Press

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Reva Goldberg:
reva@cinereach.org, 212.727.3224 x111

CINEREACH ANNOUNCES SUMMER CYCLE GRANT RECIPIENTS
AWARDING A TOTAL OF $250,000 TO 12 PROJECTS

www.cinereach.org

New York, NY (September 10, 2009) – Cinereach announced today $250,000 in grants to twelve films that exemplify the young not-for-profit’s commitment to funding vital stories, artfully told.

The pool of applicants this cycle was triple that of the Winter cycle. Cinereach reviewed a record 636 letters of inquiry representing over 70 countries. Sixty-one filmmakers were invited to submit full proposals.

“It was stunning to see so many worthy projects flood through our door and daunting to start making choices,” said Cinereach Grants Manager Adella Ladjevardi. “In the end, the projects that resonated with us most were those we felt nailed the intersection of visual artistry, engaging storytelling and topical vitality. Each also had characters or subjects who had us hanging on their every word.”

Cinereach doesn’t create priority topic areas for its grantmaking, but, says Founder and Executive Director Philipp Engelhorn, “connecting the dots between the films we’ve funded is starting to form a very interesting web free of national, cultural and creative boundaries.”

The recipients include three fiction and nine nonfiction works-in-progress and the grant amounts range from $15,000 – $25,000:

CIRCUMSTANCE
Dir. Maryam Keshavarz | Middle East | Fiction | In Production
Three friends in a Middle Eastern country grapple with sexuality, love, and friendship during a tumultuous adolescence.

DELTA BOYS
Dir. Andrew Berends | Nigeria | Nonfiction | In Post-Production
Two members of the Niger Delta militancy, a seasoned leader and a young disciple, give us a window into their struggle.

LOOK, STRANGER
Dir. Arielle Javitch | Serbia | Fiction | In Production
Caught between the reality of war and the unknown of the natural world, a displaced woman, man, and boy search for home.

THE MOSUO SISTERS
Dir. Marlo Poras & Yu Ying Wu Chou | China | Nonfiction | In Production
Two spirited daughters of China’s last remaining matriarchal society must fight financial ruin when they lose the only jobs they’ve ever had.

NOAH’S ARC
Dir. David Redmon & Ashley Sabin | Russia/Japan | Nonfiction | In Production
Russian and US modeling scouts scour Siberian landscapes in search of teen girls to become models in Tokyo.

PHANTOM COWBOYS
Dir. Annie Waldman & Daniel Carbone | USA | Nonfiction | In Pre-Production/Production
Three contemporary American rituals are the subject of a sociological inspection of becoming a “man” in contemporary small-town America.

SUNLIGHT JR.
Dir. Laurie Collyer | USA | Fiction | In Development
A working class couple in Florida struggles to survive with minimum wage jobs and an unexpected pregnancy.

UNTITLED GAY RETIREE DOCUMENTARY
Dir. PJ Raval | USA | Nonfiction | In Pre-Production
Several LGBTQ seniors navigate the adventures, challenges and surprises of their “golden years” in LGBTQ-friendly retirement communities.

UNTITLED SMALL ACT DOCUMENTARY
Dir. Jennifer Arnold | Kenya/Sweden/Switzerland | Nonfiction | In Post-Production
A young Kenyan’s life changes dramatically when his education is sponsored by a Swedish stranger. Years later he strives to do the same for a new generation.

UP HEARTBREAK HILL
Dir. Erica Scharf | USA | Nonfiction | In Post-Production
Three high school seniors from the Navajo Nation must decide whether to stay in their community or leave in pursuit of opportunities elsewhere.

THE WORLD IN A ROOM
Dir. Tanaz Eshaghian | USA | Nonfiction | In Production
Teenagers raised in different cultures around the world are brought together to learn in a single New York City classroom.

About Cinereach
Cinereach was created in 2006 by young filmmakers, philanthropists and entrepreneurs to champion vital stories, artfully told. The young not-for-profit facilitates the creation of films that challenge, excite, innovate, offer new perspectives and inspire action through three initiatives: Grants & Awards, The Reach Film Fellowship and Productions. Cinereach has awarded well over $2.5 million in grants and achievement awards to more than 40 feature films, including such highlights as A JIHAD FOR LOVE, an acclaimed documentary exploring the complex intersection of Islam and homosexuality and ENTRE NOS a fiction film by Paola Mendoza, currently receiving high praise on the festival circuit.

The Reach Film Fellowship is a granting and mentorship program (entering its third year) in which Cinereach helps four young filmmakers produce socially conscious shorts. Cinereach Productions is currently in development on two feature film projects. Cinereach also forms collaborative funding partnerships with other nonprofit organizations including Arts Engine, Rooftop Films and the Sundance Institute.