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?

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.

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

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.

In the last couple of years, the United States has been undergoing a volatile identity crisis manifested through an increase in hate crimes, practices of extreme xenophobia, and domestic terrorism. Black and Brown communities, often the targets of this crisis, are speaking up about these injustices, organizing and giving birth to powerful movements and groups. However, have we stopped to recognize that there’s another group in America that has also been victims of White culture for centuries? A group of people who are trapped in the false beliefs of a dominant white systematic society, and whose pain has not been acknowledged? That group is white people. The Untitled Ruby Sales Documentary follows Black civil rights legend and theologian Ruby Sales as she develops tools, creates spaces and shares practices to launch a liberation movement that brings healing to our racial divide by tackling the spiritual crisis of white America today. Ruby feels the urgency to create and share a white theology that speaks of the white pain, and brings about freedom and healing from the misbeliefs of White culture -- something that’s never been done before. This film will follow the unstoppable force that is Ruby Sales as she uses her profound wisdom and rich experience from the civil rights era to reintroduce America to spirituality as a tool for social and political change, and launches a movement for redemption and healing of our democracy that’s inclusive of all.