From The Heart Productions
Fiscally Sponsored Indie Films and Projects
From the Heart Productions Fiscal Sponsorship Program
is designed to carry out our mission to help independent filmmakers who have unique projects that make a contribution to society, get their films funded.
Working with our 501(c)3 non-profit, fiscally sponsored filmmakers can offer donors tax deductions for their donations. Our “boutique” program sets itself apart by offering hands-on personalized attention, support, and film funding advice from our board members and staff.
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Liberated
Documentary Film
As the world suffocates under the weight of collective anxiety, LIBERATED explores the transformative power hidden in the most instinctive and natural act we do every day. Breathing. An unconscious act we continuously perform, is at the very heart of our existence. Yet we take it for granted. Most of us never stop to think about it until something disrupts our ability to breathe.
LIBERATED offers an intimate look into the lives of those living and working inside correctional facilities, revealing their struggles, hopes, and moments of self-discovery through the process of a learned breathing practice.
Life, Is My Choice
Narrative Feature
Linda stitches her dream
Documentary Film
Linda Stitches Her Dream is a vérité-driven, feature-length documentary that follows Linda, an Iranian woman who has lived with metastatic breast cancer for over two decades. Refusing to be defined by her illness, Linda transforms her journey into a movement of love and advocacy, founding a support group, “Us Eight Women”, that challenges stigma and empowers others. Captured over six years with intimate access, the film weaves a story of resilience, community, and cultural healing. Currently in post-production, the film aims to reach global audiences through festivals, streaming, and educational partnerships.
Lineage
Narrative Feature
little bunker hill
Narrative Feature
little bunker hill is a transcendental coming-of-age fable. For 6 years, Ellison has lived away from her family at a utopian experiment in rural New England. The U.S. is rapidly industrializing, but she and her friends spend their days philosophizing. This film teaches us a thought-provoking coming-of-age story that blends philosophy and utopian ideals. In a rapidly changing world, it explores resistance, community and the struggle to preserve progressive values.
Lord of Nature: Born To Rewild
Documentary Film
A compelling documentary that follows Ireland’s Lord Randal Plunkett (39), the 21st Baron of Dunsany Castle, as he works to re-wild his 1700 acre estate (the country’s largest private rewilding project) to help fight climate change. Randal’s efforts are jeopardized, however, when the transportation department threatens to construct a railroad that would run directly through his property and destroy the land and legacy he’s worked so hard to save.
Lost and Found
Documentary Film
Filmmaker Andrew Garbus’s parents are divorcing after thirty years of marriage. In response to this, he creates a film chronicling the week of the move out from his childhood home, seeking closure as to how his family fell apart, while continuing to battle his own demons, both past and present, and trying to find hope for the future.
Love Dogs
Narrative Feature
"Tragedy ensues after a lonely hermit falls in love with a mysterious young woman that purchases his old family home."
This is a low budget self-funded grass roots film shooting in rural Virginia. We are casting and crewing out of the mid Atlantic and will be shooting against the backdrop of the Appalachian region. A heavy focus on practical effects and authentic scenery is primary goal for the aesthetic of this film. Both director and producer are local to Virginia and have made award winning films within the commonwealth over the last few years.
Love, Sucks!
Narrative Feature
Adam seeks redemption for a murder he was wrongfully accused of, and Angel seeks revenge. In a world where good meets evil, Adam and Angel cross paths uncovering dark secrets and supernatural powers. The limits of their humanity are tested by a haunting past and an uncertain future. Adam and Angel search the darkest corners of the human heart to find each other, vengeance, and redemption. Angel wants to avenge her mother's murder. Adam was convicted of the crime but insists he was falsely accused. When Adam is mysteriously released from prison, Angel is drawn into a world of ancient rituals and bloodthirsty vampires. Nothing is what it seems in this tale of good and evil
Love's Duty
Narrative Feature
Lowriders in the Heartland
Documentary Film
In the heart of the Midwest the Lowrider Teacher, an impassioned Kansas City educator and activist called Erik Erazo is changing young peoples’ lives one bike at a time. In 2017 he started a lowrider bike club in Olathe, Kansas to help high school students connect with their cultural identity, learn vital new skills and prepare for life after graduation. In this film we follow him, his student Stephanie, and his son Christopher, a bike club graduate and gifted photographer who documents local lowrider culture, across one momentous summer as they prepare for and travel to Washington DC for the 2025 Folklife Festival, where they share and showcase their remarkable work for the first time.
