Durham, N.C. – Jan. 10, 2023 – Southern Documentary Fund (SDF) is pleased to announce it has been approved by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) to receive a Grants for Arts Projects award of $25,000. This grant will support the SDF Mentorship Program, which helps to provide information, resources, and access to documentary filmmakers in the American South who are often underrepresented and underserved by major documentary hubs. These funds will allow SDF to expand their reach and accessibility by offering virtual and in-person services through partnerships with regional film festivals, community organizations, and industry professionals. This grant is one of 1,251 Grants for Arts Projects awards totaling nearly $28.8 million that were announced by the NEA as part of its first round of fiscal year 2023 grants.

“This grant from the NEA is a huge step forward in our mission to support first-time and emerging documentary filmmakers who regularly face significant barriers to entry,” said Kristy Garcia Breneman, Executive Director of SDF.

For more information on other projects included in the NEA’s grant announcement, visit
arts.gov/news.