SFFILM 2024 Rainin Grant Recipients (Photo courtesy of SFFILM)
Grad Film alumni Karishma Dev Dube and Lilian T. Mehrel are recipients of the SFFILM 2024 Rainin Grants for screenwriting and post-production respectively.
The SFFILM Rainin Grant program is the largest granting body for independent narrative feature films in the US. It supports films that address social justice issues—the distribution of wealth, opportunities and privileges—in a positive and meaningful way through plot, character, theme or setting. Awards are made to multiple projects once a year, for screenwriting, development and post-production. Recipients are offered a cash grant of up to $25,000, residency at FilmHouse and SFFILM’s premier artist residency space.
Strangers — Karishma Dev Dube, Director/Producer/Screenwriter (Screenwriting)
Pari and Tara are complete strangers, until a chance encounter on a New York City subway platform instigates inexplicable and profound connections between them. Set between New Delhi and New York, the film explores how these two women quietly unravel in tandem: with lovers, at home and in public.
Honeyjoon — Lilian T. Mehrel, Director/Screenwriter/Producer (Post-Production)
Kurdish-Persian Lela and her American daughter June take a trip to the romantic Azores after their major loss—with polar opposite ideas about the trip, grief and June’s bikini. Between happy honeymooners, Woman Life Freedom and their hot tour guide João, they find each other…coming back to life.
For more information visit Kenneth Rainin Foundation.