What's Happening

Represent Justice – Impact Campaign: ‘Kemba’ streaming now on BET+

Kemba is a fictionalized account of the life of Kemba Smith Pradia. Though she never handled any drugs herself, in 1995 Kemba was sentenced to over 24 years in prison for conspiracy to distribute drugs, due to mandatory minimum sentencing laws. She was pardoned by President Clinton in 2000. Kemba’s sentence is typical of so many […]

Film Independent Project Involve – March update

from FILM INDEPENDENT It’s been a busy time for the 2024 Project Involve Fellows since being formally introduced at the First Look Screening on January 11! The two-day orientation swiftly followed on January 12 and 13 at Film Independent’s HQ. This year’s theme for the shorts the Fellows will be creating is ‘The Bonds That Bind Us’ and […]

International Documentary Association – Getting Real Conference

Event Date: April 15-18, 2024

International Documentary Association (IDA) is holding its sixth biennial Getting Real conference between April 15–18, 2024, in Los Angeles and virtually worldwide. Thinking holistically about the lives and afterlives of documentaries, #docsgetreal will spotlight how documentarians should access institutions, people, spaces, and resources so the doc community can benefit from each other. Getting Real ‘24 […]

Urban Peace Institute – Federal Funding for Community Safety: The LA Peacemakers Initiative

Urban Peace Institute (UPI) announced $7,400,000 in federal earmark funding to implement the LA Peacemakers Initiative alongside Congressman Tony Cárdenas and with support from former Congresswoman, now Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and the Office of Gang Reduction and Youth Development (GRYD). Approximately 150 attendees, including peacemakers, city officials, and allies, gathered at Champions In […]

Reporters Committee for the Freedom of the Press – Public radio journalist Josie Huang reaches $700,000 settlement with LA County, Sheriff’s Department

Attorneys from RCFP and Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher helped Huang reach a settlement related to her unlawful arrest in 2020. Josie Huang, a reporter for NPR member station LAist 89.3 (formerly known as KPCC), reached a $700,000 settlement agreement on Tuesday with Los Angeles County and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department related to the […]

GET LIT – WORDS IGNITE Receives $1 Million Gift from THE YIELD GIVING OPEN CALL

Los Angeles, CA. March 19, 2024 – Today, MacKenzie Scott’s Yield Giving announced Get Lit – Words Ignite as one of the Yield Giving Open Call’s awardees working with people and in places experiencing the greatest need in the United States. Get Lit received $1 million. Get Lit – Words Ignite is a Los Angeles-based education nonprofit founded in 2006 by […]

The Moth – True Stories Told Live

Event Date: April 2nd, 2024 - 8:00pm

The Moth is true stories, told live and without notes. The Moth celebrates the ability of stories to honor both the diversity and commonality of human experience, and to satisfy a vital human need for connection. It seeks to present recognized storytellers among established and emerging writers, performers and artists and to encourage storytelling among […]

CSUN – CTVA Alumna and GGF Fellow Wins Oscar for ’20 Days in Mariupol’ Documentary

Michelle Mizner graduated California State University, Northridge with a film production emphasis in the Department of Cinema and Television Arts.  She directed the senior film project ‘Barrio Thief’ with funding assistance from the HFPA and was an HFPA Fellow. “Michelle is an an example of the impact the HFPA funding has had on our CSUN students. […]

Library Foundation – 36th Annual Stay Home and Read a Book Ball

Event Date: March 3, 2024

Benefiting the Library Foundation of Los Angeles in supporting the Los Angeles Public Library’s work to enrich the lives of every Angeleno. Join the Library Foundation of Los Angeles, the Los Angeles Public Library, Chair Gabrielle Zevin, and Honorary Chairs Rachel Bloom, Alejandra Campoverdi, Santi Elijah Holley, and Yiyun Li in staying home to read for a great cause.  WHAT […]

IWMF – Newsroom Safety Across America

Ahead of a contentious election cycle, the International Women’s Media Foundation’s “Newsroom Safety Across America” initiative is bringing groundbreaking journalism safety training to local newsrooms across the United States. Starting in key swing states likely to receive heightened attention in 2024, trainings will include one- or two-day workshops focused on risk assessment, personal security, legal […]

IWMF – Courage in Journalism Awards: Nominations Now Open

The International Women’s Media Foundation is currently accepting third-party nominations (no self-nominations) in English, Spanish and French for the 2024 Courage in Journalism Awards. This includes the Wallis Annenberg Justice for Women Journalists Award intended for women and nonbinary journalists who are detained, jailed or imprisoned. Please submit your nomination using the forms below by March 3, […]

Girls’ Voices Now – Youth Filmmakers Selected for the 13th BHERC Youth Diversity Film Festival

Event Date: March 3 - 12, 2024

Women’s Voices Now and its Youth Development program Girls’ Voices Now are supported by the Golden Globe Foundation. Youth Filmmakers from the United States and around the globe have been selected for the 13th Annual BHERC Youth Diversity Film Festival – Streaming On BHERC TV Youth filmmakers tackle the issues of the world creatively, reaching […]