nextPix "firstPix" winners for 2001-2017 are shown below. Each work represents a unique and individual attempt at "humanistic media" -- and whether it be a documentary, narrative feature or work of animation, each displays significant courage, insight and creativity. Some firstPix projects have even gone on to be full-fledged nextPix co-productions. To date, nextPix has provided over 135K in funding to the filmmakers listed below over and above our own productions. In addition, many firstPix films also received substantial in-kind services related to distribution, sales (including representation at major festival markets), production and promotional assistance. To find out about our new firstPix crowd funding initiative [click here].
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| 2017 |
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TATHAGATA (Dir. Diego Prieto)
A non-sectarian view of the Buddha's teachings, conveyed by a Buddhist practitioner who has benefitted from this always relevant philosophical and spiritual path. View crowdfunding promo here |
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PLAIN FICTION (Dir. Cyrus Duff; written by Edward Columbia)
In Plain Fiction, young author Simon Knight writes his debut novel. But, when the novel inspires a horrible crime in real life, Simon falls into ignominy as quickly as he rose to fame. Overwhelmed by guilt and fear, Simon takes refuge in a mysterious old hotel, where he hopes to write his comeback book. Dreaming and waking begin to blur, and the boundaries between fiction and reality fall away as Plain Fiction becomes a meditation on the social responsibility of the artist. Visit Kickstarter here |
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THIS LITTLE LAND OF MINES (Dir. Erin McGoff)
Unknown to most, Laos was and remains the most bombed country in the world, with the US having dropped roughly 270 million bombs on that small country during the Vietnam era. This Little Land of Mines documents how the Laotians still struggle with this dangerous legacy decades after the last bomb was dropped. Visit Indiegogo here |
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| 2016 |
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UNAPOLOGETIC (Dir. Ashley Mills) Unapologetic is a feature-length documentary that explores the triumphs and necessary forfeits of three young Black women organizing for Black liberation in Chicago, IL. Visit Indiegogo here |
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THE GRASSHOPPER (Dir. Brad Bischoff) Ray apparently lives the high life with his wife Lisa. But as events unfold in a tragic way, The Grasshopper reveals itself as a powerful statement about the American Dream gone wrong. Visit Kickstarter here |
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RAILWAY CHILDREN (Dir. Prithvi Konanur) Raju, a 10-year old runaway, steps into an unknown, never seen before world on the railway platform. The boy falls into the hands of a gang involved in the illegal 'platform business'. Based on true accounts of India's runaway child population. Visit website here |
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| 2015 |
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SOLACE (Dir. Tchaiko Omawale) Solace is a coming of age drama about an idealistic teenage girl who finds solace in her friendship with the troubled girl next door. Visit kickstarter here |
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MURMURS (Dir. Graeme Cole) Murmurs probes the meaning of intimacy and trust and does not shy away from exposing the ridiculousness of human beings (especially when we’re trying to look our best). Created under the mentorship of Bela Tarr and the Film Factory. Visit Indiegogo here |
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| 2014 |
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NINE STORY MOUNTAIN (Prod. Chelsi Bullard, Dir. Augusta Thomson) Nine Story Mountain charts the path of three western researchers, from Lhasa to Mount Kailash, Tibet, in summer 2012, on a journey to explore pilgrimage practices across the Tibetan plateau. Together, they set out to unearth the secrets of a mountain and landscape that have magnetized millions of people for centuries. Visit website |
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YOMEDDINE (Dir. Abu Bakr Shawky) After the death of his wife, Beshay and his apprentice Shika travel on a donkey cart southwards to search for what remains of Beshay's family. They hope to find out why his father never came back for him after dropping him off at the gates of a leper colony when he was a little child. Visit Kickstarter Page |
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JOSEPHINE DOE (Dir. Ryan Michael, Written by Erin Cipolletti) Josephine Doe is about an isolated young woman named Claire living in a small town. After the death of her father, she begins a deep and meaningful friendship with a stranger—Josephine. As her family returns to her hometown to manage the death of a patriarch, Josephine is her one emotional lifeline and inspiration to stay strong. As the story unfolds, it becomes clear that Josephine is not a real person but a tool Claire’s mind has created to help her deal with the intense emotional trauma. Though her family worries about her and even mistreats her, Claire remains a strong and complex protagonist who the audience can cheer for. Josephine does not act as Claire’s crutch, but rather a supporter who helps her find her confidence and path in life. Visit Kickstarter Page |
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UNCHARTED AMAZON (Dir. Tristan Thompson) There is a new species on the scene in the Amazon Rainforest. One that is so industrious, so ingenious, that it’s able to tip the balance in its favor and re-engineer the rainforest in its desired image. That species is modern man. And there are many people living within the trees, some in isolated communities, others as temporary workers that clear the rainforest and subsist off nature’s great abundance. But there are also a select few that are struggling to keep this incredible wilderness intact. Our journey through the rainforest follows the stories of these different people and explores how they relate to form one of the most pressing issues of our time. Visit website |
