Fiscal Sponsorship Update: A Long Strange Trip
Film Independent’s Fiscal Sponsorship program supports so many great films, we can’t help but brag every now and then. That’s what our Fiscal Sponsorship Update columns are all about—highlighting the awesome work in the program.
This month, we’re talking some unexpected journeys, whether they’re literal road trips with surprising destinations like in Father Son Time, trips back in time that get our hero into some dangerous situations like in Loser, into a web of corruption as in Evergreen, or even through the most mysterious and dangerous trip of all, navigating creative careers in Hollywood, ala Lost In LA.
Take a look at how these films have been progressing thanks to Fiscal Sponsorship, and how you can still help get these films across the finish line.
EVERGREEN
Project Type: Fiction Short
Project Status: Post Production
Filmmaker: Natalie Jasmine Harris
Synopsis: A private detective takes a job, hoping for redemption, and finds herself in the midst of an ever-expanding world of corruption.
Filmmaker Update: I’m excited to share that we successfully wrapped principal photography in November in North Carolina. We were pleased to bring on leads Kiah McKirnan (Perpetrator, Mare of Easttown, The Adults) and the illustrious Michael Potts (The Wire, The Piano Lesson, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom) to our cast. We’ve just started our edit with Harry Cepka, who previously edited my short films Grace and Ben in Bloom.
LOSER
Project Type: Nonfiction Short
Project Status: Post Production
Filmmaker: Colleen McGuinness
Synopsis: A brilliant physicist, Alice, tries to heal her trauma through time travel but gets entangled in a twisted game of murder and violence in NYC, turning her quest into a thrilling cat-and-mouse chase.
Filmmaker Update: After a whirlwind 19-day shoot in New Jersey with our fantastic cast (Angourie Rice, Finn Bennett, Lukas Gage, Julia Fox, Eric Nam, Cathy Moriarty, Andrew McCarthy, Dylan Mulvaney) and amazing New York/New Jersey based crew, we have reached the rough cut phase and are aiming to complete the film later this spring. In post, we are working toward combining the initial vision for the film with all of the beautiful, unexpected moments that arose during filming. While we continue our fundraising efforts to complete post-production, we have begun mapping our film festival route with key submission deadlines approaching this spring and summer.
LOST IN LOS ANGELES
Project Type: Fiction Feature
Project Status: Pre-Production
Filmmaker: Drue Grit
Synopsis: Carson (33) and Lila (31) are actors ten years deep in Los Angeles but still can’t pay rent or find love. Two parallel stories traverse the odyssey of Hollywood and will ask: how much more rejection and sacrifice can they endure? And is there still time to make dreams and love come true?
Filmmaker update: Lila and our major roles are now fully cast with exciting actors from around the world, including Hawaiian native Ta’imua, who stars in Jane Austen’s Period Drama, nominated for a 2026 Oscar for Live Action Short Film.
As we just launched our grassroots fundraising campaign, we’ve already begun to feel strong community momentum including early distribution interest, support from Kodak to shoot on film, and the generous backing of several of our favorite locations and iconic diners across Los Angeles!
FATHER SON TIME
Project type: Fiction Feature
Project status: Pre Production
Filmmaker: Josh Long
Synopsis: Autistic father Clay takes his 15 year old son Sam on a spring break road trip, but doesn’t reveal that the trip’s real goal is to reconnect with the wife/mother that left them fifteen years ago.
Filmmaker Update: Production is just about a month away! We’re in the thick of casting, location scouting, and locking in our department heads. Our DP Antonio Cisneros recently returned from Park City, where two of his films (Cookie Queens and They Dream) made their debut at the Sundance Film Festival. Our team is in talks to secure various sponsorships to help provide partial funding, as well as state-of-the-art film production equipment.
We’re also excited to be working with Inclusion Films, a nonprofit filmmaking training center that is helping connect us with neurodivergent crew members for our team.
Look for some exciting casting announcements from us soon. Cameras start rolling this March, helping to keep indie filmmaking alive in Los Angeles!
Through Fiscal Sponsorship, independent filmmakers and media artists gain access to nonprofit funding, helping bring their unique visions to life. These projects embrace diversity, push creative boundaries, and showcase the power of independent storytelling. Want to explore the full lineup of sponsored projects? Head over to our Sponsored Projects page and take a look!
Film Independent promotes unique independent voices by helping filmmakers create and advance new work. To become a Member of Film Independent, just click here. To support us with a donation, click here.
Keep up with Film Independent…