2013 BERKELEY FILM FOUNDATION AWARDS $120,000 in grants given to 13 East Bay filmmakers.

Media Contact:Barbara Hillman (510) 549-7040 

Abby Ginzberg (510)367-3499

film@visitberkeley.com

For Immediate Release

2013 BERKELEY FILM FOUNDATION AWARDS $120,000 in grants given to 13 East Bay filmmakers.

BERKELEY, Calif., July 16, 2013–The Berkeley FILM Foundation (BFF) announces that it has just awarded $120,000 in its 2013 film and video grant program to 13 filmmakers, including five student filmmakers. The BFF gave this year’s $20,000 Saul Zaentz Award to My Love Affair with the Brain: The Life and Science of Dr. Marian Diamond by filmmakers Catherine Ryan and Gary Weimberg.

The film documents the story of the delightful Dr. Diamond (right) and her groundbreaking life in science and the landmark achievements (ongoing) she has logged over 50 years in research. Diamond has been asked to speak at the annual Berkeley FILM Foundation gala fundraiser on September 25, 2013.

In five short years during an economic downturn while many non-profits struggled, BFF has granted almost $700,000 to projects in the production, post-production and distribution stages in support of independent filmmakers whose work combines intellectual clarity with creative use of the medium.

“More great films are submitted each year—this year there were 60--and we are impressed with their scope and quality, including work in the special student category,” said Abby Ginzberg, president of the BFF board of directors. “We are extremely proud that several films funded by the BFF have found audiences at the Sundance Film Festival, Mill Valley Film Festival, DocuWeeks, and Silver Docs, and one has garnered an Oscar nomination,” she added.

The total list of 2013 winners is:

Catherine Ryan and Gary Weimberg, My Love Affair with the Brain: The Life and Science of Dr. Marian Diamond **Saul Zaentz Award**

Samantha Grant, A Fragile Trust
Katie Galloway/Kelly Duane de la Vega, El Poeta Ashley James and Kathryn Golden, Santos
Melissa Regan, Nuns on the Bus
Tony Nguyen, Giap's Last Day at the Ironing Factory Quinn Costello, Rodents of Unusual Size
Kyung Lee, Telos
STUDENT GRAND WINNERS:
Mariel Warloff , A Confused War
Adam Grossberg, Vacant Seat
Nikki Sonfield, Samba Funk
Nicolas Collins, Work Progressed
Gina Moreno and Kevin Lawrence, Ore Wa Neko Da

The Berkeley FILM Foundation, is a 501(c)3 grant program for independent filmmakers funded by the City of Berkeley, Wareham Development, and the Saul Zaentz Company with a mission to nurture, sustain and preserve the thriving local film community while attracting the next generation of filmmakers. The BFF focuses on supporting the ideals reflected in Berkeley culture: social, historical and innovative documentary and dramatic works. Many of the BFF grant winners have gone on to screen at U.S. and international film festivals, been recognized with prestigious awards, received television broadcasts, and are making a difference around the world.

For more information on these awards and on the September 25, 2013 annual gala fundraiser, please e-mail the Berkeley Film Office at film@visitberkeley.com or visit www.berkeleyfilmfoundation.org and www.facebook.com/BerkeleyFilmFoundation.

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