Mental Health Short Film Grant
The Voices With Impact Film Production Grant offers filmmakers $7.5k USD to filmmaking teams making transformative 5 minute films on the topic of mental health.
Meet this year's Grant Mentors:
Edmund Stenson
Mentor
Edmund Stenson’s work as director spans both documentary and fiction and focuses on social issues, loners and nomads. He most recently directed BLINK, a National Geographic feature about the Lemay-Pelletier family, who dropped everything and traveled the world after learning three of their four children were losing their vision. Before that, he was an associate editor on BAFTA- and Oscar®-winner Navalny (2022), a documentary-thriller about the Russian dissident’s poisoning. In 2018, he directed the award-winning Finding Fukue, the viral success that has amassed over 14.5 million views online; and in 2021, The Martyr, a gothic fairytale about medieval super villain Gilles de Rais, which premiered at Flickers Rhode Island, and won Best Short Doc at Atlanta Shortsfest and FilmQuest. Stenson is also somewhat obsessed with the Chilean filmmaker/magician Raúl Ruiz, as well as another kind of magician: Leicester City talisman Jamie Vardy.
Mitra Shahidi
Mentor
Mitra Shahidi is an Iranian-American story artist, director and screenwriter who was born and raised in Istanbul, Turkey. Shahidi’s passion for art and storytelling began at a young age and led her to pursue a career in animation in the United States. Growing up, she was exposed to a rich cultural heritage which has greatly influenced her artistic style and subject matter. After graduating from the Academy of Art University in San Francisco, she worked as an art director and story artist in games, film and advertising until she joined Pixar Animation Studios as a story artist in 2017. Since joining Pixar, she has worked on several films, including the Academy Award-nominated “Luca” and the upcoming “Elio.” Shahidi also wrote and directed the Tribeca “Best Animated Short” award winning Starling, as well as the award winning live action narrative short Good Egg.
Shahidi currently lives in the Bay Area, California with her family.
Bomani J. Story
Mentor
Bomani J. Story was born in Riverside, California and raised in Redlands, California. Growing up, Bomani always had a love of reading literature and watching films. He even spent time writing his own short stories as a child. Upon graduation of high school, Bomani cut his teeth on filmmaking when he started making short films with his fellow collaborators. After two years at San Bernardino Valley College, Bomani was accepted into the University of Southern California's School of Cinematic Arts to study film production. Since his graduation from USC in 2010, he has been honing his skills as a writer and director. In 2018, Bomani wrote a feature film, Rock Steady Row, that went to the 2018 Slamdance Film Festival where it won the Grand Jury and Audience award. In 2023, his directorial debut, The Angry Black Girl and Her Monster world premiered at the SXSW Film Festival and released in theatres later that year.
Nancy Schwartzman
Mentor
Nancy Schwartzman is an Emmy winning and Peabody nominated documentary filmmaker and a member of the Directors Guild of America and the Academy of Motion Pictures and Sciences. She is the Director and Executive Producer of the 5-part original documentary series Sasha Reid and the Midnight Order for Freeform/Hulu and Disney+ with XTR Studios. The show features a diverse cast of young women pooling their talents to fight violence against women and bring justice to victims. She is the winner of the Women’s Image Award for Best Direction of a Series. Her recent Netflix original feature, Victim/Suspect, won an Emmy award and was nominated for 3, including for Outstanding Direction, Outstanding Investigative Documentary and Outstanding Research. Victim/Suspect is the winner of the RFK Journalism prize, nominated for the U.S. Documentary Grand Jury Prize at Sundance Film Festival in 2023 and the F:ACT Award at CPH: Dox.
Jeff Lee Petry
Mentor
Jeff Lee Petry is a Canadian-born documentary producer, director, and
cinematographer. He is co-founder of SALAZAR Film, a Vancouver-based production company that focuses on documentaries with an emphasis on telling unique stories of iindividuals whose lives create change within their communities.
Over the past 15 years of documentary film making, Salazar has traveled across 5 continents, earned a Grammy and Juno nomination, been honoured in the British parliament, and has had multiple films included in the Canadian Truth and Reconciliation Library. Salazar’s work
has also been screened in over 35 international film festivals and can be seen on Viceland, CBS, Netflix, and Redbull TV.
