Since its founding in 2009, the Berkeley FILM Foundation has proudly supported over 300 independent films that reflect the diversity, creativity, and social consciousness of our local filmmaking community. From compelling documentaries to bold narrative shorts, each project we fund contributes to the vibrant cinematic hub that is the Bay Area. We invite you to explore the full list of projects we have supported in 2025 and learn more about each of them by clicking the available links. Projects supported in other years are listed in the drop down menu.

2025 DOCUMENTARY GRANT AWARD WINNERS

An Independent Spark - The Zona Roberts Story – Nina Rappaport Rowan, Producer, James Buchanan, Director, Dr. Victor Pineda, Co-Producer.
Barren Grounds: The Final Expedition – Matthew Boyd, Director and Producer.
Belly of The World – April September, Director, Lucia Palmarini, Producer, Dana Eshi, Producer.
Between The Sun and the Sidewalk – Helen De Michiel, Director and Producer.
El Oaxaqueño [working title] – David Zlutnick, Director and Producer, Armando Aparicio, Producer, Angela Reginato, Producer.
Fighting Forward – Rivkah Beth Medow, Director, Jen Rainin, Director, Juli Vizza, Editor.
Handmade Death: An Intimate Rendezvous with Mortality – Jan Stürmann, Director, Gina Leibrecht, Editor.
I Do: Finding Love Behind Bars – Rahsaan Thomas, Director, Writer, Producer, Brian Gonsoulin, Producer, Editor.
In the Red: Changing Lives to Save Lives - Mimi Chakarova, Director, Aisha Knowles, Producer, Julias Canada, Producer.
Instrumental: The Elayne Jones Project – Grace Wang, Director, Producer, Jameka Autry, Producer, Julie Wyman, Co-Director/ Co-Producer.
Living Harriet Tubman – Matty Lynn Barnes, Producer, Brandon Tauszik, Co-Director, Theo Schear, Co- Director.
Make A Circle – Jen Bradwell, Co-Director, Todd Boekelheide, Co-Director, Rebekah Fergusson, Producer.
Power & Light – Kelly Duane de la Vega, Director, Jessica Anthony, Producer, Joey Horan, Associate Producer.
Rebel Without A Pause – Maya Cueva, Director.
Relative Strangers – Deann Borshay Liem, Director and Producer.
Rematriate The Land – Christopher "Toby" McLeod, Director.
Revolución Sin Muertos / Revolution Without Death – Eli Jacobs-Fantauzzi Producer, Director, Kahlil Jacobs-Fantauzzi, Producer.
The Chaplain & The Doctor – Jessica Zitter, Director and Producer.
The Coral Rescuers – Jason Spingarn-Koff, Director, Joanna Rudnick, Producer, Bonni Cohen, Executive Producer.
The End of Isolation – Sarah Shourd, Co-Director, Bobby Field, Co-Director, Suotonye Emile DeWeaver, Producer.
The Tallest Dwarf – Julie Forrest Wyman, Director and Producer.
The United States of Urvashi – Nancy Kates, Director and Producer.
Untitled Alexandra Billings Project – Nico Opper, Director and Producer, Jude Hope Harris, Producer.
Untitled Education Documentary – Zachary Stauffer, Co-Director, Producer, Joanna Rudnick Co-Director, Producer, Jameka Autry, Producer.

STUDENT DOCUMENTARY PROJECTS

The Glacier Wedding – Thomas Sawano, Co-Director, Amin Muhammad, Co-Director - UC Berkeley.
The Unclaimed – Xingyu Wu, Director, Editor, Kelly Liu, Associate Director, Cinematographer - UC Berkeley.
Strangers on Our Land – Zane Karram, Producer, Co-Director, Kelsey Oliver, Producer, Co-Director – UC Berkeley.
City of Smoke – Producer and Director: Nadia Akbar, Co-Director, Co-Producer, Alicia Chiang, Co-Director, Co-Producer - UC Berkeley
Allensworth Rising: A Fight For Water – Isabella Marzban, Co-Director, Neenma Ebeledike, Co-Director – UC Berkeley.