Sundance Institute Unveils Documentary Fund Grantees for 2023
In an exciting announcement for documentary enthusiasts, the Sundance Institute has revealed the projects set to receive backing from its esteemed Documentary Fund for 2023. A total of just over $1,000,000 has been earmarked to support 23 nonfiction films, with projects spanning various stages of production.
This year's selection stands out for its deep dive into humanity's resilience against oppression, global views on wars past and present, community archiving, and deeply personal journeys of empowerment.
Highlighting the line-up, here are the projects to keep an eye out for:
DEVELOPMENT:
The Beauty of the Donkey: A father-daughter duo returns to Makermal, Kosovo, intertwining childhood memories with a quest for truth.
The Days I Would Like to Forget: A look into the Russian-Ukrainian war and its all-encompassing impacts.
Girl-Tubers: Four Brazilian girls navigate adolescence under the gaze of millions on YouTube.
Looking at Ourselves: Filmmaker Lourdes Portillo and artist Guillermo Gómez-Peña contemplate immigration as both a personal and universal experience.
My Mothers' Tale: A three-generation tale unraveling family secrets against the backdrop of Turkey, Syria, and London.
Somebody's Gone: Chronicling the life of Brother Theotis Taylor through the lens of his son, Hubert.
PRODUCTION:
The 3,000 Project: An exploration of crime, punishment, and the evolution of parole in America.
...that's why He made momma: An introspection into the legacy of single black motherhood across generations.
Adam's Apple: An intimate portrayal of family dynamics during a child's transgender journey.
Life After: Probing the political ideologies surrounding death and disability.
Niñxs: A transgender girl's journey to adolescence amidst societal pressures in Mexico.
Redlight to Limelight: Sex workers in a Kolkata brothel tell their stories through film.
Remaining Native: Ku Stevens confronts his family's past while chasing his dreams.
When They Were Here: A dive into the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls crisis in Montana.
POST-PRODUCTION:
Ride with Delivery Workers: Immigrant delivery workers in NYC navigate the pandemic's frontlines.
Untitled Uvalde Documentary: An exploration by director Anayansi Prado, further details awaited.
Paola Mottura, the Documentary Film Fund Director, praised the selected projects, stating that they "embody Sundance's spirit" with their explorations of diverse themes like Native historical truths, Black American family legacies, trans rights, and more.
It's also worth noting that support for these projects stems from various notable foundations and entities including the Open Society Foundations, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, Gucci, and the Kendeda Fund, among others.
Stay tuned for these films' progress and, eventually, their debuts at the Sundance Film Festival. With a legacy of supporting trailblazing non-fiction narratives, there's no doubt these selections will generate ample buzz.