Josephine Anderson
Mentor
Josephine Anderson is a documentary filmmaker who works across linear and immersive modes to address themes like time, irreverence, yearning, and female experience. Josephine’s work has been shown at festivals worldwide including Tribeca, IDFA, Hot Docs and RIDM, and has been exhibited by The New Yorker Documentary, CBC, Canada Council for the Arts, and the National Film Board of Canada.
Josephine is a member of the Directors Guild of Canada, and the Documentary Organization of Canada and an alumna of Berlinale Talent Campus and the Canadian Film Centre (NFB/CFC Creative Doc Lab). She holds a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature from the University of British Columbia, and is a graduate of Capilano University’s Documentary program, where she was honoured with the One to Watch alumni award.
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Glenn Holsten
Mentor
Glenn is a documentary storyteller who creates human-driven films, from the arts to the sciences. His background in literature is a key element in his work, which features strong characters and compelling narrative structures. Glenn has directed nearly two dozen full-length documentaries that have been screened at film festivals, broadcast on public and cable television stations, and now are featured on a multitude of streaming platforms.
In addition to long form documentaries, Glenn creates short films about journeys of recovery for the mental health website Recovery Diaries. Working across the world, Glenn has directed films in China, Portugal, Kenya, Rwanda, Northern Ireland, Poland, Bosnia and the Republic of Georgia. Much of his work is about social justice, the arts, and mental health. Glenn is drawn to stories of beauty and struggle, recovery and hope.
Gavin Seal
Mentor
Gavin is a Québécois Canadian filmmaker on a mission to dissolve otherness using the universal language of cinema.
Writer/director credits include fiction, "Followers" (Fantasia, Reelworld) and "Case Claus'd" (Montreal International Black Film Festival, CBC Short Film Faceoff), and documentary, "Good Luck Have Fun" (NSI, Just for Laughs).
Producer credits include hundreds of episodes of branded series from development to distribution for CBC, Shopify, Barbie, Hot Wheels, Microsoft’s HALO and Fisher-Price.
Fu Yang
Mentor
Fu is a Taiwanese filmmaker. She brings unique handmade design and combines stopmotion, traditional animation and motion graphics in her projects.
She draws-- for opening up communications, finding connections with people, and revealing her thoughts on subjects that matter to her.
She creates award-winning animated shorts both on her personal and collaborative projects.
To share the knowledge and experience of indie filmmaking,
Fu interviews directors about their personal projects, tips and production processes on Nice Shorts.
She thrives on creating a believable world and invites the audience into the mood with performance, music, and lighting.
The mentors will be supporting the grant recipients as they create their short films.
Meet this year's Grant Recipients:
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SORRY I MISSED YOUR CALL
Hae Ji Cho
Hae Ji Cho (she/her) is a Korean Brazilian American writer, director, and producer based in Los Angeles, CA. Her creative work shines light on the beauty and grief within the endless contradictions and peculiarities found in the human experience.
Through a series of real voicemails, SORRY I MISSED YOUR CALL guides us through a woman's journey as she examines the emotional turmoil of caretaking for her grandmother as she develops Alzheimer's. This mixed media film will address themes such as caretaker burnout, guilt and shame, and the complexity of love.
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SORRY I MISSED YOUR CALL
Helena Han
Helena Han (she/her) is a Korean Brazilian visual artist with over 45 years of experience in diverse mediums. Her work includes but is not limited to fashion design, graphic design, papermaking, ceramics, natural dyeing, silk painting, jewelry, and more.
Through a series of real voicemails, SORRY I MISSED YOUR CALL guides us through a woman's journey as she examines the emotional turmoil of caretaking for her grandmother as she develops Alzheimer's. This mixed media film will address themes such as caretaker burnout, guilt and shame, and the complexity of love.
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LOOKING GLASS
Ivanna Samuel
Ivanna is an actor, spoken-word poet, and filmmaker based in Vancouver. She created the short film “Who We Are” and is the writer & director of “The Book of Black Voices”. Ivanna’s films reflect themes of mental health and self-expression.
LOOKING GLASS is a narrative short film that illustrates how invisibility is often intimate, personal, and impactful to mental health.
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A Town Called Needville
Audrey Lane
With a background in psychology and experience working with end-of-life and special needs individuals , Audrey embraces filmmaking with care and humility. Audrey's projects often focus on activism and delve into themes such as mental health.
