Editor

 The San Francisco Film Society today announced the three winners of the 2014 SFFS Documentary Film Fund awards totaling more than $75,000, which support feature-length documentaries in postproduction. The SFFS Documentary Film Fund was created to support singular nonfiction film work that is distinguished by compelling stories, intriguing characters and an innovative visual approach. Moby Longinotto's The Joneses, Jason Zeldes's Romeo Is Bleeding and Andrew James's Street Fighting Man were each awarded significant funding that will help push them towards completion.

The SFFS Documentary Film Fund has an excellent track record for championing compelling films that have gone on to earn great acclaim. Previous DFF winners include Zachary Heinzerling's Cutie and the Boxer, which won Sundance's Directing Award for documentary, was distributed theatrically by RADiUS-TWC and was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature; Joe Brewster and Michèle Stephenson's American Promise, which premiered at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival and won the festival's Special Jury Prize in the documentary category; and Shaul Schwarz's Narco Cultura, which premiered to strong reviews at Sundance the same year.

Since its launch in 2011, the SFFS Documentary Film Fund has distributed more than $300,000 to advance new work by filmmakers nationwide. Expected to grow in the coming years as further underwriting is secured, the 2014 Documentary Film Fund is made possible thanks to a generous gift from Jennifer Battat and the Jenerosity Foundation.

The panelists who reviewed the 11 finalists' submissions are Jennifer Battat, founder of the Jenerosity Foundation; Cristine Dewey, managing director of Ro*Co Films International; Athena Kalkopoulou, SFFS documentary program coordinator; documentary filmmaker Jesse Moss; Joanne Parsont, SFFS Director of Education; and Michele Turnure-Salleo, director of Filmmaker360. The jury noted that they were moved by the stories of individuals transcending their challenging circumstances and simultaneously uplifting their communities in profound and unique ways. Additionally they were impressed with the level of trust between the filmmakers and their subjects, which resulted in intimate and honest filmmaking.

"We are thrilled to continue our tradition of supporting innovative documentary films that feature compelling stories told through a strong visual aesthetic," said Michele Turnure-Salleo, director of Filmmaker360. "This round of winners has captivated us with their striking and charismatic characters, and we can't wait to see the finished films and experience the unique and fascinating worlds their subjects inhabit. Our deepest thanks go to Jennifer Battat, whose generous support has been critical to the growing success of the Documentary Film Fund."

2014 DOCUMENTARY FILM FUND WINNERS

The Joneses
Moby Longinotto, director and Aviva Wishnow, producer
$30,627

The Joneses is a portrait of Jheri, a 73-year-old transgender trailer park matriarch, who lives in bible belt Mississippi. Reconciled with her family after years of estrangement, and now living with two of her sons, Jheri embarks on a new path to reveal her true self to her grandchildren. Will their family bonds survive?  

Moby Longinotto studied at England's National Film School where his graduation film Make Me Proud screened at multiple festivals and won numerous awards. His subsequent work includes Bad Boy, a piece made for the BBC about a young man released from prison attempting to integrate back into society; and Smalltown Boy, which follows a 15-year-old boy, once kicked out of his foster home for being gay as he attempts to win the Carnival Queen crown. Longinotto has also directed and shot multiple non-scripted television series for BBC, Channel 4 and SwissTV.

Romeo Is Bleeding
Jason Zeldes, director and Michael Klein, producer
$22,500

Donte Clark's poetic voice was honed on the violent street corners of a struggling city. Yet rather than succumb to the pressures of Richmond, CA, Clark uses his artistic perspective to save his city from itself. For more information visit RomeoIsBleedingFilm.com.

Jason Zeldes is an editor in LA's documentary scene. The first feature film he edited, Twenty Feet From Stardom, premiered on opening night of the 2013 Sundance Film Festival, continued on to a successful theatrical run, and won the 2014 Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature. Prior to that film, Zeldes spent years working with acclaimed filmmakers such as Patrick Creadon, Doug Blush and Kirby Dick, learning the documentary craft at its highest level, and earning credits on films like the Oscar-nominated Invisible War. Zeldes graduated from USC in 2009.

Street Fighting Man
Andrew James, director; Sara Archambault and Katie Tibaldi, producers
$22,500

In a new America where the promise of education, safety and shelter are in jeopardy, three Detroit men fight to build something lasting for themselves and future generations. For more information visit streetfightingmanthemovie.com.

Andrew James is the writer/director of Una Vida Mejor and the coproducer/codirector of the feature-length documentary Cleanflix. Una Vida Mejor has screened at festivals worldwide and was the recipient of the Special Jury Prize for artistic vision at the 2008 Cinequest Film Festival. Cleanflix had its world premiere at the 2009 Toronto International Film Festival before screening at more than 25 festivals around the world. Street Fighting Man was also selected for IFP's 2012 Independent Film Week and the 2013 Hot Docs International Pitch Forum, and has received support from the Sundance's Documentary Fund and Documentary Edit & Story Lab.

For more information on the Documentary Film Fund and the other Film Society grants visit sffs.org/filmmaker360/Grants.

SFFS Documentary Film Fund grants are awarded once each year. Exact amounts of individual grants and the number of grants made will be determined on an annual basis. As with all Film Society grants, in addition to the cash awards, recipients will gain access to numerous benefits through Filmmaker360, the Film Society's comprehensive and dynamic filmmaker services program. Filmmaker360 is a leader in the field of nonprofit support of cinema and offers unparalleled assistance and opportunities designed to foster creativity and further the careers of independent filmmakers nationwide. Filmmaker360 oversees one of the largest film grant programs in the country, which disperses nearly $1 million annually to incubate and support innovative and exceptional films at every stage of production. Other elements of Filmmaker360 include project development consultation, FilmHouse residencies, Off the Page screenplay workshops, fiscal sponsorship, information resources and a membership program with various discounts and benefits. For information visit sffs.org/filmmaker360.