported project COSMIC CODA (dir. Mary Jane Doherty) will screen at MIT on September 30 after a panel discussion with physicists.
LEF-supported project RECOVERY CITY (dir. Lisa Olivieri; prods. Angela Brisk, Marga Varea) will have its national broadcast premiere on PBS WORLD Channel on September 29th at 8:00 pm ET/7 pm CT.
Prior LEF grantee Malic Amalya (SLINGING CARTOON RIFLES) is one of the many filmmakers whose work will be part of RPM (Revolutions per Minute) Festival, taking place from October 4 through October 14 at various venues in greater Boston.
MacDowell announced its Fall 2025 and Winter 2026 fellows, including prior LEF grantees Jodie Mack (EARLY MOURNING, TARPON SPRINGS) and Lisa Malloy (CAIRO, IL PROJECT).
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Image description: The title page of the Documentary Film in the Public Interest Initiative's report reads Documentary Ideas Symposium 2025 in yellow text over a dark blue background, above an image of a movie camera.
Earlier this month, the Shorenstein Center's Documentary Film in the Public Interest Initiative released the convening report from their first Documentary Ideas Symposium that took place at Harvard Kennedy School in April 2025. The report, titled Documentary at Risk: Strategies for Ethics, Sustainability, and Innovation in a Time of Disruption conveys crucial recommendations that could benefit the field at large in this moment of radical shift.
While initially organized with a focus on documentary ethics, the symposium made it clear that these concerns are inseparable from the other challenges the field is facing. The report summarizes the issues that arose during April's gatherings, and offers proposals for paths forward, incorporating relevant resources and examples. Program Director Sara Archambault concluded that "there was clarity, if not consensus, on some essential truths: there’s no one-size-fits-all container for ethical documentary practice, but there is a wealth of collective knowledge, hard-won wisdom, and a growing hunger for radical collaboration."
Although the report, a result of the initiative's focus, centers public-interest documentary, its conclusions and visions for the future encompass independent filmmaking more widely. The report addresses the need for new and amended funding structures, creative thinking around distribution pathways and strategy, the nuances of participant care and safety, the rapid pace of AI, the critical role of intentional audiences, and the possibilities of organizing toward a safer and more sustainable industry.
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The Henry Awards for Public Interest Documentary recognize nonfiction films and series that advance public understanding of urgent civic issues through rigorous journalism, ethical integrity, and courageous storytelling. In a change from last year, the Henry Awards will consider projects via an open submission process starting on October 20, 2025 until November 21, 2025.
The work qualifies for the Henry Awards if it has premiered on broadcast, online, or in theaters to a U.S. audience during the eligibility period of September 1, 2023, to March 31, 2025. A grand prize of $100,000 will be awarded annually, along with several cash prizes for finalists.
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Upcoming Film Opportunities
| | Image Description: Frameline Logo | |
Frameline Completion Fund (Deadline: September 26)
The Frameline Completion Fund provides grants of up to $5,000 for the completion of films that represent and reflect LGBTQ+ life in all its complexity and richness.
Learn more
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BAVC MediaMaker Fellowship (Deadline: September 29)
The MediaMaker Fellowship is an opportunity for non-fiction filmmakers working on their first or second features to spend nine months in a cohort of other filmmakers. In addition to traveling, mentorship, gaining insight into the industry, and strengthening their films together, fellows will also receive $10,000 in unrestricted funding.
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JFI Filmmakers in Residence Program (Early bird Deadline: September 29; Final Deadline: October 20)
The JFI Filmmaker Residency provides creative support and professional development for independent documentary filmmakers whose projects expand and evolve the Jewish story. Residents meet virtually throughout the year and convene in person for workshops and more at the annual San Francisco Jewish Film Festival. Filmmakers from all communities are encouraged to apply.
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RISCA General Operating Support for Artists (Deadline: October 1)
General Operating Support for Artists (GOSA) provides unrestricted three-year $6,000 grants for Rhode Island artists to work toward longer term, self-identified goals in their art practice. Grant funding could support the following: the ability to set aside time to work on art making; art materials; space rental; technology; paying collaborators; research and experimentation; marketing; and documentation; and more.
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Grants for Creative Individuals (Deadline: October 28)
Grants for Creative Individuals are unrestricted grants of $5,000 to Massachusetts artists, culture bearers, and creative practitioners to equitably advance creative expression throughout diverse communities in the Commonwealth.
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| | Image Description: MASS MoCA Logo | | |
Studios at MASS MoCA Residencies (Deadline: November 1)
Applications are being accepted for residencies from July to December 2026, from artists at all career stages, income levels, and geographic locations. We primarily seek applications from visual artists (including video/new media artists) and writers in all literary disciplines.
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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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| | 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.
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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 over 500 grants to New England-based independent filmmakers with over $5.5 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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