"A Town Called Needville" is an autobiographical film capturing a 27-year-old woman's experience during and after 'depression camp.'
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In My Skin
Jaye Abhau
Jaye Abhau, a filmmaker with a background in documentary and anthropology, seeks the mythical within the everyday. Her work reflects an ethical storytelling approach, portraying the connection between people and nature to inspire a new, shared world.
"In My Skin" is an intimate, poetic short film that explores the relationship between the female body and aging, interweaving stunning visuals of nature with the lived experiences of women. Through in-depth interviews, women of various ages share their stories, discussing the changes their bodies have undergone and the pressures society places on them.
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In My Skin
Evangeline Modell
A producer, photographer, and journalist working across branded content, investigative journalism, and wildlife films. Creating shows for Channel 4, Nat Geo, and Discovery, recently focusing on veteran mental health alongside ex-military teams.
"In My Skin" is an intimate, poetic short film that explores the relationship between the female body and aging, interweaving stunning visuals of nature with the lived experiences of women. Through in-depth interviews, women of various ages share their stories, discussing the changes their bodies have undergone and the pressures society places on them.
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I Bathe with Moths
Myranda Hulka
A director and stop-motion animator from Portland, Oregon working in the genres of fantasy and psychological drama, using creatures and extreme environments to delve into a character's psyche and how they are affected by the world.
I Bathe with Moths is a stop-motion psychological drama about a girl in the military struggling with anxiety in the form of an infestation of moths in her room.
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The Animals
Michael Makaroff
Michael has directed award-winning music videos for Grammy and Juno artists and won multiple awards for his short films. His latest, The Dog, competed in 11 festivals. Commercial clients include Arc’teryx, BC Milk, and P&G.
A young man, James, is confronted with a sexual assault that he perpetrated and dives into the personal and societal factors that shape him into the man that he is becoming.
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The Spinning Wheel
Davy Stoces
Davy Stoces (they/them) is an award-winning animator with a passion for storytelling. Their thesis film “Our Little Worlds” won Best Animated Film at the St. Louis Filmmakers Showcase, and was selected for three more festivals.
"The Spinning Wheel" is an animated film that gives coping mechanisms life in the form of a strange, bug-like creature called the Spinner. It follows a young man around, spinning his thoughts into golden thread--until its spinning wheel breaks.
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The Spinning Wheel
Max Wasserstrom
Max Wasserstrom (he/him) is passionate about developing his writing talents, often working on stories with Davy Stoces. Interested in law, he one day hopes to integrate his passion for academics and the arts to ensure artists receive the recognition they deserve.
"The Spinning Wheel" is an animated film that gives coping mechanisms life in the form of a strange, bug-like creature called the Spinner. It follows a young man around, spinning his thoughts into golden thread--until its spinning wheel breaks.
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UNFOLDING
Meghna Chakraborty
Meghna Chakraborty is an LA-based director, producer and dancer / choreographer. Her projects span documentaries, music videos and narrative film.
“Unfolding” is a short documentary capturing a Japanese American sexual assault survivor’s journey as she finds healing and liberation beyond the courtroom.
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UNFOLDING
Priscilla Jayne
A former CFO turned film producer, currently working in story development with Emmy nominated writer John Rice. She has previously consulted award winning writers and an Oscar winning producer.
“Unfolding” is a short documentary capturing a Japanese American sexual assault survivor’s journey as she finds healing and liberation beyond the courtroom.
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UNFOLDING
Iris (Yi Youn) Kim
Iris (Yi Youn) Kim is a Korean American reporter at NBC News covering Asian American culture, identity, and politics.
“Unfolding” is a short documentary capturing a Japanese American sexual assault survivor’s journey as she finds healing and liberation beyond the courtroom.
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i absolutely hate this place
Gabriel Souza Nunes
Gabriel is an award-winning gender-queer Brazilian filmmaker based in Vancouver, BC. Their work is frequently inspired by Latin American folklore, Magical Realism and gender expressions, exploring themes like nostalgia and diasporic relationships.
i absolutely hate this place is an experimental mixed media animation short film exploring the body-image challenges impact queer men and their day-to-day life
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i absolutely hate this place
Aries Ceta
Aries Ceta is a filmmaker with a diverse background, having been born in Albania and raised in Italy, and having studied and worked in both London and Vancouver. During her studies at Vancouver Film School, she honed her skills in producing and assistant directing, and has since worked on several short films, commercials and features.
i absolutely hate this place is an experimental mixed media animation short film exploring the body-image challenges impact queer men and their day-to-day life
Focus Throw
Kie Cummings
A filmmaker and photographer who creates visually engaging, meaningful stories. I craft thought-provoking narratives across genres—from documentaries to promotional films—focused on empathy, authenticity, and strong production values.
