Last month we announced a new partnership with Artless Media in support of micro-grants for socially investigative short films made in the South. The Magnifying Glass, hosted by ATLFS and four other granting agents, selected winning proposals from treatments focused on relevant social issues and a quick production turnaround, wanting to get financial support into the camera-holding hands that need it most urgently.

Join us in congratulating the selected projects and their creators, Karen Wink & Jennifer Jacob Brown, and Danielle Calle! Learn more about the winners below:

NO SAFE SPACE: SURVIVING ANTI-LGBT VIOLENCE AT HOME
$1,000 The Magnifying Glass Recipient

The state of Georgia has no hate crime law, providing no way to track violent crimes against members of the LGBTQ community, no appropriate punishment, and leaving many victims without a path to closure. “No Safe Space” will tell the personal stories of two victims of domestic violence who were targeted because of their gender identity or sexual orientation. The short will detail what these victims went through, how the lack of a hate crime law prevented a fitting punishment from being carried out and kept the attackers’ targeting of LGBTQ victims off the record, and, most importantly, what this shortcoming in the law has meant to the victims – their frustration, their distress, and their continued fear.

NO CHOICE
$1,000 The Magnifying Glass Recipient

“No Choice” is a short documentary film that focuses on Benjamin and Alba, two Colombian immigrants living and working in Greenville, South Carolina. Using a vérité approach, the film will follow their typical work day as they reflect on this year's presidential election.

Per the grant requirements, both shorts will be completed and available for viewing in October of this year. We hope you're as excited as we are for what The Magnifying Glass made possible! While this submission window has closed, two ATLFS-presented festivals have open calls for entries: the 41st Atlanta Film Festival and the 1st New Mavericks Film Festival. Have a completed project that fits one or both? Submit below!