Six Miami Filmmakers Awarded Share of $100,000 for Local Documentary Projects
Six Miami-based filmmakers have been selected to share a $100,000 prize pool through “The Louies,” an initiative presented by the Miami Film Festival and the Lynn and Louis Wolfson II Family Foundation. The awards, now in their second year, provide funding for documentaries that explore the complex history and culture of South Florida.
Kareem Tabsch received the top prize of $50,000 for his feature-length documentary “Save Our Children,” which examines Anita Bryant’s 1977 campaign against gay rights ordinances in Miami. Three filmmakers received $10,000 awards for short documentaries: Matt Deblinger for “Uncle Luke vs. America,” covering the free-speech legal battle of 2 Live Crew’s Luther Campbell; Jessica Huppert Berman for “Twin Suns,” a profile of the Cuban artist Scull sisters; and Monica Sorelle for “Untitled Everglades Triptych,” which focuses on Black and Indigenous histories. Additionally, Forrest Canaday and Carlos Gutierrez received $10,000 each in finishing funds for projects about the Swap Shop flea market and the Bay of Pigs invasion veterans, respectively.
While the grants provide essential support, independent documentary production often exceeds these funding amounts, compelling filmmakers to navigate tight budgets and seek additional resources to finalize their vision. Furthermore, the selected topics revisit polarizing chapters in Miami’s history—ranging from political extremism to displacement—that may still evoke strong emotional responses from different segments of the local community. Alongside the financial award, the recipients gain unlimited access to the Lynn and Louis Wolfson II Florida Moving Image Archives, a repository of over 35,000 hours of historical footage, to assist in authenticating these local narratives.
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