The Documentary Film Fund was established to ensure that the stories shaping America’s cultural memory are preserved and shared with audiences worldwide. Since its inception, the Fund has spearheaded fundraising efforts in support of the Heritage Film Project, providing vital resources to bring historically significant and artistically ambitious films to fruition.

 

Under the stewardship of Rosa Berland, the Fund now faces a new challenge: to further expand its contribution to educational and cultural life by enriching the growing number of viewers in academic institutions, public libraries, and global communities.

 

Over the years, the Documentary Film Fund has made possible films such as Black Fiddlers, which recovers the long-overlooked contributions of African American musicians; The Art of Joy Brown, a portrait of the acclaimed sculptor whose large-scale ceramic works celebrate community and the human form; and The Piccirilli Factor, a groundbreaking documentary on the immigrant artisans who carved many of America’s most iconic monuments.​

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Looking ahead, the Fund is proud to support an ambitious slate of new projects that continue this mission with a biographical focus on key figures in art and music history. Upcoming films include cinematic explorations of Louis Comfort Tiffany, whose stained glass transformed American design; George Frederick Bristow, an early champion of American classical music; and George Bridgetower, the Black violin virtuoso who inspired Beethoven.

 

Together, these projects advance our commitment to making art, history, and cultural identity accessible to all, ensuring that future generations may draw knowledge and inspiration from these extraordinary stories.

 

Mission

 

The Documentary Film Fund is dedicated to promoting educational and cultural equity by supporting documentary storytelling that sheds light on underrepresented histories and creative legacies. Our mission is to ensure that these vital voices continue to inspire, inform, and connect across generations.

 

Through dedicated fundraising and advocacy, the Fund supports the development, production, and distribution of films that foster interdisciplinary learning. By cultivating long-term partnerships with educational and cultural institutions, we help extend the reach and impact of Heritage Film Project’s work far beyond the screen.

 

Services and Programs​​​​​

 

The Documentary Film Fund is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting the documentary filmmaking efforts of Heritage Film Project and recognized as tax-exempt by the Internal Revenue Service under the Internal Revenue Code. Our EIN is 87-1981540. We are committed to protecting your privacy and the security of your personal information. The Documentary Film Fund does not sell, rent, or share your email address or other personal data with third parties. We have implemented appropriate safeguards and procedures to ensure the confidentiality and integrity of all information collected through our platforms. Our website is secured with SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) technology, which verifies the authenticity of our site and encrypts information exchanged between your browser and our server.

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