SIFF Grant for Courageous Documentary Filmmaking

SIFF is accepting applications now from filmmakers with plans for the grant recipients to be announced later this summer.

Applications close July 17, 2026.

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Launched in May 2024, the SIFF Grant for Courageous Documentary Filmmaking provides $400,000 in funding available for Washington State documentary filmmakers, thanks to generous funding from the Satterberg Foundation.

These grants are awarded to storytellers with projects rooted in moral courage, who take action despite the risk of negative consequences for doing so.

2025 AWARDEES

The 2025 awardees were announced November 12, 2025, with two titles selected to screen as part of the 52nd Seattle International Film Festival. The seven finalists were selected by a panel of judges spanning from notable documentary filmmakers to Washington film leaders including Nesib CB Shamah (Washington Filmmaker and Satterberg Foundation Board Member), Melanie Miller (Producer of the Academy Award-winning documentary Navalny), Cecilia R. Meija (POV / American Documentary), and Beth Barrett (SIFF Artistic Director).

Boys on the Inside

Director: Elliat Graney-Saucke

Christina, Sebastian and Sarah discovered their ‘boy’ identity while in women’s prison. Now on the outside they come together to face the long-term impact of incarceration as Latinx butch and trans masculine survivors, reclaiming their narratives through recovery and healing. A film 17 years in the making.

“The career-changing support from SIFF and the panelists not only allows our 17-year documentary to complete post-production with a robust industry team and to realize our film's premiere, it is also an incredible testament to championing stories of queer/trans, prison and Latine experiences in this critical political and cultural moment.”—Elliat Graney-Saucke

Roll Modelz

Director: Oliver Rodriguez Dickson

There are times when the strongest form of rebellion is making yourself seen. As forces threaten to divide and silence Latino communities, a low rider car club in rural Washington rises in defiance. Through their cars and community, they turn pain into a rolling act of resistance.

“The support from SIFF and the Satterberg Foundation allows us to illuminate a rarely seen side of Chicano culture in the Pacific Northwest. This grant will enable us to capture additional footage, craft an original score and elevate the technical execution of the film - helping to ensure that it reaches its full creative potential.”—Oliver Rodriguez Dickson

Martha Roth Project

The Martha Roth Project

Directors: Jennifer Roth & David Roth

In 2023, our mother Martha Roth decided to end her life through medically assisted suicide. 85-years-old and in good health, she insisted that she was ready to go; also, as a lifelong activist for a person’s right to bodily autonomy, she wanted to make a point.

“This grant will allow us to finish our film! It will pay salaries for editorial, color correction, motion graphics, original score, and sound design. It will also cover promotion costs such as website creation and maintenance, festival submission costs and festival travel. Finally, it will cover the less glamorous finishing costs such as accounting and taxes.”—Jennifer Roth & David Roth

The Year the Earth Was on Fire

Director: Anthony Tackett

This story will be told through the eyes of filmmakers, streamers and influencers as well as community leaders, city and state officials, and the everyday protestors. Utilizing national and local news coverage, social-media live-streams, layered with Cinema bits, animation, and history lessons uncovered during Seattle's 2020 protests regarding the death of George Floyd.

“We will utilize this to close out our project. Bring in an expert editor, an editing supervisor, and archivist. And would love to do more interviews to hit it all home. Also will be for music design, maybe foley.”—Anthony Tackett

Under a Million Stars

Director: Chezik Tsunoda

Under A Million Stars confronts the roots of Seattle’s homelessness crisis, rejecting narratives that blame individuals and exposing the systemic failures behind it. Through the stories of two people experiencing homelessness, and policy critique from experts, the film calls viewers to resist dehumanization and embrace their role in creating a more compassionate and connected society.

“The SIFF and Satterberg Foundation grant will play a pivotal role in helping us complete our film and share it with the widest possible audience. The funds will support our final phases of post-production, as well as marketing, publicity, and our impact campaign. This support will give us the ability to do outreach and curate conversations that spark vital dialogue around homelessness in Seattle and across the nation.”—Chezik Tsunoda

Valley of the Night

Directors: Lynne Siefert

Valley of the Night is a creative documentary that explores a nocturnal world where nighttime becomes a place of natural refuge as people adapt to living with extreme heat. Set entirely at night in Phoenix, Arizona—the hottest city in the United States—the film presents a collective portrait of resilience, adaptation, and survival.

“Receiving this funding truly means everything to me. It comes at a critical time when financial support for the arts is becoming increasingly scarce, which makes this award even more meaningful. This funding will allow me to complete the post-production phase and, in turn, bring the film itself to life. Beyond the practical support, this award represents belief in my vision and encouragement to keep creating despite the challenges facing independent filmmakers today. I’m deeply grateful for the opportunity to finish this project and share it with the world”—Lynne Siefert

Worth My Salt

Director: Rosalie Miller

Worth My Salt, a short documentary filmed over five years, weaves between the past and post-COVID world. The film follows queer performance artist Jody Kuehner, known for her comedic persona Cherdonna Shinatra, as she embarks on the most ambitious show of her career. As the global pandemic unfolds, Jody confronts the loss of her livelihood, revealing a deeply personal story of identity, reckoning, and the power of art in unsettling times.

“This grant is a game changer, enabling us to support our PNW team and complete post-production. It's a huge step in finally being able to share the film with regional and national audiences”—Rosalie Miller

2024 AWARDEES

The 2024 awardees were announced September 19, 2024, from over 89 submissions. The six finalists were selected by a panel of judges spanning from notable documentary filmmakers to Washington film leaders including Nesib CB Shamah (Washington Filmmaker and Satterberg Foundation Board Member), Melanie Miller (Producer of the Academy Award-winning documentary Navalny), Derek Edamura (Northwest Film Forum Executive Director), and Beth Barrett (SIFF Artistic Director).

Selected projects were: