Most documentaries rely on the kindness of strangers to get made. Grants from foundations, arts organizations and other non-profits are the lifeblood that independent filmmakers rely upon. But applying for these grants can be an overwhelming and thankless task, especially for the first-time filmmaker.

Film Independent is please to welcome acclaimed documentarian Lisa Leeman (Metamorphosis, One Lucky Elephant, Awake) who will share her grant writing expertise. Topics include: researching to find the most suitable funders; what funders respond to…and what they don’t; the language and style of a grant application; including sample footage with your application; time management and balancing grant writing with filmmaking; and working with a consultant to craft – or help polish – your applications.

About the Speaker

Lisa Leeman believes that strong narrative and character-driven films can change the world, one story at a time. She has been producing and directing award-winning feature & short documentaries for over twenty five years. Credits include Metamorphosis: Man Into Woman (Sundance Filmmakers Trophy, POV); Out of Faith (PBS); One Lucky Elephant (LA Film Festival, IDFA, OWN; named by Roger Ebert as one of the best documentaries of 2011 ) and most recently, Awake, which grossed over $1.5 million dollars at the box office, with over 250 screenings in 65 markets, and was one of only 17 films directed by women in the 250 top-grossing films of 2014.

Lisa has served as a judge at the Sundance Film Festival, the president of the International Documentary Association, and has published a series of magazine articles about the ethics of documentary filmmaking, the international doc scene, women editors and the art and craft of documentary.

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