LUCKY ALIEN
Short Film
"Lucky Alien" is a gripping short film that explores one woman's fight for love and dignity against the merciless bureaucracy of immigration, shedding light on the dark corners of a broken system. This social drama with a sprinkle of dark humor will evoke feelings and moments of intense suspense, witnessing uncomfortable but real situations that happen everyday on these country borders. With it’s fast-paced dialogue and seemingly endless levels of hell, the cast of characters in this world of limbo will make you laugh and cry, and teach you that ‘The Terminal’ isn’t exactly accurate. - BASED ON A TRUE STORY
Mad As Hell
Documentary Film
Mad as Hell is a feature-length documentary that puts a spotlight on women's anger and the price they pay for speaking out.
"...the discouragement of women's anger - vis silencing, erasure, and repression - stems from the correct understanding of those in power that in the fury of women lies the power to change the word." -Rebecca Traister, Good and Mad
As Rebecca Traister points out, anger is recognised and encouraged as a show of strength in men. We will examine how effectively the media and the political realm has been weaponised to quash Women’s anger, and we will demonstrate just how revolutionary harnessing and using your anger can be."
Made in Doraville
Documentary Film
In the small, tight-knit town of Doraville, beloved for its resilience and unity, the establishment of a GM plant in 1947 sparks hope and prosperity and the town thrives. But when the same GM plant shuts down over 60 years later, the town faces its greatest challenge yet. Untold numbers of families were impacted by the resulting job loss. Fifteen years later, in steps Hollywood with a vision to make Doraville the new “Hollywood of the south.” Amidst uncertainty, Doraville must navigate the delicate balance between preserving her heritage and embracing new opportunities. Can Doraville forge a symbiotic relationship with Hollywood while staying true to her roots?
Malocchio
Short Film
Mama Says Git Yah Wind Up
Documentary Film
MAN FREED
Narrative Feature
Mandy's Voice
Short Film
A curious and intelligent non-verbal autistic girl struggles to communicate. Her mother is desperate to provide the necessary tools for survival in a world where if one is without a voice ~ one is invisible to the world as well.
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Manifested Bliss
Narrative Feature
Our manifestations create pure Bliss in our lives.
In high school and even in college, people, especially young women believe that they'll have their life all mapped out. In the moments of life, they don't see how the circle of events eventually propels them to their destined journey.
Four best friends: Ashlyn, Jade, Briana, and Stacey, have experienced divorce, hot girl summers, plenty of girl's trips, and just overall life! Life has been fun and they all enjoy the sisterhood they have, but now that the main hot girl of the group, Ashlyn, is getting married, she wants her girls to experience the same Bliss. Her engagement party is coming up and she thinks it will be good to put a twist on
Martha's Mustang
Narrative Feature
A woman in the man's world of auto body repair sues City Hall to display a hot pink Mustang, planted with wildflowers, as part of her Shop's sign after the City declares it a violation of the new Junk Car Ordinance, an Ordinance only enforced when people complain. So, who’s out to get this single mother in her 40s – her ex-husband, a disgruntled employee, a prejudiced customer, a competitor…all of the above? Inspired by true events that divided the city of Baytown, TX in 1994. This comedic drama will be writer/director Jenny Waldo's second feature film and has garnered accolades from competitions, labs, and grants to develop this ensemble, female-centered, feel-good film.
Meet Me at the Barre
Web/TV Series
When her college sweetheart leave her for a millennial, a disenchanted woman finds solace with a motley group of co-ordinated and not so co-ordinated “dancers” at the local YMCA who come together to work out life’s travails at the barre, and at the HAPPY PLACE, the other bar.
Inspired by a real-life Jazz class taught by a professional ex-Broadway dancer at a local YMCA, MEET ME AT THE BARRE resolves around Cici, a woman of a certain age who thrives on routine but is now thrown off her axis after her recent divorce from Pete, played by the hilarious Pete Gardner from My Crazy Ex Girlfriend. She finds solace and comfort with her two besties, and some of the misfits in class.
Mel's Love Land
Web/TV Series
Merch
Narrative Feature
On his weekly route from Los Angeles to Mojave, 58-year-old Glenn keeps his eyes forward, never questioning the cargo in his truck. Tonight, his handler adds a “little favor” — transporting human trafficking victims known as MERCH. As FBI agents, ruthless traffickers, and desperate survivors’ paths collide, Glenn is forced to confront the cost of his silence. In one night, strangers’ lives intertwine, and Glenn must choose between driving blind or risking everything to save them.
Messiah
Documentary Film
Take a journey through history with Messiah – an exploration of ancient Israel’s messianic expectations, and the Christian claim that these are fulfilled by Christ. Narrated by Leonardo Defilippis and filmed at nearly 30 locations in the US, Holy Land and Rome, Messiah is an account of the rise of Christianity viewers of every background will never forget.