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| 2013 |
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RECOVERING IRMA (Dir. Sandra Salas) Sandra was 27 when her dad called to tell her he had shot her mom and was going to kill himself. This act shattered the myth that her family was perfect and living the American Dream. At her parents’ funeral, Sandra and her siblings vowed that the legacy of domestic violence handed down by their father would end with them. But today – confronted with her nephew Lorenzo’s arrest for domestic violence – Sandra knows that the cycle hasn’t been broken and she has to act. Visit website |
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| 2011-12 |
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BRINGING TIBET HOME (Dir. Tenzin Tsetan Choklay) BRINGING TIBET HOME is the story of a young artist who sets out to bring Tibet home to its people through an art project that involves smuggling 20,000 kilos of native Tibetan soil across the Himalayas from Tibet into India, crossing the borders of three countries. By virtue of his small mission, he forever touches the hearts of many Tibetans living in exile who are unable to return home. Visit Kickstarter Page |
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| 2010 |
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MADE IN INDIA (Dirs. Rebecca Haimowitz and Vaishali Sinha) MADE IN INDIA is a feature length documentary film about the human experiences behind the phenomena of "outsourcing" surrogate mothers to India. The film shows the journey of an infertile American couple, an Indian surrogate and the reproductive outsourcing business that brings them together. Weaving together these personal stories within the context of a growing international industry, MADE IN INDIA explores a complicated clash of families in crisis, reproductive technology, and choice from a global perspective. |
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| 2009 |
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MOTHERS OF A NATION (Dir. Ansley West/Prod. Danielle Bernstein) MOTHERS OF A NATION is about a group of Ugandan women living with HIV who have united to empower themselves through sustainable farming methods. Narrated by Florence, a 55 year old woman that has been living with the virus for over 13 years, the film weaves together 16MM footage and animation of the women living and working as their stories of betrayal and suffering unfold, ultimately leading to voices of strength and hope. |
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| 2008 |
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WE WOMEN WARRIORS (Producer/director Nicole Karsin) The film follows three indigenous women leaders across Colombia as they cope with killings, imprisonment, and combat in their territory. An intimate glimpse at the nonviolent struggle for indigenous rights and culture in Colombia, WE WOMEN WARRIORS chronicles the search for truth and justice endured by these courageous women. |
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| 2007 |
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THE LISTENING PROJECT (prod. Han Shan, dirs. Joel Weber/Dominic Howes) WHAT DOES THE WORLD THINK OF AMERICA? This seemingly simple question led to a global quest for four Americans, whose thought-provoking journey through fourteen countries is documented in THE LISTENING PROJECT. Emotional encounters with dozens of diverse and fascinating characters reveal the breadth of U.S. impact on ordinary people's lives around the world. Visit the
official website |
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CHESHIRE, OHIO (Dir. Eve Morgenstern) When
a polluting power plant offers to buy out an entire town in Appalachia,
local residents are faced with the toughest decision of their lives:
pack up and leave a community many families have called home for
over six generations, or stay and fight. CHESHIRE, OHIO: A QUESTION
OF POWER tells the startling and unprecedented story of the corporate
buyout and destruction of an entire American town. |
| 2006 |
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SILVIA (Dir. Margo Pelletier, Producer Lisa Thomas) The feature documentary SILVIA explores the life of controversial activist Silvia Baraldini. After 15 years as a politicial activist during the sixties and seventies, Baraldini was arrested by the FBI and given a 43 year prison term. After several more years of legal struggle she was eventually released to her home country of Italy. SILVIA includes interviews with: Silvia Baraldini, Noam Chomsky, Ahmed Obafemi, Jose Lopez, Julio Rosado, Elizabeth Fink, Lisa Roth, Toby Emmer, Lucio Manisco, Guccini, Eve Rosahn.
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| 2005 |
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TIBET IN SONG: THROUGH THE HOLLOW BAMBOO (Dir. N. Choephel) Directed
by Ngawang Choephel, a former Tibetan political prisoner inside
Chinese occupied Tibet, this documentary depicts the ongoing struggle
of Tibetans to maintain their cultural identity through music. The
film features footage miraculously saved prior to 1995 when Ngawang
was arrested, as well as new material shot recently in Tibet, the
US and India. The film is also a nextPix co-production. |
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MATUD NILA (Dir. John Day) MATUD NILA (According To Them) is an interactive animated narrative work consisting of 25 episodes recalling events in a small rural town in the Philippines. The piece has a cross-cultural focus, and reveals insights about this community from the viewpoint of an outsider. MATUD NILA features the voices of Raul Aranas, Michael Denz, Ching Valdes, Lydia Greenberg, Mel Gionson, Joy Pascua, Jonaphan Lopez, Lorli Villanueva, and Johnny Santos. MATUD NILA is the first animated work to receive a firstPix grant.
