December 2023 Newsletter

Image description: Over a blurr abstract fireplace scene, text reads: Wishing you warm and happy holidays, From LEF.

LEF will be closed for the holidays from

Monday, December 25 through Monday, January 1

Greetings from LEF New England,

We hope this holiday season greets you with opportunities to recharge, be inspired, and welcome 2024 in good health and in good company. 

Even as we look ahead to next year, the LEF team is reflecting on how 2023 allowed us to broaden our support for New England nonfiction filmmakers. We extend our gratitude to all of the filmmakers, peer reviewers, partners, and community members who contributed to our work in furthering a robust, supportive, and equitable ecosystem for filmmakers across New England and beyond. We are eager to pick up this work again with you in the new year. 

In the new year, our newsletter will continue to be a place for us to share exciting updates about MIF grantees and fellows, and to notify New England's growing community of filmmakers about other support opportunities. Please share it far and wide!



Image description: In this still image from Kathryn Ramey's EL SIGNO VACÍO (the empty sign), a concrete barrier is spray-painted with the words: "This is not your land, es de nosotras."

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 world premiere last week at the Festival Internacional del Nuevo Cine Latinoamericano in Havana, Cuba.

LEF-supported project JOONAM (dir. Sierra Urich; prods. Sierra Urich, Keith Wilson) was nominated for the Truer Than Fiction Award at the upcoming 2024 Film Independent Spirit Awards. The film, about the Iranian identity and history of Urich, her mother, and her grandmother, had its theatrical opening at DCTV Firehouse Cinema in New York earlier this month. It was also recently awarded the Jury Award for Best Documentary at the Sharjah Film Platform, and has been deemed an Oscar-contender. Upcoming screenings include The Woodstock Film Series in Vermont in February.

LEF-supported project THE APOCALYPTIC IS THE MOTHER OF ALL CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY (dir. Jim Finn), a both irreverent and sincere exploration of the legacy of Paul the Apostle, had its premiere run at Anthology Film Archives earlier this month. In conjunction with the release of his new film, Jim Finn has guest-programmed the series “Jesus Christ! at the Movies” at Anthology, running until December 21.

LEF-supported project RECOVERY CITY (dir. Lisa Olivieri) recently received a project grant from Mass Cultural Council and a grant from Reliant Foundation.  The film is an immersive portrait of four women, each reflecting different facets of addiction and recovery in in Worcester, MA. 

LEF-supported project THE RIDE AHEAD (formerly MY DISABILITY ROADMAP) (dirs. Dan Habib, Samuel Habib), about co-director Samuel's navigating adulthood, disability, mentorship, and community, received a grant from Jewish Story Partners for post-production support.

LEF-supported project ISRAELISM (dirs. Erin Axelman, Sam Eilertsen; prods. Daniel Chalfen, Nadia Saah) continues to make headlines, particularly around instances of censorship at schools like Hunter College and University of Pennsylvania. The film, which is about two young American Jews joining the battle against the old guard over Israel’s centrality in American Judaism, was also covered in a recent New York Times Op-Ed about free speech. You can rent the film for free through January 1, and keep up to date on its virtual and in-person screening tour around North America. 

The 40th edition of the Sundance Film Festival will take place January 18–24, 2024. Included in the lineup are prior LEF grantees: Jules Rosskam (PATERNAL RITES), with DESIRE LINES; Pacho Velez (THE REAGAN SHOW), with REALM OF SATAN; and Jared James Lank (UNTITLED MARGARET MOXA FILM) with BAY OF HERONS.

Image Description: A blue graphic of an envelope with big white text reading "OPEN LETTER."

Founded earlier this year, the Archival Producers Alliance came together with aspirations to "create community and develop best practices" within the documentary industry as it relates to the use of archival materials. The first initiative they've taken on is to address the growing use of generative AI in nonfiction filmmaking, honing in on the lack of transparency with audiences that often accompanies this measure, which is time-saving at best and deceptive at worst, potentially "muddying the historical record" either way. The Hollywood Reporter covered the newly-formed Alliance and their primary initiative in a piece last month, "Doc Producers Call for generative AI Guardrails In Open Letter," outlining the APA's concerns and calls for action, as well as publishing their open letter.

In their letter, the APA reflects on documentary filmmaking as the site to which many turn when looking for truth about the past and the present moment. The reckless use of generative AI, they argue, destabilizes this foundation of trust audiences have in nonfiction storytellers. "Particularly in the absence of regulations around this quickly-evolving technology," the APA writes to close their letter, "we feel that it is imperative that the documentary community lead by example in setting a precedent of transparency and best practices."  On their website, they state that they are in the process of reaching out to awards organizations, journalists, festivals, and trade organizations, and they extend an opportunity for anyone interested to reach out and get involved.

Also, check out the Thousand Roads Podcast, a podcast about documentary film and journalism: where they intersect, where they don't, what it means. Just launched this month, the episodes boast an exciting array of filmmaker guests and industry leaders.

You can read an essay about the podcast by host Tom Casciato, a Joan Shorenstein Fellow, on the Shorenstein Center website.

Thanks for reading, and see you in 2024!

The LEF New England team

Lyda, Gen, & Matthew

LEF Foundation

PO Box 382066

Cambridge, MA 02238

617.492.5333

lef-foundation.org

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 450 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.