Stories That Connect Us: Support the Future of Documentary Film

$8,300
41%
Raised toward our $20,000 Goal
5 Donors
21
days left
Project ends on February 28, at 11:59 PM PST
Project Owners

Great News: Two Films Fully Funded—Eight More to Go!

We're thrilled to share some exciting news—two of this year's standout films, Whale Watchers and Allensworth Rising: A Fight for Water are funded and on their way to production.

Whale Watchers follows a team of scientists on a decade-in-the-making expedition to study the effects of climate change on whale populations in Antarctica. Filmmakers Zoe Rosenblum and Matthew Busch are preparing for this once-in-a-lifetime journey, and we couldn't be prouder.

Allensworth Rising: A Fight for Water highlights the tireless efforts of two sisters to restore clean water to California's first historically Black town. Neenma Ebeledike and Isabella Marzban will explore their fight against environmental injustice while preserving their town's rich legacy.


While we celebrate these great successes, there is still work to do. Eight teams still need your support and we need your help to bring them to life. 


Across the globe— from the mountainous villages of Pakistan to the artistic communities of North Carolina — our students are telling meaningful stories that will make an impact.


I’m excited to share the other eight inspiring films:

  1. The Wolf Hunters explores the heated debate over wolf hunting in Montana, where ranchers and conservationists clash over livelihoods and the environment.
  2. Glacier Weddings takes us to Pakistan's mountain villages, where ancient glacier-making techniques are helping combat a growing water crisis.
  3. Strangers on Our Land tells the story of Ray Mattia, a Native American man tragically killed by Federal Border Patrol agents on the Tohono O'odham Nation's ancestral land in Arizona.
  4. After Helene challenges the idea of "climate havens," following an artistic community in Asheville, North Carolina, as they rebuild after Hurricane Helene.
  5. A Fine Particulate Matter paints a stark portrait of Lahore, Pakistan, a city grappling with an air pollution crisis that's suffocating its public health.
  6. Follow the Water chronicles the fight of Tumwater, Washington residents against a new Coca-Cola bottling facility that threatens to drain 10% of their drinking water.
  7. Blacklisted follows three deported U.S. veterans in Tijuana, grappling with life outside the country they once fought to defend.
  8. Fatherhood (working title) is a deeply personal exploration of one father's struggle and healing journey through the use of psychedelic medicine.

As alums and filmmakers, you know how hard it is to make a film: the long hours, the obstacles, and the tireless pursuit of a vision. Let's come together to support the next generation of Berkeley filmmakers and the legacy we all share.

Please consider contributing today to help us raise the remaining funds needed to support this year's talented cohort. Every gift helps provide the resources these students need—covering travel, production, post-production, and equipment needs.


Class of 2025 Filmmakers: Zoe Rosenblum, Cecil Egbele, Zane Karram, Isabella Marzban, Thomas Sawano, Wayne Gray, Walter Marino, Lili Cortes, Neenma Egbeledike, Veronique Eshaya, Alicia Chiang, Kesley Oliver, Becca Duncan, Nadia Akbar, Hallie Applebaum, Matthew Busch, Sophia Sun and Amin Muhammad. 
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