In the last ten years, LEF has invested almost $3.5 million in 250 projects made by New England-based filmmakers. We look to fund work that is provocative, heartfelt, and challenging in style and substance. At LEF, we value the way the artist chooses to tell the story as much as the story itself; making the artist, their vision and creative development central to our mission. Key to our funding strategy with the Moving Image Fund is to provide a continuum of support-not only for projects at different stages of development, but for filmmakers over time. In this way, we are able to identify and nurture new talent, and help to build filmmakers' careers.
The spirit behind the work of the Foundation is to provide a sense of "creative opportunity" that reaches beyond individual grants to creating an atmosphere where filmmakers feel their work is valued and is being championed to a broader audience. As a regional funder, we are in the unique position of not only supporting the talent that is here, but being a dynamic partner in creating an environment where it can thrive
Our commitment to a broader role is realized through our collaborations with others in the film community. These include funding the Alliance for Independent Motion Media (AIMM), an initiative with other nonprofits that directly serve filmmakers. As part of this effort, we played a key role in the research study, Lens On the Bay State, on the impact of tax incentives on local production. In addition, LEF sponsors the Points North Forum at the Camden International Film Festival and is a founding partner of The DocYard film series.
We've supported panels and workshops at local film festivals like the Independent Film Festival of Boston and the Roxbury International Film Festival; institutions like the Coolidge Corner Theatre and the Musuem of Fine Arts; and creative opportunities for filmmakers like LEF's fellowships to the Flaherty Film Seminar. All this and more was done to create an environment where filmmakers can feel both inspired and proud to call New England their creative home.
What inspires our work at LEF? It's our belief that filmmaking, at its essence, is about engagement. It's about filmmakers engaging with the world; and about audiences engaging with the work. And when there's a deep and genuine engagement, something transformative happens.
We want to celebrate this milestone with the LEF community. Kicking off with a celebration at the Camden International Film Festival's Points North Forum, LEF will host a number of events over the course of the year in honor of MIF's 10th anniversary. Please watch for announcements in future newsletters and on our website.