Paralympian javelin thrower Dan reflects on the impact of his gradual sight loss, from competing in able-bodied athletics to winning Paralympic gold. The film explores the complex balance between visibility, disability, and mental health.
Meet our Selection Jury
Filmmaking Jury
Natalie Sandy is a television and film producer for AppleTV+ based out of Los Angeles, CA.
Favourite film: Silence of the Lambs
Mental Health Jury
Dr Emily, a lover of illustration and arts, studies mental health and societies under strain from climate destabilization.
Favourite film: The Last Emperor
Mental Health Jury
Corporate and Foundation Relations Officer for the APAF, excited to work with other groups supporting mental health.
Favourite film: Clue
Filmmaking Jury
Zhou is a filmmaker from Southwest China, making films in narrative and documentary genres.
Favourite film: Days of Being Wild
Mental Health Jury
Psychology graduate dreaming of making the world even the slightest bit better through MH advocacy!
Favourite film: Barbie
Filmmaking Jury
A Filipino-American filmmaker, educator, and collaborator who creates film grain and pixels through personal human connections.
Favourite film: The Shawshank Redemption
Filmmaking Jury
Head of Production at Rural Media and Rural Studios and I absolutely love films that make an impact!
Favourite film: Cabaret
Filmmaking Jury
My name is India Barnardo, I'm five feet small, I make films, and animate, oh and I love cats, specifically my cat, Walter.
Favourite film: Before Sunrise
Filmmaking Jury
Filmmaker, VFX pro working on Emmy-winning projects like Stranger Things S4, Shazam 2, and The Last of Us, and more!
Favourite film: Interstellar
Filmmaking Jury
VWI alum, his short film Four Nights and a Fire has played many festivals including Palm Springs International Shortfest 23.
Favourite film: Yi Yi
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Filmmaking Jury
Jason is an award-winning director, writer, producer, cinematographer and soccer fanatic based in Los Angeles.
Favourite film: High Fidelity
Filmmaking Jury
South Asian Québécois Canadian Writers Guild of Canada prize-winning filmmaker and President of Intersectionnel Films.
Favourite film: Gattaca
Filmmaking Jury
Taiwanese stop-motion filmmaker who runs a boutique animation studio, Cafe LaBobo LLC, with Ben Ellebracht.
Favourite film: Inside Out
Filmmaking Jury
Writer/Director, BFI funded to make a film about a psychiatric patient who builds spaceships.
Favourite film: Lady Macbeth
Mental Health Jury
A graduate of Northwestern University, Kincaid is an award-winning writer, producer and actress, based in LA..
Favourite film: The Royal Tenenbaums
Mental Health Jury
Existentially-focused therapist who cares a lot about cycling, the environment and asking difficult questions about life!
Favourite film: Point Break
Mental Health Jury
SJ (she/ they) is an actor, poet & photographer from Treaty 7 who moonlights as a beekeeper & farmhand.
Favourite film: When Harry Met Sally
Perry Voulgaris
Filmmaking Jury
Creating, managing, launching and distributing programming in screen-based, immersive and experiential media.
Favourite film: Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert
Filmmaking Jury
San Diego & LA based filmmaker, 2 time Emmy Award recipient, VWI Alum and William Male Foundation Grant awardee.
Favourite film: Capernaum
Filmmaking Jury
A Visual Artist, Hobby Enthusiast and Lover of Earth hailing from Atlanta.
Favourite film: Zoolander
Filmmaking Jury
Animator, illustrator, comic artist with a passion for speculative fiction and the magic of the everyday.
Favourite film: Princess Mononoke
Filmmaking Jury
Director and animator based in London, love stories centered around queerness & fantasy. Primarily work in stop-motion!
Favourite film: Pan's Labyrinth
Filmmaking Jury
A filmmaker who uses storytelling and her work directing the Center for Science Communication at Colorado State Uni.
