Directory of Sponsored Projects

Evocative of Homer’s The Odyssey, this is a story of survival and strength. We follow the life and career of Selda Bagcan, who embarked on a five decade music journey. Her unique mix of traditional Turkish instruments, her original style on the electric guitar and a howling voice, comparable to nothing else, made her Turkey’s first female rockstar, while her lyrics of the human condition made her the voice of the people. Though her remarkable ascendence from Eastern Turkey villager to revolutionary was not without struggle, she faced two decades of censorship and brief stints in prison for her lyrics. Her return home - her comeback to the spotlight - marks the second succession of her music career as she reaches her 70s. Influencing today’s world’s biggest music artists; recently signing a royalty-agreement with Universal Music, and an invitation to perform at Burning Man Festival in 2019, Selda is making a global comeback bigger than ever before. ’Selda’ analyzes the true meaning of what it is to be an artist in today’s competitive musical landscape, but more than that, ‘Selda’ follows the story of a woman who transcended cultures. What is left of the revolutionary after decades worth of fighting?

Today, women make up less than one quarter of all those employed in STEM occupations in the United States. These numbers are much worse for women of color: Asian, black women and Latinas made up slightly less than 10% of working scientists and engineers in the United States in 2015. Science is supposed to be built on objectivity, and yet, most researchers agree that these bleak numbers are evidence of deep bias. Over the course of careers, small slights add up to prevent many women from achieving leadership positions in STEM fields. And sometimes, tragically, brilliant women drop out altogether. But now, the terrain is shifting. This film chronicles the groundswell of women scientists who are changing the face of science in the United States and around the world. Using dogged research techniques and careful data collection, these women are not only contributing to our understanding of what keeps women scientists down, but advocating for a more diverse and inclusive future for all. The film will take a novel, collaborative approach to its storytelling, allowing the scientists themselves to guide the narrative of the film. Science is therefore both the subject of the film, and also — through our three main characters — its guiding sensibility, providing viewers a deeper understanding of what it takes to be a scientist. Equal parts insightful and inspiring, this film will illuminate both the hard data and the very human stories of women in science.

The film is a collaboration with Anonymous Content and The New York Times, and is represented by Cinetic Media. Additionally, the project is thus far supported by The Catapult Film Fund; The IDA Enterprise Fund (Development); the Tribeca Film Institute; an anonymous foundation; the Austin Film Society; the Economic Hardship Reporting Project; IFP, and the New Orleans Film Society Southern Producers Lab. A trailer and work sample are available by request.

The vivid and deeply personal stories at the heart of "Unlocked" have not been heard before. Because of the power and diversity of these stories, we believe Unlocked has the authenticity and breadth of vision to inspire the deep shift in values and attitudes needed to realize a healthcare system rooted in principles of recovery. Accounts are shared from very different perspectives. Former patients, people of lived experience, peers, family members, direct care staff, clinicians, administrators, inmates, law enforcement, and corrections personnel share markedly different realities. Seen together, these varied points of view provide an overview that supports better understanding and open dialogue. Even the most painful stories offer hope. Since the release of "Kings Park" in 2012, we have seen over and over the power of putting a human face on the story of public mental healthcare. The response to our screenings nationwide has been overwhelmingly positive and equally passionate in colleges, hospitals, peer organizations, national conferences, jails, provider settings, and advocacy groups. With the help of a generous grant from The Foundation for Excellence in Mental Health Care we have completed a project prototype consisting of: • A sample 2-part Video Curriculum which includes including featured videos of personal stories, topic essays and other teaching resources; • A sample Video Library of viewable and searchable clips of uncut documentary scenes and interviews; • Streaming access to the documentary "Kings Park: Stories from an American Mental Institution." We are now seeking funds to complete the digital learning site.

A nuanced look at how two communities of color navigate an uneven criminal justice system, anchored by one polarizing New York City case.