Kirsten Johnson is on a hot streak. Last week, her documentary “Cameraperson” won three awards at the Cinema Eye Honors. It’s on the Oscars short list and was the grand prize winner of the Sheffield Doc/Fest in June. And now Johnson can add a Rooftop Films grant to her list of accolades.
Variety reports that Rooftop Films awarded the director the Garbo NYC $10,000 Feature Film Grant for her next film, “Deadpan.”
“[T]he projects we selected feature powerful personal stories and bold political statements — often within the same film,” said Dan Nuxoll, Artistic Director of Rooftop Films, of the films honored. “In a year full of confusing twists and turns, we are excited to be supporting several films that speak with bold clarity to the issues of our time.”
“Cameraperson” is a curated collection of extraordinary footage that Johnson has assembled over her 20 year career in the industry, working primarily as a cinematographer. It received awards for Outstanding Cinematography, Outstanding Editing, and Outstanding Nonfiction Feature at last week’s Cinema Eye Honors.
Johnson has also worked as Director of Photography on acclaimed documentaries like “Citizenfour,” “Trapped,” and “The Invisible War.”
According to Variety, Rooftop Films is a non-profit “dedicated to supporting and showcasing the work of New York City filmmakers and musicians.” In addition to awarding grants, the organization rents out equipment at a low cost and coordinates film screenings.
In the past, Rooftop Films has presented grants to women-centric and women-directed films, including Kitty Green’s “Casting JonBenet,” Anna Rose Holmer’s “The Fits,” Ana Lily Amirpour’s “The Bad Batch,” and Gillian Robespierre’s “Obvious Child.”
The other female recipients of Rooftop Film grants are listed below.
Rooftop Films / Sound Lounge Sound Mix Feature Film Grant
Sara Dosa, “The Road Through Invisible”
Rooftop Films / Technological Cinevideo Services Camera Grant
Ja’Tovia Gary, “The Evidence of Things Not Seen”
Rooftop Films / Edgeworx Post-Production Grant
Petra Costa, “Impeachment”
Rooftop Films / Adrienne Shelly Foundation Short Film Grant For Women
Naima Ramos-Chapman, “Piu Piu”
Rooftop Films / DCTV Equipment and Services Short Film Grant
Alexa Lim Haas, “Agua Viva”
Rooftop Filmmakers’ Fund Short Film Grant
Merete Mueller, “The Blue Room”
Hillary Campbell, “Uncle Jim”
The Kayla Thomas Filmmaker Grant
Laura Stewart, “Welcome”
Cara Cusumano, “Shipwrecked”