Mightyclaw
Short Film
In the emotionally charged live-action short film Mightyclaw, inventor Austin Carole creates the Mighty Pals toy line to help parents keep an eye on their children while they adventure outdoors. When Anna and Pete's son, Jake, disappears into the New Hampshire wilderness with his Mighty Pal, Harlow Mightyclaw, the plush toy, fitted with the latest radio and video technology of the time becomes their lifeline. As time runs out and Harlow's battery dwindles, the family fights against the clock to find their son and reunite their family. Mightyclaw explores the power of parental love, the resilience of the human spirit, and the unbreakable bond between a child and their cherished companion.
Minos
Short Film
Father Dulles is a highly acclaimed and accomplished small-town priest. Despite his accolades and experience, his next task could prove to be the hardest he's ever faced. A parishioner brings her unexpectedly-pregnant daughter, Amber, to the church to decide whether or not to keep her baby. Dulles soon finds Amber is having unusual supernatural side effects. Could it all be a coincidence or does it mean something more? Dulles must consider his personal/moral feelings on the situation as well as these strange and unexpected occurrences to help Amber make the right choice.
Miracle Across the Sound
Narrative Feature
Miss-Diagnosed: The Challenge of Preventing Ovarian Cancer
Documentary Film
Ovarian cancer is the deadliest of all the gynecological cancers. Seventy percent of women are diagnosed at advanced stages leading to a 70 to 90 percent chance of a recurrence. Miss-Diagnosed is a documentary that educates women about the disease, early detection and prevention to improve their chances of survival.
Mission Fat Hearts
Short Film
A heartwarming animated Christmas tale about spreading kindness.
Santa is discouraged about seeing so many names on the naughty list. He devises a plan and sends his newest elf, Kisa, to test his plan. She recruits some very special pups, Pookie & Thor, to help her give top-secret missions of kindness to kids. The mission: Help Santa spread more love & joy during the holiday season.
MOLKA (몰카)
Documentary Film
MOLKA is a timely and urgent crime documentary about digital sex crimes in South Korea that seeks to expose how the intersection of unchecked rape culture and ever-evolving social media technology is creating a silent and deadly epidemic, with far reaching consequences for digital citizens everywhere. Told through the stories of survivors and activists, this film intends to educate, inform and transform dangerous stereotypes about sexual assault, survivors and online abuse in Korea and internationally.
Molly: Proof of Concept Short Film
Short Film
Looking for the chemically happiest day of her life, a bride takes molly on her wedding day only to find her husband cheating on her with her maid of honor.
“Molly” is a proof of concept short with a visual style that mimics Molly, our bride’s, high as she takes ecstasy for the first time on her wedding day. Although we can temporarily induce joy with drugs, true happiness is found in meaningful interpersonal relationships. When Molly aims to make her wedding the literal and figurative happiest day of her life, she finds her fiancé cheating on her with her best friend and maid of honor. “Molly” is an equally funny and sad meditation on what happens when you put your faith in the wrong peopl
Mom and Me (Alt Title: I Love You More Than My Life)
Documentary Film
Logline: A documentary about the filmmaker's complex relationship with her mother as she struggles with mental illness borne from advancing age.
Description: Indira Somani navigates her mother’s physical and mental healthcare while balancing two sets of values: her Indian world, and her American world. Her journey is both universal as she transitions into being the caregiver to an elderly mother/widow and specific to cultural expectations surrounding traditions within the South Asian community.
Money Skates
Narrative Feature
MONOCHROME
Documentary Film
Police work is....anything but MONOCHROME. When you have Black Lives Matter VS Blue Lives Matter it seems all we are left with is a black and blue bruise. This us versus them attitude is getting people killed on both sides of the argument. What if we could suspend our beliefs long enough to slip into the other persons shoes make it all seem more Monochromatic.
Montu
Documentary Film
This documentary pays tribute to the hidden legacy of African fighting arts in the Americas. The Montu Arts (forerunners to martial arts) and their derivatives were key elements of Black resistance movements, including the Haitian Revolution (the world's only successful slave rebellion). For centuries, the practice and teaching of these techniques were outlawed. And with cannabis-infused pre-fight rituals, it's no wonder that some styles were never fully-revealed to mainstream America. But, whether disguised as dance like capoeira or driven underground like musangwe (bare-knuckle boxing), they endured. And they adapted.
