WINDSWEPT SELECTED FOR INAUGURAL FIRELIGHT FUND FROM FIRELIGHT MEDIA

WINDSWEPT has been selected to receive a $35,000 award from the inaugural Firelight Fund from Firelight Media. Co-director Rufus Lusk and I are just over the moon about this vote of confidence and the generous support from Firelight, which recognizes that reliable support is critical for us to finish the film, and for developing and sustaining an artistic practice at a time when federal support of the arts is diminishing.

Firelight fielded a record-breaking number of applications this year from all over the United States. Following a rigorous review, the advisory board selected the final 18 awardees, of which WINDSWEPT is one. 

This award is a real marriage of Firelight’s priorities and ours, as filmmakers. The fund recognizes filmmakers from communities disproportionately impacted by today’s political social crises, and WINDSWEPT is focused on the same communities, in our storytelling. 

We love what Firelight says is its WHY behind its inaugural Firelight Fund: 

“Despite uncertainties surrounding documentary funding and distribution, we believe these challenges should not hinder new work; rather, they should inspire artistic growth and new forms of solidarity.”

We thank Firelight Media, LA Strong Foundation (which was our first foundation donor), and all of you who have generously contributed to making WINDSWEPT a reality. While this fund gets us part of the way there with post-production, we are still a ways from fully financing our budget. 

Our challenge match is on. If you have yet to give (or want to increase your giving), DOUBLE your dollars now with a tax-deductible contribution today which LA Strong is matching. Join LA Strong and Firelight Media in making this meaningful film a reality. We are about halfway there to the $30,000 crowdfunding goal we set in the fall. And again, a giant thank you to all of you who have already helped and pitched in, in so many ways.

—Elise