Favourite film: Amélie
Mental Health Jury
I'm a nonprofit communications strategist and a Georgia Bulldog!
Favourite film: Poor Things
Mental Health Jury
Associate Director of Archives at the Melvin Sabshin, M.D., Library & Archives, preserving psychiatric histories!
Favourite film: Parasite
Mental Health Jury
Associate Director of Advising and Student Services in NYU's Applied Psychology UndergraduateProgram.
Favourite film: Labyrinth
Mental Health Jury
I like learning about mental health, helping other people feel less alone, and spending time outside (with my dogs)!
Favourite film: Billy & Molly
Sarah Coupland
Mental Health Jury
I'm a clinical-forensic psychologist specializing in violence risk assessments.
Favourite film: Wizard of Oz
Mental Health Jury
Prospective Masters of Clinical Psychology student with a keen interest in film!
Favourite film: Charlie's Angels
Filmmaking Jury
Aliza Brugger a filmmaker who explores class, queerness, and rurality in their award-winning work.
Favourite film: American Honey
Mental Health Jury
I'm a poet, writer and community championing active listener who loves movies!
Favourite film: The Princess Bride
Mental Health Jury
An Occupational Therapist who loves helping others reach their full potential.
Favourite film: Airplane!
Filmmaking Jury
Videographer, photographer, wanderer...who tries to facilitate humanity's discovery of itself.
Favourite film: Wings of Desire
Mental Health Jury
Dedicated and creative health promoter with over a decade of experience in evidence-based health promotion.
Favourite film:
Mental Health Jury
Creative problem-solver who enjoys fusing art, design + tech to inspire change & discover new ideas
Favourite film: Hunt for the wilderpeople
Mental Health Jury
I am a socially conscious psychologist who is full of mischief, and a lover of motorcycle trips!
Favourite film: The Lobster
Filmmaking Jury
Kim Lange is a filmmaker, photographer, curator, and mindfulness facilitator based in Charleston, SC.
Favourite film: Almost Famous
Mental Health Jury
Dr. E is a psychologist passionate about expressive arts therapy, applying cinematherapy to help healing.
Favourite film: The Silence of the Lambs
How To Apply
Step 1
Download and read the submission guide.
This will tell you all the hard facts about the grant. Read this as a first step because it really does have everything you need to know: Deadlines, Dates, Requirements, etc.
Step 2
Watch the grant Q&A Events.
In the run up to the deadline we'll be talking to jurors, past filmmakers and the program director to give you the best chance of a successful proposal. You'll learn a lot of good practise from filmmakers too! Almost all of the grant recipients last year attended a grant Q&A event, so they help!
Events are every Thursday in August. Launch (Aug 8), Animation & Production Schedules (Aug 15), Documentary & Pitching (Aug 22) and Drama & Micro Budgeting (Aug 29). Free to attend.
Step 3
Book a limited 1:1 proposal feedback call.
Once you have a draft proposal together, you can book a call with our program director to discuss your project. This is offered on a first come first serve basis and very limited. It is not necessary to apply but it's a great resource.
Step 4
Submit your proposal.
Once you have finished your proposal, you just need to fill out the form below and upload it
This Year's Theme
For the 2025 Voices With Impact Film Grant we are looking for film proposals that explore...
Visibility / Invisibility: the seen and unseen of mental health.
We’re looking for honest, intriguing, humanizing, authentic stories inspired by lived experience of mental health. We don’t need these stories to be heavy though, we love exploring the lightness of these topics too, and the joy that can be found! We welcome comedy, horror, animation, drama, experimental, documentary, romance, and westerns - hey even sci-fi and fantasy if our juror’s believe it’ll fit the budget.
Materials & Templates
Want to get a good idea of what a winning proposal looks like? Find some examples below.
Feel free to use the templates below to help you complete your proposal.
Take a look at some past winning films to get an idea at what we're looking for:
Production Grant
Year round program
The Grant Program starts with Open Call Events, the proposal window opens, the proposals are juried, and filmmakers are informed and production starts!
Mental Health Themes
Each year we ask for proposals on our highlighted mental health themes.
The 2025 theme is:
Visibility / Invisibility.
10 Production Grants
The successful proposals are selected by our jury of filmmakers and mental health professionals. 10 filmmaking teams are awarded grants of $7.5k USD.