Berkeley Film Foundation 2022 Grant Awards

BERKELEY, Calif. - Aug. 3, 2022 - PRLog -- The Berkeley FILM Foundation (BFF) is proud to announce that it has awarded $207,000 to 20 independent filmmakers who reside or work in the cities of Berkeley, Emeryville, El Cerrito, Albany, and Oakland in its 2022 grant cycle.

Since its founding in 2009, BFF has awarded more than $2.3 million to 222 film projects that continuously push boundaries and inspire change. In its effort to encourage the next generation of local filmmakers, BFF has awarded $202,000 to 59 student filmmakers.

This year's Saul Zaentz Award for $25,000, given each year to honor the legacy of renowned filmmaker and a BFF founder, Saul Zaentz, goes to Deborah Craig for Sally, a portrait of feminist firebrand, writer and teacher, Sally Gearhart. Sally collaborated with Harvey Milk in the fight for gay rights, was the first out lesbian to obtain tenure, co-founded one of the first ever women's studies programs, co-created a women's land community, and wrote The Wanderground, which inspired a generation of lesbian separatists. But somehow, Sally has been written out of history. This film explores: how did this happen?

The $20,000 Al Bendich Award is granted to What We Carry, directed and co-produced by Cady Voge. It is an intimate character-driven film about a family on an extraordinary journey as they escape persecution in Honduras and search not only for a new home, but a way to heal from a traumatic past. While the family awaits asylum in Seattle, the audience is witness to the family's sorrow as well as their joy as these two emotions co-exist over three years while they wait for the verdict that will determine their future. Other collaborators on the project are Rachel Clara Reed (editor and co-producer) Laura Pilloni (producer) and Laura Tatham (producer). This Award is given in honor of civil rights attorney, social justice advocate and BFF founding member, Al Bendich.

We are also happy to announce the 3rd annual Jonathan Logan Elevate Award for $25,000 in partnership with the Berkeley-based Jonathan Logan Family Foundation (JLFF). This award supports one emerging filmmaker each year for five years and will reflect JLFF's mission: to advance social justice by empowering world-changing work in documentary, investigative journalism, and arts and culture. This year's Elevate Award is granted to The Long Rescue directed by Jennifer Huang...

Read full press release here: https://berkeleyfilmfoundation.org/presslinks/press-relea...