Freeheld

People: Cynthia Wade (Director)

Grants: $20,000 in 2007

Awards: Academy Award Nomination: Short Documentary
Sundance Film Festival: Special Jury Prize in Short Filmmaking
Seattle Film Festival: Special Jury Prize
Boston Independent Film Festival: Audience Award
NewFest NYC Film Festival: Best Short Documentary
Outfest LA Film Festival: Audience Award
Spokane GLBT Film Festival: John Deen Award
Spokane GLBT Film Festival: Audience Award
Denver Film Society: Social Justice Award
Palm Springs Shortfest: Best Documentary
Palm Springs Shortfest: Audience Award
Connecticut G&L Film Festival: Audience Award
Long Island GLBT Film Festival: Audience Award
IDA Award: Nomination Best Short Documentary

Freeheld

About the Project

FREEHELD is a documentary film that follows the historic battle of Lieutenant Laurel Hester, a dying New Jersey police officer who fights to transfer her pension to her domestic partner, Stacie Andree. As her elected officials, The Freeholders stand firmly against her, and the town explodes around her, Laurel races against time to provide for the love of her life -- before it is too late.

The Fledgling Fund Impact

We provided a $20,000 grant to support the completion of this film. While the topic of this film is somewhat outside of our priority issues, we were moved by the compelling story and the civil rights issue of that it addressed. By funding this in collaboration with Chicken & Egg Pictures, we were able to provide key funding at a critical stage in the project.

Online Resources