A Message from our Executive Director

What if an elusive solution to the environmental crisis has resided within us since time immemorial?

At The Redford Center, we view storytelling through film as a missing piece to addressing the environmental crisis, and filmmakers like the ones we support as powerful leaders who bring us together and ignite the public and political will we need to take courageous action now.

Despite this, environmental filmmaking remains a severely overlooked and under-resourced field. According to the International Documentary Association, there are roughly 440 grants that support nonfiction filmmakers. Of that, less than 1% explicitly state that they prioritize environmental stories, and two of those grants come from The Redford Center.

Our team is committed to increasing the support available for this work, and our Redford Center Grants program embodies this purpose. It is a culmination of our values in action and a manifestation of our late cofounder James Redford’s vision of supporting filmmakers telling stories of progress, leadership, possibility, and hope. Since its inception in 2016, this program has supported nearly 50 documentary projects and awarded more than $1.3 million in funding. These films have changed policy, made way for new leaders, healed communities, and emboldened decision makers to get in the game.

Our newest grantee cohort, selected from a pool of 250 applicants representing 20 countries, showcases valuable insights and inspiration. Collectively, their work is a signal to the film industry to embrace inclusive and impactful environmental films. It is a demonstration of how to achieve this and we are immensely grateful to be part of these projects.

I also want to recognize and express deep gratitude to our program advisors, who serve as essential supports to the staff and grantees, and to our generous donors, including the New York Community Trust, whose early vision and lead gift made this program possible; the Walton Family Foundation, whose support is helping fuel the next chapter of this work; and GoPro, for their in-kind support providing camera equipment and virtual training for our grantees

I encourage you to get to know the artists and activists in this grantee cohort. Let them inspire hope within you, as they bridge perspectives and experiences and help accelerate our collective efforts to bring about a healthier world. In community,

JillTidman ExecutiveDirector

“For me, Redford Center Grants is the most rewarding thing we do... We want to accelerate and broaden our ability to make an impact in the space. By supporting other projects, your chances of lighting little fires everywhere is that much better.”

Co-founded by activists and filmmakers Robert Redford and James Redford, we are one of the only US-based nonprofits solely dedicated to environmental impact filmmaking.

We develop and invest in the stories and storytellers strengthening, broadening, and activating the environmental movement Since 2005, we have delivered more than $12 million in financial and other support to more than 150 solutions-forward environmental films designed to make an impact.