LEF is a private family foundation that funds in New England and California. Through the LEF Moving Image Fund, the New England office supports the creation of new work by documentary filmmakers living in the region, engaging an open application process. LEF California funds projects proactively.

Moving Image Fund
Featured Work

Boston-based filmmaker Sally Wu's LEF-funded film THE GOOD DAUGHTER had its world premiere on November 13, 2019 at the Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival, where it was nominated for Best Documentary. The film is a portrait of the fraught marriage between a Taiwanese man and his Vietnamese bride. Born out of a disabled man's wish to obey his mother and a woman's effort to help her family escape poverty, the marriage has produced two daughters and a complicated drama. The film takes us inside a household simmering with tensions.

Connecticut-based filmmaker Jenifer McShane's LEF-funded film ERNIE & JOE had its New York and Los Angeles theatrical premiere on November 15, 2019, and its broadcast premiere on HBO on November 19, 2019. The film is an intimate portrait of two Texas police officers who are helping change the way police respond to mental health calls. The film takes audiences on a personal journey, weaving together their experiences during their daily encounters with people in crisis. These two officers are not your everyday cops. They are part of the San Antonio Police Department’s 10-person Mental Health Unit.

The LEF-funded film KRABI, 2562, directed by Boston-based filmmaker Anocha Suwichakornpong in collaboration with UK-based filmmaker Ben Rivers, was nominated for the Achievement in Directing award at the 2019 Asia Pacific Screen Awards. It had its world premiere at the 2019 Locarno Film Festival, and its North American premiere at the 2019 Toronto International Film Festival. Exploring the landscape and stories within the community of Krabi, Thailand, the film captures the town in this specific moment where the pre-historic, the recent past and the contemporary world collide.

Moving Image Fund

News & Announcements

LEF LOI Forms Now Open! The next LEF Moving Image Fund deadline for projects in production and post-production will be January 24 2020. LEF grants are open to New England-based filmmakers seeking funding for feature non-fiction film projects. In order to be considered, applicants must submit a letter of inquiry form, including up to 10 minutes of sample footage from the current project. Prospective applicants are strongly encouraged to read the LEF New England Moving Image Fund guidelines and frequently asked questions to determine if your project is eligible and a good fit for LEF's funding priorities before beginning an application. Start here

New Fellowship Opportunity! The Film Study Center-LEF Foundation Fellowship is open to Boston-area non-fiction filmmakers who are not currently affiliated with Harvard. One filmmaker over the academic year September 2020 – May 2021 will receive a $10,000 grant (jointly funded by FSC and LEF Foundation), access to FSC’s pool of production and post-production equipment, and the opportunity to participate in the Harvard FSC community through work-in-progress screenings, workshops, and other activities. How to Apply: Finalists for LEF Moving Image Fund production and post-production grant awards will be considered for the FSC-LEF Fellowship if they meet the following criteria: (1) They reside within 50 miles of Cambridge; (2) They are not currently affiliated with Harvard (3) They will benefit from and contribute to the FSC community. Learn more here. Questions about this fellowship program can be sent to LEF Program Officer Gen Carmel at gen@lef-foundation.org.

News from LEF England: After 10 years at LEF, Program Director Sara Archambault will be stepping down to begin a new chapter in her career, while continuing to serve as Programmer for LEF's documentary screening series the DocYard in the coming year. Read the full announcement.

LEF is excited to announce 6 Moving Image Fund grants totaling $30,000 in pre-production support for New England-based filmmakers.

LEF is excited to announce 10 Moving Image Fund grants totaling $190,000 in production and post-production support for New England-based filmmakers.

LEF Foundation and the Film Study Center at Harvard University are excited to announce the awarding of our first Film Study Center-LEF Foundation Fellowship to Boston-area filmmaker James Rutenbeck! Read the full announcement on the FSC website and learn more about this opportunity.

Because the LEF Moving Image Fund has adapted its application from the Documentary Core Application, you might already have a head start on your LEF application or letter of inquiry if you've submitted a grant proposal to another funder that uses the Core. Learn more on the Core Application website

The Spring 2020 season of documentary programming at The DocYard will be announced in January! Learn more about past programming at The DocYard website

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LEF is a private family foundation that funds in New England and California. Through the LEF Moving Image Fund, the New England office supports the creation of new work by documentary filmmakers living in the region, engaging an open application process. LEF California funds projects proactively.

Moving Image Fund Featured Work