Moonsoul
Web/TV Series
"After a mid-concert alien attack unlocks visions and memories from a life she doesn't recall, Luna must unravel the mystery of her identity — and the cosmic secret that links her to something far greater."
After local musician Luna Chaves discovers she's linked to a cosmic war, she must uncover her forgotten past, master emotion-based powers, and face strange alien threats, all while running from the mysterious Moon Queen. A retro-futuristic adventure mixing mystery, action, and heart.
More Than Our Skin
Documentary Film
More Than Our Skin is a documentary exploring the depths and effects of living with Vitiligo. Vitiligo is an auto-immune disease in which the skin loses its pigment cells resulting in discolored patches throughout the body. People with the condition not only experience high levels of depression, but also suffer from social stigmatization and isolation. The result, oftentimes, manifests as shame, avoidance of intimacy, and in far too many cases – suicidal ideation.
More Than Our Skin will show and tell the stories of those privately suffering in this very public silence as they try to hide in plain sight.
Motel Drive
Documentary Film
In an infamous strip of motels known for their illicit activity, a working poor family and a disabled veteran look to an uncertain future imposed by one of the largest infrastructure projects in U.S. history. Motel Drive is a story of post-industrial America, set in a community of historic motels from the vantage of its denizens, on one city block.
Motherboard Symphony
Other
The Motherboard is a four-movement film/hybrid-media arts project featuring multiple channels of projected media and projection
mapping, live performance, and operatic vocal music structures that address the experience of being a mother overwhelmed with
domestic duties while undertaking an artistic pilgrimage. Using Artistic Director Natasha Maidoff’s training in Butoh (characterized by hyper-controlled motion) and the American Mime Theatre (a physical theater technique), the Motherboard’s robotic movement is contrasted with the artist’s soul-seeking
French Pierrot. The music and opera score incorporates repetitive questions that mothers and children ask each other in domestic life.
Mothers of the Earth, Guardians of the Future
Documentary Film
Mothers of the Earth, Guardians of the Future is a powerful and inspiring documentary that brings the voices of unsung heroines of climate action to the forefront. This film delves into the lives of women from diverse backgrounds who are at the forefront of the fight against climate change and conservation efforts.
MOTORVATION
Narrative Feature
Move Me No Mountain
Narrative Feature
Musings
Short Film
“Musings” is a short film that delves into the delicate, introspective journey of a middle-aged poet grappling with writer’s block on the cusp of her next release. Desperate to rekindle her creativity, she summons her elusive Muse—only to be taken on a transformative inner journey rather than simply given words.
My Secret Country
Documentary Film
MY SECRET COUNTRY is a feature-length hybrid documentary that dives into the creative lives of three children who invent imaginary friends and worlds. The charms of their imagination are revealed when we meet their imaginary friends - brought to life in 2D animation - who soon discover desserts around the world have gone missing. A nefarious creature named Kritik is suspected, and the imaginary companions realize - as in all good fairy tales - they must find three magical ingredients to save delectable desserts from imminent extinction. This allegorical tale, is at heart a sweet ode to the power of play, imagination and creativity.
Needles in the Hay: Finding Hope Within the Storm
Documentary Film
A seven-year documentary that dives into the opioid crisis as told by director, Brett Meyer, an addict in recovery who risks his sobriety and almost lost his life making the film. Brett embarks on his recovery journey, which enlightens him on the insidious and complex nature of addiction. He starts filming individual stories of other addicts and is overwhelmed by the immensity of the situation. He relapses. He nevertheless continues to tell the stories of hardships, successes and tragedies that the crisis has wrought. Brett learns that in giving hope to others, he gained it for himself.
No Matter What
Documentary Film
Every family has its pain. Every family wants to heal. For Cassy Bustos Rathbun and her family, it is love, no matter what, that helps them navigate and heal through substance abuse, trauma, the criminal justice system, and re-entry from prison. This 47-minute film weaves raw storytelling, home video, and animation to convey the deep effort Cassy and her family make toward recovery and transformation as individuals and as a family.
No One Likes a Mad Woman
Narrative Feature
Noche Del Infierno (Hell Night)
Short Film
Not Life
Documentary Film
After 26 years of reflection as a federal inmate, Pete conveys his conviction of returning to his family and working life on the ranch. Narrated by federal inmate Pete Moreno using a series of phone call interviews, the raw emotion of pain to warmth will convey his greatest tribulations and methodical reflections on serving life for marijuana and being absent from his family. Our team is committed to make a film that speaks with humility and honesty, and to share the highly intimate story of a man who has learned a lifetime of lessons. Through this approach, we can forever change Pete's life and bring awareness to many cannabis offenders who deserve and second chance.