News – The Rogovy Foundation

The Rogovy Foundation News

Learn more here! Check this page regularly for updates to projects and issues we support.

Summer 2018 Awards

Six Documentaries Awarded Summer 2018 Grants

We are pleased to announce the Miller / Packan Documentary Film Fund Summer 2018 award winners. The Fund awards grants totaling $150,000 to between six and ten film projects annually through Summer and Winter open calls.

These six selections represent a cross section of interests that the Foundation supports:

Lady Buds — Six women are transitioning from the black market cannabis industry in California. These modern-day superheroes put principles before profits and challenge the cultural stigma around cannabis. Director: Chris Russo. www.ladybudsmovie.com

Bastards’ Road — Walking almost 6,000 miles, Marine Veteran Jonathan Hancock fights PTSD and other demons from the war. In the solitude of the road and in the company of his fellow Marine brothers and gold star families, Hancock discovers his survivable self. Director: Brian Morrison. www.bastardsroad.com

Safer Stuff: Green Chemistry Gets Down to Business — Highlighting solutions to problems of toxic chemicals in everyday products, a passionate group of green chemists and entrepreneurs adopt green chemistry solutions and safe products. Director: William Hemminger.

Healing from Hate: Battle for the Soul of a Nation — An examination of the root causes of hate group activity through the work of Life After Hate – an organization founded by former Skinheads and Neo-Nazis now engaged in de-radicalizing and transforming violent extremists. Director: Peter Hutchinson. www.bigtentproductions.nyc

Eternal Harvest — Hundreds of Laotians work to clear their country of millions of deadly unexploded bombs from a U.S. bombing campaign 50 years ago; one American, a retired Wisconsin school principal, Jim Harris, works among them in the field. Director: Jerry Redfern. www.eternalharvestfilm.com

Trumphobia: What Both Sides Fear — Fervent supporters and scared opponents were hypnotized by Trump’s rhetoric and the media’s interpretation, increasing a dangerous political division. Can they stop and listen to each other before they tear apart democracy as we know it. Director: Carolina Sosa.

“These documentaries all raise awareness about very timely issues.” said Asher Rogovy, Foundation Vice-President. “We are glad to be supporting them.”

Applications are now being accepted for the Winter 2019 open call, which ends November 15th.

Summer 2018 Awards

July 6, 2018 |

The Guardians featured on Last Week Tonight with John Oliver!

“It’s alarmingly easy for a total stranger to gain total control over the life of a senior citizen.” John Oliver features our supported film: The Guardians on last week’s episode of Last Week Tonight with John Oliver.

The segment exposes the flaws with court-appointed guardians and includes clips from the film and its characters.

We couldn’t be more proud. Congratulations to the team!

Watch the segment and read the Rolling Stone article here.

June 5, 2018 |

False Confessions wins the ‘Politikens Publikumspris’ at CPH:DOX !

Our sponsored film: False Confessions – In the Closed Room has just won the ‘Politikens Publikumspris’ at CPH:DOX in Denmark. The Politiken Audience Award celebrates freedom of expression. Congratulations!

March 26, 2018 |

Miller / Packan Focus Fund

The Rogovy Foundation Announces New ‘Focus Fund’
Development Grants for Targeted Topics

The Rogovy Foundation announces a new grant opportunity for documentary filmmakers. The Focus Fund provides $15,000 in development capital for specific documentary film topics selected by The Rogovy Foundation. The Foundation’s goal is to encourage awareness, debate and solutions on issues it has identified as ripe for further discussion.

Already providing $150,000 annually in grants through its Miller / Packan documentary fund, the Foundation is committing an additional $60,000 per year for projects curated by its staff.

Currently there are nine topics listed on the Web site that are soliciting Requests for Proposals. In addition to the Topic, the listing includes other elements such as Suggested Logline, Story Premise, Impact Potential and possibly some initial reference material or links. Periodically, the Foundation will be adding new topics.

Some of the topic working titles are: The Empathy Gene; Cannabis vs. Opioids; The Ark of Taste; The Arms Race of Higher Education; The People vs. K Street; Before You Know it; Missing Public Heroes; Medicare for All – The Business Case; The Coming Digital Privacy Crisis.

