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Sundance wins $5m documentary grant
The Sundance Institute has been handed a US$5m grant for its Documentary Film Program, to spend on films that help raise awareness of human rights issues, from the Open Society Institute (OSI).
As a dollar-for-dollar matching grant, the Sundance Institute aims to raise US$10m over the next five years to support documentaries on significant, contemporary issues.
"Films can play a powerful role in inspiring action on human rights, justice, accountability, and other open society issues," said Aryeh Neier, OSI president. "The Sundance Institute's work helps filmmakers shed light on the most pressing challenges of our time."
The award renews the OSI's support for the Sundance Documentary Film Program, which began at the OSI in 1996 and was made part of the Sundance Institute in 2002 with an initial US$4.6m dollar gift. The Open Society Institute, founded by George Soros, works in more than 60 countries to promote vibrant and tolerant democracies.
Cara Mertes, director of the Sundance Institute Documentary Film Program, said the fund was a "significant commitment" to supporting the belief that documentary storytelling had a meaningful role in human rights work.
Since its inception in 1996, the Sundance Institute Documentary Fund has awarded grants to more than 450 films in 54 countries. Films that have received financial and creative support have included Iraq in Fragments and Trouble the Water.
Adam Benzine
17 Jul 2009
© C21 Media 2009
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