Six Social Justice Documentaries From Sundance Selected for Ford Foundation Grants (EXCLUSIVE)
Six documentaries that have premiered in competition at this year’s Sundance Film Festival are among the 46 recipients of The Ford Foundation’s $4.2 million donation as part of the organization’s commitment to social justice stories, Variety has exclusively learned.
The Sundance documentaries chosen include “Free Leonard Peltier,” “Heightened Scrutiny,” “How to Build a Library,” “Seeds,” “Life After” and “Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore.” Collectively, these films cover topics such as Native American rights, media reporting on transgender issues, decolonization, disabled communities and navigating Hollywood as a deaf actor.
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The Ford Foundation’s JustFilms program provides production grants as well as deepens the organization’s commitment to supporting historically marginalized voices and adjusting to distribution challenges in the industry.
In a statement to Variety, program officer of JustFilms’ Creativity and Free Expression programs Paulina Suárez said that “we are committed to supporting independent filmmakers as central agents of narrative power. By addressing systemic barriers and championing films with the potential to shift public consciousness, we work toward building a more equitable future. This moment calls for renewed investment in a just documentary ecosystem—one that nurtures the voices and stories essential for global connection and meaningful change.”
Other titles supported by these allocated funds include “Let No One Lose Heart,” “The Franchise,” “Drowned Land,” “The Quiet Part,” “Survival Floating” and “Natchez,” exploring topics such as industrial pollution, the industrial prison complex, Indigenous diaspora and what it means to truly reckon with America’s past.
Jon-Sesrie Goff, program officer of JustFilms’ Creativity and Free Expression program, explained in a statement how “the documentary field is at a critical inflection point. As media consolidation accelerates and streaming platforms focus on formulaic, profit-driven content, independent filmmakers face shrinking opportunities to fund, distribute, and connect their work with audiences.”
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