Awards

We are pleased to sponsor awards that recognize filmmakers who address socially important issues as well as encourage a diversity of voices in filmmaking. 

The Fledgling Fund Outreach and Engagement Grant for Social Issue Documentaries

Presented in collaboration with IFP, this $10,000 award recognizes films that have strong potential for community engagement and social change.

2009 Winner

  • The Way We Get By
    Directed by Aron Gaudet

2009 Nominees

  • Fresh
    Directed by Ana Joanes
  • Land of Opportunity
    Directed by Luisa Dantas
  • Speaking in Tongues
    Directed by Marcia Jarmel & Ken Schneider



    • The Fledgling Fund Award for Socially Conscious Documentary

    Presented at the annual IFP Market, this $10,000 award recognizes a work in progress that addresses a key social issue.

    2008 Winner

    • The Promise of Freedom
      Directed by Beth Murphy

    2008 Nominees

    • Anatomy of Poverty
      Directed by Elinyisia Mosha
    • The Battle for Winter Soldier
      Directed by David Zeiger and Bestor Cram
    • Gacaca: The Trials
      Directed by Anne Aghion
    • Granito
      Directed by Pamela Yates and Paco de Onís
    • Intifada NYC
      Directed by David Teague
    • The Promise of Freedom
      Directed by Beth Murphy
    • Semper Fi: Always Faithful
      Directed by Rachel Libert and Tony Hardmon

      • 2007 Winner

      • Good Fortune
        Directed by Landon Van Soest

      2007 Nominees

      • Land of Opportunity: The New Orleans
        Directed by Luisa Dantas
      • The Mosque in Morgantown
        Directed by Brittany Huckabee
      • Speaking in Tongues
        Directed by Marcia Jarmel & Ken Schneider
      • Today the Hawk Takes One Chick
        Directed by Jane Gillooly
      • Under our Skin
        Directed by Andy Wilson

      2006 Winner

      • Promised Land
        Directed by Yoruba Richen

      2006 Nominees

      • The Axe in the Attic
        Directed by Edward Pincus & Lucia Small
      • The Greening of Southie
        Directed by Ian Cheney   
      • Life Sentence
        Directed by Yoav Potash
      • My Mother's Garden
        Directed by Cynthia Lester
      • Promised Land
        Directed by Yoruba Richen
      • Whatever It Takes
        Directed by Christopher Wong

      The Fledgling Fund Award for an Emerging Latino Filmmaker

      Presented annually at the IFP Market, this $10,000 cash award recognizes the work of an emerging Latino film maker and also includes a spot in the IFP Documentary Rough Cut Lab held each October.

      2007 Winner

      • Tijuana, Nada Más
        Directed by Yolanda Pividal

      2007 Nominees

      • Land of Opportunity: The New New Orleans
        Directed by Luisa Dantas
      • Paolo
        Directed by Andrea Franco Batievsky
      • Summer Sun, Winter Moon
        Directed by Hugo Perez
      • Ulises' Odyssey
        Directed by Lorena Manriquez

      2006 Winner

      • The Man of Two Havanas
        Directed by Vivien Lesnick Weisman

      2006 Nominees

      • Animas Perdidas
        Directed by Monika Navarro
      • In the Footsteps of Orpheus
        Directed by Hugo Perez
      • The Man of Two Havanas
        Directed by Vivien Lesnick Weisman

      Full Frame Spectrum Award

      Presented at the Full Frame Documentary Film Festival, this $10,000 award honors a filmmaker of color whose work demonstrates artistic excellence and achievement.

      2008 Winner

      • The Betrayal
        Directed by Ellen Kuras and Thavisouk Phrasavath

      2007 Winner

      • Banished
        Directed by Marco Williams

      2007 Honorable Mention

      • Hijacker
        Directed by Leila Khaled