The International Documentary Association (IDA) unveiled the latest round of Enterprise Documentary Fund production grant recipients. A total of $850,000 in funds will be distributed across 12 docs “telling urgent, revelatory stories underpinned by rigorous journalistic approaches and exemplary artistic achievement,” according to a press release announcing the news. Ten of the winning films, or about 83 percent, are directed or co-directed by women.
“These films, which were selected through an extensive review process, examine their subjects with a depth and artistry that is truly remarkable,” said Carrie Lozano, Director of the IDA Enterprise Documentary Fund. “While they are crafting radically different stories, what they share in common are sophisticated and nuanced approaches that are as insightful as they are gripping, provoking audiences to contemplate the contradictions and complexities of the modern world.”
Jennifer Redfearn’s tentatively-titled “Reentry,” following three mothers preparing to leave prison, return to their lives, and reconnect with their children, is among the grant recipients. The other winners include “Israel and the Evangelical Christians” (working title), Maya Zinshtein’s exploration of the ties between Evangelical Christianity and the Jewish State, and Natalia Almada’s “Users,” an investigation into our culture’s deep faith in and dependence on technology.
The latest cohort of Enterprise Doc Fund recipients join the nine previously-announced winners. Overall, women helmed or co-helmed 17 of the 21 films receiving grants, which amounts to about 81 percent.
The newly-announced women-directed/co-directed Enterprise Documentary Fund-winning films are below. Plot descriptions courtesy of IDA.
Democrats II (Camilla Nielsson, director; Jocelyn Barnes, producer; Signe Byrge Sørenson, producer)
Zimbabwe is at a crossroads. The new leader of the opposition party, MDC, Nelson Chamisa, is challenging the old guard, ZANU-PF, represented by the acting president Emmerson Mnangagwa.
Going to Mars: The Nikki Giovanni Project (Michele Stephenson, director/producer; Joe Brewster, director/producer)
“Going to Mars: The Nikki Giovanni Project” pushes the boundaries of biographical documentary film to reveal the enduring influence of one of America’s greatest living artists and social commentators. Combining parallel cinematic story editing with visually innovative treatments of her poetry, along with intimate vérité, rich archival footage, and Giovanni’s own captivating contemporary performances, Going to Mars recounts the story of the artist and her works of resistance through the tumultuous historical periods in which she lived—from the Civil Rights Movement, to the Black Arts Movement, to present-day Black Lives Matter.
Israel and the Evangelical Christians (Working Title) (Maya Zinshtein, director/producer; Abraham Troen, producer; John Battsek, producer)
An in depth look into the bond between Evangelical Christians and the Jewish State. Set in Israel and the USA, the film weaves together stories of individuals from two initially separate communities as they intersect to reveal a unique faith based alliance.
Reentry (Working Title) (Jennifer Redfearn, director/producer; Tim Metzger, producer)
In a Midwestern state caught between the opioid epidemic and surging incarceration rates, three unforgettable mothers prepare to leave prison and rebuild their lives after being separated from their children for years.
Run With It (Nomi Talisman, director/producer; Dee Hibbert-Jones, director/producer; Amilca Palmer, producer)
An animated documentary exploring the crisis in the criminal justice system and US racial divide through the eyes of one family.
Untitled Annie Mae Aquash Documentary (Michelle Latimer, director; Caroline Waterlow, producer; Amy Kaufman, producer)
Exploring the unsolved murder of celebrated Indigenous activist Annie Mae Aquash, we uncover a mysterious and complicated web of deception spun over the course of several decades. Annie Mae is one of thousands who make up the staggering number of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls. By reframing her story, the film hopes to shed light on this current epidemic.
Untitled Criminal Justice/High School Project (Maisie Crow, director/producer; Heidi Reinberg, producer)
The “Untitled Criminal Justice/High School Project” follows a group of seniors at a high school 10 miles from the US/Mexico border as they navigate post-graduate life.
Untitled De-documented Salvadorans (Nina Alvarez, director/producer)
As President Trump doubles down on his war against immigrants, documented and undocumented, a Washington DC family faces the threat of deportation and a family separation crisis. They step out of the normalcy of life as law-abiding taxpayers to confront the U.S. government. Their lawsuit pulls back the curtain to reveal the motivations behind the Trump administration’s decision to terminate their legal status.
Untitled Jamie Boyle Project (Jamie Boyle, director/producer; Marilyn Ness, producer; Elizabeth Westrate, producer)
Spanning over 30 years, the “Untitled Jamie Boyle Project” interweaves the filmmaker’s personal story with one of the most pressing social issues of our time.
Users (Natalia Almada, director/producer; Josh Penn, producer; Elizabeth Lodge Stepp, producer)
“Users” explores the unintended and often dehumanizing consequences of our society’s embedded belief that technological progress will lead to the betterment of humanity.
