2007 Film Finishing Fund Recipients:

This year, ten finalists were chosen from a field of 125 applicants from 21 states and six foreign countries. Their works include eight feature documentaries, one documentary short and one narrative feature.

Leyla Leidecker

For the documentary feature Golden Gloves: A 55 minute documentary feature about the role of women in the Golden Gloves, America’s oldest and most prestigious amateur boxing tournament..


Cynthia Wade

For the documentary short Freeheld: Lt. Laurel Hester has three months left to live and all she wants is for her pension benefits to go to her life partner, Stacie. Laurel is told “no”; they are not married and Stacie is entitled to nothing. This 38 minute documentary short by Cynthia Wade, Brooklyn, New York, follows Laurel’s passionate battle against this injustice.


Becky Smith

For the documentary feature The Daring Project: This 54 minute documentary feature gives an intimate portrait of five great ballet dancers battling against ageism, injury and time as they create a world premiere of choreographer Margo Sappington’s tribute to Ella Fitzgerald.


Ermena Vinluan

For the documentary feature Tea and Justice: In this 54 minute documentary feature, three petite Asian immigrant women help to change the face of the N.Y.P.D. and transform its soul.


Lulu Fries’dat

For the documentary feature Holler Back: Voters and activists are interviewed in this 90 minute documentary feature to explore what motivates people to become involved (or not) in U.S. elections. Based on these interviews and other research, the documentary presents ideas for changes in the election process that could stimulate greater voter participation.


Ginny Martin

For the documentary feature Finding A Way Back: This 55 minute documentary feature tells the story of three related African American women from the bayou, their extended family and their community as they survive Hurricane Katrina and struggle against emotional, social, economic and political obstacles to recover form their losses and rebuild their lives.


Nicole Quinn

For the narrative feature Racing Daylight: This 80 minute narrative feature asks the question – what happens when time collides? The answer is; Sadie believes she is going insane, Edmund is sure he is being haunted and Henry...well, Henry’s racing daylight.


Ilana Trachtman

For the documentary feature Praying with Lior: This 85 minute documentary feature explores how a child with mental retardation grows up after his mother dies young.


Linda Pattillo

For the documentary feature The Breast Cancer Diaries: This 78 minute documentary feature intimately chronicles Ann Murray Paige, a TV news reporter diagnosed with breast cancer as she begins a series of video diaries. Ann confronts her disease and far larger issues – from “drive-through mastectomies” to how beauty is defined.



About the Film Finishing Fund