The fund will offer grants for independent artists seeking to explore the intrinsic link between science and culture through innovative nonfiction storytelling.
Sundance Institute and Sandbox Films have announced the 10 projects and filmmaking teams selected as the latest recipients of grants from the Sundance Institute | Sandbox Fund.
The fund offers grants from development to post-production, engagement events, and other opportunities for independent artists seeking to explore the intrinsic link between science and culture through innovative nonfiction storytelling.
The 10 selected project teams will receive non-recoupable grants totalling $300,000. The filmmakers will also receive film support and join Sundance Institute’s year-round artist community, with opportunities to connect with Sundance’s network of alumni and creative advisors, as well as Sandbox Films’ roster of renowned scientists.
From climate scientists confronting their own emotions about global warming, indigenous scientists embracing the wisdom of mushrooms, and LGBTQ scientists exploring gender and sexual diversity in the animal world, to the latest studies exploring the connection between brain and consciousness, the latest Sundance Institute | Sandbox Fund grantees highlight, amongst other themes, how a new and more diverse than ever generation of scientists is deconstructing historical biases and questioning received paradigms in their quest of unearthing deeper truths about our world.
Paola Mottura, Director of Sundance Institute’s Documentary Film Fund, said: “Since its inception five years ago, the Sundance Institute | Sandbox Fund has vitally enriched the Documentary Film Programme by allowing our team to extend its support to artists pushing the boundaries of the documentary form by exploring unique connections between art and science. Our grantees have inspired new audiences to reimagine the definition of ‘science film’ by challenging common preconceptions about the scientific process, who does science and what it means to be a scientist. Our latest cohort of grantees is no exception in brilliance and ambition.”
Jessica Harrop, Head of Production and Development at Sandbox Film, added: “We continue to be so impressed by the quality and diversity of projects applying to this fund. Partnering with the talented team at Sundance has helped us connect with and support artists who have unique ways of exploring the art and beauty that can come out of nontraditional science storytelling.”
Prior projects supported with funding from the Sandbox Fund include All Light, Everywhere (which won the 2021 Sundance Film Festival Special Jury Prize for Nonfiction Experimentation), Herbaria (which premiered at the 2022 Visions du Réel), Users (which premiered at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival), and Wildcat (which was acquired last year by Amazon Studios and just premiered at Telluride).