Candidates who wish to develop one of these projects further are asked to submit a brief proposal using our online submission page. The entire proposal will be roughly two pages in length. If a filmmaker submits a compelling and winning proposal, the funds will be disbursed immediately. The topic idea plus all legal rights to the proposed documentary film reside with the filmmaker.

There is no time limit or deadline to these Request for Proposals. Once a filmmaker submits a proposal that the Foundation feels properly handles the development of this project, we will grant the $15,000 and close the topic to further submissions.

“As huge fans and supporters of documentary films, we’re keen to contribute topic ideas that may have a significant impact,” says Hugh Rogovy, Foundation Founder. “We’ll be curating new topics during the coming year,” added Asher Rogovy, Foundation Vice-President “periodically adding them to our Focus Fund listings.”

Miller / Packan Focus Fund

February 12, 2018 |

My Country, No More to premiere at Big Sky !

Big Sky Documentary Film Festival has selected our sponsored film My Country No More as one of ten films to premiere at the festival this year!
Congratulations to the team!

Schedule and details can be found on the Big Sky website.

February 1, 2018 |

Winter 2018 Awards

Four Documentaries Awarded Winter 2018 Grants from The Rogovy Foundation

We are pleased to announce the Miller / Packan Documentary Film Fund Winter 2018 award winners. The Fund awards grants totaling $150,000 to between six and ten film projects annually through Summer and Winter open calls.

The Fund’s four selections represent a cross section of interests that the Foundation supports. The award winners for this Winter period are:

That’s How we Roll — The fading American dream of home ownership meets the changing American stereotype of “trailer-trash” mobile home parks. Set against the backdrop of the nation’s growing affordable housing crisis, and the conglomeration of park ownership, the film explores the last frontier in housing. Director: Sara Terry.

26.2 to Life: The San Quentin Prison Marathon — A year in the life of San Quentin’s 1000 Mile Club, a prison running group whose incarcerated members train for a 105 lap race around a dirt and concrete path that loops the prison’s crowded lower yard. As the men prepare, they confront the challenges of aging, getting an education and maintaining family relationships behind bars. Director: Christine Yoo.

Exposure — A team of 12 women from the Western and Arab world make a bid to reach the North Pole. This daring and unprecedented team navigates ice fissures, polar bears, and -40 degree temperatures in an extraordinary story of resilience, survival and global citizenry. Director: Holly Morris. http://www.powderkeg-studios.com/

Against Goliath — The inspiring, uplifting story of a co-ed public high school debate team who strive together, not only to win, but also to become better informed, committed and collaborative global citizens. Director: Lucia Small. https://www.smallangstfilms.com/against-goliath/

During the Winter open call, over 200 documentary film projects were submitted to the Miller / Packan Film Fund. “We continue to be impressed by the diversity of topics that find a voice within a feature-length documentary.,” says Hugh Rogovy, Foundation Founder. “Documentaries continue to be a highly effective medium for informing the public,” added Asher Rogovy, Foundation Vice-President, “They influence us both emotionally and intellectually.”

Applications are now being accepted for the Summer 2018 open call, which ends May 15th.

Winter 2018 Awards

January 31, 2018 |

The Untold Tales of Armistead Maupin on PBS

Don’t miss The Untold Tales of Armistead Maupin !
The Rogovy Foundation supported film is now available to stream on PBS until January 15th!

The colorful story of writer Armistead Maupin, whose Tales of the City series inspired millions to claim their own truth.

January 4, 2018 |

Summer 2017 Awards

Four Documentaries Awarded Summer 2017 Grants from The Rogovy Foundation

We are pleased to announce the Miller / Packan Documentary Film Fund Summer 2017 award winners. The Fund awards grants totaling $150,000 to between six and ten film projects annually through Summer and Winter open calls.

