May 26, 2012

Tribeca and Gucci Join Forces to Support Documentary Moviemakers

by Samantha Husik | Published June 8, 2011

Contrary to what people may think, Gucci isn’t only concerned with handbags and sunglasses. For the past four years they’ve teamed with the Tribeca Film Institute (TFI) with the Gucci Tribeca Documentary Fund, which provides documentary moviemakers whose films highlight important social issues with financial support as well as the tools and advice needed to complete and market their films. The six winning films--announced last week by TFI and Gucci--will receive a total of $100,000 as well as a year-long mentorship from TFI. This year’s winners cover a wide range of topics, from the experience of a middle-class African-American family to the controversy surrounding lithium, an energy resource currently in high demand.

“These are the films that people should be keeping an eye out for in the months ahead,” said documentary director Amir Bar-lev, who was on the jury that selected the grant recipients. “These projects effectively push the form of documentary filmmaking and defy established conventions, taking audiences to places that they never imagined existed.”

The Gucci Tribeca Documentary Fund has also partnered with the PRP Corporate Foundation for Women’s Dignity & Rights to introduce the Spotlighting Women Documentary Award, which was given to three moviemakers whose films shed light on the challenges faced by--and the contributions of--women around the world. The recipients of this inaugural award collectively receive $50,000 towards finishing their films.

For information about the films selected by the Gucci Tribeca Documentary Fund, or to find out about other grants and programs sponsored by the Tribeca Film Institute, visit www.tribecafilminstitute.org/.