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| 2004 |
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THE TRIALS OF DARRYL HUNT (Dirs. Annie Sundberg and Ricki Stern) THE
TRIALS OF DARRYL HUNT is a feature documentary about a brutal rape/murder
case and a wrongly convicted man, Darryl Hunt, who spent nearly
twenty years in prison for a crime he did not commit. Both a social
justice story and a personally driven narrative, the film explores
the bitter legacy of race and class in America, and its harrowing
impact on a man accused. This exclusive look at one man’s
loss and redemption offers a provocative and haunting examination
of a community -- and a criminal justice system -- subject to racial
bias and tainted by fear. |
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CHANGING IDENTITIES (Producer/director Daniel Labbato) CHANGING
IDENTITIES: A STORY OF TRAUMATIC INJURY AND ART, is the amazing
story of Bill Richards, founder of The Art Studio, and his work
with disabled artists. The Art Studio was opened in 1999 by Richards,
who had recently retired. Richards modeled The Art Studio on a similar
program he created at Harlem Horizon Hospital for young, severely
injured adults. CHANGING IDENTITIES is the story of the impact art
can have in changing the outlook and identities of disabled persons
who, with the help of their mentor, come to see and believe in themselves
as artists. The film is narrated by Meryl Streep. |
| 2003 |
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CALL IT DEMOCRACY (Producer/directors Matthew Kohn, Dan Efram and Priscilla Grim) A historical look at the electoral process in the United States that goes far beyond the controversy of the 2000 election and the Bush V Gore Supreme Court ruling. CALL IT DEMOCRACY looks into the nation’s history touching upon other close elections such as the 1960 Kennedy V Nixon campaign, the attempt by Segregationist Third Party Candidate George Wallace to manipulate the electoral college in 1968 and the three other elections not won by popular vote prior to the 20th century. Additionally, the film explores the validity of the electoral college (or the lack thereof) and contemplates the future of elections in post 2000 America, 2002’s Help America Vote Act and ramifications of electronic voting. The
New York City Premiere for CALL IT DEMOCRACY (AKA EVERYWHERE BUT
FLORIDA) will occur at the Imagine
Festival, August 28, 2004. |
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FADING LIGHT (Produced by Ross&Barnier Productions) FADING
LIGHT documents the life of Sophie Morel, a young attorney who is
slowly losing her sight. A film of singular beauty and sensitivity,
FADING LIGHT shows how Sophie's courage and determination enables
her to overcome numerous obstacles. Directed and produced by Ian
Ross and Kathryn Barnier, the film poignantly reveals how life is
ultimately ephemeral in both its triumphs and tragedies. |
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| 2002 |
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SWEAT: A STORY OF SOLIDARITY (Produced by Educating for Justice) The
nextPix "firstPix" grant winner for 2002, SWEAT chronicles
the journey of Jim Keady and Leslie Kretzu as they uncover the story
behind the profits generated by the sweat of Nike factory workers.
Through the lens of their experiences, the film exposes the injustices
of Nike's labor practices in the developing world, specifically
in Indonesia, and how Nike's unfair economic decisions have a profound
effect on human lives. The film shows that with the right mix of
faith, conviction, and dedication, ordinary people can change the
world. |
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| 2001 |
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SINGING THE BONES (Produced by Fat Salmon Cinema in association with nextPix) Based on the acclaimed play by Gordon Halloran and Caitlin Hicks, BONES is the first nextPix "firstPix" project. Hicks plays 3 different characters in this gripping drama about the wonder of birth -- both physical and spiritual. This film went on to become a nextPix co-production. The
Festival Premiere for SINGING THE BONES occurred at the Montreal
World Film Festival,
August 23-September 3, 2001.
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Past grants have been as follows (starting with most recent): TATHAGATA: 5K (plus add'l EP support); MAFAK: 5K; PLAIN FICTION: 1K (plus sales support); THIS LITTLE LAND OF MINES: 3K (plus sales and EP support); UNAPOLOGETIC: 2K; THE GRASSHOPPER: 1.5K; RAILWAY CHILDREN: 4K (plus add'l co-pro and sales and distribution support); FROM UNDER THE RUBBLE: 2K (plus EP and sales and social media campaign support); SOLACE: 4K (plus sales and social media campaign support); MURMURS: 1K; NINE STORY MOUNTAIN: 2K (plus sales support); JOSEPHINE DOE: 1K (plus sales support); YOMEDDINE: 2K; UNCHARTED AMAZON: 1K (and sponsor); RECOVERING IRMA: 5K (plus add'l sales support and major funding); BRINGING TIBET HOME: 5K (plus add'l production support and funding); MADE IN INDIA: 2K; MOTHERS OF A NATION: 1K, WE WOMEN WARRIORS: 5K (plus add'l funding); LISTENING PROJECT: 1K (plus add'l sales support);CHESHIRE OHIO: 2K (plus sales support); SILVIA: 1K; MATUD NILA: 1K; TIBET IN SONG: 5K (also became a co-production w/add'l major funding); TRIALS OF DARRYL HUNT: 2K; CHANGING IDENTITIES: 1K; EVERYWHERE BUT FLORIDA: 2.5K; FADING LIGHT: 1K; SWEAT: 5K; SINGING THE BONES: 5K (also became co-production w/add'l support).