The Fund’s four selections represent a cross section of interests that the Foundation supports. The award winners for this Summer period are:

Unzipped — A provocative feature documentary about the growing economic and political divide, and a search for the remarkable people who are re-defining a new American Dream. Director: Colin Keith Gray. www.unzippedmovie.com

Appellations — Continents apart from one another, two farming families aim to reinvent themselves on their land. One family—an elegant French matriarch and the son she raised among her vines—tends a centuries-old, biodynamic vineyard in the Southern Rhône. Across the ocean in Humboldt, California, another family carefully manage a state-recognized, organic cannabis farm. Director: Rebecca Richman Cohen.

Going Big Time — The untold story of Rutgers University’s quarter-century quest for sports glory, and the small band of resisters who challenged the establishment for control of the school’s future, transforming it from a small colonial college into a global sports brand. The film examines the world of American higher education and the struggle to balance academics and athletics. Director: Robert Andersen. www.robertandersenfilm.com/rutgers-doc/

Fiddlin’ — From their front porches in the Appalachian Mountains, talented musicians and captivating storytellers share a fierce determination to keep Old Time and Bluegrass music alive. Passing this uplifting music from one generation to the next, fiddlers and pickers, young and old, gather for frequent jam sessions without a cell phone in sight. Director: Julie Simone.

During the Summer open call, over 300 documentary film projects were submitted to the Miller / Packan Film Fund. “We’re quite excited by each of the selected film’s topics,” says Hugh Rogovy, Foundation Founder. “There’s a good deal of breadth,” added Asher Rogovy, Foundation Vice-President, “and we believe these films will have wide appeal.”

Applications are now being accepted for the Winter 2018 open call, which ends November 15th.

Summer 2017 Awards

June 19, 2017 |

2017 Frontier Fund

To bolster the commitment to one of our key programs of interest, Civics, The Rogovy Foundation’s Frontier Fund has chosen to distribute $50,000 among several non-profit organizations which strengthen public knowledge and transparency.

The Rogovy Foundation places great value on the “Fourth Estate,” and supports journalism’s essential role in a functioning democracy. Below are the organizations receiving grants.

Project Specific Funding:

The Center for Responsive Politics — Speaking Freely, whose two earlier editions in book form were highly popular and published to critical acclaim, will be updated in a “film first” format. The project documents the influence of money in politics through first-hand accounts of those directly involved. OpenSecrets.org

General Operating Funding:

The Center for Investigative Reporting — Seed funding for “The (Un)Scientific Method,” a new project whose mission is to uncover important stories about the powerful ways in which Washington and the new Administration negatively influence scientific innovation, research and decision making. RevealNews.org
Project on Government Oversight — In addition to augmenting its investigative capacity, these funds will be used to expand their work to protect the ability of Federal Employees to speak out. pogo.org
ProPublica — Pulitzer-prize winning independent, nonprofit newsroom that produces investigative journalism in the public interest. ProPublica.org
The Center for Public Integrity — Reveals abuses of power, corruption and betrayal of public trust by powerful public and private institutions. Five CPI investigations were recently honored in three prestigious journalism competitions, including first prize for The Panama Papers. Publicintegrity.org
Sunlight Foundation — Sunlight dedicates their effort and vision to use technology enabling more complete, equitable and effective democratic participation. SunlightFoundation.org
Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics— CREW uses aggressive legal action, in-depth research, and bold communications to reduce the influence of money in politics and help foster a government that is ethical and accountable. CitizensForEthics.org

We’re very pleased to support these hard-working organizations during this important period.

Frontier Fund 2017 Awards

April 26, 2017 |

Armistead Maupin to premiere at SXSW !

Congratulations to one of our 2017 Winter Award Winners: The Untold Tales of Armistead Maupin!
The film will be premiering at this year’s SXSW Film Festival in March!
Schedule and details can be found on the SXFW website.

This March The Untold Tales of Armistead Maupin, a new documentary about the man behind Tales of the City, is making its world premiere at the SXSW Film Festival. The film “celebrates one of the world’s most beloved storytellers, following his evolution from a conservative son of the Old South into a gay rights pioneer whose novels inspired millions to reclaim their lives.” It’s directed by Jennifer M. Kroots who previously helmed the George Takei documentary To Be Takei.

February 7, 2017 |

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